confederates

Confederates were supporters of the Confederate States of America, a secessionist government formed by eleven southern states that left the United States in 1861. The Confederacy fought to preserve slavery and to assert what its leaders described as states’ rights, and it existed as a separate nation during the American Civil War (1861–1865).

Formation and leadership: The Confederacy established a provisional government in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1861, then moved its capital to Richmond, Virginia. Jefferson Davis served as President; Alexander H. Stephens as Vice President. The Confederate Constitution preserved slavery, defined citizenship rules, and limited presidential power relative to the federal government.

Military forces: The Confederate armed forces fought the Union in the Civil War. Notable generals included Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet, and Nathan Bedford Forrest. The war involved shortages of resources, manpower, and industrial capacity, as well as naval blockades and strategic campaigns.

Society and economy: Slavery underpinned the Confederate economy, with enslaved people performing labor in fields, plantations, and urban settings. Enslaved people resisted through work slowdowns, escape, and other means. The war disrupted agriculture, industry, and infrastructure, leading to significant casualties and displacement.

End and legacy: The Confederacy collapsed in 1865 following a sequence of surrender events, including Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House. During Reconstruction, former Confederate states faced reintegration and political transformation. In the long term, debates over Confederate memory, monuments, and the legacy of the Confederacy have remained contentious in public discourse.