alternatehistory.com

So I've been playing around with an alternate history in my head and decided that I needed a place to write it out and discuss it with other history nuts and thankfully I found this forum with a bunch of folks who seem pretty cool. I hope to get to meet you guys.

Anyways, here's my idea. I've read that Lincoln wanted Major Thomas Eckhart to attend as his bodyguard. However, Eckhart was at the disposal of Secretary of War Stanton who refused to spare the man because he didn't want Lincoln going to the theater (security being part of his concern ironically). U.S. Grant and his wife Julia were invited to attend as guests by Lincoln but they refused due to Julia's dislike of Mary Lincoln and because both of the Grants wanted to see their kids.

I'm guessing that if General Grant had, in fact, attended the play with Lincoln that Stanton would either have allowed Eckhart to attend, provided War Department security (instead of leaving it to the police as in OTL) or both.

Now the outcome I could see going several ways. Booth could come to the box and bluff his way past the increased security. He was an actor who had performed at Ford's many times before so it could be a fairly believable lie though perhaps a bit odd. Once gaining entry into the box, Booth could quickly shoot Lincoln before anyone else realized what was happening and then escape or get restrained by Grant and Eckhart. Booth could also shoot Lincoln and stab Grant to death which could have some huge ramifications. The timeline I'd like to put together though is one where Booth is stopped from killing Lincoln. He could miss his shot or lose the courage to do the deed with Eckhart and Grant both in the room.

I realize Lincoln surviving timelines are pretty common and can get boring but I guess I find it interesting my self. If Lincoln survives an assassination attempt with Grant at his side, what would that say do to their relationship? Would the two men grow closer and take actions that bettered or worsened history? How realistic would Johnson resigning and Lincoln naming Grant as his new VP be? From what I've read of Grant (and I'm a bit obsessed with the man, to be honest) he seemed to hold pretty similar views to Lincoln. His wife Julia was friends with Susan B. Anthony, could we see a timeline with some strides in women's rights occurring much earlier than in OTL through that friendship and it's connection to Lincoln?

What if Grant is killed too? Who becomes president in 1868? How could the U.S. be changed? I find this possible timeline a little less interesting than the Lincoln living one but there could still be a lot of places to go with it. What if whoever is President instead of Grant decides to not reimplement the Gold Standard? What ramifications could that have for the U.S. economy and the Gilded Age? How would foreign policy differ? What about Reconstruction? Could a potentially weaker man take the helm and allow the South to regain control faster? Would the KKK be allowed to run rampant? What if someone too punitive steps up and antagonize the South so much that a new rebellion erupts, maybe one where the South utilizes guerilla warfare this time?
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