Transcript PPT - FLYPARSONS.com

Jefferson Davis
President of the Confederate States
By
Sydney Tall and Catherine Taylor
Early Years
Jefferson Davis was born on June 3, 1808, the youngest of 10 children.
He was miles away from Abe Lincoln. When he was enrolled to
school, he went to Wilkinson Academy, and also attended a Catholic
Academy, as the only Protestant student there. Later, he attended
Jefferson College in Washington, Mississippi in 1818, and
Transylvania University in Lexington, KY in 1821. His father, along
with his uncles, had served in the Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War; he fought with the Georgia Cavalry and fought
in the Siege of Savannah as an infantry officer. Also, three of his
older brothers served during the War of 1812. Two of them served
under Andrew Jackson and received commendation for bravery in
the Battle of New Orleans. This may have started Davis’s military
career. In 1824, Davis attended West Point military. When he
graduated with low grades in 1828, he also became a lieutenant .
Marriage
While working for Colonel Taylor, Davis fell in love with Sarah
Knox Taylor, Colonel Taylor’s daughter. They were married on
June 17, 1835, although Taylor disapproved of the marriage.
While visiting a relative, Davis and Sarah contracted malaria.
Sarah died because of this, and Davis became a widower for
the next 8 years.
In 1845, Davis also met and married Varina Howell. They had six
children, which only one had survived young adulthood to
marriage and children. Their children’s names were Samuel,
Emory, Margaret, Jefferson Davis, Jr., Joseph, and Varina
Anne.
Political Life and Military Career
Davis was assigned to 1st Infantry Regiment in Fort Crawford, Wisconsin.
A few years later, Davis went home to enter the Black Hawk War, after the
Battle of Bad Axe. During the War, he was assigned by Colonel Zachary
Taylor. When 1846 came, the Mexican-American War came in place. Davis
then designing his seat in June. He fought in the War as with the rest of
“The Mississippi Riffles”, as the colonel. February 22, 1847, Davis was
great in the, “Battle of Buena Vista”, and an enemy solider gave him a shot
to the foot. He fought with the wound for the rest of the day. James K.
Polk offered a Federal commission due to Davis’s wound, but refused to
take it. Davis soon was welcomed back to the Senate term in MS, as a
replacer. He accepted the offer, and took his seat on December 5, 1847.
Davis introduced an amendment to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to
annex most of northeastern Mexico, which failed. He soon became the
Chairman of Military War Affairs. Afterwards, his MS term was over and he
decided to run for MS governor. He had a unsuccessful election, but lost
to Henry Foote by 999 votes.
During the weeks of 1852, Davis campaigned
For Southerners Franklin Pierce and William R. King. In
1853, Pierce won the election, making Davis,
“Secretary of War”. When Pierce’s term was over,
Davis’s term was, too. So, he returned to Senate on
March 4, 1857. His term was interrupted due to an
illness affecting and destroying his left eye. On July 4th ,
he was trying to take apart away from the Union.
When Abe Lincoln was elected, events were faster. And
when he found out that South Carolina and MS wanted
to pull away from the Union, he made a farewell
speech, left the Senate term, and returned to
Mississippi.
President of the Confederate States
On February 9, 1861, a Constitutional Convention was named
president of the Confederate States. He was inaugurated February
18, 1861. When he became president of the CSA, he immediately
made a Peace Commission to make peace between the Union and
CSA. He approved a cabinet that led to the Civil War. Davis was
elected to a six-year term as President of the Confederacy on
November 6, 1861. He chose Robert E. Lee as his CSA general, as a
replacer to Joseph E. Johnston. Davis made many strategic
decisions on his own, and this led to bigger conflicts like the Civil
War. In August 1863, Davis declined General Lee's offer of
resignation after his defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg. On April 3,
1865, with Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant poised to capture
Richmond, Davis escaped for Danville, Virginia, together with the
Confederate Cabinet, leaving on the Richmond and Danville
Railroad. President Jefferson Davis met with his Confederate
Cabinet for the last time on May 5, 1865 in Washington, Georgia.
Later Years
After the Civil War, Jefferson Davis was captured
in Irwinville County, Georgia, by Union troops.
Northerners wanted to hang Jefferson for
treason. But after 2 years, his charges were
dropped in Fort Monroe, Virginia. He lost his
privilege of being involved in politics, and lost his
plantation. He sold his plantation to Ben
Montgomery. Davis visited Canada, Cuba, and
Europe. In 1869, Davis became president of the
Caroline Life Insurance Company in Memphis,
Tennessee. He also wrote books. This was all
done before another illness came to him.
Death and Burial
On December 6, 1889, Jefferson Davis died at
age 81, in New Orleans. He was carried to
Richmond, Virginia as his final resting place.
He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery.