How might the nations history be different if William Tecumseh Sherman had failed to capture Atlanta before the 1864 election?

Answer 1

If William Tecumseh Sherman had failed to capture Atlanta before the 1864 election, it could have significantly altered the course of the Civil War and its aftermath. The loss of this key victory might have bolstered the Democratic Party, which was advocating for peace and negotiations with the Confederacy, potentially leading to a shift in public sentiment and a different outcome in the election. The reelection of Abraham Lincoln was crucial for maintaining the Union's commitment to victory; without Atlanta, Lincoln's chances could have diminished, possibly prolonging the war and delaying the eventual abolition of slavery. This scenario might have resulted in a more fragmented post-war America, with a different trajectory for Reconstruction.