was the american civil war really a civil war?

Answer 1

There was nothing civil about it. It was the War of Northern Aggression. Sorry, I couldn't help my self.

But, actually no it was not truly a civil war, the Southern State were trying to leave the Union not over throw the government, it was actually a war for Southern independence that failed.

Answer 2

Yes, the American Civil War was a civil war. As was the Spanish Civil war, and other wars that are referred to as civil. Some people claim that Iraq is currently engaged in a civil war.

A civil war is a war between different factions of people from within the same country. In the case of the American Civil War, this was essentially the states in the north-east fighting the attempted succession of the states in the south-east.

An earlier respondent who said that the American civil war was the definition of a civil war was not speaking very carefully. The war fit the definition of "civil war", but the war was not itself the definition of the term.

Some argue that the American Civil War was not in fact a civil war because the southern states separated from the Union, forming their own nation. Taking this view, one might regard the war as a war between two different nations.

The problem with the argument above is that almost no one, except perhaps those people living in the south at the time, believes that the southern states successfully formed a new nation. I do not believe any other nation ever recognized the Confederacy as nation. Certainly, those states were part of the union before the war, as well as after the war. Many agree that this is sufficient to say that the south never successfully left the Union, and therefore the war was in fact "civil".

Answer 3

in U.S. history, conflict (1861—65) between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederacy. It is generally known in the South as the War between the States and is also called the War of the Rebellion (the official Union designation), the War of Secession, and the War for Southern Independence. The name Civil War, although much criticized as inexact, is most widely accepted.

Causes

The name Civil War is misleading because the war was not a class struggle, but a sectional combat having its roots in political, economic, social, and psychological elements so complex that historians still do not agree on its basic causes. It has been characterized, in the words of William H. Seward, as the "irrepressible conflict." In another judgment the Civil War was viewed as criminally stupid, an unnecessary bloodletting brought on by arrogant extremists and blundering politicians. Both views accept the fact that in 1861 there existed a situation that, rightly or wrongly, had come to be regarded as insoluble by peaceful means.

Answer 4

Here's an idea. Before you ask questions that by definition actually answer themselves....try looking up the definition in a dictionary. You do have a dictionary?

Civil war (and not just the American Civil War) is defined as a war war within a country; between opposing groups within a country.

Clear, simple and concise.

You could have saved your 5 points by spending 15 seconds and opening a book.

Answer 5

No, The Problem is a "civil war" is a war fought to overthrow ones govt. The south never attempted to over the The USA. They just left. And became their own nation. The Confederate States of America. So, therefore they were no longer part of the Union.

The British had a civil war, the french did. etc etc. America has never had a true civil war.

Answer 6

Yes, the US civil war was the definition of a civil war. The two sides that are fighting each other are from the same country. Now if you are arguing that the war itself is not "civil" because war is violent, that isn't what the civil part of the term means.

Answer 7

A civil war is a war amongst a single nation. The American Civil War was the very definition of a civil war.

So the answer to your question is yes.

Answer 8

I remember reading a story about how the Union army lined up to salute Gen. Robert E. Lee after his surrender. No war is "civil" but, that seems pretty respectful.

Answer 9

Yes, it was internal rebellion and states wanting to leave the union that created a civil war.

Answer 10

TX, you must have had some "southern" textbooks, because in the north it was the Confederates firing on Fort Sumter instigating the war. In no northern textbook was it described as a war of northern aggression but rather southern rebellion.