The Confederate States were a group of eleven southern states that seceded from the United States between 1860 and 1861. This secession was primarily driven by issues related to slavery and states' rights. The Confederate States formed their own government, known as the Confederacy, and fought against the Union in the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. The Confederacy was led by President Jefferson Davis and had its capital in Richmond, Virginia. The war ended with the defeat of the Confederate States, leading to their eventual reintegration into the United States and the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment.