The Confederate States of America was a loosely-bound confederation of states that seceded from the United States in late 1860 and early 1861, in the aftermath of President John C. Frémont's re-election. The Confederacy was founded on fears of the South's aristocratic elite, and the poor whites there, and the potential for Frémont to enforce anti-slavery legislation that they feared was going to be introduced to the Congress; and, at the same time, to stamp out Southern culture and forge a new imperialistic and tyrannical government based out of Washington that would supersede the powers and responsibilities of the various states. The Confederacy fought the Union (or "North", the Federal government) in the American Civil War, and the war was brought to a conclusion with the collapse and dissolution of the Confederate government after the surrender of Richmond in February 1864.
