Jefferson finis davis june 3, 1808 december 6, 1889 was an american politician who served as the president of the confederate states from 1861 to 1865. Confederate government vol 1, vol 2, his twovolume book was published in 1881. He is, perhaps, our most distinguished scholar of the civil war era, whose battle. Jefferson davis s most popular book is the rise and fall of the confederate government.
Certain to stimulate further thought and spark debate, jefferson davis and the civil war era offers rare insight into one of american historys most complicated and provocative figures. One of the fruitful sources, as i hold it, of the errors which prevail in our country, is the theory that this is a government of one people. Theres more, of course, and jefferson davis and the civil war era is an interesting work for those curious about national leadership in time of war, and, of course, a valuable one for any student of the civil war. Jefferson davis was a renowned us senator who became the president of the confederate states of america during the civil war. Rise and fall of the confederate government rare book for sale. Davis, aimed a pistol at another union general, william bull nelson, and pulled the trigger, the act left historians scrambling for answers for. Both davis and his eventual adversary united states president abraham lincoln were born in kentucky.
The american civil war also known by other names was a civil war in the united states from 1861 to 1865, fought between the northern united states loyal to the union and the southern united states that had seceded from the union and formed the confederacy. Davis maintained mostly a defensive outlook throughout the civil war but shifted to strategic offensives a few times when he believed or was persuaded that an exceptional offensive was likely to contribute to winning independence. Jefferson daviss generals gettysburg civil war institute. Written february 1862 by jefferson davis to his brother. A gifted orator and a lifelong champion of states rights, davis reluctantly joined the secessionist, as its lone supreme commander. As joseph ellis wrote in his book founding brothers.
Jefferson davis seems to have had problems with getting a good general for the western theater. Naturally, nothing can be covered indepth, but there were a lot of interesting points that i had never thought of such as international relations and the way the south really did have to form a new government and were at a great disadvantage as a result. Brackets indicate dates and entries that follow logically from information in primary sources but are not explicitly stated. Cooper jr, 97808073712, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The trial of the century that wasnt history smithsonian. In jefferson davis generals, a team of the nations most distinguished civil war historians present fascinating examinations of the men who led the confederacy through our nations bloodiest conflict, focusing in particular on jefferson davis relationships with five key generals who held independent commands. Vandivervolume 7 of the papers of jefferson davis offers a unique view of 1861, the first year of the confederacy, davis presidency, and the civil war. Mar 08, 2018 the civil war afterward occupied the attention of those in authority while the herds were neglected, and the fact that jefferson davis had inaugurated the experiment was, in the opinion of many, enough to condemn it.
Jefferson grew up in mississippi where his father owned a small farm. Confederate nationalism and the fight to arm slaves is the latest book to examine the latewar confederate dialogue regarding the enlistment of armed slaves in the army. Davis was born on june 3, 1807 or 1808, in what is now fairview, the 10th child of. Civil war trust a britannica publishing partner see all videos for this article. He started his military career after completing his graduation as a second lieutenant of the first infantry. It also includes riveting first person accounts of. Jefferson davis and the civil war era by william j. I was surprised to read that andrew johnson thought jefferson davis had something to do with lincolns death. After the souths defeat in the civil war, he was stripped of his citizenship and took refuge in europe, returning to the united states after a treason case against him was dropped. Books by jefferson davis author of the rise and fall of the.
The books introduction offers a brief but insightful survey of studies that have addressed the topic so far. He saw extensive combat during his 34year military career, fighting actions in the black hawk war, the texas war of independence, the mexicanamerican war, the utah war, and the american civil war. Samuel davis, after the revolution removed to kentucky, resided there a few years and then changed his home to wilkinson county, mississippi. Check out my book for even more amazing civil war stories. Lincoln and davis as commanders in chief essential civil war. When pressed to explain why they were helping davis. He was one of the 10 children born into the davis family. Lsu press books jefferson davis and the civil war era. Philip dillards jefferson daviss final campaign examines the debate over arming slaves as it unfolded in virginia, georgia, and texas, his research finding distinct differences between the upper south, deep south, and transmississippi south.
Life in jefferson davis s navy civil war books and authors. Home browse history military history wars, battles, and military interventions u. Jefferson davis american leader born on june 03, 1808, died on december 06, 1889 jefferson finis davis was an american politician who was a u. Cooper, who is a noted davis biographer and historian of the south. With confederate armies and the home front both teetering on collapse by november 1864, president jefferson davis called on congress to reconsider the role of the slave in the southern war effort. He was born on june 3, 1808 and died on december 6, 1889. Biography of jefferson davis, president of the confederate states of america. What were some of jefferson davis contributions to the. Davis and the politics of secession and of the confederacy, davis and the conduct of the war, and davis and the rise of the myth of the lost cause. During and after the war davis called his strategic approach the offensivedefensive. B he was a confederate general, c he was abraham lincolns vice president.
Jefferson davis and the civil war era comprises nine essays by william j. He was much more conciliatory than i expected in his life in congress. Did the confederacy lack enough good generals or did davis not select well. A history from beginning to end fort sumter, abraham lincoln, jefferson davis, confederacy, emancipation proclamation, battle of gettysburg by freeman, henry isbn. Posts may contain affiliate links, meaning cwba might get a commission from purchases made through those links, at no cost to you. Jefferson daviss camel experiment wikisource, the free. A short history of the confederate states of america. But he accepted the top position and quickly embraced a defensive strategy, one that. What happened to jefferson davis after the civil war ended. For a short time, maybe a year it was a rough imprisonment chains, no books or visitors, then a bit looser.
Crews removed the statue of jefferson davis, the president of the confederate states of america during the civil war, around 3 a. This book puts a human face on an important figure of the civil war. In 1828 he graduated from west point 23rd in his class. This first edition by jefferson davis is available at bauman rare books. Davis work is monumental and exhaustive, which make this and his other writings an invaluable resource to civil war and 19th century studies. Aug 12, 2016 he was president of the confederate states of america. Books by jefferson davis author of the rise and fall of. Leading the southern united states during the civil war.
Davis s reputation as a historian rests on one work the rise and fall of the confederate government 187881, an account based in large measure on his own intimate experiences. Ten years ago, cwes published its list of top two hundred civil war books and. Jefferson daviss most popular book is the rise and fall of the confederate government. The civil war began primarily as a result of the longstanding controversy over the enslavement of black people. Jefferson davis was a statesman and president of the confederate states of america during the civil war davis was born in fairview, kentucky on june 3, 1808 to revolutionary war veteran samuel davis and jane cook but was raised on his older brothers cotton plantations in. He served for the next five years during which he actively contributed in the blackhawk war. Jefferson davis received his academic education in early boyhood at home, and was then sent to transylvania university in kentucky, where he remained until 1824, the sixteenth year of his age. Nov 04, 2014 jefferson davis had an eventful life in which he served as a soldier, became a senator of congress, led the confederate states of america during the american civil war and was caught and imprisoned after the war. List of books and articles about jefferson davis online. After military life, davis settled down in mississippi, where he owned a cotton plantation with slaves, according to civil war trust.
He was a weak leader, his war plans were unsuccessful, he dd not gain any foreign allies for the south, and the confederacy was plagued by inflation. Davis was not one to borrow library books on military tactics and strategy. Davis was the tenth and youngest child of revolutionary war soldier samuel davis. He approaches his subject sympathetically, grounding his book. The confederacy consisted of the southern states that seceded form the united states and started the civil war. It was a shot that echoed through civil war history, but not through the corridor separating north and south. When he was two years old his family moved to mississippi. Representative and senator from mississippi, the 23rd u.
Civil war general war college series paperback february 23, 2015. As president of the confederate states of america, jefferson davis was in charge of policy, national strategy, and military strategy and operations during the four and a half years of the civil war. He was president of the confederate states of america. While it was originally a provisional position, he was officially elected by the people on november 6, 1861 for a six year. At wars end, jefferson davis was captured in irwin county, georgia and became a prisoner at ft. He previously served as the united states secretary of war from 1853 to 1857. Rise and fall of the confederate government first edition. Why the civil war came gettysburg civil war institute books. Jefferson davis 18081889 was a mexican war hero, u. As a member of the democratic party, he represented mississippi in the united states senate and the house of representatives before the american civil war. Civil war the papers of jefferson davis rice university. These quotes focus heavily on secession, but there are other insights as well.
Oct 30, 2008 jefferson davis and the civil war era by william j. When davis was 16, james monroe, who was president at the time, requested that he became a cadet at west point. He previously served as the united states secretary of war from 1853 to 1857 under. This is a biography of jefferson finis davis, the first and only president of the. Jefferson finis davis was an american politician who served as the president of the confederate states of america for its entire history, which was almost entirely during the american civil war. Jefferson davis 10 facts on the president of confederacy. Secretary of war, and the president of the confederate states. Noted civil war author davis now tries his hand at jefferson davis, long an enigma to historians. Mexican war after a short term, davis quit serving in the house to again served in the military during the mexican war. As commander in chief of the newly formed confederate army and navy, his workaholic devotion to detail led him to spend most of his time on. Biography of jefferson davis, president of the confederate states of america throughout its existence during the american civil war 186165.
From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Davis waged his final campaign in newspapers as he challenged the southern people to define a new role for the slave. Nine selfcontained essays address how davis reacted to and dealt with a variety of issues that were key to the coming of the war, the war. Jefferson davis was the only president of the confederates states of america. Jefferson davis students britannica kids homework help. Discover librarianselected research resources on jefferson davis from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Jul 06, 2017 philip dillards jefferson daviss final campaign. Jefferson was assigned to the post of secondlieutenant for the first infantry.
Confederate nationalism and the fight to arm slaves by philip d. After the war the rapid development of railroads solved many of the problems that seemed so serious in the fifties. Despite the abundance of books on the civil war, not one has focused exclusively on what was in fact the determining factor in the outcome of the conflict. On the positive side, davis was a decent administrator, stealing, scaring up and cobbling together resources from any number of sources to feed, clothe and arm confederate soldiers. Know more about the life and accomplishments of jefferson davis through these 10 interesting facts.
Most historians sharply criticize davis for his flawed military strategy, his. The relationships between leaders in the civil war by joseph t. Politically, he faced the daunting diplomatic task of fusing a co. If the confederacy falls, there should be written on its tombstone. Cooper narrows his focus considerably in jefferson davis and the civil war era, training his expert eye specifically on davis s participation in and influence on events central to the american civil war. Davis was later elected to the house of representatives for a short term for his state. After the war he was imprisoned for two years and indicted for treason but was never tried. Glatthaar posted on october 2, 20 by meg groeling nothing happens in a vacuum, and this axiom is never truer than actions conducted during the american civil war. States of america for the duration of the american civil war 18611865. Abraham lincoln commander in chief jefferson davis commander in chief civil. Jefferson davis author of the rise and fall of the. Jefferson davis, american paperback november, 2001. Oct 01, 2008 theres more, of course, and jefferson davis and the civil war era is an interesting work for those curious about national leadership in time of war, and, of course, a valuable one for any student of the civil war.
Lynda lasswell crist, editormary seaton dix, coeditorintroduction by frank e. The collection spans centuries of thought and experience, and includes the latest analysis of international threats, both conventional and asymmetric. The book s introduction offers a brief but insightful survey of studies that have addressed the topic so far. Secretary of war, and the president of the confederate states of america during the american civil war. Civil war military tactics and the southern heritage 1984. Albert sidney johnston february 2, 1803 april 6, 1862 served as a general in three different armies. After a distinguished career in national politics as secretary of war under franklin pierce, davis served as a congressman and then as a mississippi senator. Jefferson davis has 83 books on goodreads with 2260 ratings. Dec 11, 2011 jefferson davis was a statesman and president of the confederate states of america during the civil war davis was born in fairview, kentucky on june 3, 1808 to revolutionary war veteran samuel davis and jane cook but was raised on his older brothers cotton plantations in mississippi and louisiana. His uncertainty over a military or political course vanished. Jefferson davis was born in a log cabin on june 3, 1808 in kentucky. On january 21 davis made his affecting farewell speech before a hushed senate, then left for mississippi.