Could 2 states have a war with eachother?

[bgwah]

I was just wondering. Lets say North Dakota thinks it should control South Dakota, and South Dakota thinks it should control North Dakota, so the two have a war with eachother and try to take the other one over. Is this legal? What would the federal government do?

[Peter]

For starters, States are forbidden from declaring War under Article I Section 10 Clause 3. There would also be problems with bolting the two Dakotas together to make one state under Article IV Section 3 Clause 1.

The United States is required to "protect each of [the States] against Invasion", therefore if, for example, North Dakota invaded South Dakota, then South Dakota, theoretically at least, would be supported by federal troops.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

well this did happen during the Civil War I guess you could argue. And prior to that even, it happened on a smaller scale in Bleeding Kansas. Although then the federal government was too divided to intervene, normally it would.

There was once a case in 1838 where a "war" broke out between a state and a Canadian province. Maine and New Brunswick got in a land dispute, they mobilized their state militias and were ready to fight, but the situation was resolved before any fighting broke out. It's still called the Aroostook War or often jokingly the Pig War since the only combat casualty was a pig stolen from a Canadian camp and eaten by the Americans.

[12th Doctor]

Acctually, IIRC, Iowa did threaten to invade Missouri in the 1840's over a territorial dispute.  The Federal Government threatened action, so they negotiated instead.

[badnarikin04]

Hell no.


The Dakotas are fine as they are.

No more civil wars.

[PBrunsel]

Acctually, IIRC, Iowa did threaten to invade Missouri in the 1840's over a territorial dispute.  The Federal Government threatened action, so they negotiated instead.

Missouri would not withdraw from southern Iowa so we had to call the militia. We could have easily defeated Missouri.

[Defarge]

New York could kick New Jersey's ass

[PBrunsel]

In 1857 President Buchanan sent troops to forcably install a new Governor in Utah Territory, Alfred Cumming, due to current Governor Bringham Young being a polygamist.

General Albnert Sydney Johnston was able to defeat the small Mormon militias and Cummings was installed as Governor and Young was arrested.

[Akno21]

I doubt Delaware has a very strong army...We do need more space...if only we had a general.

[J. J.]

I doubt Delaware has a very strong army...We do need more space...if only we had a general.

Well, I could take train down from Philly.  :-)

[Alcon]

I'm not sure, but I can imagine how interesting a war between North Dakota and South Dakota would be.

"We attack Rapid City at dawn! And then Sioux Falls! And then...umm...what else is in South Dakota?"

Personally I want to see Wyoming take on Rhode Island.

[Bono]

Vermont vs New Hampshire(hippies vs gun nuts), or Alaska vs. Hawai would be interesting to see. (I want smilies back).

[Nation]

MD vs Virginia, we'd kick those Virginians ass.

[Dave from Michigan]

Michigan vs. Ohio


Oh wait that already happened,

and give us our land back Ohio

[Akno21]

MD vs Virginia, we'd kick those Virginians ass.

Oh, yes. As far as states that border each other, MD and VA are the most different. We always dominate in sports, at least.

[WMS]

Well, NM and Texas DID fight each other, but not as U.S. states - during the period between the War of Texan Independence and the Mexican War, independent Texas repeatedly tried to take over Mexican province New Mexico...they failed, and I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not.