Confederation facts for kids

A confederation is like a special club formed by several independent countries. These countries agree to work together on certain things, like trade or defense, by giving some of their power to a central group. But here's the key: they don't become one new country. Instead, they stay separate countries that cooperate.

Think of it this way: imagine a group of friends who each own their own house. They decide to share a lawnmower and take turns mowing each other's lawns. They are still independent, but they work together for a common goal. That's a bit like a confederation.

What is a Confederation?

A confederation is a group of countries that join together through a special agreement called a treaty. This treaty lets them share some decisions, usually about things that affect all of them. For example, they might agree on common rules for trading goods or how to protect each other if there's a threat.

The countries in a confederation keep most of their own power. They can usually leave the confederation if they want to. This is different from a single country, where regions usually can't just leave.

Confederation vs. Federation

It's easy to mix up a confederation and a federation, but they are different:

• A confederation is a group of independent countries working together. Each country keeps its own laws and government for most things.
• A federation is a single country made up of different states or provinces. Think of the United States or Canada. The states have some power, but they are all part of one larger country with a strong central government.

The main difference is that in a confederation, the power mostly stays with the individual countries. In a federation, the power is shared between the central government and the smaller states or provinces.

Examples of Confederations

Today, the best example of a confederation is the European Union. The EU is a group of European countries that work together on many things, like trade, travel, and laws. Each country in the EU is still independent, but they follow some common rules.

You might hear the country Switzerland called Confœderatio Helvetica (which is Latin for "Swiss Confederation"). However, Switzerland is actually a federation today, not a confederation. It used to be more like a confederation a long time ago, but now it's a single country made of different cantons (like states).

Images for kids

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  Proclamation of Canadian Confederation

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  Map of the Five Nations (from the Darlington Collection)

See also

In Spanish: Confederación para niños