Every human is born with basic rights like the right to freedom and freedom of speech, but sometimes people are suppressed, and their basic rights are taken away.
Then people start showing their true colours, and this may sometimes lead to Civil Wars fought between two groups, or when the government passes such laws or activities that are not appealing to the people, then people come together to go against the government united, leading to a series of Revolution s marking the history of changes.
Both the terms, Civil War and Revolution s, are sometimes used interchangeably, but there’s a vast difference.
Key Takeaways
- Civil war refers to a violent conflict between two groups within a country, while a revolution is a political upheaval to change a government or system.
- Civil war involves using military forces and is fought over control of the existing government, while a revolution aims to overthrow the government.
- Civil wars are fought along geographic or ethnic lines, while revolutions can involve various social and economic issues.
Civil War vs Revolution
A civil war is an internal armed conflict that arises within a country, involving opposing factions fighting for control of the existing government. A revolution is a widespread, fundamental change in a society’s government and social structure, achieved through a popular uprising.
For example, the American Civil War was fought between slavery and non-slavery groups.
Revolutions are fought between the people and the government when some acts or laws that govern them are found obstructing and taking some basic rights, leading to protests,
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Civil War | Revolution |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A war was fought between two different ethnic groups within the same country. | Protest against the government by the people opposing any law or act |
| Length | No specified length can exceed decades | It comes to rest within a year as the government has to take steps to maintain the economy. |
| Violence | Violence and the use of weapons are involved | Violence is not involved |
| Parties Involved | Different socio groups | Mobilization of citizens of the country against the government |
| Result | Bringing a drastic change in the political, economic system of the country. | Bringing a drastic change in the country’s status quo and people getting their rights. |
What is Civil War?
The Civil War is also known as intrastate war by the other names. It is a war fought between different social, ethnic, or religious groups with different opinions to achieve a particular goal.
Civil War isn’t a very defined term in the books of history.
Still, one of the possible definitions given by James Fearon is Civil War is a violent conflict within a country that is fought among organized groups, such groups changing the existing government policies act or any law they might feel opposed towards.
The intensity of any Civil War between the countries is calculated by the damage caused to the economy or the country itself and to whom the rights were allotted.
Civil War caused a lot of disturbance in the system in the working of any country as it led to bloodshed, violence, and the killing of thousands and thousands of people.
There are many possible explanations and reasons why a Civil War takes place. The very evaluated reasons are the greed that individuals seek to maximize profits.
The grievance is a social and politically unstable equilibrium. And opportunities are social inequality and poverty operation.
The ultimate achieving goal of a Civil War is different for every ethnic group that has ever fought; for example, the American Civil War was fought between the slavery and non-slavery groups to abolish slavery.
Civil War starts with the spark when two groups with differences meet. That ultimately leads to the spark growing and growing into a politically unstable equilibrium, falling economy, bloodshed, violence, and even deaths.
What is a Revolution?
The revolution has always been a very complicated term and has never been explained well, but one of the most distinct definitions is.
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, very well explained this hard-defined term.
He defined Revolution as the fundamental change in the state organization that takes place quickly.
And revolt of the population against the authority or the government; according to him, a political Revolution could lead to modification of the existing constitution or entirely change the political system that has governed the country for decades.
Their results include major changes in the cultural economy—social-political standards.
A Revolution can start with either violence or non-violence, but revolutions s were without violence in history. The Revolution is formed between the country’s general citizens and the government, forming particular laws or acts.
Revolution exists within a year and doesn’t go beyond it.
The Revolution comes up with the two possibilities of either government changing the laws and acts, or sometimes even abolishing the constitution due to the kind of violence that started taking place in the country or the government winning with the opposing them with many factors like the use of the military.
Revolutions in a dictatorship are widespread because a dictator always works against the people’s will. Democracies that exist in the past or at present have seen very few revolutions s occur.
History has seen many Revolutions like the American Revolution war, the French Revolution, the European Revolution, the Russian Revolution etc.
Major Differences Between Civil War and Revolution
- The Civil War was fought between two religious or socio groups, whereas Revolution was between citizens of a country opposing any law or act passed by the government.
- The Civil War always turned out to be violent, including weapons leading to bloodshed and millions of deaths, whereas the Revolution was considered non-violent. For instance, the satyagraha that was led by Mahatma Gandhi opposing the laws set by the British government
- Civil War always ended with one of the groups attaining victory. Still, that victory also resulted in political instability, bloodshed, and violence. In contrast, Revolution was either won by citizens and laws and acts were taken by, in some cases, dissolving the constitution or the government winning and laws being in power.
- Civil Wars sometimes lasted for decades, whereas revolutions s lasted a year to maintain political stability.
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
The article provides a balanced view of both civil wars and revolutions, allowing readers to form informed opinions.
Yes, it’s refreshing to see an unbiased approach to such complex topics.
Absolutely, the objectivity of the analysis is commendable.
The historical context provided for both civil wars and revolutions is really engaging and enriches the content.
Absolutely, it’s essential to understand the historical significance of these conflicts.
I think the article simplifies complex concepts like civil wars and revolutions, making it easier for readers to comprehend.
Definitely, the use of real-world examples like the American Civil War provides great context.
I agree, the key takeaways were very helpful in understanding the comparison between the two.
The article’s inclusion of philosophical definitions by notable thinkers adds a philosophical depth to the discourse.
Certainly, highlighting historical perspectives enriches the understanding of civil wars and revolutions.
The article successfully outlines the key characteristics of both civil war and revolution, ensuring clarity on their differences.
I agree, it’s a well-structured comparison.
Absolutely, the distinction between the two is well articulated.
Great article! The comparison between civil war and revolution is very informative and helped me understand the difference better.
I agree, it’s a very useful comparison to know the different aspects of both.
Absolutely, the article provides clear definitions and examples of each.
I found the detailed comparison table very useful in highlighting the differences between civil wars and revolution.
Absolutely, the table format is an effective way of presenting the information.
Yes, the parameters of comparison make it easier to understand the nuances of each conflict.
I appreciate the depth of analysis provided, especially in the explanation of possible reasons for civil wars and revolutions.
Absolutely, the article provides multifaceted insights into these conflicts.
Yes, the examination of underlying causes adds significant value to the discussion.
Unfortunately, the article didn’t delve deeper into the global impact of civil wars and revolutions, which would have been interesting to explore.
I agree, a more in-depth analysis of the broader implications would be insightful.
This article effectively elucidates the complexities of civil wars and revolutions, making them accessible to a broader audience.