That’s certainly the argument made against them at the time, while the wars they fought were going on. Lincoln in particular was savaged for being a hick elected with a weak mandate who stumbled into a war of choice that was far longer, bloodier, and more expensive than anticipated, damaged American relations with Europe, and led many Democrats during his reelection campaign to support an opposing candidate with a more distinguished military record who promised to bring the troops back home (out of Virginia). After declaring an end to major combat operations after Lee surrendered, an insurgent campaign continued to assassinate members of the newly formed Reconstruction governments and terrorize members of other ethnic groups for almost 100 years.
