Jefferson Davis for President
http://rememberinghistory.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/on-this-day-in-1861-jefferson-davis-elected-president-of-the-confederacy/
The leaders of the Confederate states met in Montgomery, Alabama in February of 1861 where the Confederate Congress made Davis the stand in president for the Confederacy. Because of his extensive military background from West Point Academy and his campaign from the 1860 election against Lincoln, the Confederate States felt that Davis would make a good pick for president.
Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederacy on November 6, 1861
where he signed a six year contract holding him accountable for this leadership
position. Davis was honored that his fellow confederates had so much hope in
him, but stated "Upon my weary heart was showered smiles, plaudits, and flowers, but beyond them I saw troubles and thorns innumerable." (History Channel, 2013).
With Davis now the first president of the Confederate States of
America, he wanted a fresh start, something new for the south. Though secession
wasn’t what Davis thought was necessary, he wanted to lead and carry the
Confederacy with much faith and belief that they could survive as a divided
nation. He was all for state rights. The Constitution of the Confederate States
was built on the idea of state over federal rights. In the preamble of the
Confederate constitution it states, “Each state acting in its sovereign and
independent character.” (Holezer, page 36) Jefferson Davis was always an
advocate for state rights. When first beginning his political career, he
established that he agreed with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison’s “orthodox
of state rights’ doctrine.”
Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederacy on November 6, 1861
where he signed a six year contract holding him accountable for this leadership
position. Davis was honored that his fellow confederates had so much hope in
him, but stated "Upon my weary heart was showered smiles, plaudits, and flowers, but beyond them I saw troubles and thorns innumerable." (History Channel, 2013).
With Davis now the first president of the Confederate States of
America, he wanted a fresh start, something new for the south. Though secession
wasn’t what Davis thought was necessary, he wanted to lead and carry the
Confederacy with much faith and belief that they could survive as a divided
nation. He was all for state rights. The Constitution of the Confederate States
was built on the idea of state over federal rights. In the preamble of the
Confederate constitution it states, “Each state acting in its sovereign and
independent character.” (Holezer, page 36) Jefferson Davis was always an
advocate for state rights. When first beginning his political career, he
established that he agreed with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison’s “orthodox
of state rights’ doctrine.”