Civil war facts for kids

The Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War

A civil war is a big fight or war that happens inside a single country. It's not a war between different countries. Instead, it's groups of people from the same country fighting each other. There are usually a couple of main reasons why these wars start.

One common reason is when different groups disagree about who should be in charge. They might also argue about how the country should be run. For example, if political groups cannot agree after an election, it could lead to a war. This happens when sides cannot find a peaceful solution.

Another reason is when a group of people wants to break away from their country. This is called a war of secession. People in a certain area might want to form their own independent country. Most national leaders do not want to give up land. This disagreement can often lead to a war.

The Berlin Wall coming down at Checkpoint Charlie in 1990

Sometimes, groups do not want to create a whole new country. Instead, they might want more autonomy, meaning more control over their own affairs. This can happen when different ethnic groups live within the same nation. They might want to make their own rules for their region.

Why Civil Wars Are So Difficult

Civil wars can be just as destructive and damaging as wars between different countries. They can also last for many years. This is because civil wars often become very complicated very quickly.

A civil war might start with just two main sides fighting. But then, these groups can break apart. New, different sides might form and start fighting each other too. People who were not involved at first can easily get pulled into the conflict. They might start getting weapons to protect themselves from all sides.

Sometimes, many different groups end up fighting each other at the same time. Foreign countries might also get involved. They could choose to help one side, which makes the war even more complex.

Famous Civil Wars in History

Many civil wars have happened throughout history. Here are some well-known examples:

• Pakistan Civil War (1971)
• United States of America (1861-1865)
• China (1927-1949)
• Vietnam (1955-1975)
• Mexican Revolution (1911-1920)
• Russian Civil War (1917-1921)
• English Civil War (1642-1651)
• Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
• Syrian Civil War (2011-present)

Images for kids

• 

  German artillery in Malmi during the Battle of Helsinki on 12 April 1918, during the Finnish Civil War.

• 

  The destruction wrought on Granollers after a raid by German aircraft on 31 May 1938 during the Spanish Civil War.

• 

  Tanks in the streets of Addis Ababa after rebels seized the capital during the Ethiopian Civil War (1991)

• 

  Communist soldiers during the Battle of Siping, Chinese Civil War, 1946

• 

  An artillery school set up by the anti-socialist "Whites" during the Finnish Civil War, 1918

• 

  A plane, supported by smaller fighter planes, of Italian Legionary Air Force, allied to Francisco Franco's Nationalists, bombs Madrid during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939)

• 

  Members of ARDE Frente Sur during the Nicaraguan Revolution

• 

  An American Cadillac Gage Light Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle and Italian Fiat-OTO Melara Type 6614 Armored Personnel Carrier guard an intersection during the Somali Civil War (1993)

• 

  A checkpoint manned by the Lebanese army and US Marines, 1982. The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) was characterized by multiple foreign interventions.

• 

  A fast attack boat of the rebel LTTE in Sri Lanka in 2003 passes the hulk of an LTTE supply ship that had been sunk by government aircraft, Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009)

See also

In Spanish: Guerra civil para niños