WI: Jefferson Davis becomes...a Catholic?

I read a really old book on the Civil War, and it said that, in his youth, Jeff Davis wanted to become a Catholic, but ironically a Catholic priest talked him out of it, telling him to wait a few years. What would be the effects on the 19th century had Jefferson Davis been baptized as a Catholic?
 
I read a really old book on the Civil War, and it said that, in his youth, Jeff Davis wanted to become a Catholic, but ironically a Catholic priest talked him out of it, telling him to wait a few years. What would be the effects on the 19th century had Jefferson Davis been baptized as a Catholic?

Well, we are talking about him being Catholic and getting into politics during the heydey of Know Nothingism in the United States. The Know Nothings weren't nearly the force in the South that they became in the North and West, but given the tenor of the times, one has to wonder how successful he would have been as a politician.
 
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Well, his military career likely won't be affected by this, but his political career? Most likely.

It might hinder him politically, but not impossibly so. He may well be considered for Secretary of War given his military service, but being elected Senator, or being chosen as the President of the CSA? Unlikely.

A general's stars would await him though. Heck, that'd be an interesting timeline all on it's own.
 
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