Central Confederacy facts for kids

The United States in 1861, showing states that left the Union.      States of the Union where slavery was banned      U.S. territories, under Union Army control      States that permitted slavery, but did not secede      States that seceded before April 15, 1861      States that seceded after April 15, 1861

The Central Confederacy was an idea for a new country. It was suggested for states in the middle of the United States just before the American Civil War began in 1861.

Why Some States Thought About Leaving

In 1861, many states in the southern part of the United States decided to leave the country. This happened after Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860. These states were worried that Lincoln would end slavery, which was very important to their way of life.

The Southern Confederacy Forms

The states that left formed their own country called the Confederate States of America. Some important people in the North and in the middle states thought it might be best to let the Southern states leave peacefully.

A New Idea for Middle States

In the middle states, some people even wanted to join the Southern states. For example, John P. Kennedy, a former member of Congress from Maryland, and Thomas Holliday Hicks, who was the Governor of Maryland, had a different idea. They suggested forming a "Central Confederacy." This new country would include states like Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, and Maryland.

The Plan for a Central Confederacy

On December 15, 1860, John P. Kennedy wrote a small book called The Border States. In it, he suggested that the "Border States" should leave the Union and form their own group. These states were Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, and Maryland.

Support for the Idea

Governor Thomas Hicks also supported this plan. He wrote a letter about it on January 2, 1861, to William Burton, who was the Governor of Delaware. As the Southern Confederacy was forming peacefully, many newspapers and people in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York were very interested in the idea of a Central Confederacy.

How Opinions Changed

However, these ideas changed quickly. After Southern forces attacked Fort Sumter, which marked the start of the Civil War, people's opinions shifted. The idea of a Central Confederacy faded away as the country plunged into war.