Dystopic AHC: White American political elites perpetually avoid confrontation over non-white rights

raharris1973

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How could this happen, where no segment of the white American elite is willing to confront any other segment over issues like slavery, civil rights and race?
 
Could be done if you avoid mass immigration. With no great influx of cheap, rightless labour, slavery could spread northward again. You would still have the conflict between the southern, agricultural elites with local political power and the northern merchant/smuggler/crimelords turned industrialists who work through career politicos, mostly lawyers, and thus want more centralism, fewer politicos to bribe, but that would possibly take another form.
 
Could be done if you avoid mass immigration. With no great influx of cheap, rightless labour, slavery could spread northward again. You would still have the conflict between the southern, agricultural elites with local political power and the northern merchant/smuggler/crimelords turned industrialists who work through career politicos, mostly lawyers, and thus want more centralism, fewer politicos to bribe, but that would possibly take another form.
Or a more backwards Europe I guess.
 

raharris1973

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I suppose your scenario could happen Josephus. On the other hand, major waves of immigration didn't start until 1820-1830, and the Missouri Compromise already showed slavery was a nationally divisive issue. Fewer immigrants from 1820-1860 probably means that "National Republicans", Whigs and Republicans would likely do better in some elections compared to the Jefferson-Jackson Democrats.
 
Capitalism doesn't spell equality. Notions of "free labor" vs. "slavery" do not lead to universal suffrage or tolerance or respect for cultural or economic differences. The dystopia in question has never been entirely eliminated in America.
 
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