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19th Century US History
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| Yes | 48% | 203 votes | Total: 424 votes | |
| No | 52% | 221 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesHistorically when regions have seceded from a country it was because they wish to establish a homeland based on ethnic nationality or to separate self determination from incompetence. Neither one of these reasons was why Jefferson Davis and Southern aristocratic leaders decided to break away from the United States to form the Confederate States. Davis and the Southern leaders act was nothing more then treason.
Despite what Scholar apologetic and pro-Confederate sympathizers like to believe, the establishment of the Confederate States of America was in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln and a fear that previous Federal policy of appeasement towards to aristocrats system of slavery would have ended.
Basically Jefferson Davis lead a secession movement and lead the illegal political entity into a bloody war just so the aristocracy could maintain an obsolete and inhumane economic system. Davis scam was so successful that honorable warriors such as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson became quislings overnight.
Soon this nation was at war were brothers against each other in battles that pit Democracy / Modernization / Industrialization against Fascism / Aristocracy / Primitives . It was truly a war that would decided the fate of our future and thankfully Democracy / Modernization / Industrialization won.
Had the Confederate States held their Independence, Davis then would have establish a totalitarian nation were any one of non-White Anglo Saxon Protestant would have been forced into slavery or butchered. Then Davis would have attempted an imperialist policy in Latin America with hopes of becoming like the European and Japanese Empires.
Just by studying American History, there were many Southern Leaders who had visions of a Tropical Empire before and during the Civil War. Mercenaries like William Walker were paid to start insurgencies in Central America and to take over the government. Yet the fall of the Confederacy did not end the dreams of imperialism.
This is all unknown yet revisionists have forced feed a fantasy into our minds of what the war means. We are told it was about regional differences with a culture barrier and a lack of catering to the South's need. When in reality the Antebellum was just the days of appeasement for the South.
Despite what apologists may want to believe or forgive; Jefferson Davis was a repulsive human who tore this nation apart just so he and the aristocracy could continue their system of slavery. Davis was a traitor who should of had his assets seized by the Federal Government, put on trial for treason along with war crimes, and finally hung from a tree.
Learn more about this author, Soheil Rezaee.
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No
It would not be accurate to portray Jefferson Davis as a traitor. A wide range of contentious issues faced the United States in the middle 19th century. As a result of these issues, Davis was forced to make many controversial decisions during his long political career. These decisions had lasting effects, personally and politically. As the political landscape of the country changed around him Jefferson Davis maintained his sense of duty and honor. He would never betray those he had been chosen to represent.
By the 1850's Jefferson Davis was known throughout the United States as an American patriot. The love he had for his county and the state of Mississippi was without question. A graduate of West Point Military Academy, Davis served his nation with honor. He spent time as a Colonel in the Mexican-American War soon after graduation from West Point. This wartime experience proved itself invaluable later as he served as Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. Davis also spent time in the nations capital as a member of Congress, representing the state of Mississippi. During his tenure in Congress, Davis spoke out against secession. He stopped short however, of calling the act illegal. Davis believed each state was sovereign and had an absolute right to leave the Union. To Davis the act of secession was a drastic measure, taken only when the bonds of the original union were broken beyond repair.
When Davis received word Mississippi had enacted an ordinance of secession he resigned his position as United States Senator and cast his lot with the newly formed Confederate States of America. Mississippi had reached come to the conclusion the politicians of the North had strayed from the ideals of the original republic and were traitors to the ideas of Washington, Jefferson and Madison. To Davis duty and honor required utmost loyal to his "country;" the state of Mississippi. It was the only choice his conscience would allow.
The state of Mississippi sealed the fate of Jefferson Davis when it joined the Confederacy. Americans living before the Civil War were most loyal to their home state. Faithfulness to the collective United States of America came second. Jefferson Davis believed the dreams of the Founding Fathers could only be pursued by the dissolution of the country he had served so many years. To Davis southerners were true patriots, not unlike those who had fought the British during the Revolutionary War. This belief guided him in the years following the War Between the States. Long after the Confederacy had been vanquished, Davis continued to defend the ideas of the "Lost Cause." He did not waiver. In the final analysis Jefferson Davis stayed true to himself.
Learn more about this author, Scott Shaddox.
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