"If you want to see American democracy under great stress, the Civil War is the prime example." Yet the author misses the best example-- that in the middle of

"If you want to see American democracy under great stress, the Civil War is the prime example." Yet the author misses the best example-- that in the middle of the war, in 1864, the U.S. held an election for President, even though it looked (in the beginning of the race) that Lincoln might lose!