Second American Civil War

The Second American Civil War, also known as the Continental War, the North American War, or simply the Second Civil War was a massive conflict on the North American continent in the 23rd century between the United States of America, as well as the nations of Canada and Mexico, and the American Secessionist Union that lasted from February 22nd, 2233 to August 9th, 2239. The conflict was the largest ever seen on the continent, with the worst political and infrastructural devastation only second to the Human-Covenant War over two centuries later.
Decades of economic decline and perceived political corruption were brought to a head when a conspiracy that recently elected president of the United States Neil Amani had committed election fraud to become elected in 2232 gained weight in the western states. When undeniable proof of this action was made public, seven western states responded by seceding from the United States and forming the American Secessionist Union, believing the US government to be corrupt. The ASU took control of all military assets within their borders and began fortifying the borders along the loyalist US states.
US states responded by deploying National Guard forces to the borders, leading to a tense standstill as political leaders debated on actions. The war officially began on February 22nd, 2233, after a shot was fired on the border by an unknown combatant, leading to both sides to believe they were under attack and begin firing on each other.
Due to economic decline and the slow reactivation of US military forces, the United States lost large swathes of territory to the ASU early in the war, though they put up a decent though insufficient defense against the advancing attackers. Most of the midwestern state governments were overthrown or simply capitulated during the invasions. During this, the ASU movement gained great support among the American people as political spokespeople for the ASU continued to persuade thousands to their side.
The United States official collapsed following the deaths of president Neil Amani and all others in the presidential line of sucession. Various remnants of the United States government continued to fight against the ASU using guerilla tactics and other unusual warfare methods.
Remaining US government leaders, such as various state senators and governors, called on the neighboring nations of Canada and Mexico for aid. Fearing the danger the ASU would present to them if they grew stronger, the two countries officially formed the United Republic of North America, dissolving the US political remnants into it and officially declaring war on the Secessionist Union.
Through various long and bloody campaigns, the Secessionist frontlines quickly crumbled under the combined assault, making their last stand against URNA forces in the Siege of San Francisco on June 21st, 2239. However, several extremist leaders refused to surrender and enacted a secret failsafe known as Operation: SCORCHED EARTH. The operation saw the detonations of several ballistic and atomic weapons in dozens of cities across the United States, planted in captured cities following the URNA counterattacks, causing widespread casualties and devastation across the former nation.
The sheer destruction of the conflict dashed any hopes of restoring the Unites States government and warranted the permanent assertion of the United Republic of North America in the waning stages of the war to protect the weakened nations, forging a combined economy and military to prevent total government collapse.
The Second Civil War is one of the most extensively studied and written about episodes in U.S. history. It remains the subject of cultural and historiographical debate. Many insurrectionist movements in the 25th and 26th centuries took heavy inspiration from the American Secessionist Union, praising their bravery against a corrupt government, echoing their own causes for fighting against the Unified Earth Government.
== Causes of secession ==
For decades prior to the conflict, economic decline due to inflation and limited resources had crippled the American economy, leading to unrest and a growing demand for change within the American government. Paranoid, the president of the United States, Neil Amani, adopted several strict policies into the government to prevent a potential uprising, such as enforcing curfews and firearm controls, greatly decreasing public opinion of him. 
By 2231, support leaned heavily towards a new presidential candidate as Amani's ratings declined. However, suspicion arose when several promising candidates suddenly dropped out of the presidential race, stating it was due to family emergencies or health issues, and elaborated no further. Neil Amani won the election and entered his second term in 2232. Conspiracies that Neil Amani committed election fraud grew extremely popular, especially on the west coast. 
In late 2232, several private phone calls of Neil Amani threatening or bribing political opponents to drop out of the race were made public by an anonymous source. While many questioned the source's credibility and whether or not the calls were in fact real, more proof would be released condemning the president. This would be the final straw for many, especially in the west. Protests skyrocketed demanding the Supreme Court of the United States to remove Amani from office, to which the Supreme Court refused to act. 
Fed up with the situation, the state of California elected to secede from the United States government. They were followed soon after by the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Refusing to recognize Amani as the president, they ceased supplying the wider United States with their exports of food, energy, oil, and other resources, until Neil Amani was removed from office. When the Supreme Court again refused, the states formed the American Secessionist Union and declared independence from the United States. 
== Outbreak of war ==
following the formation of the ASU, all military and National Guard assets within their borders were seized, and tensions between sides skyrocketed as the United States government responded by deploying troops to the border along the ASU state lines while the ASU fortified their borders, leading to a tense standstill as political leaders debated on actions. The war officially began on February 22nd, 2233, after a shot was fired on the border by an unknown combatant, leading to both sides to believe they were under attack and begin firing on each other.
== War ==
=== Initial battles ===
==== Midwestern invasion campaigns ====
Due to economic decline and the slow reactivation of US military forces, the United States lost large swathes of territory to the ASU early in the war, though they put up a decent though insufficient defense against the advancing attackers. Most of the midwestern state governments were overthrown or simply capitulated during the invasions. During this, the ASU movement gained great support among the American people as political spokespeople for the ASU continued to persuade thousands to their cause.side.
=== Collapse of the United States ===
The United States official collapsed following the deaths of president Neil Amani and all others in the presidential line of sucession. Various remnants of the United States government continued to fight against the ASU using guerilla tactics and other unusual warfare methods.
=== Multinational intervention ===
Remaining US government leaders, such as various state senators and governors, called on the neighboring nations of Canada and Mexico for aid. Fearing the danger the ASU would present to them if they grew stronger, the two countries officially formed the United Republic of North America, dissolving the US political remnants into it and officially declaring war on the Secessionist Union.
=== URNA Midwest counterattack ===
=== Final battles ===
==== Siege of San Francisco ====
Through various long and bloody campaigns, the Secessionist frontlines quickly crumbled under the combined assault, making their last stand against URNA forces in the Siege of San Francisco on June 21st, 2239. The battle became infamous for its brutality and length, ultimately ending in a pyrrhic URNA victory.
==== Operation: SCORCHED EARTH ====
Little remained of the ASU following the disastrous defeat at San Francisco. However, several extremist leaders refused to surrender and enacted a secret failsafe known as Operation: SCORCHED EARTH. The operation saw the detonations of several ballistic and atomic weapons in dozens of cities across the United States, planted in captured cities following the URNA counterattacks, causing widespread casualties and devastation across the former nation.
=== End of the war ===
== Aftermath ==
== Outcome ==
=== Casualties ===
=== Political impact ===
=== International response ===
=== Economic and infrastructural impacts ===
== Legacy ==
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Category:Wars
Category:Second American Civil War