How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them

Content Warning: The source text depicts acts of violence and other crimes associated with civil wars.

In the opening section of Chapter 7, Walter imagines what the start of a civil war might look like in the US. Walter describes the confusion and fear that would occur after multiple state capitol buildings, courtrooms, and college classrooms are attacked by an unknown group, resulting in severe injuries and deaths of several legislators and their staff, teachers, and judges. The use of different weapons in these attacks suggests multiple groups are behind them, but none initially come forward. Instead, stories spread on social media that place the blame on various groups, exacerbating tension and feelings of fear and vulnerability.

People stay at home, and schools, places of worship, and government offices close. Sporadic violence continues over the next few days. People feel as if the government has collapsed. The presence of militias increases. These groups harass left-leaning institutions and people. In turn, Walter notes that “Americans on the left begin to form their own militias to protect their families and neighborhoods” (164). Local militias soon become more powerful than the police. Violence worsens, which propels people on both sides of the political right and left to turn to even more violence since they see fighting as the only way to save the US.