Presidential Politics (Confederate States Victory)

1860 - On November 6th, Jefferson Davis is elected the 1st President of the Confederate States of America. He is inaugerated on Febraury 9, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia The CSA Consitution stituplates that the President be limited to a single 6-year term. Under Davis the South struggles to survive. It endures a long war with the North, never achieving any resounding milatry successes and in tehb process draining the alrady limited resources of teh new nation. Near the end of his term, Davis is dispised by his countrymen and faulted for the lack of progress in the war. Members of his own Cabinet and his own Vice-President, Alexander Stephens, open chid Davis. In the 1866 election, several leading members of the Democratic Party campaign to win the war.

1867 - The election of 1866 sees Governer Joesph E. Brown elected President over a number of Democratic contenders. brown chooses Alexander Stephens to mainatin his position as Vice-President. Brown promises a renewed effort to end the war and bring a Southern victory. On November 18, 1870, the USA and CSA sign a peace treaty. Both sides are economcially ravendgfe by the war. While not a rousuing miltary victory, the South has gained its indpendenace. After the war, Brown supports public education, however it is not widely recieved.

1873 - The previous year's election see's former Secretary-of-State Robert Toombs elected as President with Judah P. Benjamin, also a former Davis Cabinet member, elected Vice-President. Toombs tenure is difficult. While known as a consensus builder, Toombs has difficulty managing emerging political conflicts. While founded on the basis of state's rights, political leaders are divided over the role of the federal government. The issue of inter-state rail commerce emerges as a heated issue late in Toombs presidenecy. While many Democrats take the view that state taxes should only be used to pay for projects in that state, some party members see a need for a broader national benefit. As a result, some Democrats leave their party, worried that a narrow national vision will restrict the broader growth of the CSA economy. In the Spring of 1878, they for the new Confederate Party.

1879 - The Confederate Party narrowly wins the 1878 election. It draws its support for voters in cities and rural platation owners. Both groups have a vested interest in reviving the devasted Southern economy whcih has not fully recovered. The victory of the new pary can also be atributed to the populist apeal of former Confederate General, P.G.T. Beauregard. The new President initates public works projects to rebuild the South, including inter-state railway system. Beauregard is viewed favourable when he leaves office six years later.

1885 - Another former General, James Longstreet is elected for the Confederate Party. While he continues his predeccesers programs he faces great division within his party. Towards the end of his presidenecy a divide develops between rural and urban voters. The working class and middle class view slavery as impeding the econic progcess of the South. In particyuaklr, (white) wage labourors cannot compete with slavery.