American History Hit What If Lincoln Hadn't Been Shot?
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Aug 18, 2025 Join Aaron Sheehan-Dean, a history professor from Louisiana State University, as he dives into the intriguing scenario of what America could have looked like if Lincoln had survived his assassination. They discuss how his leadership might have shaped Reconstruction differently, from Southern state reintegration to the preservation of civil rights for Black Americans. The conversation flags the stark contrasts between Lincoln's inclusive vision and Andrew Johnson's contentious policies, highlighting the enduring implications of these historical pivots.
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Immediate Postwar Dilemmas
- Lincoln faced immediate tasks: reintegrating Confederate states and determining the fate of four million formerly enslaved people.
- Much remained unsettled in April 1865, including remaining Confederate forces and unresolved legal status of emancipation.
Lincoln's Shifting View On Black Suffrage
- Lincoln had begun publicly considering limited Black male enfranchisement, especially for veterans and educated men.
- John Wilkes Booth likely heard this and treated it as justification for assassination to stop Black suffrage.
Radicals Wanted Structural Change
- Radical Republicans debated deep structural changes like land redistribution and territorial governance to break the planter elite.
- Even radicals disliked mass property redistribution, so large-scale land reform ultimately failed.
