Confederate States of America

:For other meanings of confederate and confederacy, see confederacy (disambiguation)

History

The Confederate States was formed on February 4, 1861, by six Southern slave states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana) after confirmation of the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. Jefferson Davis was selected as its first President the next day.

Related Topics:
February 4 - 1861 - Southern - Slave states - South Carolina - Mississippi - Florida - Alabama - Georgia - Louisiana - President of the United States - Jefferson Davis - President

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A month later, on March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President of the United States. In his inaugural address, he argued that the Constitution was a more perfect union than the earlier Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, that it was a binding contract, and called the secession "legally void". He stated he had no intent to invade southern states, but would use force to maintain possession of federal property and collection of various federal taxes, duties and imposts. His speech closed with a plea for restoration of the bonds of union.

Related Topics:
March 4 - 1861 - President of the United States - Inaugural - Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

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Texas joined the Confederacy early in March and then replaced its governor, Sam Houston, when he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. These seven states seceded1 from the United States and took control of military/naval installations, ports, and custom houses within their boundaries, triggering the American Civil War.

Related Topics:
Texas - Sam Houston - Seceded - ¹ - United States - American Civil War

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On April 12, South Carolina troops fired upon the Federal troops stationed at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina until the troops surrendered. Following the Battle of Fort Sumter, Lincoln called for all remaining states in the Union to send troops to recapture Sumter and other forts, defend the capital, and preserve the Union. Most Northerners believed that a quick victory for the Union would crush the nascent rebellion, and so Lincoln only called for volunteers for 90 days. This resulted in four more states voting to secede: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina joined the Confederacy for a total of 11. Once Virginia seceded, the Confederate capital was moved from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond, Virginia

Related Topics:
April 12 - Fort Sumter - Charleston, South Carolina - Battle of Fort Sumter - Virginia - Arkansas - Tennessee - North Carolina - Montgomery, Alabama - Richmond, Virginia

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The governments of Missouri and Kentucky remained in the Union, but rival factions from those two states were also accepted as members of the Confederacy. The number of Confederate states is thus sometimes considered to be 13.

Related Topics:
Missouri - Kentucky

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The five tribal governments of the Indian Territory—which became Oklahoma in 1907—also mainly supported the Confederacy. The southern part of New Mexico Territory (including parts of the Gadsden Purchase) joined with the Confederacy as Arizona Territory. These first settlers petitioned the Confederate government for annexation of their lands, prompting an expedition in which territory south of the 34th parallel was governed by the Confederacy. Arizona troops were also officially recognized within the armies of the Confederacy.

Related Topics:
Indian Territory - Oklahoma - 1907 - Gadsden Purchase - Arizona Territory

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Preceding his New Mexico Campaign, General Sibley issued a proclamation to the people of New Mexico his intentions of taking possession of the territory in the name of the Confederate States. Confederate troops briefly occupied the territorial capital of Santa Fe between March 13 and April 8, 1862.

Related Topics:
New Mexico Campaign - Sibley - New Mexico - Santa Fe - March 13 - April 8 - 1862

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Not all jurisdictions where slavery was still legal joined the Confederacy. In 1861 martial law was declared in Maryland (the state which borders the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., on three sides) to block attempts at secession. Delaware, also a slave state, never considered secession, nor did the capital of the U.S., Washington, D.C.. In 1863, during the war, a unionist rump legislature in Wheeling, Virginia seceded from Virginia, claiming 48 counties, and joined the United States as the state of West Virginia, with a constitution that would have gradually abolished slaveryhttp://www.ls.net/~newriver/va/vasecesh.htm. Similar attempts to secede from the Confederacy in parts of other states (notably in eastern Tennessee) were held in check by Confederacy declarations of martial lawhttp://www.aotc.net/Marxen.htmhttp://web.utk.edu/~jharvey2/kville%20before%20siege.htm.

Related Topics:
Martial law - Maryland - Delaware - Washington, D.C. - 1863 - Rump legislature - Wheeling, Virginia - United States - West Virginia

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The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia by General Lee at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 is generally taken as the end of the Confederate States. President Davis was captured at Irwinville, Georgia on May 10 and the remaining Confederate armies surrendered by June, 1865. The last Confederate flag was hauled down on CSS Shenandoah on August 2, 1865.

Related Topics:
Lee - Appomattox Court House - April 9 - 1865 - Irwinville - May 10 - June - CSS ''Shenandoah'' - August 2

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