Nate Turner

Hashasheen

Banned
Nate Turner lead a rebellion in Virginia, according to my book the legisltaure had consider ending slavery, but in the end they decided not to. what if they had abolished slavery? the effects on america and the civil war?
 
This would be in the 1830s, I recall.

Virginia moving against Slavery would be huge in the future, because it would mean that a very certain Robert E. Lee would either fight for the Union or sit out the war. In addition, Virginia brought a lot of economic strength to the picture, that will be missed.

Virginia would not be partitioned, and the ACW would probably be over that much sooner as a result. Figure also that part of Tennessee didn't want to Secede from the state in the approach to the Civil War--a possible "Appalachia State" instead of West Virginia?

This means that the ACW is probably over all that much faster and is a much smaller crisis than OTL. Perhaps reconstruction can hold on as well.
 

NapoleonXIV

Banned
This would be in the 1830s, I recall.

Virginia moving against Slavery would be huge in the future, because it would mean that a very certain Robert E. Lee would either fight for the Union or sit out the war. In addition, Virginia brought a lot of economic strength to the picture, that will be missed.

Virginia would not be partitioned, and the ACW would probably be over that much sooner as a result. Figure also that part of Tennessee didn't want to Secede from the state in the approach to the Civil War--a possible "Appalachia State" instead of West Virginia?

This means that the ACW is probably over all that much faster and is a much smaller crisis than OTL. Perhaps reconstruction can hold on as well.

If there is an ACW at all. The secession movement might very well have failed if VA did not go along. Other states might also have abolished slavery between 1830 and 1860, even maybe the Carolinas.
 
First, yes there was (and had been since the Revolution) talk/discussion in Virginia about ending slavery. Unlike the deep south, and even North Carolina, the early "revolution era" southern anti-slavery cause didn't die in the early 1800s in VA *and yes economics were a major issue). At the time of Nat Turner (AUG 1830) there had been appears to have been a consesus (all the major VA political leader) around the idea of a gradual (10-15 year) end to slavery with based on resettelment and some form of compension to owners.

Nat Turner's actions ended in any chance.

So if, no Nat Turner, and Virginia goes through with ending slavery by 1850... No re-sale futher south, resettlement for most, and let's say, tax breaks (most likely something like what we call tax credits today), like future;

1. Virginia most likely becomes the center of gravity for the "main-stream" abolitionist movement. The movement becomes more akin to the 1770-90s abolitionists, based on the economic failures of slavery and to a lesser degree the Consititional/ Human Rights (not a term they would use) issue. BIG TAKE AWAY, the radcial abolitionst are marginalized even more, very possible there's no money support.

2. Virgina style abolition in MARYLAND and DELAWARE, I would expect it to be quicker to match VA's 1845 date.

3. At least in KENTUCKY, TENN and NORTH CAROLINA, a serious abolition movement, on VA's terms is reborn. By the late 40's they are one pole of the debate.

4. The other pole is SOUTH CAROLINA (and the rest of the deep South as supporting players). The battle instead of being us versus that minority of "radical" abolitionist, it's between the hard-liners (same as our OTL) and moderates who will start to look as the "Virginia Solution" and at least want to discuss it.

Couple of wild cards;
a. Missouri and new states, no sure how that goes, if VA, TN, NC, and KT end slavery Missouri will have to face the issue. And it slavery is receeding I don't see the Federal government (i.e. the majority of states now non-slave) aggreeing to new Slavery states, so it you may see statehood go slower.

b. Secesssion... I believe if the hardliners in the deep south win /hold the line, secession may could earlier, First the question of an anti-slavery President is going to could up earlier. Second see Wildcard (b), maybe FL, TEXAS, or CA become the tripwires.
 
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