Hello and welcome back to another episode of the really show. I'm your host Aaron Ross. Today show "The rise and fall of Jefferson
Davis". Hey, if you like our show we'd love it if you subscribe
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Were very familiar with the period of the Civil War but lost amongst the Lincolns, the Grants and Lee's
perhaps lesser-known is
Jefferson Davis
Who was Jefferson Davis? That name might stump a lot of Northerners and perhaps some Southerners as well
and though we don't advocate his cause we believe it's very important part
of American history. Jefferson Finis Davis the first and only president of the Confederate states of America
was a plantar politician and a soldier
only 16 at the time his older brother Joseph carried on his Guardian heavily influencing him and making sure they
continued on with his education
Jefferson study law Transylvania University in Kentucky
after graduating later that year he was accepted and West Point military Academy. As military cadet Davis' performance
was only adequate
graduating in 1828 he placed 23rd out of 34. He went on to serve briefly in the Black Hawk war of 1832
while stationed under future US president Col.Zachary Taylor the following year. He met the Col's daughter Sarah and the pair fell in
love but for two years Taylor denied Davis permission to marry his daughter
Regardless they married in 1835. Tragically the couple contracted malaria
and three months after the wedding Sarah died
and he would continue to be plagued by chronic illness for the rest of his life
Davis devastated by the loss of his wife
led a secluded life for the next eight years on his plantation in Davis band Mississippi
in 1845 he married his second wife 20 years his junior Varina Howell. That same year he was elected to Congress
together they have six children 2 girls and four boys, but sadly
only their two daughters lived to adulthood. In June 1846 Jefferson Davis resigned from his position in Congress to lead
the first Regiment of the Mississippi rifleman in the Mexican-American war
he held the rank of colonel under his former father-in-law Gen.Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American war Davis fought the
battles of Monterey and Buena Vista in1846 and 1847 respectively. At the battled Monterey led his men to victory in an
assault at Fort Teneria. He then was injured at the battle of Buena Vista while blocking a charge of Mexican soldiers
an incident that earned him nationwide acclaim so impressed with Gen.Taylor that he had to admit it severely misjudged
Davises character Jefferson was subsequently offered a promotion to Brig. Gen. in 1847 which he declined when he instead
became a US Sen.
in 1853 Pres.Franklin Pierce appointed Davis US Secretary of War where he served with distinction as one of the most
capable administrators of the office
in 1857 Davis returned to the Senate is a vocal proponent of states rights
of slaveholder David firmly believed in the importance of slavery in the South
although opposed to seceding he continued to defend the rights of southern slave states
he said quote African slavery as it exists in the United States is a moral a social and a political blessing
Soon after Mississippi seceded Davis made a moving farewell speech in the Senate pleading eloquently for peace
it formally withdrew from the Senate in January of 1861
one month later the Confederate Congress in Montgomery Alabama selected Jefferson Finis Davis to become the provisional
president of the Confederacy. The following year he was inaugurated for a six-year term as president
Davis 's appointment was largely political
he was a compromise candidate chosen to appease both the moderate and radical factions in the Confederate Congress
interestingly Davis did not want the job he had helped for a military command to prevent an armed conflict his first act
was to send a piece commissioned to Washington DC Lincoln refused to see the southern emissaries and the next month
decided to send armed ships to Charleston South Carolina to resupply the beleaguered Union garrison at Fort Sumter. Davis
reluctantly order the bombardment of Fort which marked the beginning of the American Civil War.
2 days later Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers a move that brought about the secession of Virginia and three other states
from the Union
Lincoln 's term for all members of the Confederate military and government officials was insurgents
that especially applied to Jefferson Davis
now initially Davis was a popular president a man with a distinguished military record extensive political experience
and most importantly
education to the Confederate cause
despite these attributes Davis was not able to triumph over the challenges of this position
he was impatient with people who disagreed with him and had a habit of awarding prominent posts two unsuccessful leaders
Davis is loyalty to the people led to bickering and corals throughout his administration
as you know it didn't go well for the South and on April 2, 1865 he and other members of the Confederate government were
forced to flee from Richmond in the face of the advancing Union army
a week later Gen.Lee surrendered at Appomattox Jefferson Davis was captured by Northern soldiers near Erwin Ville George
on May 10. He was in prison at Fort Monroe Virginia from May 22, 1865 to May 13, 1867
Davis was released on bail ironically paid for by a number of abolitionists including Horace Greeley
How do you like that. This was done of course in an effort to help your country
is never tried for treason and was decided not executed him
this with out of concern that they could become a martyr and perhaps further civil unrest
although Davis lost his citizenship
to remain steadfast in his belief in the cause
note that in the continued spirit of reconciliation that Pres.Jimmy Carter reinstated his citizenship in nineteen
seventy eight
after his release Davis and his family traveled for some time in Europe and then took up residence in Tennessee
eventually relocated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and left out the rest of his years
Mississippians tried to return Davis to the U.S. Senate but
he was not legally qualified to serve since he refused to request a formal pardon from the United States for his role in
the Civil War
like many of his contemporaries Davis wrote of his wartime experiences two-volume book the rise and fall of the
Confederate government
Jefferson Finis Davis died in New Orleans in 1989 the year before his death the former president of the Confederate
states of America beseeched the young men of Mississippi to quote
lay aside all rancor, all bitter sectional feeling and to make your places in the ranks of those will bring about a
consummation devoutly to be wished
a reunited country
Jefferson Davis contributed a lot to his country through his military and political service
his views on slavery were absolutely wrong
however he does need to be remembered because if we forget our past were doomed to repeat it
well that's our show for today–thanks again for watching. We'll see you next time
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Davis devastated by the loss of his life