Unification War = Civil War?

POSTED BY: ReaverMeat
UPDATED: Monday, January 23, 2006 18:27
VIEWED: 6121
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SIKKUKUT

Monday, January 23, 2006 5:24 PM

The slavery issue is very much a red herring here, in my opinion.

To quote the Simpsons:

Proctor: All right, here's your last question. What was the cause of the Civil War?
Apu: Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists, there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--
Proctor: Wait, wait... just say slavery.
Apu: Slavery it is, sir.

Anyway, I can't add much to the discussion re: Joss being inspired by The Killer Angels (other than, "Yep."), but do note the similarity of post-Unification lawlessness to the exploits of historical groups like the James gang, which was made up of Confederate soldiers.

Definitely not a one-to-one correspondence, but certainly at least a wee bit allegorical, considering the simple facts of a huge civil war, following which many of the veterans of the losing side try to find freedom on a lawless frontier.

CITIZEN

Monday, January 23, 2006 5:29 PM

Quote:
Well, the war that Mal fought in was most certainly a civil war.

A civil war is one that takes place within the territories of a single nation between factions from within that nation.

The Alliance was one government (one nation) and the Independents were a coalition of Governments (many nations) like the allies from the Second World War. It wasn't a civil war.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

MUIRGHEAL

Monday, January 23, 2006 5:29 PM

Wow, it is amazing to me that this myth still gets perpetuated, that the "Civil" war was fought over Slavery. Slavery was dieing out all over the south long before the war was started.

I recommend Gods and Generals as a good viewing into what the war was about. Let me remind you, the Union army invaded Virginia. I am the grandchild of many many soldiers of the Confederacy. Not a one of which owned slaves or would tolerate it. But then not many of my ancestor's KNEW anyone who owned slaves.

I agree with a previous poster who said the main similarities are in the years AFTER the war. The cripled economy, the opinion that the Rebels somehow deserve to starve for not just allowing themselves to be ruled by a government who really had no interest in their lives.

The is the main thing I love about Firefly, its very familiar to me. But Im a very southern gal.

Muirgheal
A Shiny Happy Person
"Ain't we just!"

STAKETHELURK

Monday, January 23, 2006 5:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sikkukut:
The slavery issue is very much a red herring here, in my opinion.

I agree that the slavery issue has little relevance to the ‘Verse as written, and its persistence in this thread will only produce more hostility. Look already at the people rushing to “clarify” the issue of the Civil War and the South’s motivations. And since I disagree with many of them, I’m biting back my own “clarification.” But this thread is about relevance to the ‘Verse; if we want to debate the causes of the Civil War, that’s what the RWED is for.

Quote:
but do note the similarity of post-Unification lawlessness to the exploits of historical groups like the James gang, which was made up of Confederate soldiers.

I think it’s interesting that you brought up Jesse James & Co; I definitely see the relevance there. I also think it’s important not to close off other historical influences though, such as Citizen’s comment about the parallels with World War II. Joss mentions, I think it’s in the Visual Companion, that another source of inspiration was a book he read about the Jewish resistance in Poland and the schemes they got involved in after the war. (He didn’t elaborate, but I’d love to read that book!) After reading that, Joss realized that any period of history could have relevance in the universe he was creating. So let’s also be careful not to wedge the ‘verse too tightly into any single historical model.

MYCROFTXXX

Monday, January 23, 2006 6:27 PM

To me, the war was more like the British Empire versus the American Revolution rather than a civil war only this time on many fronts (independent planets) that, out of necessity, combined forces to fight off the "Grand Unification Plan" (not unlike the indivdual colonies raising a continental army).

One other interesting aspect... there is a line in one of the episodes where Mal says something to the effect that "the Alliance drops off families with nothing more than blankets and a few supplies to fend for themselve" which would indicate that even though they managed to overcome the independents their expansion plans continue much like the Western expansion of America after the US won their independence and managed to keep the country together through a civil war. No doubt had Britain prevailed in quelling the "American colonial insurrection" as I'm sure they would now be referring to it in the history books they would have continued with that push to the west.

There's also the economic side of all this. In Jaynestown it illustrates how there are resources on these outer planets that are very much in demand within the Alliance (ceramics in this case). Economics are often a major driving force to "colonize" a barbarians' homeland.

Seems to me that although Joss drew upon several individual aspects of western history he is also citing present day activities as well. Not that unusual with any movie or TV show (BSG is a good example). Afterall, writers live in the present so they can't help but be influenced by today's global and political activities.

Oh, one more thing... I have no doubt that the cost of this "unification" was enormous and probably resulted in great costs to the Alliance which would further drive them to recoup their losses on the backs of the people they "conquered". The ole "to the victors go the spoils" cliche.

Conclusion (finally!): Civil war? No, it is much much more complex than that.

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