WI: United States goes bankrupt during Civil War

The American Civil War was the most costly in lives lost, but also brought the United States to bankruptcy. What I am curious of is what might happen if the civil war lasted long enough for the country to go bankrupt? Let's say that Lee decides to go with his guerilla warfare plan and disperse his army throughout the south. What would happen if the United States went bankrupt before Lee or the confederate government was captured?
 

RousseauX

Donor
The American Civil War was the most costly in lives lost, but also brought the United States to bankruptcy. What I am curious of is what might happen if the civil war lasted long enough for the country to go bankrupt? Let's say that Lee decides to go with his guerilla warfare plan and disperse his army throughout the south. What would happen if the United States went bankrupt before Lee or the confederate government was captured?
This isn't really possible since the government can and did just print money
 
This actually could happen in some early victory for the CSA scenarios. If the Union army wins it's no more going to happen than Lee would personally lead a charge of bronotheres right through the AoTP's flank at Chancellorsville.
 

RousseauX

Donor
...giving rise to the saying "not worth a Continental".
The difference is that the revolutionary war was waged on an economical and monetary foundation far more unstable, and for far longer against a far more powerful opponent relative to the United States.

If you are talking about a standing CS army/government, then it's probably not going to last beyond 1865 if there is a war going on at all. If the CS goes guerrilla (they did OTL but still) then I simply can't imagine why it would take that much money to crush them as to trigger hyperinflation. IIRC inflation during the entire civil war period was within the 100% range, which I guess is unsustainable but there is every reason to imagine that during fighting the KKK equivalent or w/e would take far less money.
 
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