Confederacy: AP US History Definition

What is a confederacy?

In College Board AP US History, the Confederacy, or Confederate States of America (CSA), was a group of eleven Southern states that seceded from the union, leading to the American Civil War. 

The Confederacy was created on December 20th, 1860 during a convention in South Carolina. After this convention in January and February 1861, six more states seceded and joined the Confederacy, including, Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana. They were led by President Jefferson Davis from February 18th, 1861 to May 5th, 1865. 

Why Did The Confederate States Seceed From The Union? 

The Confederate States seceded from the Union due to several issues including: 

• the election of President Abraham Lincoln 

• economic differences between Southern and Northern states in the Union 

• the States’ rights argument  

• slavery 

What Happened To The Confederacy After The American Civil War? 

The Confederacy fought against the North (the Union) but lost in 1865. After the Civil War, the Confederacy was dissolved and the states were readmitted to the United States. Its defeat led to the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment to the Consitution, and major changes in the South during Reconstruction.

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