Thomas Hill Watts graduated from the University of Virginia in 1840 and established a law practice in Greenville, later moving to Montgomery. He held various political positions, including serving in the Alabama State Senate and participating in the Alabama Secession Convention, where he played a pivotal role in advocating for secession. Watts transitioned from a pro-Union stance to becoming a secessionist by 1860. He organized and led the 17th Regiment Alabama Infantry before serving as Confederate Attorney General, where he managed legal matters related to conscription and state versus Confederate authority. Watts was elected Governor of Alabama in 1863, during which he resisted Confederate conscription laws and opposed peace resolutions, ultimately leading to his arrest by Union forces in 1865. Post-war, he returned to law practice and held positions in state government.

Thomas Hill Watts's political career is marked by a calculated blend of regional loyalty and ideological rigidity. Initially a pro-Union Whig, Watts's ideological pivot to secession and fierce defense of state authority against Confederate conscription reveals a deeply localized approach to governance. His economic policies, including controversial measures like the impressment of slaves and tax-in-kind, highlight a willingness to employ unconventional methods to sustain wartime efforts. Watts's resistance to peace resolutions amidst growing anti-war sentiment underscores a steadfast commitment to the Confederate cause, even as it alienated significant portions of his constituency.