Board Thread:New on Alternative History/@comment-72.185.4.15-20130303025444/@comment-6884305-20130304234610

To clarify, I haven't read the book. I just heard the author interviewed on the radio. His premise is that while Lincoln drew a line in the sand, Douglas had one main priority -- preventing a war. The compromise of 1850 was meant to do just that. Lincoln, on the other hand, had some principles, and while he hoped there wouldn't be a war, he didn't know how far he would have to go, in order to stick to his principles. So while he was pragmatic, it was his dedication to the practical that caused the war.