How Did Jefferson Davis Lose The Civil War

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The American Civil War Officially started on April 12, 1861, when confederate forces, under the direction of President Jefferson Davis, fired upon Fort Sumter. The Civil War continued for nearly four years, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and the destruction of once prosperous cities. However, after the Confederate Army sustained numerous losses, General Robert E. Lee elected to surrender the Confederacy to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House (Georgia Encyclopedia). After the Confederacy surrender, President Jefferson Davis set-up a temporary government, made plans to flee to a sympathetic country, and eventually retreated to Georgia after the Union army attempted to capture him. Ultimately, On May 10, 1865, Jefferson Davis was captured by union forces in Irwinville, Georgia, imprisoned, and charged with treason (Georgia Encyclopedia). However, what happened after Jefferson Davis’s capture is truly intriguing. Jefferson Davis served in confinement as a military prisoner, which later saw him being released into civilian custody, he subsequently demanded a trail, but ultimately he was pardoned by the president. …show more content…

At Fort Monroe, Jefferson Davis was observed twenty-four hours a day, verifying that he didn’t escape federal custody. Meanwhile, the American government contemplated the fate of Jefferson Davis, the leader of the Confederacy. Further, the American government believed Jefferson Davis was involved in the assignation plot of President Lincoln. However, as the trial concluded it was obvious that Jefferson Davis was not connected to the assassination plot, and by May 13, 1867 he was released into civilian custody on a $ 100,000 bail