Help: Alternate ACW TL with a Seward Presidency?

I'm thinking of writing a TL with a POD based around the ACW which ends in and independent CSA and a more expansionist USA but I’d like some help in analyzing its plausibility.

In my TL I’d like to include longer ACW which lasts into Lincoln's 2nd presidency and ends with the CSA keeping independence. Then once his Lincoln’s presidency ends he supports William H. Seward's run in 1868 which helps him win office. Due to the loss of the southern states in my TL I want to make Seward put more effort in expanding the USA's boarders than he was in OTL.

From what I've been studying over the past couple of weeks Seward arranged the purchase of Alaska from Russia as a precursor to annex the colony of British Columbia and expand the USA’s Pacific coast line. He planned on gaining BC through negotiating with Britain over the so called "Alabama Claims". These claims dealt with the USA's desire for reparations from Britain due to the aid they gave the CSA. The CSA does not win with Britain's aid in my TL so the USA still feels able to hold the claims as in OTL. Instead of settling the claims for money like in OTL Seward negotiates the annexation of British Columbia and Nova Scotia, which had a big anti-Canadian Confederation movement at the time, which is what he wanted to do in OTL. The then also arranges the purchase of Greenland from Denmark. I will of course include that some will argue it is a waste of the USA’s resources to annex and purchase these territories when they have already lost a lot of resources due to losing the ACW. I plan on simply covering this by making Seward able to either overrule them or convince them that the long term benefits the territories will provide are in the USA’s best interests.

Comments?
 
So how exactly do you plan on getting the CSA independent, Lincoln having a second term, given that Lincoln would have remained in office by ensuring that the CSA was disestablished.
By 1864 the CSA was in its death knells. I am not sure how you plan on getting it to remain independent, with Lincoln being president? ANd still getting a second term.
 
So how exactly do you plan on getting the CSA independent, Lincoln having a second term, given that Lincoln would have remained in office by ensuring that the CSA was disestablished.
By 1864 the CSA was in its death knells. I am not sure how you plan on getting it to remain independent, with Lincoln being president? ANd still getting a second term.
I haven't worked out the details yet so don't have a specific POD. I'd rather just focus on the events after the war's end for now. I'm sorry if that annoys you but thats just what is important to me.
 
I haven't worked out the details yet so don't have a specific POD. I'd rather just focus on the events after the war's end for now. I'm sorry if that annoys you but thats just what is important to me.
:eek:
i'm confused, not annoyed. :confused:
 
:eek:
i'm confused, not annoyed. :confused:
Sorry I'm just wondering that if the ACW had lasted longer and/or ended in a US loss whether or not Lincoln would still remain respectable by a majority of the US population and whether or not members of his cabinet like Seward would have a chance at the Presidency with or without his public blessing?
 

iddt3

Donor
Sorry I'm just wondering that if the ACW had lasted longer and/or ended in a US loss whether or not Lincoln would still remain respectable by a majority of the US population and whether or not members of his cabinet like Seward would have a chance at the Presidency with or without his public blessing?

You're asking would the Man under whose watch the Union dissolved have any respectability? I think you answered your own question there. Also, if Lincoln gets a second term, the confederacy is almost certainly doomed, simply because it can't last another four years and Lincoln won't give up.
 
You're asking would the Man under whose watch the Union dissolved have any respectability? I think you answered your own question there. Also, if Lincoln gets a second term, the confederacy is almost certainly doomed, simply because it can't last another four years and Lincoln won't give up.
Alright I'll accept that Lincoln will be disgraced but I wan't him to maintain his 2nd presidency b/c I think he'd be the best president of the Union to maintain and build peace relations with the CSA if the Union lost. Also I do understand that the CSA was on the loosing side of the war by the time of the 1864 elections in OTL but like I said I don't have a specific POD. I'd rather just analyze the effects of a situation in which the CSA remains independent and Lincoln is reelected. I'm sure that Lincoln himself wouldn't give up but as I understand it many in the North could have come close to ending the war as late as perhaps early 1864 in OTL and I'm betting that they could succed of the war goes on longer than it did with less and less sign of Union victory.

So how about we focus on my second question then. Would a member of Lincoln's cabnet such as Seward have a good chance of election in 1888?
 
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