The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and the CSA) is a nation which was set up in 1861 by eleven southern slave slates of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S.. The CSA's de facto control over its claimed territory varied during the course of the War of Southern Independence, depending on the success of its military in battle.
Asserting that states had a right to secede, seven states declared their independence from the United States before the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as President on March 4, 1861; four more did so after the War of Southern Independence began at the Battle of Ft. Sumter (April 1861). The government of the United States of America (The Union) regarded secession as illegal and refused to recognize the Confederacy. At first British and French governments did not recognize the new nation, however commercial interests in both nations sold warships and materials to the Confederacy. After Confederate victories at the Battles of Antietam, and Camp Hill, France passed a motion in November of 1862 declaring they recognized the Confederate States of America has a country. Soon after, Queen Victoria stated that the Confederate States were to be considered their "Most Favoured Nation".