Editing Jefferson Davis (section)

==Early political career and second marriage==
[[File:The photographic history of the Civil War - thousands of scenes photographed 1861-65, with text by many special authorities (1911) (14759727081) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|[[Daguerrotype]] wedding photograph of Jefferson Davis and Varina Howell (1845)|alt=man on left with right hand on his hip; woman on right with both hands in her lap]]
Davis became publicly involved in politics in 1840 when he attended a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] meeting in Vicksburg and served as a delegate to the party's state convention in [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]]; he served again in 1842.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=86}} One week before the state election in November 1843, he was chosen to be the Democratic candidate for the Mississippi House of Representatives for [[Warren County, Mississippi|Warren County]] when the original candidate withdrew his nomination, though Davis lost the election.{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=93–94}}

In early 1844, Davis was chosen to serve as a delegate to the state convention again. On his way to Jackson, he met [[Varina Davis|Varina Banks Howell]], the 18-year-old daughter of William Burr Howell and [[Margaret Kempe Howell]], when he delivered an invitation from Joseph for her to visit the Hurricane Plantation for the Christmas season.{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=95–96}} At the convention, Davis was selected as one of Mississippi's six [[presidential electors]] for the [[1844 United States presidential election|1844 presidential election]].{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=88–89}}

Within a month of their meeting, 35-year-old Davis and Varina became engaged despite her parents' initial concerns about his age and politics.{{sfn|Bleser|1999|pp=6–7}} During the remainder of the year, Davis campaigned for the Democratic party, advocating for the nomination of [[John C. Calhoun]]. He preferred Calhoun because he championed Southern interests including the [[Texas annexation|annexation of Texas]], reduction of tariffs, and building naval defenses in southern ports.{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|1p=99|Eaton|1977|2p=48}} When the party chose [[James K. Polk]] for their presidential candidate, Davis campaigned for him.{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=101–106}}

Davis and Varina married on February 26, 1845.{{sfn|Bleser|1999|p=7}} They had six children: Samuel Emory, born in 1852, who died of an undiagnosed disease two years later;{{sfn|Bleser|1999|pp=13–14}} Margaret Howell, born in 1855, who married, raised a family and lived to be 54;{{sfn|Rice University|2013}} Jefferson Davis Jr., born in 1857, who died of [[yellow fever]] at age 21;{{sfn|Cashin|2006|pp=76–78, 225}} Joseph Evan, born 1859, who died from an accidental fall at age five;{{sfn|Rice University|2011a}} William Howell, born 1861, who died of [[diphtheria]] at age 10;{{sfn|Rice University|2020}} and [[Varina Anne Davis|Varina Anne]], born 1864, who remained single and lived to be 34.{{sfn|Rice University|2011b}}

In July 1845, Davis became a candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]].{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=106}} He ran on a platform emphasizing a [[strict constructionist]] view of the constitution, [[states' rights]], tariff reductions, and opposition to a national bank. He won the election and entered the 29th Congress.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=109–110, 115}} Davis opposed using federal monies for internal improvements, which he believed would undermine the autonomy of the states.{{sfn|Eaton|1977|p=54}} He supported the American annexation of Oregon, but through peaceful compromise with Britain.{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=123–124}} On May 11, 1846, he voted for war with Mexico.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=124}}