Turning Points - Actual and Alternate Histories: A House Divided during the Civil War Era

273 Pages·2007·5.21 MB·English

by  Rodney P. Carlisle

TUR NI NG P OI NTS—ACTUAL AND ALTER NATE HI STOR I ES
A House Divided during the Civil War Era
Other titles in ABC-CLIO’s
TURNING POINTS—ACTUAL AND ALTERNATE HISTORIES
series
Native America from Prehistory to First Contact
Colonial America from Settlement to the Revolution
Manifest Density and the Expansion of America
America in Revolt during the 1960s and 1970s
The Reagan Era
Books in the Turning Points—Actual and Alternate Histories series ask
the question What would have happened if . . . ? In a unique editorial
format, each book examines a specific period in American history, pres-
ents the real, or actual, history, and then offers an alternate history—
speculations from historical experts on what might have happened had
the course of history turned.
If a particular event had turned out differently, history from that turning
point forward could be affected. Important outcomes frequently hinge
on an individual decision, an accidental encounter, a turn in the
weather, the spread of a disease, or a missed piece of information. Such
events stimulate our imagination, accentuating the role of luck, chance,
and individual decision or character at particular moments in time. The
examination of such key turning points is one of the reasons that the
study of history is so fascinating.
For the student, examining alternate histories springing from turning
points and exploring, What would have happened if . . . ? gives insight
into many of the questions at the heart of our civilization today.

T U R N I N G P O I N T S —
A C T U A L A N D A L T E R N A T E H I S T O R I E S
A House Divided during
the Civil War Era
Rodney P.Carlisle and J.Geoffrey Golson,Editors
Santa Barbara,California
Denver,Colorado
Oxford,England
Copyright 2007 by ABC-CLIO, Inc.
All rights re s e rved. No part of this publication may be re p roduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechan-
ical, photocopying, re c o rding, or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quo-
tations in a re v i e w, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A house divided during the Civil War era / Rodney P. Carlisle and J. Geoffrey
Golson, editors.
p. cm. — (Turning points-actual and alternate histories series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-10: 1-85109-881-X (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN-10:1-85109-882-8 (ebook)
ISBN-13: 978-1-85109-881-1 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-1-85109-882-8 (ebook)
1. United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865. 2. Imaginary histories.
I. Carlisle, Rodney P. II. Golson, J. Geoffrey.
E468.9.H8 2007
973.7—dc22 2006038652
11 10 09 08 07 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
ISBN-13: 978-1-85109-881-1 (ebook) 978-1-85109-882-8
ISBN-10: 1-85109-881-X (ebook) 1-85109-882-8
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This book is printed on acid-free paper
Manufactured in the United States of America
Contents
Contributors xi
Introduction xiii
1 John Brown’s Raid 1
TURNING POINT
John Brown’s attack in 1859 was a prelude to the Civil War.What if the
raid had been supported by former slave Frederick Douglass and his
followers?
Introduction 1
Turning Point 3
Actual History 6
Alternate History 12
Discussion Questions 16
Bibliography and Further Reading 16
2 Confederate States of America 19
TURNING POINT
During the Civil War the Confederates sought support from European
powers,which never came.What if the Europeans had allied themselves
with the Southern cause?
Introduction 19
Turning Point 21
Actual History 22
Alternate History 27
Discussion Questions 39
Bibliography and Further Reading 39
3 First Battle of Bull Run 41
TURNING POINT
In 1861 the North suffered a major defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run.
What if the North had better trained troops and had defeated the South?
viii CO N T E N TS
Introduction 41
Turning Point 43
Actual History 45
Alternate History 50
Discussion Questions 55
Bibliography and Further Reading 55
4 Battle of Antietam 57
TURNING POINT
In 1862 the South suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Antietam.
What if Confederate General Robert E.Lee’s forces had won the battle?
Introduction 57
Turning Point 60
Actual History 63
Alternate History 66
Discussion Questions 70
Bibliography and Further Reading 70
5 Emancipation Proclamation 73
TURNING POINT
The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1,1863.What if
President Abraham Lincoln had taken the advice to delay the
proclamation?
Introduction 73
Turning Point 77
Actual History 80
Alternate History 85
Discussion Questions 87
Bibliography and Further Reading 88
6 Battle of Gettysburg 89
TURNING POINT
In 1863 the North was victorious at the Battle of Gettysburg.What if the
Southern forces had defeated Union General George Meade?
Introduction 89
Turning Point 92
Actual History 95
Alternate History 101
Discussion Questions 105
Bibliography and Further Reading 106
7 Sherman’s March to the Sea 109
TURNING POINT
In 1864 Union General William T.Sherman devastated Georgia in his
“march to the sea.”What if Confederate forces had counterattacked and
ambushed Sherman’s troops?
CO N T E N TS ix
Introduction 109
Turning Point 111
Actual History 112
Alternate History 118
Discussion Questions 123
Bibliography and Further Reading 123
8 Lincoln Assassination 125
TURNING POINT
On April 14,1865,President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’sTheatre.
What if assassin John Wilkes Booth had not pulled the trigger and Lincoln
served a full second term?
Introduction 125
Turning Point 131
Actual History 132
Alternate History 137
Discussion Questions 141
Bibliography and Further Reading 141
9 Thirteenth Amendment 143
TURNING POINT
Proposed in 1865,the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution
abolished slavery.What if the amendment was not ratified and
slaverywas only partially abolished?
Introduction 143
Turning Point 146
Actual History 149
Alternate History 155
Discussion Questions 160
Bibliography and Further Reading 160
10 Reconstruction 163
TURNING POINT
Reconstruction after the Civil War was a tumultuous time for the
re-emerging United States.What if President Andrew Johnson had been
more successful in his Reconstruction plans?
Introduction 163
Turning Point 167
Actual History 168
Alternate History 176
Discussion Questions 182
Bibliography and Further Reading 183
11 Johnson’s Impeachment 185
TURNING POINT
In 1868 Congress impeached but did not convict President Andrew
Johnson.What would have happened to presidential power had Congress
not impeached Johnson?