confederacy
con.fed.er.a.cy \k*n-'fed-(*-)r*-se-\ \-(*-)r*l\ \-*st\ n 1: a league or compact for mutual support or common action : ALLIANCE)M 2: a combination of persons for unlawful purposes : CONSPIRACY 3: the body formed by persons, states, or nations united by a league; sp ecif, cap : the 11 southern states seceding from the U.S. in 1860 and 1861 - con.fed.er.al aj