Chivalry and Conflict: The Prelude to Civil War

This chapter explores the romanticized concept of chivalry embraced by Southern planters and the social dynamics of honor among whites versus the realities of enslaved individuals. It examines the political tensions leading up to the Civil War, including the election of 1860 and the secession of South Carolina, while highlighting Major Robert Anderson's strategic decision at Fort Sumter. The narrative underscores how these elements culminated in the escalating conflict that ultimately sparked the Civil War.