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Provisional Congress of the Confederate States

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Not to be confused withConfederate States Congress.

Provisional Congress
of the
Confederate States
Logo
Flag of the Confederate States (1861–1863)
Type
Type
History
FoundedFebruary 4, 1861(1861-02-04)
DisbandedFebruary 17, 1862(1862-02-17)
Succeeded byConfederate States Congress
Leadership
President
Meeting place
First Capitol of the Confederate States (1861)
Alabama State Capitol
Montgomery, Alabama
Confederate States of America
Second Capitol of the Confederate States (1861-1865)
Virginia State Capitol
Richmond, Virginia
Confederate States of America
Constitution
Constitution for the Provisional Government
of the Confederate States

TheProvisional Congress of the Confederate States,also known as theProvisional Congress of the Confederate States of America,was a unicameralcongressofdeputiesanddelegatescalled together from theSouthern Stateswhich became thegoverning bodyof theProvisional Governmentof theConfederate Statesfrom February 4, 1861, to February 17, 1862. It sat inMontgomery, Alabama,until May 21, 1861, when it adjourned to meet inRichmond, Virginia,on July 20, 1861. In both cities, it met in the existing state capitols which it shared with the respective secessionist state legislatures. It added new members as other statessecededfrom theUnionand directed theelectionon November 6, 1861, at which a permanent government was elected.[1]

First Session[edit]

The First Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Montgomery from February 4, 1861, to March 16, 1861.[2]Members were present fromAlabama,Florida,Georgia,Louisiana,Mississippi,South Carolina,[3]andTexas.[4]It drafted aprovisional constitutionand set up a government. Forpresidentandvice president,it selectedJefferson Davisof Mississippi andAlexander H. Stephensof Georgia.[1]

Constitutional Convention[edit]

The Confederate StatesConstitutional Conventionwas held at Montgomery from February 28, 1861, to March 11, 1861.[2]

Second Session[edit]

The Second Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Montgomery from April 29, 1861, to May 21, 1861.[2]Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas,Virginia,[5]andArkansas.[6]

Third Session[edit]

The Third Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond from July 20, 1861, to August 31, 1861.[2]Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas,North Carolina,[7]andTennessee.[8]

Fourth Session[edit]

The Fourth Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond on September 3, 1861.[2]Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Fifth Session[edit]

The Fifth Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond from November 18, 1861, to February 17, 1862.[2]Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee,Missouri,[9]andKentucky.[10]One non-voting member was present from theArizona Territory.[11]

Leadership[edit]

President
Howell Cobb
Howell Cobb

Members[edit]

Deputies[edit]

Deputies from the first seven states to secede formed the first two sessions of the Congress.

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

Mississippi

South Carolina

Texas

Delegates[edit]

Representatives from states to secede after theBattle of Fort Sumterwere referred to as delegates, in contrast to the deputies from the original seven states.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^abVoorhees & Bok 1983,p. 683
  2. ^abcdefS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 5.
  3. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 7.
  4. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 60, 92.
  5. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 193.
  6. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 244.
  7. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 271.
  8. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 337.
  9. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 510.
  10. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 574.
  11. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 701.
  12. ^abcdefghiS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 12–13.
  13. ^abcdefS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 159.
  14. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 13–14.
  15. ^abcdefghijkS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 14.
  16. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 22–23.
  17. ^abcdefS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 14–15.
  18. ^abcdefgS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 15.
  19. ^abcdefghS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 15–16.
  20. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 53–54.
  21. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 64.
  22. ^abcdeS. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,p. 97.
  23. ^S. Doc. No. 234, 58th Cong., 2nd Sess. 1904,pp. 638–69.
  24. ^Thomas 1998,p. 32

References[edit]

  • Root, Elihu,ed. (1904) [1st pub. 1861–1862].Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861–1865. Volume I: Journal of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America.Senate document (United States. Congress. Senate); 58th Congress, 2nd session, no. 234. Washington:GPO.LCCN05012700– viaInternet Archive.
  • Thomas, Emory M (1998).The Confederate State of Richmond: A Biography of the Capital.Louisiana State University Press.
  • Voorhees, David William; Bok, H. Abigail, eds. (1983).Concise Dictionary of American History.New York:Charles Scribner's Sons.ISBN0-684-17321-2.OCLC9111110.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

New constituency Provisional Congress of the Confederate States
February 4, 1861 – February 17, 1862 		Succeeded by
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