U.S. HistoryState of Georgia Civil War Alexander Stephens (See Instructions)

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State of Georgia Civil War: Alexander Stephens
As the video was taking us through the history of Georgia, there was a mention of Alexander Stephens. He was described as a moderate, and a friend of Abraham Lincoln, who went on to become the vice president of the Confederacy states after secession. (“Biography: Alexander Stephens” para. 6). Alexander Stephens was central in the debate on secession and the rights of African Americans. He was born in Crawfordville, Georgia in 1812. He had a difficult childhood: both of his parents died when he was still young, and he had multiple juvenile illnesses. Despite that, he went on to build a successful career as a lawyer and politician.
At first, Stephens was opposed to secession. However, he became one of the most vocal defendants of the separation. During the early period of the civil war, he held rallies all over Georgia defending the secession and speaking against African Americans’ civil rights. His firm stand earned him respect and recognition in Georgia. In 1861, he was elected a delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention (“Biography: Alexander Stephens” para. 4). Later that year, he became the vice president of the Confederacy.
According to Alexander Stephens, secession was necessary because the constitutional rights of the southerners had been consistently violated (Stephens 27). The popularity that Alexander earned during and after the civil war can give more insight into the public opinion during that time.

In 1865, after a brief detention in Boston, he was elected the senator from Georgia. This could mean that the majority approved what he stood for. He was elected to the US House of Representatives after the end of the civil war. Stephens served as the governor of Georgia, a position he held until his death in 1893.
One can hardly discuss the history of African Americans’ civil rights in Georgia without a mention of Alexander Stephens. Throughout the civil war, he argued vehemently against black civil rights and suffrage. His position on that matter is somewhat understandable: in his legal and political career, he had accumulated massive wealth, and he owned several slaves. He argued that “slavery was the natural state of people of African American origin.” (Stephens 25). The history of Georgia is built around notable figures such as Alexander Stephens. Examining the lives of such people and their contribution can give us a better understanding of Georgia’s past.
Works Cited
Stephens, Alexander H. “Alexander Stephens: ‘On Reconstruction.’” Kratzke, Peter. Defining Documents in American History: The American Revolution (1754-1805). Ipswich: Salem Press, 2012. 24-27. Print.
“Biography: Alexander Stephens | Civil War Trust.” Civilwar.org. N.p., 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2018.