How might history have turned out differently had Stephen A. Douglas won the presidential election?

If Stephen A. Douglas had won the presidential election of 1860, the course of American history could have shifted significantly. Douglas, a proponent of popular sovereignty, may have pursued a more conciliatory approach to the issue of slavery, potentially delaying or averting the Civil War by allowing states to decide their own status regarding slavery. However, his victory could also have deepened divisions between the North and South, as his policies might not have satisfied either side. Ultimately, while tensions would likely have persisted, his presidency might have altered the timeline and nature of the conflicts that followed.