Before the Civil War, Jefferson Davis served as a Congressman for the state of Mississippi, and, initially opposed secession from the Union. However, once the Confederate States were formed he was elected without opposition to the position of President. It was an office he would serve for the entirety of the existence of the Confederate States. Historians generally agree that Davis was an ineffectual war-time leader and credit his limited economic understanding with the rapid inflation and impoverishment experienced in the South during the Civil War. Immediately following the war Davis was widely disgraced and disparaged, however in the years since he has regained something of an iconic status among many Southerners, who revere his defiance and war-time spirit. 

For the majority of the United States, by the time of Civil War, cultural and political identity was firmly established as either dominantly Northern, pro-Federal power and anti-slavery or Southern, pro-States’ rights and pro-slavery. However, in the border states of Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland and Delaware, there were large cultural communities of both Northerners and Southerners. In Kentucky and Missouri, in particular, the majority of the population favored secession from the Union and it was only due to the decisions of those in power (in the State Legislature) that they remained part of the Union. Lincoln faced a near constant battle to keep all four states loyal. Virginia, on the other hand, was perhaps the political and ideological centre of the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis’ government was run out of Richmond and many of the battles took place on Virginian soil. In 1863 West Virginia split from Virginia to return to the Union – a division that has never been remedied to this day. 

It was Vice President Aaron Burr who shot Alexander Hamilton.  The two men had had a contentious political and personal relationship that reached a breaking point when Hamilton defamed Aaron Burr during the latter's 1804 New York gubernatorial bid.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in territory for the states of Caifornia, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America throughout the U.S. Civil War.

At the Burning of Washington, during the War of 1812, the White House and U.S. Capitol were largely destroyed by British troops.

It was President Andrew Jackson who signed into law the Indian Removal Act, which resulted in the removal of many southern indigenous nations to Indian Territory, west of the Mississippi River; this removal was known as the Trail of Tears.

Slavery was the main issue of all seven debates held in Illinois between Lincoln and Douglas in 1858.  Lincoln lost the election, but the national attention enabled him to become the Republican candidate for President of the United States.

General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, who would later become the 18^th President of the United States, at Appomattox Court House.

The following aspects are not found in the original seven articles: the inclusion of Native Americans; a state religion; a religious test to qualify for office; and the abolition of slavery.