Confederate States of America

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Confederate States of America
1861–1865
Flag of Confederate States of America
Flag
(1861–1863)
Seal (1863–1865) of Confederate States of America
Seal
(1863–1865)
Motto: Deo vindice
("Under God, our Vindicator")
Anthems: 
"God Save the South" (de facto)

"Dixie" (unofficial, popular)
Map of northern hemisphere with Confederate States of America highlighted
  •   The Confederate States in 1862
  •   Claims made by the Confederacy
  •   Separated West Virginia
  •   Contested Native American territory
StatusUnrecognized state[1]
Capital
Largest cityNew Orleans (until May 1, 1862)
Common languagesEnglish (de facto)
minor languages : French (Louisiana), Spanish (Arizona), Indigenous languages (Indian territory)
Demonym(s)Confederate
GovernmentConfederated presidential non-partisan herrenvolk republic
President 
• 1861–1865
Jefferson Davis
Vice President 
• 1861–1865
Alexander H. Stephens
LegislatureCongress
Senate
House of Representatives
Historical eraAmerican Civil War / International relations of the Great Powers (1814–1919)
February 8, 1861
April 12, 1861
February 22, 1862
April 9, 1865
April 26, 1865
May 9, 1865
Population
• 18601
9,103,332
• Slaves2
3,521,110
Currency
Preceded by
Succeeded by
South Carolina
Mississippi
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Louisiana
Texas
Virginia
Arkansas
North Carolina
Tennessee
Arizona Territory
West Virginia
Tennessee
Arkansas
Florida
Alabama
Louisiana
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
Mississippi
Texas
Georgia
Arizona Territory
Today part ofUnited States
The "Blood-Stained Banner" - the Third and final flag of the Confederate States of America. (4th March, 1865 - onwards)
The states in dark green were the Confederate States of America and light green shows territory that was claimed, but never under effective control.

The Confederate States of America (CSA) was a short-lived government that existed in the southern United States during the American Civil War. It was established (made) in 1861 by seven southern states in which slavery was legal, after Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the U.S., but before he took office. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas declared their secession (independence) from the United States. After war began, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina joined them. The first capital of the Confederacy was Montgomery, Alabama, but for most of the war the capital was Richmond, Virginia.

The government of the Confederacy was much like the United States government. The Confederate States Constitution was similar to that of the United States; however, it emphasized states' rights and clearly protected the enslavement of black Americans. Jefferson Davis was chosen as president and Alexander Stephens as vice-president. As in the United States, the CSA president had a cabinet of advisors.

The United States government (also known as the Union) did not agree that the states could leave and start a new government. Thus, the Union government refused to abandon all its forts in the states that wanted to secede. War began when the CSA attacked one of those forts, Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. This war is known as the American Civil War, and it lasted from 1861 to 1865. After some of the deadliest battles in U.S. history, Union forces gradually regained control of southern states. As Confederate forces surrendered, the Confederacy fell apart and the Civil War came to a close in 1865. Following the war, slavery was outlawed everywhere in the United States. The process of restoring the states of the CSA to the Union, called the Reconstruction of the United States, continued until 1877.

It is still undecided if the Confederate States of America was ever a country. The Union never said that the Confederacy was really a country. Although British and French companies sold ships and materials to the Confederacy, no nation officially recognized the CSA as an independent country.[4][5]

The CSA was also called "the South," "the Confederacy," and "Dixie."

References[change | change source]

  1. "Preventing Diplomatic Recognition of the Confederacy, 1861–65". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013.
  2. "Reaction to the Fall of Richmond". American Battlefield Trust. December 9, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  3. "History". Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  4. "Preventing Diplomatic Recognition of the Confederacy, 1861-1865". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  5. McPherson, James M. (2007). This mighty scourge: perspectives on the Civil War. Oxford University Press US. p. 65. ISBN 9780195313666.

Other websites[change | change source]