Dr Tom Dunning taught North American history at the University of Tasmania for 30 years and has authored several papers on civil war and patriotism in the States.

In the aftermath of the 1800 election one presidential candidate was left dead, while in 1876 no victory was declared for 116 days after claims of voter fraud.

Despite an encouraging speech from Joe Biden about mending the fractures and division that exist across North America, Dr Dunning said he is wary of what the future holds for the country.

"Do these electoral conflicts lead to increased bitterness? Yes," Dr Dunning said.

"I give Biden credit for putting out a healing narrative, but I'm not sure it's going to work."

Referencing Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza who said "you won the election, I won the count", Dr Dunning said he expected Donald Trump to take a similar stance.

"I don't think Trump's going to go quietly," Dr Dunning said.

"Even if he concedes, 70 million people voted for him. His supporters are not going to go away."

Dr Dunning said in the past divisive elections had caused civil unrest and political malevolence, which had never been resolved.

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"They certainly did create a great deal of division and it took a long time for those divisions to heal," Dr Dunning said.

"The 1876 election reignited the hostility and vitriol of the civil war and that continued for many years ... these things do lead to a great deal of division and continuing division."

As for whether there was another civil war forthcoming, Dr Dunning said his theory was that the last one had never ended.

"The civil war was unresolved, and it still may be unresolved. I'm not sure if there is going to be a civil war, it would just be a continuation of the 1860 one," Dr Dunning said.

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