WI: Steven Douglas Elected President of the United States in 1860

What if instead of Abraham Lincoln becoming the sixteenth President of the United States in 1860, his rival Steven Douglas does instead?
 
What if instead of Abraham Lincoln becoming the sixteenth President of the United States in 1860, his rival Steven Douglas does instead?

Well if he still dies from typhoid fever on June 3, 1861, this means he would have spent only under 3 months in office, leading to former Governor of Georgia, Herschel Vespasian Johnson, becoming the 17th President.
 
Secession Still

I think a possibility is some states would still secede, but the States in secession would be New England, not Southron.

If the Fire Eaters still push Independence, I cannot see a Douglas pursuing the suppression of Rebellion with the same fervor as Lincoln.

This presumes his death is butterflied away from being elected.

If the gentleman from Georgia takes office, I would think he makes Buchanan look not so bad. (at best), and actively turns the USA into a nationalist slaveocracy even in Yankee territory.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
How do you get past the point the Democrats were split, and

What if instead of Abraham Lincoln becoming the sixteenth President of the United States in 1860, his rival Steven Douglas does instead?

How do you get past the point the Democrats were split (Douglas and Breckinridge), Bell was not going to provide an option, and the Republicans were united behind Lincoln?

Best,
 
How do you get past the point the Democrats were split (Douglas and Breckinridge), Bell was not going to provide an option, and the Republicans were united behind Lincoln?

Best,

A hung EC (there was a real possibility of that) and Douglas being chosen as the President in the House, perhaps?

That's pretty unlikely (Bell would probably be chosen as the compromise candidate), but maybe the Republicans nominate someone so radical that they lose the election?
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Not really, unless the Democrats stay united, and given

A hung EC (there was a real possibility of that) and Douglas being chosen as the President in the House, perhaps?

That's pretty unlikely (Bell would probably be chosen as the compromise candidate), but maybe the Republicans nominate someone so radical that they lose the election?

Not really, unless the Democrats stay united, and given the historical odds against that, it still doesn't work, absent a point of departure that goes well before Douglas being nominated.

If the OP goal is Douglas being elected in 1860 in opposition to Lincoln, you need ripples so significant that Lincoln isn't the Republican candidate, which (unless there's a caveat buried deep in the OP that is not otherwise readily apparent) sort of makes the whole issue moot.

Best,
 
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