Let's Say...."The War Between the States"
The Conflict (1861-1865) between the Northern States (The Union) and
the Southern States which seceded from the Union to form the
Confederate States has been given many names.
The official Union designation
was "The War of the Rebellion." Other names have been "The War of
Secession" and "The War for Southern Independence." In the South,
the conflict is called "The War Between the States."
The Congress of the United States
used the term, "War Between the States" in two measures enacted into
law; one measure became Public Law 834 in 1950, and a Resolution,
H.580 was adopted by the House in 1944. The term "War Between the
States" has been used in various reports on bills during the 70th,
71st, 72nd, 74th, 80th and 81st Congresses.
The name "Civil War" has also
been widely accepted, no doubt because it is short. Actually the
term "Civil War" is misleading and inexact. The war was not a class
struggle, but a sectional combat, having its roots in such complex
political, economic, social and psychological elements that it is
difficult for historians to agree on all its basic causes.
The fact that for four years the
Confederacy maintained an entirely separate government (with its own
currency, commerce, army and navy) established the Confederate
States of America as a separate nation.
This nation, the Confederate
States of America, levied and collected revenue, enlisted its armies
and issued cotton bonds which were accepted in foreign commercial
marts.
Its navy, though small, fought
brilliantly, and introduced with the Virginia Merrimac, a new
type of warship, the ironclad.
The Confederate Flag, "The Stars
and Bars" was recognized all over the world as belonging to a nation
other than the United States of America. 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 "War Between the States."
Published on May 1, 1954, by the Florida
Division
United Daughters of the Confederacy®
Written by Mrs. Murray Forbes Wittichen
Florida Division President (1952-1954) - President General
(1957-1960)
Reprinted by the United Daughters of the
Confederacy® - 1960
Reprint prohibited without express written
consent of the UDC
