Fact Check: The Confederacy was at WAR with the United States.

Fact Check: "The Confederacy was at WAR with the United States."

What We Know

The claim that "The Confederacy was at WAR with the United States" is historically accurate. The American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, was fundamentally a conflict between the United States (the Union) and the Confederate States of America (the Confederacy), which was formed by eleven Southern states that seceded from the Union. This secession was largely motivated by the desire to maintain the institution of slavery and resist federal authority, particularly under President Abraham Lincoln, who was perceived as a threat to the Southern way of life (U.S. History, Gilder Lehrman).

The Confederacy actively engaged in military actions against the Union, seizing federal forts and initiating battles that would lead to a full-scale war. Notably, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in South Carolina in April 1861, marking the beginning of hostilities (Wikipedia, Britannica). Throughout the war, the Confederacy sought to establish itself as an independent nation, which further solidified the notion that it was indeed at war with the United States.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust and well-documented across multiple credible historical sources. The formation of the Confederacy was a direct response to the election of Lincoln, who was seen as an opponent of slavery. This led to the secession of Southern states and the establishment of the Confederate States of America, which was recognized by some foreign nations during the war (U.S. History, History State).

The conflict itself involved significant military engagements, including major battles such as Gettysburg and Antietam, which were fought between the Union and Confederate armies. The war resulted in substantial loss of life and had lasting impacts on American society and governance (Britannica, Gilder Lehrman).

While some narratives, particularly those emerging from the "Lost Cause" perspective, attempt to recast the Confederacy's motivations and actions, the consensus among historians remains that the Confederacy was indeed engaged in a war against the United States. The reliability of sources such as the Library of Congress and the Gilder Lehrman Institute, which provide extensive documentation and analysis of the Civil War, further supports this claim (U.S. History, Gilder Lehrman).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The assertion that "The Confederacy was at WAR with the United States" is true. The historical context, including the secession of Southern states, the formation of the Confederacy, and the military engagements that characterized the Civil War, all confirm that this was indeed a war between the Confederacy and the United States.

Fact Check: The Confederacy was at WAR with the United States.