As the nation began to break apart with the initial secession of South Carolina, the Confederate States of America were formed with Jefferson Davis, the son-in-law of former President Zachary Taylor, as their president. However, during his extensive lifetime Jefferson would serve as a planter, Congressman, Senator, Secretary of War, graduate, and war hero. He was a former member of the United States Senate and would be the leader of anti-Union forces throughout the upcoming Civil War. However, Davis was never the figurehead that the South needed nor he wanted to be, as he suffered from chronic illness, failed at being a successful strategist, and ultimately lost in his efforts to secede.
Born on June 3, 1808 in Kentucky, Jefferson was the youngest of his large family. He started off his extensive education in a small log cabin but eventually transferred to several universities and graduated from Military Academy. Davis initially worked with the removal and fighting of Native Americans, and he distinguished himself by eventually getting promoted to lieutenant. Although he ran for State Representative in Mississippi and lost, he was accepted into the House of Representatives the following year. During this time he remarried and entered the military as a colonel to fight once again.
Soon after being elected to Brigadier General (but turning down the rank), he returned home to his slot as Secretary of War to Franklin Pierce. When Pierce lost favor Davis decided to enter the Senate and succeeded. This was approximately the time when secessionist movements started to become more prominent and talked about. States became more and more infuriated and adamant; less inclined to compromise and more so to simply follow emotion. Surprisingly, Jefferson Davis was adamant about not splitting up the Union and strongly denounced this action. However, once Abraham Lincoln was elected and there was no choice left, Davis was forced to announce the secession of Mississippi. Although, “It is said that after his speech he retreated to his desk and began crying, showing just how disappointed he was that the union was being divided” (Davis, Jefferson).
At first, Davis was appointed General of the Mississippi faction of the Confederate Army, but it was soon decided upon that he would be President. This was a surprise and slight disappointment, as Jefferson was not a strong political hero. He was constantly fighting with the rest of the Confederate leadership, as if it was not difficult enough to create an entire new government and enter a war at the same time. This is what the South had going against them most prominently. He was blamed for picking weak and incapable subordinates as well as taking dictatorial power over the Confederate States, but in actuality almost succeeded in a near impossible task of secession.
Near the end of the Civil War, when it was evident that the South would fail, Jefferson decided to flee Richmond instead of surrender as Robert E. Lee had. He escaped through Mississppi, but was eventually captured in Georgia. After being held under heavy guard and taken to court, Jefferson was eventually released on bail as a free man. He chose to travel the world and eventually became president of a life insurance company in Tennessee. Jefferson Davis was elected to Senate once more in his life, but could not accept because of the legal barrier. He died on December 6, 1889.
Works Cited
"Davis, Jefferson." The Free Information Society. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <http://www.freeinfosociety.com/article.php?id=174>.
"Jefferson Davis." Historic Clothing: Expanded Site. 25 June 1999. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <http://histclo.com/pres/Ind19/davis.html>.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. "Drifting Toward Disunion." The American Pageant. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.
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