Historical1808
Jefferson Davis Born
Jefferson Davis was born in Fairview, Kentucky. He served as a U.S. senator and Secretary of War before becoming president of the Confederate States of America. His career illustrates the deep divisions over slavery and states' rights that nearly destroyed the Union.
Why It Matters
Davis's life story underscores the fragility of democratic union when fundamental moral questions go unresolved, and how the constitutional system ultimately endured its greatest test.