The War for Southern Independence was a name used in reference to the War.^[5] While popular on the Confederate side during the war itself, this term's popularity fell in the immediate aftermath of the South's failure to gain independence. This term resurfaced in the late 20th century. To Southerners, this terminology paralleled usage of the term "American War for Independence, as demonstrated by the popular poem published in the early stages of the hostilities under the title South Carolina; the prologue of which unambiguously refers to the war as the "Third War for Independence" (specifically naming the War of 1812 as the Second such War)^[6] C.f. "The tea has been thrown overboard. The Revolution of 1860 has been initiated." -- 8th Nov. 1860, Charleston Mercury (regarding post-election 'fall-out').^[7]

War of Northern Aggression

This term emphasizes claims by Confederate partisans that the North invaded the South. The term has never been widely adapted throughout the nation as an explicit name for the war [note however, that examples of usages of close variations during the War are extant (e.g., "War of Northern Subjugation;" "...of Yankee Invader(s);" etc.)]. Certain limited use of this term continues to the present day.

War for States' Rights

The War for States' Rights was another name used in reference to the War.^[5][8] It was the term used by Confederate soldier John Baylis Lewis in his Reminiscences...., ^[9] and a term used by Confederate Private Sam Watkins in his memoir, Co. Aytch.^[10] Watkins further stated in his memoir that “We believe in the doctrine of State rights… [w]e only fought for our State rights… [t]he South fell battling under the banner of State rights…," etc.^[10] In discussing the war, A. W. Sparks, a Confederate soldier in the 9th Texas Cavalry, wrote in his memoir that "States Rights was the sheet anchor and boon of our fathers, the hope of the Nation and the cause of secession, and was defended by the strong arm of the South... in four long years of bloody war for States Rights and liberty."^[11]

In a similar vein, the war has been called The War for Southern Rights, The War to Suppress Yankee Arrogance, and even War of the Abolition Party Against the Principles of the Constitution of the United States.^[12]

Other Terms

Other terms for the war have seen even less frequent usage, particularly in modern times. In the South: War in Defense of Virginia, Mr. Lincoln's War, and War of Secession. In the North: War of the Insurrection, Slaveholders War, Great Rebellion, War to Save the Union. Later writers invented terms such as War for Abolition, War of Southern Reaction and War to Prevent Southern Independence, which were rarely used in print or conversation.

Immediately after the war, the following expressions were common: The War, The Late Unpleasantness, and The Lost Cause. (The author of the 1866 book, The Lost Cause, Edward A. Pollard, was another example of one who used the term Civil War in that period.)

Notes

1. See titles listed in Oscar Handlin et al, Harvard Guide to American History (1954) pp 385-98.
2. The Brig Amy Warwick, et al., 67 U.S. 635, *636, 673 (1862)
3. Jefferson Davis’ Memorandum
4. For example: Dairyland Greyhound Park, Inc. v. Doyle, 719 N.W.2d 408, *449 (Wis., 2006)(“Prior to the War Between the States all but three states had barred lotteries”).
5. "Davis, Burke, The Civil War: Strange and Fascinating Facts, New York: The Fairfax Press, 1982. ISBN 0517371510, pp. 79-80.
6. War Songs and Poems of the Southern Confederacy 1861-1865, H. M. Wharton, compiler and editor, Edison, NJ: Castle Books, 2000, ISBN 0-7858-1273-3, pp. 69.
7. The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns. Dir. Ken Burns, Narr. David McCullough, Writ. and prod. Ken Burns. PBS DVD Gold edition, Warner Home Video, 2002, ISBN 0780638875.
8. Historical Times Illustrated: Encyclopedia of the Civil War, Patricia L. Faust, editor, New York: HarperPerennial, 1991, ISBN 0062715356, p.__.
9. Lewis, John Baylis. "Reminiscences of John Baylis Lewis." Recollections and Reminiscences 1861-1865, United Daughters of the Confederacy, eds., Charleston: SC Division, UDC, 1994, Vol. _, pp. 27–35 ("It is with many misgivings that I offer to you this hurriedly written sketch,... my military experience during the War for States Rights...") [1].
10. Watkins, Sam R., Co. Aytch, New York: Simon & Schuster, paperback edition, 1962, ISBN 0-684-83324-7, pp. 20-22 (war of... sate rights).
11. Sparks, A. W. Recollections of the Great War: The War Between the States As I Saw It. Tyler, TX: Lee & Burnett, 1901, p. 9.
12. Bradley, Robert, The War Name Game: A Suggested Activity, Alabama Moments in American History, Ala. Dept. of Archives and History.

References

• Catton, Bruce, The Coming Fury: The Centennial History of the Civil War, Volume 1, Doubleday, 1961, ISBN 0-641-68525-4
• Coski, John M., "The War between the Names," North and South magazine, vol. 8, no. 7., January 2006.
• U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880–1901.
• Wittichen, Murray Forbes, "Let's Say 'War Between the States'," Florida Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1954.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Naming the American Civil War".