What's happening?

Attack helicopters fly across the night sky. Soldiers run through the streets. This is not GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. or UkraineA country in Eastern Europe. It was invaded by Russia in February 2022. , but modern-day America.

That is the idea behind a new film, Civil War, released in cinemas on Friday. It tells the story of a group of journalists travelling across the USA as rebel armies prepare for battle. Even though it is just a story, some think it serves as a warning about the future of the USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. .

According to a 2022 survey, 40% of Americans think a new civil warA war between people from the same country. is "likely in the next 10 years".

In November, the country will vote on the next presidentIn some countries, the leader is called the president.. Is there a risk of actual violence?

Some say the answer is yes. The last few years have seen huge protests over Black Lives MatterA political movement which aims to challenge police brutality and racism towards black people all across the world, usually using protests and other means of activism., street fights between people with different political views and the storming of the CapitolThe building in Washington DC where the US Congress meets. It was named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome. building on 6 JanuaryThen-US president Donald Trump was accused of inciting a mob of his supporters to storm the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 in a bid to overturn the 2020 election results. 2021 by fans of Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. who could not believe he lost the 2020 election.

However, others argue that the divides are not really as bad as they seem. Most Americans still support the right to vote, equal protection under the law, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the right to privacy.

Find out more

Social media can give people a vision of life which is not really true. ExtremeVery great, or beyond what is expected. views get all the attention, while moderateAs a verb, make less extreme or intense. views are overlooked.

Civil War is set in a nightmare vision of the future, but it explores genuine fears people have about America today. To stop fictionThings that are fictional are made up. from becoming a reality, some say that Americans must rediscover what they have in common.

Could it really happen?

Yes! America is more divided today than it was 10, 20 or even 50 years ago. If Americans do not agree on who really wins the presidential electionA vote in which someone is chosen to represent a group of people. in November, then a war is a real possibility.

No! Americans still share the same basic ideas and values about what life should be like in their country. Social media makes people think Americans are more divided than they really are.