The distinction between confederation and federation—words synonymous in their origin—has been developed in the political terminology of the United States. Until 1789 the U.S. was a confederation; then the word federation, or federal republic, was introduced as implying closer union. This distinction was emphasized during the American Civil War when the seceding states formed a confederation (Confederate States of America) in opposition to the Federal Union.

Ex: Confederate (e.g., Confederate States of America, Belgium, Canada)

When a group of people or nations form an alliance, it is called a confederation, allowing each member to govern itself but agreeing to work together for common causes. Perhaps the best-known confederation was the South during the U.S. Civil War.

Definition: a league or alliance, especially of confederate states| an alliance between persons, parties, states, etc., for some purpose.

For Americans,the best example of a confederacy is the Confederate States of America,which governed the South during the Civil War.

The vast majority of political power rests with the local governments;the central federal government has very little power.

A confederate system of government is one where regional, or state, governments hold most of the power and the central government is weaker. The central government holds only the amount of power that the smaller political units allow it to exercise. This type of government is much less common than federal or unitary systems.

In a confederacy system, the smaller states that make up the country have the right to pull out from under the central government at any time.

Synonyms: alliance, fellowship, order, organization. Antonyms: disunion, separation, disassociation

With a weaker central government, the individual state or nation governments retain a strong sense of independence.

During the Civil War, the slave states broke away from the union and formed their own confederate government, the Confederate States of America. An example of a current confederation is Canada, which is a confederation of 12 provinces.

A confederate government is a group of states, nations or territories that are joined together by a central government that has limited powers of authority.

When a group of people or nations form an alliance, it is called a confederation, allowing each member to govern itself but agreeing to work together for common causes. Perhaps the best-known confederation was the South during the U.S. Civil War.

a confederation is more of an agreement between separate bodies to cooperate with each other. The European alliance could be called a confederation, while the United States is a federation.

A confederate government is a group of states, nations or territories that are joined together by a central government that has limited powers of authority. With a weaker central government, the individual state or nation governments retain a strong sense of independence. (The states have all the power and the central government has limited powers)

The states South Carolina,Mississippi,Florida Alabama,Georgia,Louisiana,Texas,Virginia,Arkansas, Tennessee,and North Carolina were a part of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.