Editing Jefferson Davis (section)

=== Inauguration ===
[[File:1861 Davis Inaugural.jpg|thumb|left|Photograph of inauguration of Davis as provisional President of the Confederate States of America in front of the [[Alabama State Capitol]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] by A.C. Whitmore (February 18, 1861)|alt=building with dome, clock and columns in background, crowd in midground, street and carriage in foreground]]

Before his resignation, Davis had sent a telegraph to Mississippi Governor [[John J. Pettus]] informing him that he was available to serve the state. On January 27, 1861, Pettus appointed him a major general of Mississippi's army.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=322}} On February 9,{{sfn|LOC|2024}} Davis was unanimously elected to the provisional presidency of the Confederacy by a constitutional convention in [[Montgomery, Alabama]]{{sfn|McPherson|2014|pp=15–16}} including delegates from the six states that had seceded: South Carolina, Mississippi, [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. State)|Georgia]], [[Louisiana]], and [[Alabama]].{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=301–304}} He was chosen because of his political prominence,{{sfn|Hattaway|Beringer|2002|p=20}} his military reputation,{{sfnm|Eaton|1977|1p=126|McPherson|2014|2p=16}} and his moderate approach to secession,{{sfn|Hattaway|Beringer|2002|p=20}} which Confederate leaders thought might persuade undecided Southerners to support their cause.{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=303}} He learned about his election the next day.{{sfn|McPherson|2014|pp=15–16}} Davis had been hoping for a military command,{{sfnm|Davis|1991|1p=301|Eaton|1977|2p=127|McPherson|2014|3p=20}} but he committed himself fully to his new role.{{sfn|Cooper|2008|pp=42–43}} Davis was inaugurated on February 18.{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=307}}

Davis formed his [[Cabinet of the Confederate States of America|cabinet]] by choosing a member from each of the states of the Confederacy, including Texas which had recently seceded:{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=311–312}} [[Robert Toombs]] of Georgia for Secretary of State, [[Christopher Memminger]] of South Carolina for Secretary of the Treasury, [[LeRoy Pope Walker|LeRoy Walker]] of Alabama for Secretary of War, [[John Henninger Reagan|John Reagan]] of Texas for Postmaster General, [[Judah P. Benjamin]] of Louisiana for Attorney General, and [[Stephen Mallory]] of Florida for Secretary of the Navy. Davis stood in for Mississippi. During his presidency, Davis's cabinet often changed; there were fourteen different appointees for the positions, including six secretaries of war.{{sfn|Eaton|1977|p=128}} On [[1861 Confederate States presidential election|November 6, 1861]], Davis was elected president for a six-year term. He took office on February 22, 1862.