a war between peoples and groups in the same country is known as a civil war. it is generally agreed there are two things that make a war a civil war. it must be a struggle between groups in the same country or state over political control or to force a major change in the government's policy. the second criterion is that more than 1000 people have to have been killed, with a minimum of 100 from each side. the american civil war is an example of a civil war. while the figures are mere estimates, the total casualties are thought to be about 750,000.