Confederate States (Differently)

The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly known as the Confederate States, the Confederacy, or by its nickname, "Dixie", is an English-speaking country in North America. It borders the United States to the north and west, Mexico to the southwest and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and by the Gulf of Mexico on the south.

The country was formed by 11 states that seceded from the United States during the War for Southern Independence, which consolidated their independence as a single entity after their victory. The Confederacy established the states of Arizona and Sequoyah from other territories won in the war. Later the Confederacy took control over Cuba and Puerto Rico in a war against Spain in 1898 - which led to the CSA having a total of 15 states by 1910.

The Confederacy continued the act of slavery in many of its states until its formal abolition in 1899 by President Butler. Although slavery was ended, racial tensions were still high and would became a major factor in the coming Confederate Civil War, whose effects can still be felt to this day.

The Confederacy fell into a period of Civil War from 1935 to 1943, which resulted in the Confederate government being forced into exile in the United States as the communist government of the Confederation of American Socialist States took control over the country.

The Confederacy was the location of the American War (1961–1978), the largest conflict in the history of the New World. The war resulted in the reestablishment of the Confederacy's authority in the region and the dissolution of the communist regime.

The United States took the state of Arizona and part of the state of Virginia from the Confederacy, which were added to the US's union. This and other policies over the last 40 years have led to political tension between the two American nations.

Since the American War, the Confederacy has made strides in returning its infrastructure from the devastation of war, with the adoption of conservative political and economical reforms to attract international businesses. Since 2000, the Confederacy's economic growth rate has been among the highest in the world. These factors have made the Confederacy a prosperous local power with hopes of becoming major player in world politics in the coming future. Another result since the destruction of the CASS was the ending of their state atheism. This has led to evangelical Christians such as Billy Graham and Martin Luther King gaining a major footing in the nation. The Confederacy regained its status of a religious country, with high church attendance and membership.

The nation is also known for its distinguishable customs, musical styles, and cuisine. It is also a racially diverse country populated by European, African, Hispanic, and Native American ethnic groups.

The War of Southern Independence
The initial Confederacy was established at the Montgomery Convention in February 1861 by seven states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana, with Texas joining in March, before Lincoln's inauguration) and expanded in May–July 1861 (with Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina). It was formed by delegations from seven states of the Lower South that had proclaimed their secession from the Union. After the fighting began in April, four additional states seceded and were admitted. Later, two states (Missouri and Kentucky) and two territories (Arizona, and the Indian Territory) were given seats in the Confederate Congress. Southern California, although having some pro-Confederate sentiment, was never organized as a territory.

Many Southern whites considered themselves more citizens of their state than of the Union and were prepared to fight for the independence of the larger nation. That regionalism became a Southern nationalism. Its first two years, the Confederacy underwent trial by war.

The first major action of the war was in July 1861 and was a Confederate victory, but the CSA was unable to press the advantage.

The following spring, the Union's Army of the Potomac, commanded by General George McClellan, was dispatched to the Virginia Peninsula to move against the CSA capital of Richmond. McClellan was hesitant, believing he was outnumbered by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. With McClellan halting the advance, Confederate General Robert E. Lee forced the Army of the Potomac to retreat.

The following summer, Lee defeated the Union Army of Virginia under John Pope at a Second Battle of Bull Run.

In the fall of 1862, Confederate fortunes were riding extremely high, with Britain and France considering granting the CS diplomatic recognition. That fall, Lee launched an ambitious invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. General McClellan was slow to respond to Lee's invasion and the Union's intelligence failed to realize that the Army of Northern Virginia had adopted a high-risk marching order in which each division of James Longstreet's and Thomas Jackson's two corps were all marching alone. McClellan made the foolish decision to offer Lee battle at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, where the Army of the Potomac was destroyed on October 1, 1862.

Lee advanced on the city of Philadelphia and took possession of it. Shortly after, Britain and France extended diplomatic recognition to the Confederate States. US President Abraham Lincoln and CS President Jefferson Davis agreed to a ceasefire on November 27, 1862. Davis recalled Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia the day after.

Peace negotiations began January 8, 1863 and were held in Alexandria, Virginia. British Foreign Secretary Lord Russell served as mediator between the Confederacy and the United States. Lord Russell was joined by Royal Navy Admiral Sir Sydney Colpoys Dacres, British Ambassador to the United States 1st Viscount Richard Lyons, and French Ambassador to the United States Henri Mercier. The United States was represented by President Lincoln and newly appointed US Secretary of State Elihu B. Washburne (William H. Seward had resigned from the office of Secretary of State shortly after the ceasefire), and Admiral David Farragut. The Confederacy was represented by President Jefferson Davis, CS Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin, General Robert E Lee, and newly appointed Confederate ambassador to the United Kingdom James Murray Mason.

The key points of the treaty of Alexandria:
 * 1) The United States acknowledges the Confederate States of America to be free, sovereign, and independent states, and that the United States relinquishes all claims to the government, property, and territorial rights of the Confederacy.
 * 2) The United States will relinquish all claims in Virginia, the Indian Territory, and the Arizona Territory.
 * 3) The Confederacy will relinquish all claims in Kentucky, Missouri, and the New Mexico Territory.
 * 4) The United States will remove all armed forces from the Confederacy.
 * 5) The Congress of the Confederacy will recognize the rightful owners of all confiscated lands and "provide for the restitution of all estates, rights, and properties, which have been confiscated belonging to those who supported the Union".
 * 6) Confederate States will prevent future confiscations of the property of Unionists.
 * 7) Prisoners of war on both sides are to be released; all property of the United States army unable to be removed by the end of the year 1863 in the Confederate States will remain and be forfeited.
 * 8) The Confederate States and the United States are each to be given perpetual access to the Mississippi River;
 * 9) Territories captured by either side subsequent to the treaty will be returned without compensation.

The treaty was signed by both presidents on February 15, 1863, ending the War for Southern Independence.

Politics and administration
The politics of the Confederate States take place within the framework of a federal presidential constitutional republic. The President, elected by the Electoral College, is both head of state and head of government. The federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.

Subdivision
The Confederate States is divided into fourteen states which are subsequently divided into counties (exceptions are Cuba and Puerto Rico which are split into Provinces, Louisiana which is split into Parishes, Sequoyah which is split into Nations, and Virginia which along with counties has Independent Cities.)