Episode Two: CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT

After a three-day respite from political life, Davis receives word that he has been appointed provisional President of the Confederate States of America. The firing on Fort Sumter in 1861 sparks the Civil War and Davis not only has to build a country but also defend it in the face of invasion. The four years are filled with struggle and adversity, both for his country and his family. After his cabinet disbands in 1865, Davis and his compatriots journey southward, camping in tiny Irwinville, Georgia...where Davis is finally captured by Federal troops, ending The War Between the States.

[@Count1jt]

Finally a documentary of Jefferson Davis. Thank you for uploading it.

[@blacksheepbear6382]

Incredible series. The best of the Civil War docs in over 30 years.

[@carolbell8008]

I love to listen to William Davis, he is brilliant and knows so much American History, which is fascinating.

[@gordonmorris6359]

Although there were no casualties in the 'battle' (for Fort Sumter), during the surrender ceremony and lowering of the flag (striking the colors) US Major Robert Anderson ordered a hundred gun salute, a fire broke out in the magazine and one soldier (Pvt. Daniel Hough) was killed instantly and another (Pvt. Edward Galloway) was fatally wounded (died a couple of days later in hospital). The salute was shortened to a 50 cannon salute. Incidentally, that artillery battery was commanded by Jefferson Columbus Davis, who had fought in the 1846 Mexican War, his unit fought side by side with Jefferson Finis Davis's (later CSA President) Mississipi Rifles. Anderson had been Colonel of Illinois Volunteers in the 1832 Black Hawk War in which he commanded both Capt. Abraham Lincoln (volunteer) and Lt. Jefferson Finis Davis (regular army) in Wisconsin territory. Anderson & Davis escorted Black Hawk and the other prisoners by steamboat to Jefferson Barracks south of St.Louis. Black Hawk praised Davis for his respectful treatment.

[@bluestrife28]

Never looked forward so much to a multiple part documentary ever as this Part II.

[@militarybooks]

Absolutely a first class production.

[@OldHeathen1963]

Lost Cause dogeral

[@ae1586]

Tell us more about the war being fought to end slavery ? Tell us more righteous cause propaganda…. This documentary is backed by facts and actual historical documentation. For the cause was a lost cause and braver men have not since walked the earth since the southern soldier stood in the gap against numerically superior better equipped invaders who sought to hold them in a union of volition at the point of a bayonet . Ask yourself have the words despotic at home and aggressive abroad ever rang more true ? That’s what Lee and Davis were fighting against . By 1900 every one of their worst nightmares would occur . Wars of conquest, Indians slaughtered , freed slaves in concentration camps , American boys toppling governments around the world for the benefit of the American fruit company and other corporations. American blood shed for the benefit of a few fat cat industrialists. The constitution in taters

[@williamstocker584]

That’s not even a real word white boy

[@williamthomas1]

My GG Grandfather was in the Navy serving under then Captain Farragut during the Battle of New Orleans and Mobile Bay. He was 16 at the time. I have a picture of him in his Navy Uniform that i received from the Library of Congress. He enlisted at age 15 in 1861. What a horrible complicated War. When New Orleans was taken back, the Slaves were Under Union control and were not freed under the Emancipation Proclamation at the time. The proclamation only applied to Slaves that were under Confederate controlled land and all Slaves under Union control were not free until the War ended. He was also sent to the Russian Embassy in Havana Cuba to gain support if Britain got involved supporting the South. Russia did send 2 War ships in support of the North. If things would have turned in favor of the South I have no doubt that Britain would have intervened on behalf of the South.

[@avenaoat]

The British Consulatates in the Turkish Empire began to give free of charge cotton seeds to recultivate the cotton production for the agricultural people from 1858. (In the XVIIIth Century the main cotton exporter was the Turkish Empire!) The British government thought about a Civil War possibility during the Bleeding Kansas! Egypt became cotton exporter after 1861. The revolt was over in India in 1865 so the Indian agricultural producers could turn to cultivate cotton! The European sugar beet industry began in 1801, Napoleon brought the sugar beet to France and France became the biggest sugar producer from sugar beet about 1830, so the slave plantation sugar cane importance decreased. The Brasil could turn to cotton from Sugar cane. The Northern USA food export increased so turning to cotton did not cause any lack of food. The shortage of cotton helped the wool and flax industries because they were behind in the industrial revolution. The British workers did not want to help the slave holder Confederacy aginst the cotton shortage beetween 1861-1863, so the British Goverment (+French government) became neutral!

[@avenaoat]

The revolt was over in India in 1858!

[@robsniffen7597]

Outstanding program.

[@damianranger6910]

The South fought hard and only surrendered after they were completely beaten and unable to continue. I find that admirable even if the reason for fighting was not.

[@5kehhn]

Well, this was a good one. Very insightful.

[@wildestcowboy2668]

God bless Jefferson Davis and Robert E Lee. They were hero's who were wronged by the bloody union.

[@theCommentDevil]

They were evil slavers who killed Americans to protect slavery. They are in hell I assure you

[@redtomcat1725]

I learned more of Jefferson Davis in this video than I had previously known. He was more of a man than I realized. A man of principal !!

[@neroresurrected]

Principle*

[@Richard-hv5hh]

It's a really wonderful documentary. My compliments to the team that produced it. The various speakers were very articulate and impressive. As an Englishman who has lived in the States for 40 years I think the very last historian who spoke summed it up very well. It was almost a second War of Indeoendence. And that's the problem for me! The first war got rid of the British who had great values and replaced them with slaveowners. I can not see that as anything worth celebrating. Had the British remained, there would have been no Civil War and no segregation. The British banned the slave trade in 1807 and there were no slave colonies by 1833. So if the South had succeeded in their second War of Independence it would have been no more virtuous or laudable than the first! I understand and appreciate that Lincoln acted outside of the Constitution and that he very clearly was not motivated by freeing slaves. But it's interesting to hear that all the countries Jefferson appealed to refused to have diplomatic relations or give support because of slavery that had now become a very accepted moral issue. The South was truly out of step with the mores of Western civilisation. Their huge and myopic dependence on slavery was their undoing.

[@petersheldon2430]

Nathan Bedford Forrest said the quiet part right out loud. "If we're not fighting for slavery, then what the hell are we fighting for".

[@21stCenturyComm]

The whole theme is that people of the South didn't believe in the cause as much as good old J.D. I don't know how much more the South could have fought or sacrificed or given. Ulysses Grant said it best: "I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse." Defending slavery was an awful cause for which to sacrifice a generation of youth. The war was about preserving slavery. Tariffs were a constant source of disagrement between north and south, but they weren't fatal. The country wasn't going to split apart because of them.

[@RobertBithorn-ul4fm]

It's time for states succession and forming a constitutional Republic of the new America. I believe that we have about twenty five to twenty six states that could succeed from the Un United States. Reasons for this action is because of socialism communism and tyranny. Can't get any worse than this. We the people need to draw the line and take sides. Thank you from Ex Army Veteran.

[@jesterboykins2899]

The South knew they were being plundered. The nor the knew it also. That’s the point.

[@michaelakenya268]

While plundering others for their wealth.

[@jesterboykins2899]

@@michaelakenya268 who? Lol

[@leeatterberry1239]

I think it's like sorry JD you started it and you're going to finish it I should say the north is going to finish it

[@fetengineer9151]

I'm AA and I'm not proud of this but I'm a descendant of Jefferson Davis. My 4th great grandfather Alexander Stone born 1825 married Emily Davis. Both of them were of mixed race ancestry from Charles County, Mayland. My family pretty much settled in Madison County, Kentucky in 1790s where eventually both sides fought on both sides during the Civil War.

[@sinash]

Stop that! You had nothing to do with the choices that your ancestors made. BUT, they have a lot to do with you! Were it not for them then you wouldn't be here! You're very lucky (and I mean this) to be an AA that can track your roots so far back. There are many of us who cannot and will always wonder.

[@fetengineer9151]

@@sinash let me clear this up my 4th great grandmother is Emily Davis who is "very" related to Jefferson Davis & family. However he is not my paternal grandfather. We have research evidence, DNA study and court documentation to support this claim. Overall, I'm happy to be created by Emily Davis but not very proud of her ancestry principles and viewpoints during the 1860s but, I totally understand. Now the crazy part my surname is "Taylor"... on my father's side, my Taylor's are related to Pres Z. Taylor who's daughter Sarah Taylor married Jefferson Davis. So J.D. is definitely a part of my family no matter how you look at it which, I can't change.

[@sinash]

@@fetengineer9151Nor should you want to change it. Okay... they were on the wrong side of history. "Dems the breaks..." But, I think it's great that you know who they are and the mark (good or bad) they made during their lives. Poor shleps like me just come from ordinary, plain folk (or those that I have found so far) and no one did anything major--except create me! So, I'm proud of my ordinary, plain, folk

[@bendavis6600]

I'm related through Samuel Davis, his father, per what I've always understood. I'm proud that there's been such a dutiful, honorable, and undeniably multi faceted man to aspire to. He had insane resolve, drive, and principle. In an age where few will stand up and give an opinion on Jack shit for fear of what "they" might think.......I'd say it's better to die on your feet than live on your knees. To have stood, and STOOD FOR SOMETHING, HELL ANYTHING with the tenacity Davis believed in his cause is something I respect, regardless of my own (superceded and eclipsed) opinion on the politics of the matter. The man did so much more than likely anyone to ever see this video and I don't think it's even really possible to practice empathy and judge his decisions and or reasoning. It was a foreign time compared to today, and it's likely the driving forces we consider pivotal couldn't mean less to those living at that time. Hate him, love him, or otherwise you can't deny his loyalty, and I've got respect in spades.

[@fetengineer9151]

@@bendavis6600 where are you from Kentucky?

[@kevinbarrow5396]

Long live the confederate memory!and may the union fall for its lies told about its southern brethren!

[@zpy-nq7wv]

AS I'VE HEARD MANY TIMES GROWING UP, FROM BOTH SIDES OF MY FAMILIES, CONFEDERATES FOUGHT FOR THEIR FAMILIES,HOME AND THEIR COUNTRY . ( VIRGINIA ).

[@ae1586]

So have I . I have heard it told that my 3rd great grandfather only fought to defend and secure that small area of land they farmed and called home along with the defense of their native South Carolina

[@theCommentDevil]

And slavery

[@437765513]

​@theJakeDevil come on Jake

[@marcusjohnson5420]

They lied

[@rpmayfield]

@@theCommentDevil …Slavery was the economic impotence for the war, this was a capitalistic republic in which slavery (at the time) was affirmed by the constitution… yet…State sovereignty and pride was the reason hundreds of thousands of southern Americans fought and died. Oversimplified..but truth..

[@SanJuanCreole]

Interesting documentary. Rest in peace John Brown , Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass 🙏

[@carywest9256]

Hate to be the bringer of bad news,but John Brown I'd imagine is burning in hell. For he murdered five people in Kansas.

[@SanJuanCreole]

@carywest9256 umm. He's in Heaven for laying his life down for black people. He avenged his sons murder in Kansas actually.

[@blacksheepbear6382]

John Brown, Americas first terrorist. The spark that lit the war and brutal death of over a million.

[@carri35ands]

They did plunder them. It's about land, same story.

[@ae1586]

John brown was terrorist and he was hanged by the neck until he died as such .

[@closecombat5103]

Keven spacy

[@westerfrye2089]

Jefferson Davis was indeed the second greatest President of all time. A man who chose to be american but forced to be a rebel.

[@frankstrom4509]

This is an amazing series. People really seem to have it all wrong when it comes to Davis. He's not the tyrant people claim. I wish more people would look up real history and not just latch onto whatever current political propaganda suits their need.

[@larryjones-emery807]

This video has been most informative. Thank you. I know more about Davis than I ever have before.I am glad the Confederacy lost the War. I am African American. I can now see more of why White Supremecy began to raise it's ugly head. It is an example of a hellish doctrine designed to defeat our nation. It will not succeed. The USA Will Survive as a bastion of liberty and justice and Godly truth. Thanks for this video.

[@metroguy4879]

Propaganda hell, rapist/ murderer bond devil🥸

[@yarazooom]

whats the difference btwn TRUMP & JEFFERSON DAVIS????? nothing

[@zpy-nq7wv]

WELL SAID ! UNFORTUNATELY THE " WOKE" SOCIETY THAT HAS BECOME AMERICA'S NEW CULTURE, DOES EVERYTHING TO DESTROY TRUE HISTORY .

[@svenkrisenberg6684]

He openly talked about his preference of the confederacy being highly centralized, even more so than now

[@bobdavis2215]

Spot on

[@BULL.173]

Great documentary! Definitely a southern bend to it but that's fine. Although I think it's somewhat disingenuous to leave out one of the big reasons the prisoner parole / exchange was suspended. The Confederate government basically said any captured US Colored Troops would be either enslaved or executed. Kind of a problem there. And to say the Emancipation Proclamation was 100% unconstitutional has no basis in legal fact. Congress had passed TWO Confiscation Acts that resulted in the manumission of slaves. The Proclamation was an Executive Order in furtherance of two previously legislated acts. That's precedent.

[@nicklipman2423]

Intro song ?

[@WildwoodSubRailfan]

For all the Lincoln and Union lovers out there, answer me this: If secession was illegal and indeed impossible, as Lincoln claimed, then why was it necessary to "re-admit" the former Confederate states? You do not need to be readmitted to something you couldn't have possibly left to begin with. Anyway, for anyone who has anything beyond a children's coloring book understanding of history will immediately realize this conflict was in fact over tariffs and not slavery. Tariffs were economically devastating to the Southern states and it was the key party plank of the Republicans and Lincoln, a Henry Clay Whig disciple.

[@sup8857]

That's a good question. The south did what they were told, post war. Good dogs.

[@carywest9256]

At the 43:00 minutes or so, the go between of Davis & Lincoln proves that Lincoln was a tyrant who wouldn't budge on a compromise. Sounds familiar as Hitler, Stalin,Ho Chia Mien and other dictators.

[@sup8857]

The CSA was never recognized as a sovereign country. Lincoln wasnt bound by any treaty, set of manners, etc. to sit down with the supposed delegates of a nation that didn't exist. He secretly met with a group of southern politicians at Grants HQ to discuss the post war period .

[@DJS11811]

Emancipation was a military action to deprive the Confederacy of the manpower it needed to pursue the war. That's not unconstitutional, it's part of war powers during the emergency.

[@avenaoat]

Morrill tariff was introduce by the Buchanan goverment (not Lincoln goverment!), because the Cotton King 7 states left the Union and the senate could not block with veto! The without industry Cotton King area was not interested strong American industry. Cotton King wanted to change cotton with British, French, Belgian, German etc industrial goods!

[@westerfrye2089]

True but lincoln did raise the tariff to a ridiculous amount while in office. The south had already been paying more than its share to the federal government.

[@avenaoat]

@@westerfrye2089 Beetween 1861-1865 the South payed 0 tax to Federal goverment! The Morill tax was paid by the Northern States beetween 1861-1865! The tax helped the Baby USA industry well and this was the part of financial background of the Civil War! Nowdays the tax is low and everything almost Made In China!

[@avenaoat]

@@westerfrye2089 Beetween 1861 and 1865 the Morill Tariff was paid by the Northern States. The Confederacy did not pay any tax to the Federal Government! BTW The higher tax helped the Baby USA industry. The British, French, Belgian and German textiles, iron and machins were cheaper than the products of the baby USA industry about 1860, but the USA textile industry became more competative than the European textile industry about 1900. The USA began export steel products into the British Empire for the competative prices about 1900! The slave holder South wanted a week industrial country, the North wanted the industrial World Power! Now the USA tax is low and almost everything is MADE OF CHINA!

[@westerfrye2089]

@@avenaoat I apologize the southern states didn't want to pay the tariffs and had that right.

[@avenaoat]

@@westerfrye2089 Northern states were the winner of the Civil War, so tariff question was answered that the WHOLE COUNTRY's INTEREST IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN INTEREST OF SOME SLAVE HOLDERS AND THE SLAVE SYSTEM CONNECTED ECONOMICAL, AND FAMILIAR SOCIETY. This slave holder connected society's interest was cheap imported industrial goods from British, French, Belgian, German and other European contries for slave work goods (cotton, tobbaco, etc.)instead of AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL GOODS! . Germany began the quick industrial developing, when they started the "Zollverein system" after 1834. BTW the biggest knock was on the slavery system (the German invent) the sugar beet industry in Europe. About 1830 France became the biggest sugar producer in the World from free peasant/farmer worked sugar beet! The French abolished the slaves in 1848 and the British did in 1836!

[@carolbell8008]

It is clear and well known that Lincoln way over stepped his authority and the law with this war, he was a big bully. However it is good that these men had the energy, tenacity, courage and will to handle this in their time. God bless them.

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

Secession and Confederacy was and is illegal under several provisions of the Constitution, including Article 1, Section 10; Article 5, and Article 7. The Constitution also makes specific provisions for the power of the the President during armed insurrections. Cases which have made it to the U.S. Supreme Court on this issue have all confirmed the illegality of secession.

[@factsoftheconfederacy7151]

@@LTrotsky21stCentury Madison: "Who are parties to it [the Constitution]? The people-but not the people as composing one great body; but the people as composing thirteen sovereignties: were it, as the gentleman [Mr. Henry] asserts, a consolidated government, the assent of a majority of the people would be sufficient for its establishment, and as a majority have adopted it already, the remaining States would be bound by the act of the majority, even if they unanimously reprobated it: were it such a government as is suggested, it would be now binding on the people of this State, without having had the privilege of deliberating upon it; but, sir, no State is bound by it, as it is, without its own consent. Should all the States adopt it, it will be then a government established by the thirteen States of America, not through the intervention of the Legislatures, but by the people at large. In this particular respect the distinction between the existing and proposed governments is very material. The existing system has been derived from the dependent, derivative authority of the Legislatures of the [pg 123] States, whereas this is derived from the superior power of the people."40

[@harrygsmith]

“The servers that she took with her” Just say slaves.

[@adariussanders9429]

Lincoln was a Gangsta 💀😂😈

[@Fumms391]

Lincoln was a criminal. Fuck him.

[@adariussanders9429]

Everyone who helped get AMERIKKKA established was criminals

[@Fumms391]

@@adariussanders9429 No. Jeff Davis was a hero

[@adariussanders9429]

So was Davis part of the union

[@Fumms391]

@@adariussanders9429 No I'm just saying that Davis and men like him were heroes.

[@smithjohn9620]

" give them Yankees cold steel " lol lol

[@factsoftheconfederacy7151]

It wasn’t going to cease to exist. That’s a lie.

[@eflint1]

Oh stop. The south didn't have slaves just for the sake of having slaves. It ended everywhere else and would have ended sooner rather than later in the CSA.

[@gustavjames]

Lots of praise for his gallantry in defending the rights of the enslavers, the hypocrites, the ungodly, the scum, the pale faces full of jealousy and inferiority, the boys so afraid of the Black Man.

[@pierlombardini8705]

William C. Davis is a very well known and highly respected historian, on the other hand Thomas Di Lorenzo is a professor of economics and amateur historian who's pretty unfamiliar with the method of historical research and above all has a thoroughly biased view on this topic. Apples and oranges.

[@carywest9256]

I would imagine that DiLorenzo has forgotten more about The War Between the States, than you could ever learn.

[@sup8857]

​@@carywest9256 DiLorenzo is a joker with zero credibility. No wonder you admire him

[@ConradDwight-wm8yt]

Is William a descendant of Jefferson Davis.?

[@LComeno]

@@ConradDwight-wm8yt Have no idea if he is or not, but know that I am. I'm from the Taylor line, Jeff's 1st wife was President Zachary Taylor's daughter. I heard good things said as I was growing up about him and most of the family were republican.

[@DJS11811]

War Between the States? You mean The War of Southern Rebellion. Secession was illegal. There was no provision to leave the Union.

[@ricksamericana749]

More slavery apologia. Shame on William Davis, he's far too good a historian to be involved with this crap. Oh well, I guess he knows where his market for future book sales is.

[@eflint1]

Oh, stop lying. There was n "slavery apologia." Just stop.

[@ricksamericana749]

@@eflint1 😂😂😂😂😂 Never, huh? Ever heard of the "Lost Cause"? Ever seen "Birth Of A Nation"? Legislation in Texas, Oklahoma, and seven other states propose limitations on how slavery is taught in history class. You are ridiculous.

[@sup8857]

​@@eflint1 DeLorenzo "spun" how the CSA constitution handled slavery. He forgot to mention the CSA mandated slavery.

[@williamstocker584]

Slavery is still going on in Africa and parts of the Middle East but for some reason you Americans don’t seem to care about that you only seem to care about stuff that happened 200 years ago 🤔

[@rubraformica]

Interesting that they mention Davis' later reflection on Lincoln's assassination and not his initial response. It is alleged that, upon receiving news of Lincoln's assassination, Davis said "If it were to be done, it were better it were well done." Two days later, after John C. Breckinridge, Confederate Secretary of War, remarked to Davis that the assassination would be bad for the South, Davis replied "Well, General, I don't know; if it were to be done at all it were better it were well done; and if the same were done to Andy Johnson, the beast, and to Secretary Stanton, the job would then be complete." Google "nyt full-report-of-the-testimony-taken-on-tuesday-examination-of-lewis" for the source of these quotes. They come from a trial held after Lincoln's assassination where Lewis F. Bates, Superintendent of the Southern Express Company for the State of North Carolina, testified under oath that Davis said what is quoted above.