In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six Southern states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina—convened to initiate the formation of the Confederate States of America. This meeting was significant as it marked a formal step toward the establishment of a separate governance that would operate independently from the United States, driven by the shared concerns of these states regarding federal authority and slavery. The climate was charged with urgency, as many Southern leaders believed that the election of Abraham Lincoln as president posed a direct threat to their way of life, particularly the institution of slavery, which was vital to their agricultural economies.

During this assembly, the delegates discussed and began to draft a provisional constitution that would govern the new Confederacy. They aimed to create a political framework that would protect their interests, especially in establishing slavery as a legal institution and ensuring states' rights. Notable leaders at the meeting included Jefferson Davis, who would later be elected as the president of the Confederacy. The gathering underscored the commitment of the Southern states to break away from the Union and created a blueprint for the governance of their new nation.

The declaration of the Confederacy represented not just a split in political allegiance but also a deepening of social and economic divides in America. This moment in Montgomery signified the emergence of a significant conflict that would soon escalate into armed warfare, marking a crucial turn in American history as it set the stage for the Civil War. The decisions made during this gathering would have profound implications for the future of the United States, the institution of slavery, and the rights of states versus the federal government.