What If...

[Sons of Liberty]

The doctrine of "states rights" as envisioned by Southerners at this time in itself made the Confederacy a dicey proposition. Self interests within the states became a headache for Jeff Davis throughout the entirety of the war.

 

[KeyserSoze]

The more apropos question to ask is if the Confederate States had defeated the United States and won its independence how long would it be before the four Border States decided to go with the winner?

Never probably.

 

[huskerblitz]

I think the answer lies with the unforeseen. Every country, once born, has to adjust and it's hard to know how that would have looked or what adjustments it needed, or had been willing to make. Remember, the United States functioned under the Articles until it realized that it wasn't sustainable and it adjusted to the Constitution. All the Confederate government knew was government at war.

It's a fascinating question, just one that is hard to see how they would have adjusted on their own.

 

[beernoser]

I don't see why the CSA wouldn't survive.

It had more resources than most nations, a cadre of well educated leaders, and good ports. I think Lee would almost certainly become the second President and would do well depending on his health. Like the US, the next 30 years of presidents would be soldiers so perhaps a President Johnston, Breckinridge, Gordon, Early, Rodes, as the grays get grayer.

Its largest city, New Orleans was aimed to the south and was a great trade city. I could see it becoming the trade hub of the Caribbean/ Gulf of Mexico and could see the CSA being the dominant state of what is now Latin America either through influence or even territorial expansion.

The CSA and USA would share most issues of foreign affairs, mainly keeping Europeans out of the New World. I could see friendly relations much like Canada and the US.

Slavery could end around when Brazil ended theirs, probably a gradual ending as of anyone born after a particular date is no longer a slave.