Jefferson Davis Analysis
Jefferson Davis Analysis
Marie Long
St. Philips College
Author Note
Sierra Hernandez, Focus in Psychology, St. Philips College
This research was supported and funded solely on student.
Jefferson Davis was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis graduated from the United States Military Academy and went on to contribute to the development of the early United States in a number of meaningful ways. By the time 1861 rolled around, though, Davis was thrust into a position of political leadership that he was ill-suited for, but which he believed he was obligated to fulfill to the best of his ability. After a distinguished career in national politics as Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce, …show more content…
Davis served as a congressman and then as a Mississippi senator. After the South’s 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. He died in New Orleans in 1889, and Congress posthumously reinstated his American citizenship in 1978.
Davis was a moderate political leader who was never able to figure out how to defeat the better-equipped North.
As president, he acted as his own Secretary of War and meddled constantly in southern military strategy. He held less power in the South than Lincoln did in the North and the power he did have rapidly decreased as the Union Army captured large parts of the Confederacy. Davis’s economic policies failed to provide the South with a stable currency or enough industrial capacity to prevail in the war. Towards the end of the war, Davis insisted on holding out until the bitter end, even when it was clear that the Confederacy had lost in recent years, his legacy has suffered in comparison to that of Robert E. Lee, the general he appointed to replace Joe Johnston in …show more content…
1862.
Jefferson Davis gave his last speech to the Confederate people on April 4th, 1865 at Danville, Virginia. It was his last public message and in it he attempts to reconcile the horrible Confederate defeats with the ultimate goal of Confederate victory over the United States.
He is emphatic that the Confederate cause is not lost and that the enemy would soon tired of the war and concedes defeat. He states how, “…the belief that their possession of Richmond would be the signal for our submission…” is widely inaccurate and that, “…nothing is now needed to render our triumph certain…”. Jefferson Davis clearly believed that the Confederacy could salvage the situation that it was in and all that was needed was greater sacrifice and effort. It is in that vein, that the reason for Jefferson Davis’ last speech to the Confederate people, that one can find the true value of the man.
Davis was easy enough to dislike based on the characterizations presented by several biographers who insist he was an arrogant and pretentious individual who believed he was better than others.
During my research, I came across many archives claiming that during Davis’ years of political leadership, hundreds of thousands of American lives were sacrificed at the altar of secession, and how someone had to be the scapegoat and how Davis was the natural outlet for the hostility of both sides. Davis was also a man of stern convectors who felt that his decision could not be wrong. He was very forceful in his beliefs on the justness of the Confederate cause and while he was an intelligent man, it should be remembered that he was also a stubborn
man. In his last speech, Davis states that, “…no peace ever be made with the infamous invaders of her homes by the sacrifice of any of her rights or territory.” Davis was speaking of Virginia in this case and it is clear that he would not accept any surrender, if it violated the rights of Virginia. With this evidence in mind, it becomes apparent that Davis is firm in his beliefs and would not consider and alternatives. It is a valuable point to not of Jefferson Davis, that even in the darkest hour; he could not be dissuaded from the conviction of his beliefs. Jefferson Davis clearly believed in what he was saying in his speech, but it was doubtful that others agreed with him. The war was coming to a close and General Lee would soon surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. Jefferson Davis, however, refused to see the reality of the situation and was trying to prolong the war.
With this in mind, I can state that his last speech was an act of futility and disregard, as it could have led to more suffering for a cause that was lost. The speech, if given during the middle of the war, could have served a purpose. As to the value of this source, I hazard to say that its value is purely biographical and is a testament to the very nature of Jefferson Davis. Jefferson Davis was a complicated man and this source exemplifies his character well.
Sources:
Marie Long
St. Philips College
Author Note
Sierra Hernandez, Focus in Psychology, St. Philips College
This research was supported and funded solely on student.
Jefferson Davis was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis graduated from the United States Military Academy and went on to contribute to the development of the early United States in a number of meaningful ways. By the time 1861 rolled around, though, Davis was thrust into a position of political leadership that he was ill-suited for, but which he believed he was obligated to fulfill to the best of his ability. After a distinguished career in national politics as Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce, …show more content…
Davis served as a congressman and then as a Mississippi senator. After the South’s 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. He died in New Orleans in 1889, and Congress posthumously reinstated his American citizenship in 1978.
Davis was a moderate political leader who was never able to figure out how to defeat the better-equipped North.
As president, he acted as his own Secretary of War and meddled constantly in southern military strategy. He held less power in the South than Lincoln did in the North and the power he did have rapidly decreased as the Union Army captured large parts of the Confederacy. Davis’s economic policies failed to provide the South with a stable currency or enough industrial capacity to prevail in the war. Towards the end of the war, Davis insisted on holding out until the bitter end, even when it was clear that the Confederacy had lost in recent years, his legacy has suffered in comparison to that of Robert E. Lee, the general he appointed to replace Joe Johnston in …show more content…
1862.
Jefferson Davis gave his last speech to the Confederate people on April 4th, 1865 at Danville, Virginia. It was his last public message and in it he attempts to reconcile the horrible Confederate defeats with the ultimate goal of Confederate victory over the United States.
He is emphatic that the Confederate cause is not lost and that the enemy would soon tired of the war and concedes defeat. He states how, “…the belief that their possession of Richmond would be the signal for our submission…” is widely inaccurate and that, “…nothing is now needed to render our triumph certain…”. Jefferson Davis clearly believed that the Confederacy could salvage the situation that it was in and all that was needed was greater sacrifice and effort. It is in that vein, that the reason for Jefferson Davis’ last speech to the Confederate people, that one can find the true value of the man.
Davis was easy enough to dislike based on the characterizations presented by several biographers who insist he was an arrogant and pretentious individual who believed he was better than others.
During my research, I came across many archives claiming that during Davis’ years of political leadership, hundreds of thousands of American lives were sacrificed at the altar of secession, and how someone had to be the scapegoat and how Davis was the natural outlet for the hostility of both sides. Davis was also a man of stern convectors who felt that his decision could not be wrong. He was very forceful in his beliefs on the justness of the Confederate cause and while he was an intelligent man, it should be remembered that he was also a stubborn
man. In his last speech, Davis states that, “…no peace ever be made with the infamous invaders of her homes by the sacrifice of any of her rights or territory.” Davis was speaking of Virginia in this case and it is clear that he would not accept any surrender, if it violated the rights of Virginia. With this evidence in mind, it becomes apparent that Davis is firm in his beliefs and would not consider and alternatives. It is a valuable point to not of Jefferson Davis, that even in the darkest hour; he could not be dissuaded from the conviction of his beliefs. Jefferson Davis clearly believed in what he was saying in his speech, but it was doubtful that others agreed with him. The war was coming to a close and General Lee would soon surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. Jefferson Davis, however, refused to see the reality of the situation and was trying to prolong the war.
With this in mind, I can state that his last speech was an act of futility and disregard, as it could have led to more suffering for a cause that was lost. The speech, if given during the middle of the war, could have served a purpose. As to the value of this source, I hazard to say that its value is purely biographical and is a testament to the very nature of Jefferson Davis. Jefferson Davis was a complicated man and this source exemplifies his character well.
Sources: