February 18
Jefferson Davis Inaugurated as Confederate President
Jefferson Davis assumed the role of provisional president of the Confederate States of America on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol, establishing formal leadership for the seven states that had withdrawn from the Union.
Summary
By early 1861, seven Southern states had seceded from the United States amid disputes over slavery, states' rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. Delegates from these states convened in Montgomery, Alabama, to form the Confederate States of America and select leadership. On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was sworn in as provisional president on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol before a large crowd. In his inaugural address, Davis emphasized the Confederacy's commitment to self-government and defended the right of secession as aligned with principles from the American Declaration of Independence. The ceremony formalized the new government's structure and set the stage for rapid organization of military and administrative institutions. Davis would later win a popular election for a six-year term.
Context
Abraham Lincoln's victory in the November 1860 presidential election crystallized long-simmering conflicts over slavery's expansion into western territories and the balance of power between states and the federal government. Southern leaders argued that the Republican triumph threatened their economic system and political autonomy, leading South Carolina to secede on December 20, 1860. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas followed in rapid succession over the next six weeks.
What Happened
Delegates from the seceded states met in Montgomery, Alabama, beginning February 4, 1861, to draft a provisional constitution and select leaders for a new confederation. On February 9 they unanimously elected Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, a former U.S. senator and secretary of war, as provisional president; Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia became provisional vice president. Davis arrived in Montgomery several days later and prepared for the public ceremony.
Aftermath
The February 18 inauguration took place outdoors before roughly ten thousand spectators on the Alabama State Capitol steps. Howell Cobb, president of the Montgomery Convention, participated in the proceedings as Davis took the oath and delivered an address that framed the Confederacy as a government resting on the consent of the governed. He invoked the Declaration of Independence to defend secession, stressed the absence of Southern aggression, and urged rapid organization of executive departments for foreign affairs, finance, military affairs, and postal service.
Legacy
Davis's installation formalized the political structure of the breakaway nation and accelerated its efforts to raise an army and establish diplomatic relations. Within weeks the Confederate government began seizing federal property and preparing defenses, while the incoming Lincoln administration refused recognition, setting the conditions for armed conflict at Fort Sumter in April 1861. Davis later won a popular election for a six-year term under the permanent constitution.
Why It Matters
The inauguration established the political leadership of the breakaway Confederate nation, directly contributing to the outbreak and course of the American Civil War by solidifying Southern resolve and prompting Union responses. It remains a key marker in U.S. constitutional and sectional history.
Related Questions
Why did the Southern states secede after Lincoln's election?
Leaders cited fears that a Republican administration would restrict slavery's expansion and undermine states' rights, viewing secession as a constitutional remedy.
What key ideas did Davis express in his inaugural address?
He argued that governments derive legitimacy from the consent of the governed, defended secession as an inalienable right affirmed by the Declaration of Independence, and pledged peaceful intent while preparing for defense.
Who organized the Confederate government in Montgomery?
Delegates from the seven states, led by convention president Howell Cobb, drafted the provisional constitution and selected Davis and Stephens as the first executive officers.
What immediate steps followed the inauguration?
The new government began creating executive departments, raising military forces, and asserting control over federal property within its claimed territory.
How did the event shape the path to civil war?
By creating a rival national government that the Union refused to recognize, the inauguration hardened divisions and contributed directly to the clash at Fort Sumter two months later.
Related Portfolio Site
US Military Atlas: Jefferson Davis Inaugurated as Confederate President connects to military history, war consequences, or postwar diplomacy.
Explore More
Related Events
Sources
- Jefferson Davis' First Inaugural Address, Rice University. Accessed 2026-07-08.