alternatehistory.com

As we all know, Lincoln was barely defeated in the House of Representatives in the election of 1860. As we know 4 years later Seward won the presidency and the War of Secession began in 1865. I've been wondering lately, how would Buchanan have reacted if say Lincoln or maybe even Douglas had won and the South had seceded? We all know lame-duck President Joseph Lane was useless, but would Buchanan have been any better? Historians seem to be in two different camps, those who he wouldve been just as useless, and those who look at his conduct in the Utah War as evidence that we would have used military force to stop secession. What do you guys think?
Top