Civil War II?

[Keiri]

Not trying to stir anything up. I'm curious about the likelihood that in some form, the Civil War could happen again. Think about it -- the Know Nothing party was scared of the Irish Catholics and the Germans. They, and the Copperheads, etc, fomented a great deal of disharmony on the basis of fear of the changing face of their country and politics. It's hard not to watch a debate and come away feeling that nothing really has changed since 1854, or whenever the peak of KN was.

I would link it, but it would go too far into the realm of today's politics, that someone has threatened that if he does not get the candidacy, he thinks there would be riots and "Bad things will happen." I personally don't think the party is stupid enough to take this head on, I think they will find a way to wriggle out of this mess (or around it) with limited collateral damage. But what if they do? Take it head on, and the people revolt? Could we honestly see a split in this country that turns to nationwide riots, calling in the military, or other explosive division that might actually split us like the civil war?

I think it could happen. I can also respect the opinion that the Civil War was born from the perfect storm of situation and in our modernity, it can't happen again. But I'm curious what you guys think, if you can leave the side-taking or railing against one side or the other out of it. I don't want the topic wiped.

 

[brass napoleon]

Another civil war could definitely happen - at some point. We're not there yet though. You need a hot-button issue and a long build-up, which we don't have. Riots maybe, but civil war, no. Things were much worse than they are now in the 60s (1960s that is).

 

[thomas aagaard]

I think history tell us that it can happen again.

But I don't think it will happen over political disagreement by its self.
Even if the presidential elections end up in a 3 way or even four way and the winner only gets 40% of the votes and there are cases of cheating and corruption.
The supporters of the differently candidates are not split along geographic lines... like in 1860. So there would be no clear blok that would try break away.
So basically the angry people would be a minority that is allover... So rioting in some areas. sure.
Civil war? No.
For that to happen there would need to be more than one candidate calling him or herself the winner, the supreme count not working and different parts of the US military would have to side with two or more of the candidates and be willing to start a war over it.
And I think that much of the population simply would not care to the extent that they would be willing to destroy the country over it. (the fact that only about 60% actually go vote tell me that most simply don't care that much)


So I think some sort of catastrophic event is needed and where society breaks down... and the US government for a period stop working...
So the leaders (maybe governors) of different parts of the country can claim with at least some justification that the old rules no longer apply and you then end up with different parts of the country supporting each own version of the US.

The TV series Jericho have this happen.

Another option is naturally that climate change end up hurting part of the country, but not another part to an extent that some states get tired of paying and helping the other states... and it become a matter of life and death... but it will still be a few decade before we get there...

 

[Keiri]

Fascinating insight. Thank you both.

 

[thomas aagaard]

The question one can ask himself.
What would get you to pick up a rifle and join the state national guard or similar and fight a civil war?
Is the election of the (in you opinion) worst possible president a just cause for it?

Personally I really don't like our current primeminister or the party that is ruling... but I totally accept that this is the way things are in a democracy... and sometimes you loose.

For me to be willing to use violence to change things our democratic system would need to fall apart or something.

 

[Drew]

It's an interesting thought, but there's no Civil War II on the horizon here, or any riots. We're looking at a flash in the pan here, IMO, a really big one. Consider it free entertainment, while it lasts. And it certainly is entertaining, I've never seen anything like it my life.

 

[MaryDee]

Reading some of the campaign literature in the late 1850s and the 1860s, today's campaign trail nastiness, as unpleasant as it is, seems really mild by comparison. Plus I haven't heard of any recent cases of congressmen beating senators with canes!

 

[Keiri]

And people say what happened to the gentler times

 

[thomas aagaard]

Right or wrong... I do think some of the retoric from the know nothings do sound rather similar to what we get from some politicians. (be that US presidential candidates or danish politicians)
Blaming immigrates, especially some with another religion (then Catholics... not muslims), for everything that is wrong.

But I don't think the US is any were close to a civil war...
Greece? maybe?

 

[JerseyBart]

Locked, pending moderator review.

Posted as moderator