why wasnt the american revolution called the english civil war?

Question

England was at war with itself after all, right?

Answer 1

because the english civil war took place in the 1640's.

Answer 2

A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight against each other for the control of political power. Political scientists use two criteria: the warring groups must be from the same country and fighting for control of the political center, control over a separatist state or to force a major change in policy.

A revolution is generally seen as a civil war fought over issues of ideology, over how power should be organized and distributed, not merely over which individuals hold it.

Simply put, in the American Revolution, those who rose to to govern the US were powerless (rich...but politically powerless) before the event. In the 13 colonies, a new type of society had grown different from that of the mother country (no landed hereditary nobility). In the case of the English Civil War, it was (more) a question of who rules, nobles in parliament or nobles of the king?

Had the revolutionaries lost, the events of 1776 would likely have been the American insurgency of 1776.

Answer 3

Pretty much because it wasn't fought in England. It was fought in the colonies and besides, the English Civil War was taken by another bit of history during the mid 17th century in England. Of course, if England had won it might have been called the second English Civil War.

Answer 4

To Southerners, the North was an oppressive power, much like the King of England before the American Revolution. And it wasn't all about slavery. There were economic issues that strongly influenced the war. Down here, it's sometimes called the "War of Northern Aggression" by the elder folk.

Answer 5

Civil wars are fought on ones own soil with its own people. Americans were fighting the English. Two separate countries.

Answer 6

The forefathers had a vote and it was down to these names...,

* The American Revolution
* The Mother of All Wars
* The, My Mother Can Beat Up Your King, War
* The, Bad Teeth vs Good Teeth War
* The, "We Kicked their [EXPLETIVE]'s" War

The good taste people won overwhelmingly with "The American Revolution" . ... and before you think about bringing what I just said up in class.., I am kidding.., in case you just didnt quite catch it.

I dont need a bunch of disgruntled teachers showing up on my door step with pitchforks and torches. So lets keep this on the down-low.

Answer 7

Because it wasn't fought in England. It was colonial Americans against British.

Answer 8

No they were not at war with themselves. The colonies who were on a different continent revolted and gained their freedom.

Answer 9

Because our partiot forefathers had no intention to be civil toward the English!

Answer 10

Because the colonies were just controlled by Great Brittan they weren't part of it.