Was the American Civil War unnecessary?

Answer 1

Many historians believe that the US Civil War could have been avoided. Certainly if the politicians that brought on the war knew that over 600,000 men would be killed, things would have turned out quite differently.

It's clear that the South acted to rashly to separate themselves from the Union. More compromise and diplomacy was needed, but there was a rush to judgement.

One clear cut way the War could have been avoided was if the Democrat Party was not splintered in the 1860 Presidential Election. One of the reasons Lincoln won was due to this split. I say this because the Republican Party was heavily outspoken about ending slavery than were the Democrats.

Nevertheless Lincoln did win and if the South had delayed military action and realized that a war would devastate the South, better communications between the two sides might have avoided the war.

Slavery had been outlawed by the major European powers without a conflict. More time & patience could have avoided this war and slavery could have been ended as well. The slave system was not a healthy one and better foresight by the South should have recognized this.

Answer 2

A valid argument can be made that the Confederate States would not have been able to sustain their nation, that slavery would have failed for economic reasons, and that at some future time, the South would reuunite with the Union for economic reasons, there is always a peaceful solution to any conflict.

Answer 3

Slavery had been ended in other countries without a civil war but by the "stroke of a pen." The United States could have also done so.