Why is it called "civil" war?

AL G

I know what you mean, it's an oxymoron, like military intelligence

SnowWebster2

Another formal definition for "Civil", besides the one you are thinking of is as follows:

"relating to what happens within a state or between different citizens or groups of citizens"

Ipso facto, A civil war occurs withing that nation or state and not between two countries.

Snakeman !

A 'civil war' is a war contained within the same country - ie a war against different factions of the sam people !

tantilisingteaser

Yeah I know its like

"the undisputed champion of the world"

If its

"Undisputed"

Whats all the fighting for

lol

No name.

A civil war is a war which is fought by two groups in the same country. It is usually civilians fighting the army.

"a war between political factions or regions within the same country."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civil%20war

For example:
The English Civil War was a war between Parliamentarians (or Roundheads) and the Royalists (or Cavalier). - English fighting English.

In the American Civil War it was a war between the United States of America against the 11 southern slave states (or the Confederacy). - Americans fighting Americans.

The Irish Civil war was a war between the National Army and the IRA (Irish Republican Army). - Irish fighting Irish.

The American War of Independence is sometimes considered a civil war on foreign land, because it was the colonists in America, from Britain, against the British army. - British fighting British.

Alex

'Because it is a war fought by the civilians of a state who are in opposition to their government, and not by professional soldiers.

As you suggest, they are not very "civil" (you are using this to mean mean "civilised"!) as the people on different sides can be living in the same area, or neighbours, or even related.

in sloan we trust

it is called a civil war because its a war within the same country that involves civilians two sides opposed to each other either wanting their religious or political views to be heard and installed in their country in northern ireland it was a civil war but we just called it The Troubles.

In the Glorious Memory of 1690

There is nothing, madam, civil about our engagment either, and speaking of which, madam, do hand over what ever possessions you have, lest I have to forcibly take it along with your life.

R'- @\/_1

its where there is conflict in the same country civil war =civilian war

The Shark

A civil war is a war between organized groups to take control of a nation or region, or to change government policies

Beatnick

A civil war is when a nation goes to war with itself in which the 'civilian' population rise up and form themselves into armies to fight each other to the death, sometimes over issues which are not always very clearly defined.

Here in UK the English Civil War of the 17thC - mainly a Parliamentary lead war in which the House of Commons and it's supporters took on the King, lead by Oliver Cromwell MP and others and finally had the King beheaded in Whitehall for treason.

Without that English Civil War it is doubtful that we would have any kind of parliamentary democracy here in UK - even if we still think it's crap, what with an unelected House of Lords and so forth.

This video below by the Monty Python team, explains all anyone ever needs to know about the English Civil War

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObI4eaK_GIA

Hyden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_war

Lima Company - Royal Marines

Civilian war?

nopm

Because it takes place among the same people - i.e. countrymen.

salsa

wars between two "groups" who want to control the region or country like south against north or huhtu against tootse ethnic groups

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: