The president of the Confederate States during the Civil War was Jefferson Davis. He served from February 18, 1861, to May 10, 1865, overseeing the Confederacy's war efforts against the Union. Davis, a former U.S. Senator and Secretary of War, was a strong advocate for states' rights and the Southern way of life, particularly in terms of slavery. Despite his leadership, the Confederacy struggled with issues such as resource shortages, internal dissent, and military setbacks. Following the Confederacy's defeat in 1865, Davis was captured and imprisoned for two years, becoming a controversial figure in American history as a symbol of the Confederate cause.