If Lincoln not been assassinated, Reconstruction would likely have been less harsh on the Confederate leaders, I think it is also possible that it could have also led to a protracted guerrilla war in the South. Lincoln's assassination ended any speculation that a guerrilla war might cause the North to give up trying to subdue the South. While there was some bloodshed associated with those seeking to end Reconstruction, that bloodshed was about trying to regain power within each State, and not about also trying to gain independence for their States.
Could you elaborate?
It seems to me that getting rid of Lincoln increased the power of radical Republicans giving the South more of a reason to fight on.
