"WAR BETWEEN THE STATES" or "CIVIL WAR":
Which is correct?
This
article was copied from an old pamphlet published
by the
United Daughters of the Confederacy
called, "Let's say
'War Between the States.'"
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The name of the
military conflict of 1861-1865 which occurred between
the northern states and the Southern States has been given many names:
"The War of the Rebellion," "The War of the Secession," "The War for
Southern
Independence," and the "War Between the States." One of the most
appropriate
names of the War is the War Between the States; the name Civil War is
incorrect.
"Civil
War" has been widely accepted, no doubt because it is short.
Actually the term "Civil War" is misleading and inexact. A civil war is
a military conflict between political factions in the same country. The
War was not a struggle between two different groups within the same
nation--it
was a Conflict between two distinct nations. What were the two nations?
They were the United States of America and the Confederate States of
America.
Need proof that the Confederacy was a bonafide, functioning country?
For
four years the Confederacy maintained an entirely separate government
with
its own currency, commerce, army, and navy.
This
nation, the Confederate States of America, levied and collected
taxes, enlisted armies and issued cotton bonds which were accepted in
foreign
commercial marts. Its navy, though small, fought brilliantly and
introduced
the C.S.S. VIRGINIA, an ironclad, a new type of warship. The
Confederate
Flag, "The Stars and Bars," was recognized all over the world as
belonging
to a nation other than the United States. The "War Between the States"
does not imply a war between individual states. The noun, "States," is
used in its collective sense. The official titles of the contending
parties
during the conflict were the United States and the Confederate States.
Therefore, since the War was between two groups of states, the United
States
and the Confederate States--two separate nations--the most exact name
for
that great conflict of the 1860's is "The War Between the States."
Page
was created October 2, 1999.
Updated November 21, 2003.
This
article was copied from an old pamphlet published
by the
United Daughters of the Confederacy
called, "Let's say
'War Between the States.'"
Copyright
1999-2003 Gene Brooks