[DeWalt]

Except the fact that it was not a “civil war” to begin with. No one tried to overthrow the federal goverment. That is yankee propaganda.

[SamAdams76]

The very definition of "civil war" is a war between citizens of the same country.

So yes, it was a civil war.

Remember that the Confederacy was never recognized by the U.S. as a separate country. They couldn't even get recognition from non-belligerents. For example, Jefferson Davis sent envoys over to Europe but they were snubbed because even Britain and France could see that their claims that they were their own nation were preposterous.

[Enterprise]

"Except the fact that it was not a “civil war” to begin with."

That doesn't square with this:

"On April 12, 1861, General P.G.T. Beauregard, in command of the Confederate forces around Charleston Harbor, opened fire on the Union garrison holding Fort Sumter. At 2:30pm on April 13 Major Robert Anderson, garrison commander, surrendered the fort and was evacuated the next day."

Fort Sumter