I recently had an idea for a TL where the Panic of 1819 goes much worse--either because of a more severe drop in cotton prices or because prices have 10-20 more years to grow before dropping to OTL levels. My idea was that this would lead to resentment against the plantation elite among poor white farmers, who blame them for causing the crash, and form a movement similar to OTL's Populism, but targeted against the slaveocracy instead of banks and railroads. They would oppose slavery on economic and personal grounds, not moral ones, but it would still be interesting to see a Southern abolition movement--possibly with a much greater focus on resettlement/colonization.
What do you guys think? Plausible, handwavium or ASB?
What do you guys think? Plausible, handwavium or ASB?