The Confederate States of America: A Brief Overview

Confederates were the 11 Southern states that seceded from the United States and formed their own government, known as the Confederate States of America (CSA), in order to preserve the institution of slavery. The Confederacy fought against the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

Q: What is the difference between a union and a confederation ?
A: A union is a political entity formed by merging two or more states, whereas a confederation is a loose alliance of states that cooperate for mutual benefit but retain their individual sovereignty. In a confederation, the central government has limited powers and decision-making authority is often shared among member states. The Confederate States of America was an example of a confederation.

Q: What was the main cause of the American Civil War ?
A: The main cause of the American Civil War was the disagreement over slavery and states' rights. Southern states, which were largely agricultural and relied on slave labor, wanted to protect and expand the institution of slavery, while Northern states, which were more industrialized and had a smaller number of slaves, wanted to abolish it. The election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860, who was opposed to the expansion of slavery, led to several Southern states seceding from the Union and forming the Confederate States of America.

Q: What was the outcome of the American Civil War ?
A: The outcome of the American Civil War was the defeat of the Confederacy and the preservation of the Union. The Union victory resulted in the abolition of slavery in the United States, and the war had a profound impact on the country's social, political, and economic development. The war also led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and widespread destruction across the South.

Q: What is Reconstruction ?
A: Reconstruction refers to the period following the American Civil War (1865-1877) during which the nation attempted to rebuild and reorganize itself. The Reconstruction era saw the passage of important legislation such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship to former slaves, and guaranteed their right to vote. However, the Reconstruction period was also marked by violence, corruption, and discrimination against African Americans, and ultimately ended with the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and the rise of Jim Crow laws that restricted their rights.