the assassination of President-elect Lincoln

In late February 1861 President-elect Lincoln was on his way to Washington DC to be sworn in as the 16th President of the USA, in Baltimore MD a plot to kill him forced the President-elect to hid and flee the city, what if however the plot isn't uncovered and Lincoln dies 9 days before becoming President, making Vice-President-elect Hannibal Hamlin President (in 9 days) how does this change the out come of the Civil War? also what is the likelihood of President Hamlin being assassinated?
 
This is probably going to hurt the Union a bit; from what I know Hamlin is a very competent politician, but Lincoln was a political genius. Since Hamlin wasn't that involved in the Lincoln administration, it's hard to say much definitive about what his policies would be. However, a few things do stand out:

1) Hamlin was a much stauncher abolitionist than Lincoln, which could cause problems with the border states.

2) Hamlin was one of Hooker's strongest supporters, so he might have a more prominent/longer lasting role in the Union army than OTL.
 
This is probably going to hurt the Union a bit; from what I know Hamlin is a very competent politician, but Lincoln was a political genius. Since Hamlin wasn't that involved in the Lincoln administration, it's hard to say much definitive about what his policies would be. However, a few things do stand out:

1) Hamlin was a much stauncher abolitionist than Lincoln, which could cause problems with the border states.

2) Hamlin was one of Hooker's strongest supporters, so he might have a more prominent/longer lasting role in the Union army than OTL.

What I think could happen based on your two statements.

1) Shorter civil war if Maryland, Kentucky, and secede Missouri the South wins maybe but that depends a lot on the reactions of all the states to the assassination. If Hamlin does try to end slavery by executive order or something other then constitutional amendment then yeah I think the south largely succeeds in seceding.

2) Hooker's only command army level is Chancellorsville which he honestly could have soundly beaten Lee if he had the resolve to attack instead of getting cold feet.
 

Solroc

Banned
Got ninja'd by CQ.

But yes, Hamlin was a more staunch abolitionist. His actions may provoke the border states, and Hooket IOTL wasn't all that great. There's a Time Magazine article about the worst U.S. Vice Presidents, and Hamlin was one of them due to his cronyism via patronage and reportedly living a lavish life on the government's time. If that is taken at face value, the Union may suffer more losses due to incompetent leadership.

Should the Union win the ACW with Hamlin still POTUS, Hamlin was a Radical Republican. Expect OTL Reconstruction to be applied, minus the whole impeachment due to presidental support. The 40 acres and a mule might get applied, the ironclad oath will be strictly applied, and ITTL's Reconstruction will be more repressive to former Confeferste whites as long as Hamlin's still President.

From what I understand, Hamlin didn't want to press the 'hang all traitors' issue so he might just have them swear the ironclad oath or have them imprisoned for life. Not sure if he was a staunch anti-death penalty guy, one of the fourm members mentioned it.
 
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