Who'd be national security advisor if Lincoln hadn't kept America together? It wouldn't be a woman born in Georgia or Alabama (or whereve Condie's from) --- and, in any event, a black woman born down there wouldn't be eligible for high office even in the confederacy)
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It's pure speculation to try to second guess what America would be like if Lincoln had not forced the south back into the union.
Many economists agree that slavery was well on it's way into the dustbin of history at the start of the Civil War. Whether you call them slaves or "proletarians in worker's paradise," slavery is still unsustainable, as the Communists have learned.
After a few years, most likely the Confederate states could have rejoined the union after coming to an agreement on their issues. Slavery was never an issue until Lincoln tried to hitch his wagon to the abolitionist movement in order to support his failing war efforts.
If I recall my history correctly, the anti-conscription protests escalated into civil strife that killed around 1,000 people in New York City.
I have been meaning to read L. Neil Smith's "The Probability Broach." He wrote a what-if book based on this topic. Perhaps I should head to the library tomorrow...
Not entirely. One thing is for sure, The South would not be in the Union -=- and the nation would be poorer for that fact.