Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States of America, and Jefferson Davis, the first and only President of the Confederate States of America, share many similarities and differences in their education, presidency, military experience, and political standpoint.
Both Davis and Lincoln grew up in a family of poverty-stricken standards, and had been born near each other in distance, and time. Abraham and Jefferson both served in the Black Hawk War in 1831, though Lincoln did not see any action at all. Both Lincoln and Jefferson had some experience in politics, but Lincoln clearly understood and worked out how politics worked. Lincoln served in the House of Representatives in 1846. Davis, on the other hand, made his first political appearance at the 1843 Democratic National Convention. He then won a seat in Congress as the representative for Mississippi on December 8th, 1845. Later in 1847, he was appointed to a Senate seat and served there for about nine years before becoming President of the CSA. Lincoln, on the other hand, ran for the Senate and failed. In 1860 Lincoln ran for the Presidential Ballot, and won the third spot, and on November, 6th, 1860, he was elected President of the USA. Although Lincoln seemed beat by political service, he knew how to work the government. In their day, both Lincoln and Davis gave many inspirational and history-changing speeches, and looked at their people with respect.
Although there is much similarity between Jefferson and Lincoln, there were many differences too. The obvious difference between the two is that Lincoln was against slavery and for the Union, while Davis was for slavery and favored the Confederate States. When both served in the Black Hawk War, Lincoln never fired one shot, while Jefferson Davis was wounded and fought in many battles. This, of course, is not necessarily Lincolns fault; it was where his regiment was located. Davis had many levels of schooling, which was unlike Abraham Lincoln, who learned from his own readings and never went to school. Davis went to Transylvania University, and then was transferred to West Point Military Academy, where he became educated in the field of war tactics and fighting. Although Davis served more time in the Senate and House, he usually supported and suggested ideas and policies that were quickly turned down by most other delegates. Lincoln and Davis both won the 1860 Presidential Election, but Lincoln won by votes from the Electoral College; he only got about forty percent of the popular vote.
During the term, Lincoln submitted many anti-slavery and abolitionist views, eventually abolishing slavery altogether with the Emancipation Proclamation. Davis, on the other hand, spoke in favor of slavery and being separated from the Union.
President Abraham Lincoln, and President Jefferson Davis, both served in the Black Hawk War, they both had some political experience, and they both were smart enough to be President. On the other hand, Davis had more military experience, served more time in Congress, and actually went to top schools. Jefferson Davis seemed like the all-around educated, experienced President, while Lincoln looked like an amateur. In the end Lincoln delivered wonderful speeches, and worked Congress with his policies. All the years in school, and all the experience in the Senate didnt seem to help Davis, though, as he suggested absurd policies and ultimately lost the Civil War for the Confederate States of America. Lincoln knew how to run a country, while Davis knew how to run an army, and that is why the two are ultimately different, and similar, to each other.