Reconstruction

What happened to Jefferson Davis?

Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederacy. When General Lee surrendered to General Grant ending the Civil War, Davis ordered the destruction of the Confederate Capital in Richmond, Virginia. Davis was captured on May 10, 1865. He was charged with treason and served two years in prison. Eventually, Davis was released on bail and the case against him was dropped.

Jefferson Davis was no longer eligible to run for public office, and in the late 1880s he began to encourage reconciliation. A Civil War hero in the eyes of most Southerners, Davis wanted everyone to become loyal to the Union. He died in 1889 at the age of 81. Do you believe that Jefferson Davis was a hero? Why or why not?