February 4
Delegates Convene to Form Confederacy
Summary
Following Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union by early 1861 over disputes about slavery and states' rights. Representatives from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 4, 1861, to create a unified provisional government. The delegates organized a convention, drafted a provisional constitution, and laid the groundwork for the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi would soon be chosen as the provisional president. This meeting marked the formal beginning of the Confederacy's political structure.
Why It Matters
The Montgomery convention established the Confederate government that would wage war against the United States for four years, fundamentally altering American history. It led directly to the Civil War and the eventual abolition of slavery through Union victory and constitutional amendments.
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Sources
- States meet to form Confederacy | February 4, 1861 - History.com, A&E Television Networks. Accessed 2026-07-08.