Question

during the civil war, in the confederacy,
southern politicians were strongly united in supporting secession and the war.
formal political parties quickly developed.
president jefferson davis developed a reputation for reckless political action.
many southerners resisted efforts by the davis government to exert its authority.
the national government was almost completely impotent in its dealings with the states.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Southern politicians weren't strongly united (disagreements existed), so incorrect.
• Option 2: Formal political parties didn't quickly develop in the Confederacy, so incorrect.
• Option 3: Jefferson Davis was more known for being firm, not reckless, so incorrect.
• Option 4: Many southerners (due to states' rights ideology) resisted the Davis government's authority, which aligns with historical context.
• Option 5: The Confederate national government had some authority (e.g., in war efforts), so "almost completely impotent" is incorrect.

Answer:

D. many southerners resisted efforts by the Davis government to exert its authority.