Cranks, libertarians, and zealots: an examination of opposition to Jefferson Davis in the Provisional and First Confederate Congresses

Identifier

etd-07062004-111717

Author

Tereal Wayne Edmondson, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeFollow

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

While many historians have maintained that the Provisional and First Confederate Congresses both served as legislatures intent on obstructing Jefferson Davis's policies, these southern assemblies actually provided little notable resistance to the president. Congressmen who did oppose Davis's policies never coalesced into a formal opposition. This lack of cohesion resulted from two factors: the Confederacy's eschewal of political parties following secession from the Union and the inability of disgruntled solons to organize an oppositional faction thereafter. When objections to increased centralization of the war effort came, they were from individuals who acted alone or in small factions. Consequently, Davis had a vast majority of his desired policies enacted during the period from February 1861 to February 1864.

Date

2004

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Recommended Citation

Edmondson, Tereal Wayne, "Cranks, libertarians, and zealots: an examination of opposition to Jefferson Davis in the Provisional and First Confederate Congresses" (2004). LSU Master's Theses. 459.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/459

Committee Chair

William J. Cooper, Jr.

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.459