WI: Abraham Lincoln assassinated before the Civil War?

[Gan]

What if President Lincoln was assassinated before the outbreak of the Civil War, but well after the secession? Let's say that it occurs between February 15th and March 15th.

At this stage, how would the Confederate States be dealt with? Is there still a Civil War, would the states rejoin the Union on their own, or would the CSA be able to remain without a conflict?

 

[Mikestone8]

Vice President-elect Hamlin will be sworn in on March 4. He certainly won't surrender Sumter or Pickens any more than Lincoln (heck, even Buchanan wouldn't) so in all likelihood the war breaks out as OTL.

 

[Alexander the Average]

Also Hannibal was much less compromising than Lincoln when it came to abolitionism. There are a number of timelines that deal with him in charge, and one thing that tends to happen in them is that he manages to alienate the border states, causing them to join the Confederacy.

 

[Dave Howery]

Also Hannibal was much less compromising than Lincoln when it came to abolitionism. There are a number of timelines that deal with him in charge, and one thing that tends to happen in them is that he manages to alienate the border states, causing them to join the Confederacy.

you know, throwing Maryland into the Confederate camp would pretty much doom DC... the Federals would have to relocate somewhere else for the duration of the war.

 

[Michael B]

Federals would have to relocate somewhere else for the duration of the war.

Philadephia? That would be very Turtledovian

 

[Escape Zeppelin]

Also Hannibal was much less compromising than Lincoln when it came to abolitionism. There are a number of timelines that deal with him in charge, and one thing that tends to happen in them is that he manages to alienate the border states, causing them to join the Confederacy.

But would the Presidency temper Hamlin's abolitionism? Many men have been all bluster but then been far more accommodating to compromise when they actually found themselves in office.

 

[Alexander the Average]

But would the Presidency temper Hamlin's abolitionism? Many men have been all bluster but then been far more accommodating to compromise when they actually found themselves in office.

Possibly, but then again as VP he was egging Lincoln on to adopt abolitionism as the reason for the war and arm freed slaves from the get go, which implies that he thought that such things were prudent and reasonable at the time.

 

[dartingfog]

What if President Lincoln was assassinated before the outbreak of the Civil War, but well after the secession? Let's say that it occurs between February 15th and March 15th.

At this stage, how would the Confederate States be dealt with? Is there still a Civil War, would the states rejoin the Union on their own, or would the CSA be able to remain without a conflict?

Read my timeline (I know it might seem like a bit of shameless self-promotion, but it's pertinent to your question):

https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/from-fifth-wheel-to-the-driver’s-seat-a-president-hannibal-hamlin-tl.374818/

 

[Knightmare]

What if President Lincoln was assassinated before the outbreak of the Civil War, but well after the secession? Let's say that it occurs between February 15th and March 15th.

Depends who does it, to be honest, for starters. Someone like Booth? Hoh boy.

 

[Gan]

Depends who does it, to be honest, for starters. Someone like Booth? Hoh boy.

Hmm. If it was a Confederate sympathizer would it kickstart the war a few months earlier?

 

[Knightmare]

Hmm. If it was a Confederate sympathizer would it kickstart the war a few months earlier?

Easily. Hell, it'll also discredit their movement in both the North and internationally. Even if it was a rogue agent.