Alexander H. Stehpens

Biography

Alexander Hamilton Stephens was born on February 11, 1812, in Taliaferro County, Georgia, to Andrew Baskins Stephens and Margaret Grier. Orphaned at fourteen when both parents died of pneumonia within days of each other, Stephens was sent to live with his uncle, General Aaron Grier, who possessed one of the largest private libraries in the region. This early exposure to extensive reading shaped Stephens' intellectual development and lifelong dedication to learning and constitutional study.

Despite his frail physical constitution—weighing only about 100 pounds and earning the nickname 'Little Aleck'—Stephens pursued an ambitious political career. He graduated at the top of his class from Franklin College (now the University of Georgia) in 1832, established a successful law practice, and entered politics in 1836 as a Georgia state representative. His legal brilliance and oratorical skills quickly propelled him to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1843, where he served until 1859 as a leading Southern Whig, advocating for compromise and opposing secession even as tensions mounted between North and South.

Stephens' most controversial period came during the Civil War when, despite his opposition to secession, he was elected Vice President of the Confederate States of America in 1861. His tenure was marked by increasing conflict with President Jefferson Davis over constitutional principles, states' rights, and wartime policies. After the war, Stephens was imprisoned briefly before returning to political life, serving again in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1873-1882 and as Georgia's governor from 1882 until his death on March 4, 1883.

Major Works & Series

Literary Significance & Legacy

Alexander H. Stephens stands as one of the most intellectually complex figures in American political literature, producing works that continue to challenge and inform constitutional scholarship. His 'Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States' represents perhaps the most sophisticated legal and philosophical defense of the Confederate position, utilizing extensive historical research and constitutional analysis. The work's influence extends beyond its immediate political context, contributing to ongoing debates about federalism, states' rights, and constitutional interpretation that remain relevant to American jurisprudence.

Despite the controversial nature of his political positions, particularly regarding slavery and secession, Stephens' writings demonstrate exceptional legal reasoning and historical knowledge that scholars across the political spectrum have acknowledged. His prison diary 'Recollections' provides invaluable insights into the mind of a political leader during one of America's most tumultuous periods, while his speeches and congressional addresses showcase the rhetorical and intellectual traditions of antebellum American politics. His influence on constitutional thought and Southern intellectual tradition remains significant in academic circles studying American political development.

Best Starting Points

• Recollections of Alexander H. Stephens
  His prison diary offers the most accessible entry point, providing personal insights into his character, beliefs, and experiences during captivity at Fort Warren.
• A Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States (Volume 1)
  Begin with the first volume of his constitutional analysis, which provides historical context and establishes his legal framework for understanding the Civil War.
• Selected Speeches and Addresses
  His pre-war congressional speeches demonstrate his political evolution and provide context for understanding his later constitutional arguments.
• The Cornerstone Speech
  Though controversial, this 1861 address is essential for understanding both Stephens' position and the Confederate ideology he helped articulate.

Famous Characters

• Stephens as Constitutional Scholar
  The meticulous legal mind evident in his writings, approaching constitutional questions with scholarly rigor and extensive historical research.
• The Reluctant Confederate
  Stephens' complex position as someone who opposed secession but felt bound by loyalty to Georgia and constitutional principles.
• The Prisoner at Fort Warren
  The reflective, philosophical figure who emerges in his prison diary, grappling with defeat and personal mortality while maintaining intellectual dignity.
• Little Aleck the Orator
  The powerful speaker whose physical frailty contrasted sharply with his commanding presence and rhetorical abilities in Congress.
• The Georgia Statesman
  The elder politician who returned to public service after the war, representing continuity with the antebellum political tradition.