What makes a war a civil war?

Answer 1

A civil war is where 2 or more factions fight to control a single government. This did NOT happen in America 1861-1865. The South wanted their own government.

Answer 2

A civil war is one of two types of wars. (1) It is a war where 2+ parties are fighting over control of the same government, (such as the English Civil War or Spanish Civil War) or (2) a war where one side wishes to secede from a national union and is not succesful in so-doing (such as the US Civil War or the Vietnam War).