Such was the view of some at the time, that he had in fact intentionally provoked it in order to conquer the South and end slavery at gunpoint, throughout the country.
Copperheads, Jennifer L. Weber.
Consider that after Dred Scott the Republicans appeared checkmated and to have no way forward.
Far from seeing slavery on the way to eventual extinction, it looked to be ever more widespread in the United States, ever stronger, ever more entrenched, and perhaps ineradicable by peaceful, political means.
Had the South not seceded, what could Lincoln or the abolitionists have done?
Read the House Divided speech.
How could Lincoln have for a moment sincerely aimed merely at preserving the Union, even with slavery, in the teeth of the declared views of that speech?
And had he not opposed Crittenden, a plan aimed exactly at preserving the Union by further entrenching slavery?
The South really should have seen it coming.
Had they not paid attention when Lincoln, in earlier speeches, insisted "We will not let you go"?
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