The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881) is a pivotal work by Jefferson Davis, the former President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. In this detailed account, Davis presents a comprehensive history of the Confederate States while also offering a defense of the principles he believed justified both the Confederacys formation and the Civil War itself. He meticulously explores the intricacies of the Confederate constitution and government, along with an in-depth retelling of various military campaigns. What resonates most with both his contemporaries and modern scholars are Davis cogent arguments regarding the constitutional and moral basis for secession. He references numerous constitutional passages, prominent legal scholars, and notable American political figures to substantiate his claim that secession was a justified response. This project features the first half of Volume 1 (of 2). (Intro modified from Wikipedia)