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Confederate States Facts & Worksheets

The Confederate States of America, or simply known as the Confederacy, was a breakaway republic formed by slaveholding states in 1861.

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The Confederate States of America or simply known as the Confederacy, was a breakaway republic formed by slaveholding states in 1861. It was said to be made up of men who support white supremacy and slavery while opposing democracy and perpetuating inequality. It was composed of eleven secessionist states led by Jefferson Davis as president in opposition to Abraham Lincoln’s Union States.

See the fact file below for more information on the Confederate States. Alternatively, you can download our 22-page Confederate States worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Facts & Information

Background: Dispute between North and South

  • In the nineteenth century, the north and south of the United States began to coexist with different cultures and economic practices. The disagreement was said to be over slavery issues. South Carolina and Mississippi were the forerunners of secession in 1850.
  • Their perspectives on slavery were the opposite. One of the major causes of this disparity was the economy.
  • Because the North was industrialized and thus operated plantations, slavery was unnecessary. Instead, their employees were European immigrants.
  • Agriculture drives the economy of the Southern United States. With its aristocratic-like social structure, the extensive farmland was handled. They made use of slavery to make high profits in agriculture.
  • After a decade, the rights enclosed in slavery to support the South’s agrarian economy determined its politics.

Abraham Lincoln

  • Abraham Lincoln was most well-known for his views on the issue of slavery in the United States. He expressed his opposition to the expansion of slavery publicly that, in the 1850s, he was attacked by people for being an abolitionist.
  • In his debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858, he expressed more of his anti-slavery views to the public. Douglas argued that the citizens of each territory should decide the legality of slavery.
  • The complexity of resolving the issue lies in what the enslaved people could do to make a living in a society that treated them as inferior.
  • When Abraham Lincoln was elected, some southern politicians saw it as an act of war. They predicted that the election would be followed by movements to oppose white supremacy, such as armies marching in to seize enslaved people and force white women to marry black men. Meetings to discuss secession began across the South.
  • Then there was secession, which was followed by war. At Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens, public confrontations with Union troops erupted. The South began to stockpile weapons in preparation for any eventuality, while some encouraged the idea of kidnapping the president.

Secession

  • Officials from the seven states that were the first to leave the union met in Montgomery, Alabama, in February 1861 to discuss the formation of the Confederate States of America. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas were among the seven Southern states.
  • The dates of secession were as follows:

Confederacy

Constitution

  • The Confederacy Constitution was based on that of the United States, with only a few differences in the executive and judicial branches.
  • The president has six years to serve his term without running for reelection, according to the constitution.
    • Senator Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was elected president of the Confederation because the members trusted his skills and knowledge as a former secretary of war and soldier. Alexander H. Stephen, a former anti-secessionist and Georgia governor, served as his vice president.
  • It also states that even after upholding the institution of slavery, the African slave trade was prohibited.

Enlistment

  • Because President Davis anticipated a long war due to the secession, he ordered legislation permitting enlistment for the next three years. However, because the military affairs office believed that the conflict would be short, they authorized only a year of granted service from the troops.
  • Davis summoned 7,700 volunteers on March 9 to join the South Carolinians, which had grown to 62,000 troops by the middle of April and was stationed in former Union command posts.
  • Arizona attempted to join the Confederate States of America in March 1861 but was impeded by the federal government in 1862.
  • After several battles, Confederate forces were driven out of Arizona Territory in 1863. It was then divided into two territories, one of which belonged to the Union and the other known as New Mexico.

Civil War

  • The Civil War ignited when the Confederate forces began firing at Fort Sumter, where Union troops received supplies as promised by Lincoln on April 12.
  • The Confederacy gained four new members during the Civil War: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
  • Davis designated Richmond, Virginia, as the Confederate States’ capital in May 1861. Later, it was resolved with 1000 government members and 7000 civil servants accompanied by Confederate soldiers.
  • On July 16, a battle occurred, which the Confederacy won. It was dubbed the “First Battle of Bull Run.”
  • The Confederate government encountered a series of consequences as a result of its efforts to wage the Civil War.
  • In February 1862, Davis was given the authority to suspend habeas corpus and declare martial law. Throughout the war, he did so numerous times.
  • Because the Confederacy lacked armed troops and weapon supplies, its efforts in the war were almost entirely ignored. Because of the issues, the rates of volunteering and re-enlistment decreased.
  • Davis was forced to declare military service mandatory for males aged 18 to 35. Revisions were made to exempt those who owned at least 20 enslaved people. Nonetheless, the Confederate forces were outnumbered.

Economic Struggle

  • The Confederate States’ federal conscription laws were constantly challenged by state governors, resulting in more conflicts.
  • The situation deteriorated further when some troops robbed civilians of supplies.
  • Davis felt threatened by his authority, especially when he was almost impeached. He also had disagreements with Vice President Stephens.
  • The government became increasingly unstable. The economy of the Confederate was negatively affected by the war contributing to its inability to match with the production in the North.

Military Struggle

  • The Confederate forces managed to reduce the Union’s manpower by one-third. Davis, however, faced opposition in Congress, so he restructured military leadership to save his position.
  • The Confederacy suffered significant military losses, and the Union captured two of its territories, Atlanta and Chattanooga.
  • More soldiers deserted the Confederacy as a result of discouragement, and the Conscript Bureau was forced to close in 1865 due to a lack of men to draft.
  • In 1865, Davis proposed the purchase of 40,000 slaves in the final session of Congress.
  • He intended to turn them into military personnel because they had been promised freedom. He received congressional approval but provided no liberty.
  • General Order 14 was issued. Its goal was to free enslaved people who were converted to military men. Former slaves were quickly recruited and trained as black soldiers.
  • One cabinet member resigned after another. It was caused by the concessions they made to the Union. As a result of Richmond’s fall, Davis fled to North Carolina.

The Collapse of the Confederacy

  • Despite Davis’s order to switch to guerrilla tactics, many troops followed General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate States of America’s surrender on April 9, 1865.
  • Confederate officials declared the end of the Confederacy the following month, but Davis refused to accept it until Union forces in Georgia captured him. Even after being imprisoned for two years, he never lost his devotion to the Confederacy.
  • On May 13, the Civil War officially ended as the Confederate States of America did.
  • On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by a Confederate supporter, John Wilkes Booth, at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.
  • Former Confederate states were divided into military districts. They must apply for readmission to the Union and place their loyalty to the Constitution and federal government.
  • Upon the end of the war, some slaves were freed, while slavery was officially outlawed after the passage of the 13th amendment.
  • The reunion of states during the Reconstruction Era ended in 1877.

Confederate States Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Confederate States across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Confederate States worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about The Confederate States of America – simply known as the Confederacy – which was a breakaway republic formed by slaveholding states in 1861.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Confederate States Facts
  • Confederacy Mapping
  • Famous Leaders
  • Five Civilized Tribes
  • Confederate Flags
  • Civil War Battles
  • Union and Border States
  • Civil War Facts
  • North v. South
  • Civil War Effects
  • Confederates in Action

Frequently Asked Questions

What states were in the Confederate?

Officials from the seven states that were the first to leave the union met in Montgomery, Alabama, in February 1861 to discuss the formation of the Confederate States of America. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas were among the seven Southern states. The Confederacy gained four new members during the Civil War: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

What did the Confederates believe in?

It was said to be made up of men who support white supremacy and slavery while opposing democracy and perpetuating inequality.

What did the Confederates stand for?

The Confederacy Constitution also states that even after upholding the institution of slavery, the African slave trade was prohibited.

Did the Civil War end slavery?

Upon the end of the war, some slaves were freed, while slavery was officially outlawed after the passage of the 13th amendment.

Why did the Confederate States collapse?

Despite Davis’s order to switch to guerrilla tactics, many troops followed General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate States of America’s surrender on April 9, 1865.

Confederate officials declared the end of the Confederacy the following month, but Davis refused to accept it until Union forces in Georgia captured him.

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Link will appear as Confederate States Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 14, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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