Jefferson Davis was the only president of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. He struggled to lead the Confederacy to independence from the United States. After the Confederacy collapsed, Davis fled from Richmond but was eventually captured. He was imprisoned for two years but was never tried, and was released on bond in 1867.
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2. Background Information Jefferson Davis was born is Kentucky in a log cain. He grew up on a small plantation is Mississippi. He attended the military academy at West Point, New York. Then, he served as commander of the Mississippi Rifles in the Mexican War. He was elected to fill a term as U.S. senator for Mississippi.
3. What did he really want to do? He had hoped to be chosen to command the armies of the Confederacy Instead, he was elected president of the Confederate States Davis really didnt enjoy politics
4. Role in Confederacy Jefferson Davis was the only president of the Confederate States of America. He struggled to lead the confederacy to independence in the U.S. He was an outstanding secretary of war in the cabinet of Franklin Pierce and then returned to the Senate, where he became a spokesperson for the South.
5. After Presidency In April 1865, as the Confederacy was collapsing, Davis fled from Richmond, Va., hoping to continue the war from the Deep South or from west of the Mississippi, or to organize a government in exile. On May 10 Federal cavalrymen in southern Georgia captured him. For 2 years he was held in prison and threatened with trial for treason. His suffering during his imprisonment won him the affection of the Southern people, who came to regard him as a martyr to their lost cause. Although indicted, Davis was never brought to trial, and he was released on bond in 1867 .