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The President of the Confederate States of America was the Head of State and Head of Government of the Confederate States. The only person to hold the office was Jefferson Davis. He was President from February 18, 1861, to May 5, 1865, and his Vice President was Alexander Stephens. Neither the office nor the country was recognized by any foreign government. At the end of the American Civil War, the office ceased to exist.

Much of the President's role was similar to that of the United States president, but with some differences. The CS President was only allowed to serve one six-year term without reelection and was given the power of line-item veto, being able to veto certain parts of bill while signing the rest into law.

The Guns of the South

After General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate States to victory during the Second American Revolution, he became the popular choice to succeed Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederate States.

President Number Term Party
Jefferson Davis
JeffDavis
1 1862-1868 None
Robert E. Lee
Lee2
2 1868-1873(?) Confederate Party

Southern Victory

The President was the executive officer in the Confederate States. From 1861 to 1939, the President was elected every six years and sworn in March 4 of the following year. Originally, the Confederate Constitution limited presidents to one term in office. Burton Mitchel served for almost two full terms because he succeeded Wade Hampton V after Hampton's assassination, and then ran for election in his own right. During Jake Featherston's term in office, a constitutional amendment passed allowing a president to serve more than one term, and Featherston was easily reelected. There was never another presidential election after 1939.

Upon the Confederacy's defeat at the end of the Second Great War in 1944, and the death of Featherston, Don Partridge became president long enough to officially surrender the country. Once this act was completed, the office of President of the Confederate States ceased to exist.

President Number Term Party
Jefferson Davis
JeffDavis
1 1861-1868 Whig
All Unknown 2-3 1868-1880 Whig
James Longstreet
JLongstreet
4 1880-1886 Whig
All Unknown 5-8 1886-1910 Whig
Woodrow Wilson
WoodrowWilson
9 1910-1916 Whig
Gabriel Semmes 10 1916-1922 Whig
Wade Hampton V 11 1922 Whig
Burton Mitchel 12 1922-1934 Whig
Jake Featherston
Featherston
13 1934-1944 Freedom Party
Don Partridge 14 1944 Freedom
  • At least one Confederate President was named Lee. However, there are reasons to believe that this person was not Robert E. Lee, who is otherwise the obvious choice. Nor is there any information as to when this President Lee served.

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