Would An 1860 POD No Civil War TL Be Possible?

So, everything goes normally, including secession. Is it possible that the Civil War could be averted?
 
It was pretty clearly working that way.

If they had not fired on the forts, but just starved them into submission, they might have got what they wanted.


It was the firing on Sumpter that galvanized the north.
 
It was pretty clearly working that way.

If they had not fired on the forts, but just starved them into submission, they might have got what they wanted.


It was the firing on Sumpter that galvanized the north.

Huh. I'm becoming very interested in the Civil War, and I don't know nearly as much about it as I should, compared to something like the Depression.
 
Maybe... maybe not. Depends on the exact PoD. For one, the Republicans could choose a different candidate. The Democrats could find a 'middle ground' and not split. Or there could be some other minor/major foreign event to draw attention from the North while the South says, "We'll have none of it" and leaves.

Again, without specifics, can't say, but it is _possible_.

Edit, maybe Lincoln's wife falls ill or somesuch and Cassius Clay gets his position. I dunno, Lincoln was the only one of the front-runners who hadn't alienated much of the Republican factions. Indeed, it was because the others had that allowed him to come to the fore, especially after his very articulate debates of recent. I want to say someone in South Carolina said that if Lincoln was elected, they would secede. My guess would be that any Republican voted into office would see the South leave.

The Sumter firing was the point at which the Northern masses got behind the issue. Prior to this, there was a powerful voice that said "If they want to leave, let them!"
 
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WI Republicans run a more radical candidate and Douglas does better in the North, the slave power democrats run a fire eater instead of Breckinridge and Bell manages to come in second on electoral votes and win in the House?
 
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