General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How long would slavery had lasted if the South decided NOT to secede? [View all]Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)continuing slavery, he would do so.
I think it fairly likely that the slavery would have remained in a diminished form and been folded into the Progressive Movement of the late 19th century.The whole world was going through massive social changes over that time period with the rise of Industrialization, Communism, Humanism, and Fascism. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand did not start WWI so much as it was the spark that ignited the tensions that had been building in the preceding decades. In our legal slavery in America scenario the variables get really messy at that time, but in answer to your question, I would say slavery would have continued for another 50 years or more. It's possible that it would still be around today.
Here's another interesting what-if; What if Lincoln had let the south go?