The 2nd US revolution, or was that a civil war?

[Pat]

A civil war is classically defined as 2 (or more) factions fighting for control over a central government.
A revolutionary war is classically defined as a group trying to form it's own nation and break free from an existing government.

I would posit that the war of 1861 was more a revolutionary war than a civil war. The southern states were not trying to take control over the federal government of the United States, they were trying to break free from its controls.

[Boogie man]

A civil war is classically defined as 2 (or more) factions fighting for control over a central government.
A revolutionary war is classically defined as a group trying to form it's own nation and break free from an existing government.

I would posit that the war of 1861 was more a revolutionary war than a civil war. The southern states were not trying to take control over the federal government of the United States, they were trying to break free from its controls.

It should be called "The war of secession".

[Pat]

It should be called "The war of secession".
That would be another word for it.