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.

Walter shifts her attention from focusing on patterns and risk factors that predict where and when civil wars might break out to a specific case study: the US. She begins by exploring the deadly insurrection that occurred at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. On this day, a joint session of Congress convened to certify Joe Biden’s electoral win. For months, Donald Trump had been contesting this election result and calling on Vice President Pence to overturn the 2020 election results by refusing to certify some electoral votes, claiming widespread voter fraud. Despite bullying lawyers and government and election officials to try and alter the outcome, Trump had thus far been unsuccessful.

As a result, supporters of Donald Trump gathered near the White House for a “Save America” rally and to hear him speak on January 6. During his speech, Trump urged his followers to march to the Capitol and “press lawmakers to do what was right” (131). While he pledged to join his supporters, Trump returned to the White House. However, his supporters had been preparing for this event and headed to the Capitol.