why was alexander stephens a lawyer

by Joan Balistreri 9 min read

After several unhappy years teaching in school, Stephens began legal studies, was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1834, and began a successful career as a lawyer in Crawfordville. During his 32 years of practice, he gained a reputation as a capable defender of the wrongfully accused. None of his clients charged with capital crimes were executed.

Full Answer

What did Alexander H Stephens do?

Mar 03, 2022 · Alexander Hamilton Stephens [ a ] ( February 11, 1812 – March 4, 1883 ) was an american politician who served as the vice president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865, and later as the fiftieth governor of Georgia from 1882 until his death in 1883. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the state of matter of Georgia in the ...

What did Alexander H Stephens say about slavery?

Who was Alexander Stephens and why is he important? Alexander Hamilton Stephens (1812-1883) served as vice president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War (1861-65). A career politician, he served in both houses of the Georgia legislature before winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1843.

What is Alexander Hamilton Stephens known for?

Nov 08, 2009 · Alexander Stephens was born in Crawfordville, Georgia, on February 11, 1812. He grew up destitute and was raised by relatives after both his parents died by the time he was 14. Stephens then ...

How did John Stephens become a lawyer?

Oct 31, 2020 · Along with Alexander Stephens and Howell Cobb, he defended Henry Clay’s Compromise of 1850 against “fire-eating” southern radicals who advocated secession from the Union as the only solution to sectional tensions over slavery.

See more

John Alexander Stephens (1838-1887), nephew of Alexander H. Stephens, was a lawyer in Atlanta and married to Mary Emma Simpson, daughter of William Wingfield Simpson. Linton Stephens (1823-1872), half-brother of Alexander H. Stephens, was a …

image

What did Alexander Stephens do during reconstruction?

Stephens, though, worked behind the scenes with Henry Clay and Stephen Douglas to craft the Compromise of 1850, which recognized California as a free state, opened the New Mexico territory to slavery, banned the slave trade in the nation's capital, and enacted a law facilitating the return of runaway slaves.

Was Alexander Stephens a radical republican?

Alexander Hamilton Stephens As a Whig, he served in the Georgia state house, 1834-1841, was elected to the state senate in 1842, and served as a U. S. Representative, 1843-1859.

Was Alexander Stephens for or against slavery?

While Stephens vehemently supported the institution of slavery, he was also committed to preserving the Union. Among other moderate measures, he was a supporter of the Compromise of 1850, a package of bills that helped stave off Southern secession.Aug 21, 2018

Was Alexander Stephens imprisoned?

When Lincoln returned to Washington, he ordered the release of Lieutenant Stephens. Stephens was arrested for treason against the United States at his home in Crawfordville, on May 11, 1865. He was imprisoned in Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, for five months until October 1865.

Where was Alexander Stephens born?

Alexander Stephens was born in Crawfordville, Georgia, on February 11, 1812. He grew up destitute and was raised by relatives after both his parents died by the time he was 14. Stephens then attended Franklin College and graduated in 1832. After an unhappy stint as a schoolteacher, he studied law and then served as a successful defense lawyer in ...

Who was Alexander Hamilton Stephens?

Contents. Alexander Hamilton Stephens (1812-1883) served as vice president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War (1861-65). A career politician, he served in both houses of the Georgia legislature before winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1843. At the outset of the Civil War Stephens was elected to ...

Who was the first vice president of the Confederacy?

Alexander Stephens: Vice President of the Confederacy. Stephens continued to argue against secession during the lead-up to the Civil War. Despite these misgivings, he was chosen to be the first vice president of the Confederate States of America during the Confederate Congress in February 1861. For many in the Confederacy, Stephens’ reputation as ...

Who was the governor of Georgia in 1882?

Outwardly critical of President Jefferson Davis throughout his tenure in the Confederate high command, Stephens was arrested and imprisoned after the war’s end. He was reelected to Congress in 1873 and served as governor of Georgia starting in 1882. He died in office in 1883 at the age of 71.

Who was Alexander Hamilton Stephens?

Alexander Hamilton Stephens (1812-1883) served as vice president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War (1861-65). A career politician, he served in both houses of the Georgia legislature before winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1843.

What did Stephens say about slavery?

22), Stephens argued that divine laws consigned African Americans to slavery as the “substratum of our society” by saying: his confederacy is founded upon principles in strict conformity with these laws.

Why was the Civil War fought?

A common explanation is that the Civil War was fought over the moral issue of slavery. In fact, it was the economics of slavery and political control of that system that was central to the conflict. A key issue was states’ rights.

What was the Confederate Army called?

The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or simply the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting against the United States forces in order to uphold the institution of ….

Which states seceded from the Union?

Abraham Lincoln (November 1860), the seven states of the Deep South (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas) seceded from the Union during the following months.

When did Missouri secede from the Union?

Missouri’s government in exile In October 1861, the remnants of the elected state government that favored the South, including Jackson and Price, met in Neosho and voted to formally secede from the Union.

What was Hamilton's role in the Civil War?

When the Civil War broke out, he became the aide-de-camp to Major General Charles W. Sandford, and took part in active campaigns in Virginia. He was placed in charge of troops during the New York Draft Riots in 1863.

When was Stephens elected?

In 1843, Stephens was elected U.S. Representative as a Whig, in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mark A. Cooper. This seat was an at-large seat, as Georgia did not have House districts until 1844. In 1844, 1846, and 1848, Stephens was re-elected Representative from the 7th District as a Whig. In 1851 he was re-elected as a Unionist, in 1853 as a Whig (from the 8th District), and in 1855 and 1857 as a Democrat. He served from October 2, 1843 to March 3, 1859, in the 28th Congress through the 35th Congress.

Where was Stephens born?

Stephens was born on a farm near Crawfordville, Taliaferro County, Georgia to Andrew B. and Margaret Grier Stephens. He grew up poor and acquired his education through the generosity of several benefactors, one of whom was the Presbyterian minister Alexander Hamilton Webster. Out of deep respect for his mentor, Stephens adopted Webster's middle name, Hamilton, as his own. (He was not named after Alexander Hamilton as most assume.) Stephens attended the Franklin College (later the University of Georgia) in Athens, where he was roommates with Crawford W. Long and a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society. He graduated at the top of his class in 1832.

Where was Governor Stephens imprisoned?

Stephens was arrested at his home in Crawfordville, on May 11, 1865. He was imprisoned in Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, for five months until October 1865. In 1866 he was elected to the United States Senate by the first legislature convened under the new Georgia state constitution, but did not present his credentials, as the state had not been readmitted to the union. In 1873, he was elected U.S. Representative as a Democrat from the 8th District to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Ambrose R. Wright, and was re-elected in 1874, 1876, 1878, and 1880. He served in the 43rd through 47th Congresses, from December 1, 1873 until his resignation on November 4, 1882. On that date he was elected and took office as governor of Georgia. His tenure as governor proved brief; Stephens died on March 4 1883, four months after taking office. According to a former slave, a gate fell on Stephens "and he was crippled and lamed up from dat time on 'til he died." [1]

What was the purpose of Alexander Hamilton Stephens' speech?

Description. Alexander Hamilton Stephens, vice president of the Confederate States of America, gave this speech on March 21, 1861 to justify secession. Stephens’ speech declared that disagreements over the enslavement of Africans was the “immediate cause” of secession.

Who was Alexander Hamilton's wife?

In the summer of 1791, 23-year-old Maria Reynolds allegedly approached the married 34-year-old Alexander Hamilton in Philadelphia to request his help and monetary aid claiming her husband James had abandoned her. Hamilton did not have any money on his person, so he retrieved her address to deliver the funds in person.

Who was the first secretary of the Treasury?

Alexander Hamilton was a founding father of the United States, who fought in the American Revolutionary War, helped draft the Constitution, and served as the first secretary of the treasury. He was the founder and chief architect of the American financial system.

Who is Hamilton's sister in law?

In the fan-favorite number “Satisfied,” Miranda takes extra effort to establish a hypothesis: that Angelica, Hamilton’s future sister-in-law, was in fact secretly in love with him. Over the course of “Satisfied” onstage, Angelica meets Hamilton at a midwinter’s ball, where they enjoy a short but illuminating exchange.

Who was the captain of the New York Artillery Company?

On March 14, 1776, Alexander Hamilton receives his commission as captain of a New York artillery company. Throughout the rest of 1776, Captain Hamilton established himself as a great military leader as he directed his artillery company in several battles in and around New York City.

image

Overview

Early career

After several unhappy years teaching in school, Stephens began legal studies, was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1834, and began a successful career as a lawyer in Crawfordville. During his 32 years of practice, he gained a reputation as a capable defender of the wrongfully accused. None of his clients charged with capital crimeswere executed. As his wealth increased, Stephens began ac…

Early life

Alexander Stephens was born on February 11, 1812. His parents were Andrew Baskins Stephens and Margaret Grier. The Stephenses lived on a farm in Taliaferro County, Georgia, near Crawfordville. At the time of Alexander Stephens's birth, the farm was part of Wilkes County. Taliaferro County was created in 1825 from land in Greene, Hancock, Oglethorpe, Warren, and Wilkes …

Vice President of the Confederate States

In 1861, Stephens was elected as a delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention to decide Georgia's response to the election of Abraham Lincoln. During the convention, as well as during the 1860 presidential campaign, Stephens, who came to be known as the sage of Liberty Hall, called for the South to remain loyal to the Union, likening it to a leaking but fixable boat. Duri…

Later life

In 1866, Stephens was elected to the United States Senate by the first legislature convened under the new Georgia State Constitution, but was not allowed to take his seat because of restrictions on former Confederates. He published a U.S. history in 1868–1870, laying out the Lost Cause of the Confederacyin his view: that secession was legal, and the attacks from the No…

Family

A lifelong bachelor, Stephens never married and has no known direct descendants.

Works

• Speech of Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, on the subject of the Mexican War, delivered in the House of Representatives of the U.S., June 16, 1846. Washington, D.C.: J. & G.S. Gideon, printer. 1846.
• Stephens, Alexander Hamilton (1856). Speech of Hon. Alex. H. Stephens, of Georgia, on the Kansas Election, delivered in the House of Representatives, February 19, 1856.

Legacy

• Stephens is pictured on the Confederate States $20.00 banknote (3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th issues).
• Stephens County, Georgia, and Stephens County, Texas, bear his name, as does A. H. Stephens State Park, near Crawfordville, containing his home, Liberty Hall.