The bloodiest war ever fought on American soil, the Civil War, had far-reaching effects and an immediate impact on the capital city of Washington, D.C. During the Civil War, the vulnerability of Washington, D.C. became a grave concern for residents, military leaders, and politicians as the conflict escalated. The state of Maryland - a Union slave state with many southern sympathizers - was located to the north. Surrounded by unfriendly territory, with only one fort in operation at the beginning of the Civil War, the Nation's capital was not prepared for direct military attack.
This led to a massive construction effort to establish a defensive ring of forts around the city. One of the forts defending the city against enemy forces became known as Fort Marcy.
