[central_va]

The claim has been made by many on this thread that virtually all our nation's ills are the result of Abraham Lincoln and his opposition to the Southern rebellion.

I am sure the "Nations" ills would have occurred in the North without Lincoln. An independent South would have been spared the socialism and downward spiral.

[Non-Sequitur]

An independent South would have been spared the socialism and downward spiral.

Or would have pursued the socialistic totalitarianism of Jeff Davis to an even greater degree. A more likely scenario, IMHO of course.

[JohnnyBibs]

I am sure the "Nations" ills would have occurred in the North without Lincoln. An independent South would have been spared the socialism and downward spiral.

The so-called "independent South", as you call it, began as an oppressed country already in a downward spiral.

The Confederacy was created by the same kind of people who regained control in the U.S. after Reconstruction and began ruining the U.S.A.; Democrats!

It is ridiculous to blame any of what happened after Reconstruction on Abraham Lincoln!