What was the Confederate States of America?
Q: What was the Confederate States of America?
A: 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 by seven southern states in which slavery was legal, after Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the U.S., but before he took office.
Q: What were the states that declared their secession from the United States?
A: 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.
Q: Where were the capitals of CSA located?
A: The first capital of the Confederacy was Montgomery, Alabama; however for most of the war it moved to Richmond Virginia.
Q: How did CSA's government compare to that of US?
A: The government of CSA was much like that of US - its Constitution being similar to that of US but emphasizing states' rights and protecting enslavement of black Americans. Jefferson Davis was chosen as president and Alexander Stephens as vice-president; similarly to US there also existed a cabinet with advisors for CSA's president.
Q: Why did Union not agree with states leaving it?
A: The Union government refused to abandon all its forts in those states wanting to secede so they could form a new government - thus leading to war when Confederate forces attacked one such fort - Fort Sumter in Charleston South Carolina - marking beginning of American Civil War lasting 1861-1865.
Q: What happened after Civil War ended?
A: After some deadly battles Union forces regained control over southern states leading Confederacy falling apart and ending Civil War in 1865; following this slavery became outlawed everywhere in US while process restoring former Confederate states into Union continued until 1877.
Q: Was CSA ever recognized as an independent country by any nation ?
A: No nation officially recognized CSA as an independent country although British and French companies sold ships and materials to it ; it is still undecided if CSA ever really constituted a country since Union never said so either .
