Jefferson Davis was a senator from Mississippi in the United States Senate from 1847 to 1861. He was a strong advocate for states’ rights and slavery, and became an increasingly vocal critic of the federal government’s stance on these issues. In January 1861, Mississippi seceded from the United States, and Davis resigned from the Senate on January 21st.
Davis’ resignation was a significant moment in the lead-up to the Civil War. It was a clear indication that the deep political divisions between the North and South were becoming more entrenched, and that the country was on the brink of a major conflict. In the months that followed, several other Southern states also seceded, and on On November 6, Davis was elected as the President of the Confederate States of America.
Leading the southern states in their attempt to secede from the Union and establish a new nation. However, the Civil War would ultimately prove unsuccessful for the Confederacy and resulted in the end of slavery in the United States.
While Davis’ resignation and leadership of the Confederacy has been controversial, it was a significant event in the lead up to the Civil War, and his speeches and actions represented a significant part of the divided opinion of the country on the issue of slavery and states’ rights that ultimately led to the war.
References:
https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured_Bio_DavisJefferson.htm
