150 years ago shots were fired on Fort Sumter starting what is now called the “Civil” War.
I find this era of history fascinating, not because of the various battles and military maneuvers, but because of the Constitutional and political issues surrounding the “event”.
I won’t go as far to say everything we know about the “Civil” War is wrong, but everything taught in schools is through a filter of bias. Almost everything from the politics, the causes, etc. is distorted by modern politics.
Even the name "Civil War" is misleading…what happened between 1861 – 1865 was not a “civil” war. The war wasn't about two sides fighting to run the central government as in the English or Roman civil wars. The South didn’t want to capture and take over Washington, DC. The South attempted a peaceful secession from federal control, no different from the original American struggle for independence from Britain.
The term Civil War is a misnomer. The South did not instigate a rebellion. Eleven southern states in 1860-61 simply chose to secede from the Union and go their own way, like the thirteen colonies did when they seceded from Britain.
The American War of 1861-1865 has been referred to by numerous different names:
The War of the Rebellion – the official US government name during the war.
The War of Insurrection – another popular “Yankee” name. Lincoln frequently referred to the “insurrection”.
The Civil War – the most well known and continuously used.
The War for Southern Independence or The War of Northern Aggression – mostly by Southerners.
War Between The States is often used
The first 3 names are inappropriate because the Confederate States of American (CSA) was a legally established government representing the interests of several sovereign states which had legally seceded from a voluntary union with several other sovereign states known as the United States of America. Secession from the USA was not “technically” made illegal until after the war.
The term “The War Between the States” is also incorrect since the war was fought between the CSA and the USA, not Virginia against New York.
A more accurate name for the war that took place between the northern and southern American states is the War for Southern Independence.
This term is seems to be correct and least “political”. Although it does imply the South started the war to gain independence…which it did not. The War of Northern Aggression may be technically correct but has that “political” bias to it.
Though I personally prefer “War For Southern Independence”, the most correct term would probably be “War To Prevent Southern Independence”. For if you believe in the principles of The Declaration of Independence…governments get their just powers by the consent of the governed…First the South seceded, which gave them independence. Then the North attacked to prevent this.
This discussion shouldn’t have anything to do with one's sympathy or bias, but rather very simple historical analysis. The war in question shouldn't be called "The Civil War" because it wasn't a civil war, but rather a war of secession, or independence — two completely different things. A “Civil” War means violence to control everything by a central government, while secession or independence, if allowed can take place peacefully.
If we can’t accurately label what happened between 1861 – 1865, how can we ever understand the complexities of the causes and ramifications of the aftermath?
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