Recent content by DennisMSullivan

Yes! that was my point. The atom bomb was much more powerful. But it was not a cruel, immoral departure from what was already being done.

I don't understand why the use of the atom bomb is an issue. The cities were already being firebombed. A few cities were spared, so that the power of one bomb could be demonstrated.

I didn't see your answer, until now. Thank you. I have more respect for him, after reading what you wrote.

I was thinking a unilateral action would have shifted the balance of power. But now I see two responses. 1. Contest the division. 2. Make four new northern states, even though California, and Oregon are in the far west.

I reread the Wikipedia page Texas annexation. The law on this is ambiguous. Surely it would have been contested. But if it were done, and accepted, you are sure the increase in southern political power wouldn't make the rebel states change their minds?

There is a misconception that Texas came into the union with the explicit right to leave again. But it did get the right to divide itself into 5 states. What if they had done it right after Lincoln won the 1860 election. Wouldn't it have shifted the balance so much that the southern states...

Historians used to say that. But now it is understood that the end of the war did not cause a sudden shift to singular over plural. It was said both ways, before, and after.

Stephen Douglas died of natural causes, in June 1861. Are you going to imagine him living longer? Maybe he could have gotten the south to accept the modified version of the Crittenden Compromise that Lincoln supported. Then the horrible war is avoided, but horrible slavery continues.

I avoid discussing current politics here. I discuss the history. You give that premise, as an example. But it is very implausible. They didn't want and couldn't afford a standing army. A well regulated militia, with privately owned weapons was needed. Also hunting wasn't a sport, or hobby...

I asked this a long time ago. I was told there isn't a specific date. it's about bringing up current issues.

Harry Turtledove's Crosstime Traffic series isn't exactly the same, but vaguely similar.

More Chinese immigrants who return home with their children who grew up here and developed a taste for the American version of Chinese food.

Previously I asked but didn't get any response. Is there any non ASB POD in which John Brown can create a successful slave uprising? I take it that the consensus here is no.

They almost didn't surrender. The emperor broke the tied cabinet vote by deciding to accept defeat. The no surrender faction opposed him with a coup attempt.

Yes that bit that he was clumsy was an invention of Chevy Chase. I restrain myself from discussing current politics. I just wish we now had more political leaders like him.