Abraham Lincoln Vs Jefferson Davis
The topic involving Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis is so much talked about in America that it has become a favorite area for discussion in term papers. Students also write several essays telling about their personal stand on how the two lived their lives as well as how they changed America. Nevertheless, these two personas are very alike. They became president during the civil war period, got married and were both born in the state of Kentucky. But how are they different?
Because of the ongoing chaos in the country, several series of civil wars broke out most likely because of the issue on slavery and the disparity between the Black and the White. Out of this came the Confederacy which parted away from the government Union. With this, the two prolific entities were born. Hence, the basic difference is that Abraham Lincoln stands for the Union while Jefferson Davis is for the Confederacy.
The former is known as a leader that had a very hard time controlling his people and subordinates, specifically his Cabinet members. The Republicans did not show respect to Lincoln much more that he was not able to take any Senate or Cabinet post prior to his presidency. The other (Davis) is known as the leader who easily created enemies for the state and preferred battling all the oppositions by force rather than concentrating on making the governance more stable. As a West Point graduate, he really wanted to settle things quick with his army. It’s like you must go with him and win the war being fought or else you will die (if you won’t join the fight).
Many political leaders within the Confederacy criticized Davis because of such a warlike attitude to the point that many of them resigned one by one. This view also came to be contested by many of his cabinet members.
Lincoln had conflicts with the senate whereas Davis also got irked easily by Alexander Stephens, his vice president who has a completely different ideal and personality. Lincoln also showed blatant disrespect to the Supreme Court (SC) and the Constitution in several instances like when he increased his military size by his own approval and how he disregarded the SC’s ruling to release their captured enemies.
On the brighter side, Lincoln was dubbed as an effective president despite his lack of military experience. But Davis was seen as having the greater inclination of becoming a leader because of his exposure as a public speaker and his knowledge in public affairs ‘“ something that Lincoln lacked.
1. Jefferson Davis has more political and military experience than Abraham Lincoln.
2. Jefferson Davis was head of the Confederacy while Abraham Lincoln was leader of the Union.