Jefferson Davis takes the oath of office to become the first official president of the Confederate States of America.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Jefferson Davis takes the oath of office to become the first official president of the Confederate States of America.
Elections take place throughout the Confederacy to replace the provisional national government with a permanent one.
Jefferson Davis works to obtain foreign recognition for the new Confederacy as Federal military officers resign to go South.
The Confederacy adopts a permanent Constitution, similar to the U.S. but with key exceptions.
The Provisional Confederate Congress enacts new laws, including those to bolster national defense and issue national currency.
New Confederate President Jefferson Davis works to build the executive department from scratch, while the Provisional Congress addresses national defense.