confederacy

Everyday

1. A confederacy is a group of states, tribes or people who join together for a shared purpose, like defence, while keeping much of their own power. tree →
2. (history, USA) The Confederacy was the group of eleven southern US states that broke away in 1861 to keep slavery and fought the North in the American Civil War. tree →
3. (formal) A secret group that plans something together, especially something wrong. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it appears with the American Civil War (the Confederacy versus the Union), and with alliances such as the Iroquois Confederacy of Native American nations. It tells the reader that several groups are allied but loosely. Phrases: «the Confederate States», «Confederate flag», «join the confederacy». The Confederacy lost the war in 1865 and slavery was ended.

Examples

• The Iroquois Confederacy joined six Native American nations. tree →
• The Confederacy fought the Union in the Civil War. tree →
• Abraham Lincoln led the North against the Confederacy. tree →
• The Confederacy wanted to keep slavery. tree →
• Several tribes formed a confederacy to protect their lands. tree →
• Today many people see the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism. tree →
• The pirates had a confederacy to share the treasure. tree →

Note

Countable: a confederacy, confederacies. «The Confederacy» with a capital means the southern US states of 1861–1865. Related: confederate (a member or ally; also an adjective), confederation (a similar union, e.g. Canada became a confederation in 1867). Not the same as «federation», where the central government is stronger.

In Jewish tradition

Used in Isaiah for people who join together in a plot or alliance, often against God's plan.

Interpretation. Isaiah warns against trusting alliances with other nations instead of trusting God.

Note

Countable: a confederacy, confederacies. «The Confederacy» with a capital means the southern US states of 1861–1865. Related: confederate (a member or ally; also an adjective), confederation (a similar union, e.g. Canada became a confederation in 1867). Not the same as «federation», where the central government is stronger.