Lincoln doesn't run for president

Rstone4

Banned
Had this idea cross my mind just now. Let's say Lincoln chooses not to attain higher office and stays in the congress rather than run for president. No lincoln douglas debates etc.

So in 1860 the Republicans run a Free Soiler person rather than a more nationalist like Lincoln. The south starts to secede and President Free Soiler takes a stance to the effect of "You are taking the blacks with you, good deal!". The abolitionist and nationalistic wings of the party are upset, but only a few southern states chose to leave, the deep south from Louisiana to North Carolina.

Then when the south moves on Fort Sumter President Free Soiler pulls the Federal troops out of all confederate garrisons. Does violence still happen beyond border scrape ups? The republican party implodes in civil war by 1862 mid term elections and democrats probably resume power.

What about Texas and Virginia, do they join the CSA or do they stay in the USA?

If there is no re-unification effort, I do foresee a massive problem with black refugees who start flooding across to the north and a stress point over returning of escaped slaves. But that would be up to the state departments to work out if there is no war.
 

Cryostorm

Monthly Donor
Well North Carolina will not leave unless Virginia does, in OTL they seceded after Virginia, which left after the battle of Fort Sumter, making it the last state to leave the Union. If neither Virginia nor North Carolina leave then the Confederacy it is essentially without industry for the most part and severely lacking in potential. If they do manage to secede then the collapse of "king cotton" is going to leave the Confederate economy in shambles, especially if the boll weevil strikes earlier due to no blockade.
 
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Anaxagoras

Banned
Had this idea cross my mind just now. Let's say Lincoln chooses not to attain higher office and stays in the congress rather than run for president. No lincoln douglas debates etc.

Lincoln hadn't been in Congress since the 1840s.
 
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