The Southern Confederacy, officially known as the Confederate States of America, was a group of eleven southern states that seceded from the United States between 1860 and 1861. These states formed their own government in response to tensions over issues like slavery and states' rights, leading to the American Civil War. The Confederacy existed from 1861 until its defeat in 1865. Its capital was Richmond, Virginia, and it was led by President Jefferson Davis. The Confederacy aimed to establish itself as an independent nation, but ultimately, it was unable to sustain its government and military against the Union forces.