A civil war, also known as an intrastate war in polemology, is a war between organized groups within the same state. The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.

What exactly is a civil war?

Civil war, a violent conflict between a state and one or more organized non-state actors in the state's territory. ... Some analysts distinguish between civil wars in which insurgents seek territorial secession or autonomy and conflicts in which insurgents aim for control of the central government.

What is an example of a civil war?

The definition of a civil war is a war between citizens of the same country. When the Northern States and Southern States in the U.S. fought over slavery, this was an example of a civil war. The war in England between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists from 1642 to 1648.