I think if Lincoln had lived, the South would have been treated much better in the aftermath of the war. And it would have recovered faster.
Four observations:
1. Lincoln has roughly three years of rebuilding and coaching congress through a difficult path.
2. The Lincoln legacy is probably half of what it is today...with serious negatives over the period after the war.
3. Since he had a strong relationship to the railroad folks....I suspect they would have gone on like gang-busters in growth after the war.
4. Lincoln pardons for various southern leaders? Very likely and could have been a major step forward for the rebuilding.
Or... “I can’t believe I lived to be 206 years old!!!”
It is hard to say. Lincoln definitely seemed inclined to keep the radical reconstructionists (future progressives) in check and by his statements and writing certainly wanted to bring the south back into the fold quickly. Despite this he was singularly reviled personality in the South (for obvious reasons) which may have hampered his efforts no matter how reasonable.
[ I think if Lincoln had lived, the South would have been treated much better in the aftermath of the war. And it would have recovered faster. ]
According to Quantum theory, in some universe this did occur and i would love to visit and compare notes.
Certainly, Lincoln’s voice would have been the dominant one in Reconstruction matters, as he was clearly the most visible symbol of Unionist victory and leadership.
Johnson had no ability to overcome the “Radical Republicans” who dominated after 1866. Indeed, he was impeached for it. Maybe Lincoln would have done differently.
True. He was not in favor of “Reconstruction” and would have healed the divide quicker. Johnson was a tool for the northern governors and Congressmen who wanted blood and secure the north’s industrial leverage for 100 years. Sort of like the other Johnson insuring democrap voters for 100 years.
He would have become riviled and hated by the radicals who wanted to punish the south—He would not be the “great man” we see him as these days.
The point was to punish and keep the South less progressed than the North. That was the original intent of the 3/5ths person and the war. Most of the big investors in big southern plantations and slavery were Northern business.
Had Lincoln lived the recovery may have been better, sooner. It is often reported that Lincoln intended to ship the slaves back to their homeland, if that had been true it would definitely prevented a lot of discord, crime and poverty, even today. As it now is America may never pay off our pay-back.