If Lincoln had not died

[Craig Hipkins]

John Wilkes Booth did the south a major disservice by eliminating a man that would have at least attempted to let the vanquished up easy. I agree with Laurie, however, in that it is doubtful that Lincoln would have got all he wanted after the war had ended. There were far too many radicals in congress for things to heal that quickly.

Also, I may be wrong about this, but since the end of the Civil War, Lincoln has been demonized in the south somewhat. I say this based on my experience interacting with historical reenactors that I have mingled with throughout the years. Most of them, however, hold objective and often sympathetic views, but there is an element that believe (like Booth) that the election of Lincoln was the the last straw, and Lincoln was a despotic tyrant. I guess that history will judge the 16th President in the end, and that even 150 years after the war it is still too early to form an objective view of his Presidency.

Craig