4.1 Alabama's role in the Confederacy

Alabama played a pivotal role in the Confederacy during the Civil War. From hosting the first Confederate capital to providing crucial military and industrial support, the state was at the heart of the Southern cause.

Alabama's secession, Jefferson Davis's inauguration, and the CSS Alabama's exploits highlight its importance. The state's iron industry and Selma Arsenal were vital to the Confederate war effort, making Alabama a key player in the conflict.

Secession and Establishment of the Confederacy

Alabama's Role in Secession

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• Alabama was one of the first states to secede from the Union on January 11, 1861 following the election of Abraham Lincoln
• Secession Convention held in Montgomery where delegates voted 61-39 in favor of secession
• Alabamians believed secession was necessary to protect their rights, particularly the right to own slaves which formed the basis of the state's plantation economy

Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Government

• Jefferson Davis, a former U.S. Senator from Mississippi, was elected as the President of the Confederate States of America
• Davis was inaugurated on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on February 18, 1861
• Under Davis' leadership, the Confederate government established a constitution, raised an army, and issued currency

Montgomery as the Confederate Capital

• Montgomery, Alabama served as the first capital of the Confederate States of America from February to May 1861
• The Confederate Congress met in the Alabama State Capitol building during this period
• Montgomery was chosen for its central location, transportation links, and strong support for secession
• In May 1861, the Confederate capital was moved to Richmond, Virginia as the Civil War escalated

The Confederate Constitution

• The Confederate Constitution was modeled after the U.S. Constitution but with several key differences
• It explicitly protected the institution of slavery and prohibited the Confederate government from abolishing it
• The Confederate Constitution also limited the president to a single six-year term and gave states greater autonomy and power
• Despite these changes, the Confederate Constitution retained many elements of the U.S. Constitution (separation of powers, bill of rights)

Alabama's Military Leaders and Contributions

Prominent Alabama Military Figures

• Josiah Gorgas, a native of Pennsylvania, served as the Chief of Ordnance for the Confederacy overseeing the production and distribution of weapons and ammunition
• Raphael Semmes, born in Maryland but later a resident of Mobile, Alabama, was a Confederate naval officer who commanded the CSS Alabama

The CSS Alabama

• The CSS Alabama was a Confederate warship built in secret in England and launched in 1862
• Under the command of Raphael Semmes, the CSS Alabama became the most successful Confederate commerce raider capturing or sinking over 60 Union merchant ships
• The CSS Alabama's actions disrupted Union shipping and trade, drawing away Union naval resources to pursue it
• In June 1864, the CSS Alabama was sunk by the USS Kearsarge off the coast of France in a celebrated naval battle

Alabama's Military Contributions

• Alabama provided a significant number of troops to the Confederate Army with estimates ranging from 90,000 to 100,000 men
• Many prominent Confederate military units were from Alabama (4th Alabama Infantry Regiment, 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment)
• Alabama was the site of several key Civil War battles (Battle of Mobile Bay, Battle of Selma)
• The state's strategic location along the Gulf Coast made it an important area for the Confederacy to defend

Alabama's Industrial Support for the Confederacy

Alabama's Iron Industry

• Alabama's iron industry played a crucial role in supplying the Confederate war effort
• The state had several major iron production centers (Shelby Iron Works, Brierfield Furnaces) that produced pig iron, cast iron, and wrought iron
• Alabama iron was used to produce cannons, ammunition, and other military hardware for the Confederate Army and Navy
• Union forces targeted Alabama's iron industry in raids and attacks to disrupt Confederate supply lines

The Selma Arsenal and Arms Production

• Selma, Alabama became a major center for Confederate arms production during the Civil War
• The Selma Arsenal, constructed in 1862, produced a variety of military goods (rifles, pistols, sabers, cannons, ammunition)
• At its peak, the Selma Arsenal employed over 10,000 workers and produced 300 rifles per day
• Union cavalry under General James H. Wilson captured and destroyed the Selma Arsenal in April 1865, dealing a significant blow to Confederate arms production