Fort Sumter April 12, 1861: The Day the World Changed

Bombardment of Fort Sumter; courtesy Library of Congress

If you do nothing else today - April 12, 2011 - pause and think about the fact that on this day one hundred and fifty years ago, the world shifted on its axis after the Confederate States of America fired on Fort Sumter, South Carolina. A long and bloody battle over slavery and over states' rights began in the United States, sending shock waves throughout both economy and collective conscience on a global level. The Civil War - or the War of Aggression, depending upon your perspective - started us on a journey toward the Civil Rights Movement.

To jump start your reading on Maine and the Civil War, you can check out my prior Civil War postings or my posts on civil rights. Then check out the "Fate of the Union" article in this weekend's Portland Press Herald that highlights happenings at the Maine State Archives and the Fifth Maine Regiment Museum, as well as the development of the Civil War Trail.

Fire of Patriotism by Colin Woodard in Down East Magazine offers an overview of how the Civil War brought a sea change to the state of Maine.

Also, a fleet of articles on the Civil War published in Smithsonian Magazine offers insights into a number of interesting themes.