The Confederate States of America was founded in 1861 with their declaration of independence on January 7th. Declared from the Georgian legislative building in Atlanta, the assembled delegates represented some 8 southern states, those being;
In order to grasp the birth of the Confederate States properly, a backstory must be presented in detail. While in OTL, the more radical and fire-eater southerns managed to create a series of secession's, which hampered the initial months of the Southern Independence movements. However in this timeline those radicals were managed to be held back, and a convention of 8 states met in Atlanta where they discussed the pro's and con's of leaving the Union.
Debates ranged for a week and a half, until finally the delegates assembled agreed to elect a Convention President, nominating Robert Woodward Barnwell of South Carolina, who graciously accepted and brought forth the motion to draft an official declaration of independence for these “Confederate States of America”. Written by Howell Cobb and William Parish Clinton of Georgia and Alabama respectively, the document is modeled after that of 1776, boasting a list of grievances and reasons that independence was a better move for the region, while making a resounding point of the desire for peace between the Confederacy and the Union.
Reaching the desk of President Buchanan on 13rd of January, the intentions of this new Confederacy seemed very clear in his eyes. Seeing their actions as similar to but not identical to that of the United States at its conception, he calls for a meeting with the President of the Convention, who after the request, had been given the authority by the Congress to represent the new Confederacy until an official constitution can be completed.
Arriving under escort in Washington on January 23rd, Barnwell is greeted in person by President Buchanan at the doors of the White House, from where the two proceed to the Oval Office. Talks on the possibility of reconciliation of the Union are brought up but quickly deemed extremely unlikely without use of force. As the conversation goes on, eventually the elephant in the room is addressed, will the United States recognize the Confederacy?
Buchanan makes it clear that he does not wish for conflict, and will do what he can to prevent his successor from starting a war of aggression against the south, but at the same is extremely adamant that any moves of aggression by the south will make a war inevitable. With that said the topic of bases and military installations are brought up, namely Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The Fort had at one point belonged to the state, at least the land on which it was built. A suggestion to slowly and over time pay for the bases within Confederate territories is brought up by Barnwell, to which his counterpart see's as a likely possibility.
The conversation ends with an unofficial agreement between the two Presidents that both will do their best to cool the tempers of their respective nations and respect the other nations borders. Military bases are to be given time to peacefully evacuated and their garrisons escorted to the border. While not an actual treaty or recognition of the Confederacy, it is a major step towards one, proving that the CSA can negotiate and act reasonably to Union requests.
While many southerners are unhappy at the agreement to eventually pay for the Union installations in their states territories, it is received with a mostly positive view, with several delegates proposing Barnwell be elected the official President of the Confederate States of America in recognition of his ability at diplomacy. The respective delegates notify their states of the current events, and most military units begin to aid in the evacuation of the more prominent federal installations and manning the evacuated ones themselves. One of the first to be replaced with Confederate troops was Fort Sumter, which up until that time had been a major risk of tension.
By February 22nd, the United States has still not acted in any way as if preparing for war, with trade continuing between north and south while the two nations anxiously await what will occur when President-Elect Lincoln is inaugurated, and whether it will lead to the outbreak of conflict. With the lack of any actions by the Union, the French and British feel it is safe to recognize the new nation, sending diplomats and opening embassies in Atlanta.
Note: While not extremely probable, this isn't impossible, and Lincoln wont be happy.
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- Mississippi
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Texas
In order to grasp the birth of the Confederate States properly, a backstory must be presented in detail. While in OTL, the more radical and fire-eater southerns managed to create a series of secession's, which hampered the initial months of the Southern Independence movements. However in this timeline those radicals were managed to be held back, and a convention of 8 states met in Atlanta where they discussed the pro's and con's of leaving the Union.
Debates ranged for a week and a half, until finally the delegates assembled agreed to elect a Convention President, nominating Robert Woodward Barnwell of South Carolina, who graciously accepted and brought forth the motion to draft an official declaration of independence for these “Confederate States of America”. Written by Howell Cobb and William Parish Clinton of Georgia and Alabama respectively, the document is modeled after that of 1776, boasting a list of grievances and reasons that independence was a better move for the region, while making a resounding point of the desire for peace between the Confederacy and the Union.
Reaching the desk of President Buchanan on 13rd of January, the intentions of this new Confederacy seemed very clear in his eyes. Seeing their actions as similar to but not identical to that of the United States at its conception, he calls for a meeting with the President of the Convention, who after the request, had been given the authority by the Congress to represent the new Confederacy until an official constitution can be completed.
Arriving under escort in Washington on January 23rd, Barnwell is greeted in person by President Buchanan at the doors of the White House, from where the two proceed to the Oval Office. Talks on the possibility of reconciliation of the Union are brought up but quickly deemed extremely unlikely without use of force. As the conversation goes on, eventually the elephant in the room is addressed, will the United States recognize the Confederacy?
Buchanan makes it clear that he does not wish for conflict, and will do what he can to prevent his successor from starting a war of aggression against the south, but at the same is extremely adamant that any moves of aggression by the south will make a war inevitable. With that said the topic of bases and military installations are brought up, namely Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The Fort had at one point belonged to the state, at least the land on which it was built. A suggestion to slowly and over time pay for the bases within Confederate territories is brought up by Barnwell, to which his counterpart see's as a likely possibility.
The conversation ends with an unofficial agreement between the two Presidents that both will do their best to cool the tempers of their respective nations and respect the other nations borders. Military bases are to be given time to peacefully evacuated and their garrisons escorted to the border. While not an actual treaty or recognition of the Confederacy, it is a major step towards one, proving that the CSA can negotiate and act reasonably to Union requests.
While many southerners are unhappy at the agreement to eventually pay for the Union installations in their states territories, it is received with a mostly positive view, with several delegates proposing Barnwell be elected the official President of the Confederate States of America in recognition of his ability at diplomacy. The respective delegates notify their states of the current events, and most military units begin to aid in the evacuation of the more prominent federal installations and manning the evacuated ones themselves. One of the first to be replaced with Confederate troops was Fort Sumter, which up until that time had been a major risk of tension.
By February 22nd, the United States has still not acted in any way as if preparing for war, with trade continuing between north and south while the two nations anxiously await what will occur when President-Elect Lincoln is inaugurated, and whether it will lead to the outbreak of conflict. With the lack of any actions by the Union, the French and British feel it is safe to recognize the new nation, sending diplomats and opening embassies in Atlanta.
Note: While not extremely probable, this isn't impossible, and Lincoln wont be happy.