Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis Miniature2

The photographic history of the Civil War - thousands of scenes photographed 1861-65, with text by many special authorities (1911) (14759727081) (cropped)

Defeat of the Mexican Lancers by the Mississippi Rifles

Jefferson Davis 1847

Jefferson Davis - 1853 daguerreotype - color

Jefferson Davis by Vannerson, 1859

Jefferson Davis (June 3, 1808 – December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the only President of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865 during the American Civil War. Before his presidency, Davis was a notable figure in the United States government, serving as a U.S. Senator from Mississippi and as the U.S. Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. His presidency and the Confederacy itself are central topics in the study of the Civil War and its legacy in American history.

Early Life and Career

Jefferson Davis was born in Christian County, Kentucky, and later moved with his family to Mississippi. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1828 and served as a lieutenant in the United States Army. After resigning from the army in 1835, Davis became a planter near Vicksburg, Mississippi, and entered politics. He served in the United States House of Representatives before the Mexican-American War, in which he fought as a colonel of a Mississippi volunteer regiment, gaining national attention for his leadership at the Battle of Buena Vista.

Political Career

After the war, Davis served as a U.S. Senator, where he was recognized as a prominent advocate for the expansion of slavery into the territories and a strong supporter of southern rights. In 1853, he was appointed Secretary of War by President Franklin Pierce, during which he improved military infrastructure and expanded the U.S. Capitol grounds. However, his tenure was also marked by controversy over his support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision, which further polarized the nation on the issue of slavery.

Presidency of the Confederate States

In 1861, following the secession of Mississippi and other southern states from the Union, Davis was elected President of the Confederate States of America. His presidency was dominated by the challenges of leading the Confederacy through the Civil War, including military strategy, diplomatic efforts to gain international recognition, and managing the Confederate economy. Despite initial successes, the Confederacy was increasingly strained by internal divisions and the superior resources of the Union. Davis's leadership has been a subject of historical debate, with some praising his dedication and others criticizing his inability to unify the southern states or effectively manage the war effort.

Later Life and Legacy

After the fall of the Confederacy in 1865, Davis was captured, imprisoned for two years, and charged with treason, though he was never tried. Following his release, he lived the remainder of his life in the South, writing and advocating for the Lost Cause narrative, which sought to justify the Confederacy's secession and romanticize the southern way of life. Davis died in New Orleans in 1889 and is remembered as a complex figure in American history, embodying the ideals and contradictions of the Confederacy.

See Also

• American Civil War
• Confederate States of America
• Slavery in the United States