In Montgomery, a Government Takes Shape: The Day Confederate Leadership Was Chosen

On February 9, 1861, Montgomery, Alabama briefly became the political center of a nation in rebellion. Delegates from six seceded Southern states gathered in the Alabama State Capitol and elected Jefferson Davis as provisional President and Alexander H. Stephens as provisional Vice President of the newly formed Confederate States of America. The decision marked one of the most consequential moments in American history, setting the leadership that would guide the South into a four‑year civil war.

Montgomery as the First Confederate Capital

When the seceded states sought a meeting place to organize their new government, Montgomery offered both symbolism and practicality. Alabama had moved quickly toward secession, and its capitol building-perched on a hill overlooking the city-provided an imposing and recognizable setting. Delegates from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana convened there in early February to craft a provisional constitution and select leaders.

The atmosphere in Montgomery was charged. Crowds gathered outside the capitol steps, newspapers printed extra editions, and hotels filled with politicians, military officers, and spectators. For a brief moment, the city became the hub of Southern political ambition.

The Election of Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate, Mexican‑American War veteran, and former U.S. senator from Mississippi, was not present in Montgomery when the delegates cast their votes. Though he had long been considered a leading Southern political figure, Davis himself reportedly expected a military command rather than the presidency.

The delegates chose him unanimously, believing he offered a blend of political experience, military credibility, and moderate rhetoric that could unify the seceded states. A telegraph message delivered the news to Davis at his plantation in Mississippi. He later wrote that he accepted the role with "diffidence," aware of the immense responsibility and the likelihood of conflict.

Alexander Stephens: A Contrasting Vice President

The choice of Alexander Stephens of Georgia as Vice President balanced the ticket. Stephens was a slight, frail man with a sharp legal mind and a reputation for caution. He had opposed immediate secession, arguing that the South still had constitutional protections within the Union. But once Georgia left, Stephens aligned himself with the new government.

His selection signaled the delegates' desire to project unity among both fire‑eaters and moderates. Stephens' later speeches-especially his infamous "Cornerstone Speech"-would become some of the most widely cited explanations of the Confederacy's ideology.

A Government in Motion

With leadership chosen, the Provisional Confederate Congress moved quickly. Within days, it adopted a provisional constitution modeled closely on the U.S. Constitution but with explicit protections for slavery. Committees began organizing military structure, finance systems, and diplomatic efforts.

Montgomery buzzed with activity. The inauguration of Davis on February 18 drew thousands to the capitol steps, where he delivered a speech emphasizing defense rather than aggression. Yet the momentum toward war was unmistakable. By April, Confederate forces would fire on Fort Sumter, and the conflict would begin in earnest.

Legacy and Historical Weight

The events of February 9, 1861 remain a defining chapter in Alabama's history. Montgomery's role as the first Confederate capital lasted only a few months-Richmond would replace it in May-but the decisions made inside the Alabama State Capitol shaped the course of the Civil War.

Today, historians view the moment not as a romanticized political milestone but as a turning point that set the nation on a path toward its bloodiest conflict. The leadership chosen that day would preside over a war that claimed more than 600,000 lives and ultimately ended in the Confederacy's defeat and the abolition of slavery.

Montgomery's hilltop capitol still stands, a reminder of how quickly history can pivot-and how decisions made in a single room can echo for generations.