Just recently, I had visited Henry Clay's home of Ashland near Lexington, Kentucky. The docent was great, especially when he ventured into AH-territory...
As you recall, Henry Clay was the Whig candidate in 1844, running against the eventual winner James K. Polk, who promised to annex Texas, solve the Oregon issue, etc. According to our docent, Clay may have been able to form a better compromise in 1850 (assuming he had been reelected in 1848). The Civil War may have been delayed longer, resulting in a Civil War in the 1870's. With more devastating technology and the advent of trench warfare strategy, the United States would have been in a far weakened state entering the 20th Century. The United States could not have entered the First World War, leaving Europe in an effective stalemate and preventing the rise of Hitler.
His theory is ignoring a few butterflies, but it's a question worth exploring. Clay was against the annexation of Texas, but I'm not sure if he would have risked war with Britain over Oregon. Considering the national fervor over the annexation of Texas and fulfilling America's Manifest Destiny, Clay might not have been elected to another term. Being a Whig, he might also have been wary of using presidential power to his advantage. Of course, being in office, he might have turned out to be another Jackson in terms of expansion of presidential power.
Whether the Civil War would have been delayed is also debatable. I refer to how much presidential power might have influenced congressional decision-making. Congress might have viewed him as meddling, and would resist any efforts of his trying to form any consensus on compromise.
I'm probably ignoring several other factors as well, but what do you all think about it?
As you recall, Henry Clay was the Whig candidate in 1844, running against the eventual winner James K. Polk, who promised to annex Texas, solve the Oregon issue, etc. According to our docent, Clay may have been able to form a better compromise in 1850 (assuming he had been reelected in 1848). The Civil War may have been delayed longer, resulting in a Civil War in the 1870's. With more devastating technology and the advent of trench warfare strategy, the United States would have been in a far weakened state entering the 20th Century. The United States could not have entered the First World War, leaving Europe in an effective stalemate and preventing the rise of Hitler.
His theory is ignoring a few butterflies, but it's a question worth exploring. Clay was against the annexation of Texas, but I'm not sure if he would have risked war with Britain over Oregon. Considering the national fervor over the annexation of Texas and fulfilling America's Manifest Destiny, Clay might not have been elected to another term. Being a Whig, he might also have been wary of using presidential power to his advantage. Of course, being in office, he might have turned out to be another Jackson in terms of expansion of presidential power.
Whether the Civil War would have been delayed is also debatable. I refer to how much presidential power might have influenced congressional decision-making. Congress might have viewed him as meddling, and would resist any efforts of his trying to form any consensus on compromise.
I'm probably ignoring several other factors as well, but what do you all think about it?