A Concise History of the American Civil War

What follows is a concise history, an outline actually, of the American civil war. This is not the civil war of the early 1860’s. It is the cvil war of the mid 2020’s1). August, 2024: The Republican Party nominates, with only token opposition, Donald J. Trump as their nominee for the 2024 US presidential election. He runs against Joe Biden for that office.2). November 5, 2024: Joe Biden wins a second term as President of the United States. Biden wins in a landslide with 62% of the popular vote and 57% of the electoral vote. The Republicans also lose many down ballot elections and lose control of several state legislatures.3). December, 2024: Republicans in seven red state legislatures, including some in which they lost the election but still hold power until the official transition of power occurs, use previously past legislation to invalidate their states election and both hold onto power and reassign their electors to Trump. Trump then is the elected President with a small margin of electoral votes.4). January, 2025: Outraged voters organize protests and marches against actions by the red state legislatures. Members of those legislatures go on social media to request that their supporters organize counter protests and marches and subtly suggest those counter protesters come armed. Many of the protestors, hearing this, also come armed. They also order local police, sheriffs departments, and state police to control the situation. Many members of these departments have divided loyalties with respect to these events.5). January 6, 2025: In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, an old car driving down the street adjacent to the one where protestors and counter protestors, along with law enforcement personnel, are gathered backfires. For a full minute everyone freezes. Then shots ring out. Then more shots ring out. Soon, there is a hail of bullets, some shot into the air in an attempt to quell the situation, some shot into the crowds. People all over the country (the world, actually) are watching these events on broadcast news and on social media. Shots begin to be fired at other protest/counter-protest events. Dozens of riots ensue across the country. Businesses are looted, government buildings and stores are burned. A national emergency is declared and the National Guard is activated to reestablish control, but many of their members join the battling parties, bringing armored combat vehicles into the fray.6). January 6, 2025: America's second civil has begun and continues with no end in sight.