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Originally Posted by Tully Mars
You think Lincoln's election sparked or started the civil war? By the time Lincoln took office in on March 4, 1861 the nation was in a full tilt nose dive. Causes and sparks for the Civil War can be debated but most historians would cite events in the early 1850's or before. The activities of John Brown such as the "Pottawatomie Massacre" have often been offered as the cause. Personally I think looking for one event or cause denies the complexity of the situation. But to say Lincoln sparked it is inane. His election may have been a tipping point, but it was no spark.
As for his legacy I think his leadership during and after the war speaks for itself.
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Please don't call me inane, it annoys me, especially when you are using a very short post to do so.
Lincoln's election was not the only factor in the civil war by a long shot, but had someone with more apparent southern sympathies been elected perhaps the bloodshed would not have been so great, and perhaps civil liberties would not have needed to been suspended.
Yes his leadership was inspiring during the war, but his inexperience meant he had to learn some things the hard way and the hard way was the cost of lives, 1000's at a time.
Interestingly if say Lincoln had prevented the civil war from happening, and made an agreement which preserved the union without bloodshed, I'm willing to bet less people would think of him as 'the greatest president'.