Although there are several Points of Divergence, the major one in A Southron World is during the U.S. Civil War, the Union army is unable to gain control of the Mississippi River, and thus, never was able to gain a foothold in the West, which opened the door for the Confederates to invade the North in both Pennsylvania and Illinois. It is these major victories in the North that led to European support and recognition of the Confederate States, which, in turn, allowed them to win the War of Southron Independence.