Could there be Similarities to what caused The Nigerian Civil War and the American Civil War?
How Our World is Build on War
Since the beginning of the world till now, nations fight against each other. Looking back during the dark age, even before the birth of Christ, when men were almost as primitive as ape, there had never been peace in the world. The Roman Empire constantly fought with the barbarians who came to take over the Empire. But, even if the barbarians chose not to attack the Roman Empire, the Romans still fought themselves which led to their fall in 27 B.C.
Now, observing from the lens of history, war had been something that is synonymous with the world. It cannot entirely be eradicated, but can only be managed, suspended, or be ended. Even when we pray for peace, we all know that there would always be war, whether it affected us or not. That is why countries cannot just burry their weapons of warfare into the sea even when they are at peace, instead, they would keep improving and amplifying their weapons at the world’s backstage, while military strategies and tactics keep evolving over time as technology develops. Now the question is; why do we talk of peace even when we have war in mind?
OVERVIEW ON THE EVOLUTION OF WAR
Fast forward to the modern society, war and the ways it was fought has evolved. Instead of fighting with spears and arrows, we are now fighting with guns, and grenades. We gave up fighting on horses’ backs and we are now fighting with armored cars and jets. Gone are the days when wars are fought only on the lands; field, bushes, deserts, hills and on the mountains. Nowadays, wars are fought both on lands, in the waters, and on air. Men no longer assemble in a large field face-to-face, ready to slaughter themselves in the name of war. Nowadays, men sit in the comfort of their military facilities and push buttons, sending missiles to their targeted enemies. All these massive developments showcased the excellence and the exponential transformation in the military landscape overtime. And even within countries, states still fight against themselves, and tribes still fight against each other.
The Similarities in the Causes of American Civil War and the Nigerian Civil War
Let’s first look into what could bring two countries to go into war. Several factors may contribute to what triggers war between countries, or within a country, which may range from political, economical, religious, sociological and ideological incongruity. In this article, we are looking at the major thing that caused the American Civil War and the Nigerian Civil War. One of the major similarities to the causes of American and Nigerian civil war was what is called Secessionism.
Secessionism
Secessionism in the American Civil War
On April 12, 1861, when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina shortly after Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the president of America, the American Civil War broke out between the North America and the South America, majorly because of the enslaved black people. The South region of America wanted the slave trade to continue, seeking for states’ right to allow slaves through their borders, and when they couldn’t get it they resorted to secession.
Why the secession?
- The Southern America saw the Northern America as a hindrance to their economic growth, since the North America didn’t support the continuity of the slave trade.
Why was it difficult for the Southern America to let go of the slave trade?
- The economy of the Southern America heavily relied on agriculture, and since they used the slaves as machineries, they found it extremely difficult to accept policies that would abolish the slave trade. Meanwhile the North headed by Abraham Lincoln, was industrializing with diverse economy, and embracing the emerging industrial revolution. The war lasted for four years and ended on the spring of 1865.
Secessionism in the Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian tribal war or Civil war, also known as the Biafran war, or Nigerian War was a one-time violent and devastating occurrence that laid an indelible mark in Nigeria. Started in July 6, 1967 and ended in January 13, 1970, was a political-ethnic conflict after the southeastern region secession attempt. The southeastern region mostly populated by the Igbo tribe made this attempt to be independent and to create their own country known as the Republic of Biafra.
Why the secession?
- The Igbos attempted a recession out of fear of what they were going through from the rest of Nigeria. In 1966, before the war, there was an anti-Igbo pogroms, targeted only on Igbos living in the Northern region of Nigeria. The massacre claimed thousands lives of Igbo people (10,000 to 30,000 lives according to British Newspaper reports), and created an intense sense of fear and insecurity among the Igbos.
- The Igbos felt excluded from political power and economic opportunities.
- There had been a lot of ethnic tension and political marginalization geared against the Igbos. These are some of the reasons that pushed them into secession as a means of protection, and the secession instigated the civil war.
Conclusion
In spite of the difference between the two countries, America and Nigeria shared almost the same similarities to what caused their civil wars.
Just as The American Civil war also known as War Between The States, was the deadliest war in the American history, claiming over six hundred lives, so was the Nigerian-Biafran war was the deadliest in the history of Nigeria, and becoming one of the deadliest (if not the most deadliest) in Africa, claiming over an estimated 3 million lives. They were all wars which states fought against each other, within a country. And to sum it all, they were all revolutionary.
REFERENCE:
British Newspaper Reports.
Britannica.
Helion Company.
