Final answer:
The pro-slavery rebel states that seceded from the United States called themselves the Confederate States of America. South Carolina was the first state to secede, soon joined by others, with a total of eleven states becoming part of the Confederacy. The correct answer to the question is option B) the Confederate States of America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pro-slavery rebel states that broke away from the United States during the American Civil War took on the name the Confederate States of America. South Carolina was the first state to secede, doing so in December 1860, after the election of Abraham Lincoln. The secession of South Carolina was soon followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. These states seceded because they sought to preserve the institution of slavery and the idea of white supremacy. They also believed strongly in states' rights, contesting that the federal government should not infringe on their right to own property, which included slaves.
In February 1861, the seven seceded states met in Montgomery, Alabama, and formally formed the Confederate States of America. Four additional states—Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas—joined the Confederacy shortly after, especially once it became clear that the federal government would not allow the secession without a fight. The existence of the Confederacy set the stage for the American Civil War, a conflict that would last from 1861 to 1865 and forever change the United States.
The correct option for the question is B) the Confederate States of America.