The Civil War?

Although I used to use the term above to refer to the awful and bloody war of the 1860's, I have since repented. There are various reasons why I don't call it "the Civil War" anymore, one of which is the simple fact that they did not call it that back then. In the years immediately following the War, they called it simply "The War", and everyone knew which war was being referred to. However, as time rolled on as it is wont to do, more wars were fought, and other terms came into use to refer to the War.

Of these, I usually use "The War Between the States", as it accurately describes the situation, and is unbiased toward either side. Other names include "The Lost Cause", "The War of the Sixties", "The War of Northern Aggression", "The War of Southern Rebellion", "The War of Southern Independence", and many others.

According to dictionary definition, the term "civil war" means "A type of war fought between members of a single nation or similar political entity." According to this definition, I submit to you that the War Between the States was, in fact, not truly a civil war. Let us reflect upon the circumstances. In the early 1860's, because of the Federal Government's encroachments upon the rights of the southern states, some of them seceded from the Union (as was their sovereign right), and were soon joined by other states, thus forming the Confederate States of America, a separate country. Shortly thereafter, the Union government declared war against the South, viewing its secession as open rebellion.

The War was not civil in the least, and especially when subjected to the true meaning of the term "civil war". It was our attempt to free ourselves from the tyranny and injustice of the U.S. government, and to secure for ourselves a free nation. However, as all the world knows, this ended in failure and defeat for the southern people. Although our country was devastated and received no comfort from the "Reconstruction" afterwards, we have recovered after so many years of hard work, and hope never again to have to take such desperate measures.