What would be the problem if the Union decided to appoint a dictator to run the US Civil War?

Answer 1

This question is legitimate as historians have written about the fact that certain leaders, including President Lincoln discussed this. The chances of this, however, would have been slim to none. The "legally" appointed military dictator would have had strict limitations and be under the supervision of the Committee to Oversee the Conduct of the War.Several factors would have prevented that from happening:

1. It would go against the entire grain and principles of the US and the US Constitution;

2. Governors of Union states would never give up the leverage they had over Washington DC if the Congress set up a military dictatorship;

3. The dangers inherent in such a dictatorship would be far greater than losing the US Civil War itself; and

4. This would have pushed Great Britain and France to recognize and even assist the constitutional Confederacy, slavery or not.

The idea was floated around, there is no denying that. And, certain British leaders that favored the South would give them the incentive required to more openly aid the Rebels. What Europe would see was a military dictatorship in a Union already compromised by four slave states.