Echoes of division: fears of a new civil war. Anxiety sufferers, see if this resonates with you: are you worried that there might be another civil war? I keep wondering what my future looks like.
Am I going to live to the ripe old age of 80 or 90? Or do I only have a few years to live? I mean, either way, I could die of natural causes, but the worrier in me…well worries.
I admit it, I’m fearful of the future of the country and me in it. Will there be another Civil War? Will there be another Depression?
I’ve already made up my mind that if either happens, I don’t want to go through either one of them. The anxiety would become so great that I don’t think I could live through either one.
Hell, I’m worrying about it now and they both might not happen. But yet I’m fearful. I’m not going to live with fear. It will tear me apart.
“Cold” Civil War?
Echoes of division: fears of a new civil war. Business Insider published a poll in October 2020 saying a majority of Americans believed the U.S. was already in the midst of a “cold” civil war.
Then last fall, the University of Virginia Center for Politics released a poll finding that a majority of people who had voted to reelect former President Donald Trump in 2020 now wanted their state to secede from the Union.
The UVA data also showed a stunning 41% of those who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 also said it might now be “time to split the country.”
The Young
Echoes of division: fears of a new civil war. Researchers have found such downbeat assessments of America’s democracy are especially salient among the young.
Last month, the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School published a poll that found half of voting age Americans under 30 thought our democracy was “in trouble” or “failing.”
A third also said they expected there to be “a civil war” within their lifetimes. And a quarter thought at least one state would secede.
The more one hears this particular drumbeat, the louder it becomes.
Looking at America today, it would be an exaggeration to suggest the United States is on the brink of civil war given its booming economy and robust political system.
However, American discourse on the Civil War remains ever present.
Today, pervasive civil war anxiety and alarmist fears of a second civil war are reaching a fever pitch, fueled by increasing political division.
In August 2022 a national poll found that 40% of Americans considered a civil war likely within the next ten years.
What are the Three Main Causes of the Civil War?
The Civil War in the United States began in 1861, after decades of simmering tensions between northern and southern states over slavery, states’ rights and westward expansion.
Slavery
In the North, manufacturing and industry was well established, and agriculture was mostly limited to small-scale farms.
The South’s economy was based on a system of large-scale farming that depended on the labor of Black enslaved people to grow certain crops, especially cotton and tobacco.
Pro- and anti-slavery forces struggled violently in “Bleeding Kansas,” while opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act in the North led to the formation of the Republican Party, a new political entity based on the principle of opposing slavery’s extension into the western territories.
Abraham Lincoln’s election in November 1860 was the final straw, and within three months seven southern states—South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas—had seceded from the United States.
After the Emancipation Proclamation (1863-4)
Lincoln had used the occasion of the Union victory at Antietam to issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all enslaved people in the rebellious states after January 1, 1863.
He justified his decision as a wartime measure, and did not go so far as to free the enslaved people in the border states loyal to the Union.
All in all, Sherman received Johnston’s surrender at Durham Station, North Carolina on April 26, effectively ending the Civil War.
HOW TO STAY SAFE DURING CIVIL UNREST
Know when civil unrest is approaching
There are a few ways to know that unrest might be approaching.
Watch the news. When you turn on the news, look for any signs of increasing hostility toward one group, company, or area.
Moreover, if coverage of one topic increases or becomes consistent, you should begin to prepare for unrest – especially if the stations are national or worldwide, which means it could impact more than just your community.
Log onto social media. Oftentimes, social media platforms such as Twitter or Instagram can provide breaking information faster than traditional news outlets.
In addition to posts from traditional media and other residents, local governments and emergency services often have social media accounts.
These provide up-to-date and reliable information from a trusted source.
Be wary, however, of fake news: A study by MIT found that fake news is 70 percent more likely to be retweeted than true news.
In addition, it takes true stories six times as long to reach 1,500 people than it does for fake news.
Pay attention to legal and political happenings. Look for increasing hostility around hot-button topics as well as propaganda that stems from both sides.
Invest in the proper gear
Echoes of division: fears of a new civil war. Having the correct equipment within arms’ reach is critical. While many think just of items such as food, water, and first aid gear, some other things will be helpful to have, including:
- Flashlight
- Small radio to keep current on events
- Extra batteries
- Basic outdoor survival gear (e.g. survival knife or multi-tool)
- A small bag with items such as clothes, toilet paper, money, documents, and any necessary medications
As a general rule of thumb, you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours – more if you expect the situation to be long-term. Prepare a full emergency preparedness kit that you can grab in a hurry should you need to evacuate quickly.
Determine an easily accessible meeting location
When unrest breaks out, you must have an easily accessible meeting point where you can reunite with friends or family. You might even consider having a backup plan in case your meeting point becomes inaccessible due to the event. Regardless of the point you choose, it should be easily accessible from several locations and situated in a non-congested area.
Prepare a safe evacuation route
Should the need to leave the area arise, you should be prepared and know how to do so quickly and safely. When creating your evacuation plan, include one that is driveable and another that provides a safe walking environment.
If you’re driving, try to avoid major highways or thoroughfares. Your walking route should avoid busy sidewalks and retail districts where looting could easily happen.
Secure your home
Most apartment- and condo-style buildings are secured with locked doors and, in some cases, doormen or security teams. However, if you live in a house, it can be difficult to know how to protect it during civil unrest.
Enhancing your security measures is a must. To truly fortify your home, consider installing fencing and security cameras for extra protection. If you have the means and the time, certain breeds of dogs are another great security solution and can provide excellent advanced notice of intruders.
How to Stay Safe IF Unrest Breaks Out
Echoes of division: fears of a new civil war. Should civil unrest break out in your area, above all, stay calm. Following these civil unrest safety tips will help to keep you as safe as possible:
Stay home
Your own home is generally the safest place to be in times of unrest. Stay inside – do not go outside to “get a better look,” as the last thing you should do is get involved in the chaos. You should have enough food and water to last at least 72 hours (three days).
Avoid the situation
In the case that you’re away from home when unrest breaks out, act quickly and return to your home. While returning home, you should actively avoid areas with demonstrations or large protests and do not involve yourself.
Once home safe, if you must leave, continue to obey local curfews, ordinances, and regulations. These can easily be found on news networks, city websites, or via social media.
Find smaller crowds
Should you find yourself in the middle of a demonstration, work to identify and get to a place with fewer crowds and more chances of refuge. This may be a large building (e.g. hotel or business) or any space with a basement or sub-basement.
As you move toward protection, keep to the outer edges of the crowd where it will be safest. Should you become injured, seek medical attention immediately.
Stay in your car
Your car will offer protection and shelter during a demonstration, but you should never attempt to drive through a crowd. Instead, find a side road or turn around and drive away as calmly as possible.
If driving away from the situation is not possible, park, lock, and leave it instead to find shelter in a less dangerous area.
If neither option is available and you are unable to get out of the situation in any capacity, stop the car and cut the engine. Stay in your car with the doors locked instead.
What Wars is the US in Right Now?
Echoes of division: fears of a new civil war. As of July 17, 2024, the United States is involved in three wars through four military engagements: the Yemeni Civil War, The Somali Civil War, and the Syrian Civil War.
The US military has also been targeted by Iran-affiliated groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Since the end of October 2023, the US has mobilized over 15,000 sailors in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean to create a protective “bubble” around Israel.
Sum It All Up
Echoes of division: fears of a new civil war. I’m not suggesting there is going to be another civil war. My anxiety is high, so it takes one thing and focuses intently on that one thing.
Unfortunately, that’s what inadvertently happens when you deal with high anxiety. My focus just happens to be about what’s happening in America.
I’m so used to how I’m living and how it might change is disconcerning. There are forces at play that some people aren’t aware of or are turning a blind eye to it.
So, my anxiety will continue and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Until next time…
Articles About Unrest In America
-CIVIL UNREST: TRAVEL ADVICE AND PLANNING
-Preparation of civil defense in the siege
https://dovidka.info/en/preparation-of-civil-defense-in-the-siege
-‘They are preparing for war’: An expert on civil wars discusses where political extremists are taking this country
Have a Good One,
Cindee Murphy, One Voice In The Vastness Of Emotions
“With one terrible exception, the Civil War, law and the Constitution have kept America whole and free.”-Anthony Lewis
“The Civil War defined us as what we are and it opened us to being what we became, good and bad things… It was the crossroads of our being, and it was a hell of a crossroads.”-Shelby Foote
“The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”-Aberjhani
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