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A Barrel of Gunpowder, and a Spark
- A timeline of a slippery slope, a pathway to an early global war -

Prologue

Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call;
No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim,
Or stain with dishonor America's name.
Chorus:
In Freedom we're born and in Freedom we'll live.
Our purses are ready. Steady, friends, steady;
Not as slaves, but as Freemen our money we'll give.
Our worthy forefathers, let's give them a cheer,
To climates unknown did courageously steer;
Thro' oceans to deserts for Freedom they came,
And dying, bequeath'd us their freedom and fame.

- The Liberty Song, John Dickinson, 1768 [1]

Fast forward to less than hundred years later. We are in the United States of America. History knows its principles: absence of a common enemy makes unity fade over time, gives way to a scramble for power. There is free-labour opposing slavery, there is cotton and industry; nationalism, sectionalism, abolitionism and expansionism. Factors in a conflict America will never forget. Or can it be averted?

***

New York City, United States
5 July 1859 [2]

"My friend," Thurlow Weed - advisor, ally, friend of William Seward - sighed. "I don't like war. You don't like war. It's as simple as that. And both of us know that we, and several other politicians, our friends and enemies, hold the trigger that can start a war in our country." Weed hesitated.
"Yes, go on."
"Well, the fact is that I've been doubting between two options. First things first: option one is that you leave America for some time, maybe you could go travelling. There's a lot to see in the world that can help you in your political future." Weed thought, but didn't say, that he was sure Seward would become the next President of the United States. "You know what the situation is like. Either you're too soft or too harsh, they will always misinterpret what you say. Either it's not all right for the radical, aggresive ones - have you heard that they're calling them the War Democrats now? Yes that's what they are, war buffs who think war is some sort of silly game, easier than chess. I bet they're even too stupid to understand chess, quite frankly..." Weed became somewhat irritated, but continued, "Or there are those slavery-loving, greedy crooks who don't want to give in an inch."
"I know, I know. Option two?"
"Yes, option two... Well, option two is staying here, aware of the risks mentioned. But there is something I've heard. They say that that fellow called Lincoln is desparate to fight back, determined to win the nomination. If you ask me, it's ridiculous, but maybe there's something he has to convince the people. And if you're away, he might take us by suprise, you know."
"Option two, then."
"Are you sure?"
Seward's confidence surprised Weed to some extent, "Yes. Yes, let's begin."

[1] See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Liberty_Song for more information.

[2] Everything from this point onwards, the point of departure or point of diversion, is imaginative. The decision that changes history here is based on the following:
Wikipedia said:
In 1859, confident of gaining the presidential nomination and advised by his political ally and friend Thurlow Weed that he would be better off avoiding political gatherings where his words might be misinterpreted by one faction or another, Seward left the country for an eight-month tour of Europe that included a visit to Syria, where Ayub Beg Tarabulsy gave him several Arabian horses. During that hiatus, his lesser-known rival Abraham Lincoln worked diligently to line up support in case Seward failed to win on the first ballot.
(link)
Wikipedia said:
Weed worked for the nomination of Seward for President in 1860, which most observers thought was certain, and would be followed by Seward's election. But Seward had weaknesses, one of which was Weed's history as a strong-arm Whig political boss - offensive to many former Democrats in the new party. Abraham Lincoln's managers cleverly exploited these weaknesses to get him nominated instead. It was the supreme disappointment of Weed's career.
Nonetheless, Weed worked hard for Lincoln in the 1860 election. and throughout his administration. During the Civil War, Weed served as an unofficial envoy to Britain and France.
(link)
Tulane University said:
During the 1850s, as the slavery issue intensified, Seward initially tried to keep the Whig party alive, but by the end of 1855, he joined the newly organized Republican party. Although occasionally delivering blistering attacks on slavery and predict ing an irrepressible conflict between slavery and freedom, Seward increasingly moderated his stand, perhaps in hopes of landing the Republican presidential nomination in 1860. His shifting position forecast his zealous commitment to noncoercion during the Sumter crisis, as he sought to avert war and shore up Union sentiment throughout the South.
(link)

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Okay, so this is my first timeline. There are several things you have to keep in mind:
- It's my first one, so it won't be really good. Don't expect too much.
- Go ahead with all your feedback, positive and negative.
- This is a first version. I'll change things if you guys tell me it gets very implausible. Feel free to point out any mistakes, historical ones, grammar stuff, typos etc.
- More information can be found in these threads where my ideas have been discussed a bit already.
- Updates aren't going to be regular. Sorry, but school and other things probably won't allow that, unfortunately.
- Input is always welcome, since I have only rough ideas planned in my head. There's nothing definite. But that'll also mean my timeline won't be very well-structured, I'm afraid.
- If you even want to really help me writing things, even want to write parts for this timeline, that'd be all right with me. Though I guess nobody would want, or have time for, that. But just so you know.
- I'm planning to make maps for as much updates as possible too.
- Oh, and feel free to tell me if there's actually any interest in this timeline, so that I know that I'm not writing only for myself.
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