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3rd President of the Confederate States | |
| Predecessor | Robert E. Lee |
| Successor | Thomas Jackson |
| Vice President | None |
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2nd Vice President of the Confederate States | |
| Predecessor | Alexander H. Stephens |
| Successor | Albert G. Brown |
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3rd Confederate States Secretary of State | |
| Predecessor | William Browne |
| Successor | Thomas S. Bocock |
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2nd Confederate States Secretary of War | |
| Predecessor | LeRoy Walker |
| Successor | George Randolph |
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1st Confederate States Attorney General | |
| Predecessor | Position established |
| Successor | Wade Keyes |
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United States Senator from Louisiana | |
| Predecessor | Solomon Downs |
| Successor | Position abolished |
| Born | August 11, 1811 Christiansted, Danish West Indies |
| Died | May 6, 1884 (aged 72) New Orleans, Louisiana, C.S. |
| Spouse | Natalie Bauché de St. Martin |
| Political Party | Whig (until 1854), Democrat (until 1861), Confederate (1880-84) |
Judah Philip Benjamin (August 11, 1811 – May 6, 1884) was a Confederate lawyer and politician who served as the 3rd President of the Confederate States. He was the first Confederate president to rise to office from the vice presidency and the only Jewish individual to ever serve as president of any of the major American nations.
Early Life[]
U.S. Politician[]
Confederate Politician[]
Benjamin started his political career in the Confederate States as the nation's first Attorney General, serving in the cabinet of Jefferson Davis. President Davis was so impressed with Benjamin's work that he was soon promoted to Secretary of War, and then Secretary of State. Benjamin would be the Secretary of State through the remainder of the war and then until the end of President Davis's term. When presidential candidate Robert E. Lee asked Davis who he should name as his running mate, the outgoing president strongly recommended Benjamin for the role. Lee accepted that recommendation, and Benjamin was elected to be Lee's vice president in the 1867 election.
Benjamin was not born in the territory of the United States or Confederate States and would not have been eligible to serve as United States President due to this. However, the Confederate Constitution granted eligibility to anyone who had Confederate citizenship at the time the Constitution was ratified, and this made Benjamin eligible.
Vice President of the Confederate States[]
Benjamin was known as a capable vice president, though he did not do anything extremely inspiring. He supported almost all of Lee's actions, including the Mexican-Confederate War. If President Lee needed advice on domestic political matters, Benjamin was often the first person he asked.
On September 28, 1870, President Lee suffered a stroke and died two weeks later. Benjamin unexpectedly rose to the office of president, shuffled into leading a shocked nation.
President of the Confederate States[]
Benjamin set to work arranging the national mourning of the late President Lee. He stayed in the background during these proceedings, attempting to allow the nation to process its loss before they truly accepted him as their leader. Those who knew him and politically aligned with him were very comfortable with Benjamin in this role- they knew he would be capable of calming the nation and leading it during uncertain times.
The president's Jewish faith and heritage, which had never been much of an issue in his other leadership roles, suddenly began to attract some suspicion among the lower classes of the Confederacy. Benjamin was the first non-Christian to lead the United States or Confederate States. Some believed that he would try to undermine the natural Christian order of the South, which of course he never aimed to do. Politicians in government generally supported his administration despite his religion.
Benjamin took office during a generally uneventful time in Confederate history. The recent war victory left the people feeling content despite the loss of Lee, and the economy was fairly prosperous. President Benjamin merely aimed to do his job capably and bring stability to the Confederacy. He continued Lee's aim of diversifying Confederate agriculture to better feed the nation and began the integration of the recently acquired Mexican territories. Benjamin had long realized the difficult financial situation of the Confederate federal government. Tariffs were deeply unpopular among the populace, leaving the federal government with few ways to fill their coffers. To supplement the treasury, Benjamin decided to propose selling parcels of land to settlers in the new Mexican territories. His proposal passed Congress.
Benjamin was part of the Davis-Lee inner circle that tried to prevent the rise of strong political factions in the Confederacy. In keeping with this goal, he tried to avoid pushing for any controversial policy or doing anything that could divide the nation. He became a fairly popular president due to being perceived as hands off- he simply let the Confederate people attain their own prosperity.
Jefferson Davis retook control of his faction and convinced General Stonewall Jackson to run for president to succeed Benjamin. Jackson seemed the natural choice, a similarly prolific general who could keep the population united as Lee did, perhaps continuing the policies of the presidential administrations before him. Benjamin never truly considered running for president in his own right. It was unclear if he was constitutionally allowed to, and he felt that his four years in office were sufficient. Attaining the presidency at all was a truly momentous accomplishment for someone of his background. Running for national office might only inflame the debate over whether a non-Christian was fit to lead a Christian nation. He fully endorsed and supported Jackson's campaign and was pleased to hand the presidency off to him.
Post-Presidency[]
Benjamin aimed for a peaceful life after his retirement from politics. He returned to practicing law in Louisiana, although he never took his eye completely off of national politics. He considered President Jackson's visit to the North in 1876 to be foolish, an unfortunate misstep from someone who was perhaps not politically experienced enough to serve as president. He continued his support of Jackson regardless and was one of the behind-the-scenes leaders of the Davis faction that desired the continuance of non-partisan government. This group endorsed General James Longstreet for president in 1879. Longstreet lost narrowly against Alexander H. Stephens, founder and leader of the Southern Party. This began the era of political parties in the Confederacy. The Confederate Party was formed to oppose Stephens and continue the presidential policies of Davis, Lee, Benjamin, and Jackson. Benjamin was the first of these men to join the party, becoming a member in 1880. He campaigned loyally for them until he died in 1884.
Legacy[]
Judah P. Benjamin is remembered for having one of the most varied political careers in Confederate history, from US senator to several cabinet positions to vice president and president. He served capably in all of these roles, evidence of his intelligence and wide array of skills in the political arena. He did not have any major accomplishments as president, and this was partly by design. He is thus remembered as a good president who held the country together after Lee's death, but not as one of the greats. Benjamin is especially revered in his home state of Louisiana, being the first president from that state. He became a symbol of resistance against growing antisemitism in the Confederacy in the 1920's and 30's, long after his death. The rising fascist movement in those times denounced Benjamin as the first in a long line of Jewish-aligned presidents that slowly spelled the ruin of Southern society. Antisemitism slowly died out after the fascist movement was stamped out, but of course some remnants remain in the modern Confederacy. Benjamin's successful presidency stands as a lasting symbol against those forces of hate- despite the racial oppression he fostered and supported.
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