A confederacy is a group of states, nations, or organizations that join together for a common purpose while keeping most of their independence. Think of it like a club where members agree to work together on certain things but still make most of their own decisions.

The most famous example in American history is the Confederate States of America (often called the Confederacy), formed in 1861 when eleven Southern states broke away from the United States. They created their own government and fought against the Union in the Civil War. The Confederacy defended slavery and lost the war in 1865, after which the states rejoined the United States.

Long before that, the original thirteen American colonies formed a confederacy under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1789. Each state had significant power, and the central government was weak. This confederacy didn't work well because the states couldn't agree on important issues, which is why the founders eventually wrote the Constitution to create a stronger federal government.

A confederacy differs from a strong unified nation because member states keep the power to leave and make many of their own laws. It's a loose partnership rather than a tight bond.