The Age of Hamilton

[Fatstalin]

The Age of Hamilton
An Alternate Account of America's First Years & Beyond
by: Fatstalin

Chapter I. A New Agenda

The unity of Government, which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize. ~ George Washington, Farewell Address

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Since 1789, the fledgling Republic of the United States had propsered under the vestiges of a new Constitution. From New York City and later Philadelphia, both Congress and the Executive had operated in tandom, passing powerful legislation and setting forth precedents by which future members of each branch would continue to obey into future generations. As the Republic's first President (excluding those honorary members who served under the Articles of Confederation) national hero and distinguished war veteran George Washington had steered the United States on a clear course to a bright future whilst overcoming the immense complications which had presented themselves throughout his eight-year tenure in the office of Chief Executive.

By 1796, as he approached the age of 64, the elderly Washington felt himself at the final twilight of his years and thus, after four decades of service to the colonies, announced his intentions to finally retire. In his farewell address to the American people, issued via letter on September 19th of that very year, Washington highlighted the necessity and importance of national union, the value of the Constitution and the rule of law, the evils of political parties, and the proper virtues of a republican people, while condemning any further participation in the affairs of the European continent. To many Americans, this policy was acceptable and many felt that those who would follow in the footsteps of the nation's first President would seek to achieve such aims. No one could imagine the political malestrom ahead.

Since 1792, the political rivalries of two prominent figures in American politics had grown into the underpinnings of distinct political movements. On one end, Alexander Hamilton, then the dashing and brillant Secretary of the Treasury, had used the contacts he had gained through both the Continental Army and the Treasury Department to further his own ambitions for the nation's economy, among which included the foundation of a National Bank, and the creation of national debt by which to handle the Republic's finances. On the other end of the spectrum, Secretary of State and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, saw Hamilton's attempts at consoldiating the power of the Federal Government as tyrannical and his pro-British stance even more despicable. With the help of his fellow associate James Madison, Jefferson founded what became the Democratic-Republican party that very same year in an effort to perserve the rights of State Goverments and diffuse the elitist ambitions of Hamilton's federalists.

During the Congressional Elections of 1794, each respective party came into official being, sponsoring candidates and condemning their opponents in no uncertain terms by way of the press which was more than willing to oblige to each ideaology. Now, two years having past, both Federalists and Democratic-Republicans were ready to do battle, this time for the Presidency.

With the incumbent President Washington having refused a third-term in office, the Federalists (to which Washington usually had aligned himself) had moved to support Vice President John Adams in his bid for the office, citing his experience as one of the nation's foremost politicans during and after the Revolution. In conjunction with Adams, it was decided that South Carolinian native Thomas Pinckney would assume the office of Vice President in the wake of his successful embassage to Britain and later Spain. Meanwhile, Jefferson was immedeately chosen by his supporters to serve as the Democratic-Republican candidate on account of his own status and image in American politics up to that time while Senator Aaron Burr of New York would serve to fill the office of Vice President.

Unlike in the Presidential Election of 1792, where the outcome had already been determined well in advance, the election of 1796 was no certain game. Each party, once united under the Washington administration, now campaigned heavily for each respective candidate. The debate surrounding the election was a bitter affair, with the Federalists associating the Democratic-Republicans to the violent wave of revolution still engulfing France while the Democratic-Republicans continued in their accusations of Federalist preferences towards monarchism. Paticularly heated was the debate surrounding Jay's Treaty, which in the eyes of most American citizens, had been percieved as a de-facto alliance with Britain. Of course, the Federalists, seeking to perserve a strong relationship with the Republic's largest trading partner, supported the provisions of the treaty while Democratic-Republicans saw the agreement was a contract which would come to compromise the republican beliefs of the nation.

Among these issues, another struggle soon began within the ranks of the Federalist Party. Hamilton, who greatly disliked Adams, saw an oppurtunity by which to elect his favorite, Pinckney to the Presidency. Under the rules of the election, each elector recieved two ballots but only for the Presidency. Meanwhile, the runner-up in the presidential race was elected Vice President. So as to prevent Jefferson from obtaining any position of importance, Hamilton urged the electors of New England and New York to cast their ballots in favor of both Adams and Pinckney. In addition to his intrigues in the North, Hamilton, with the help of political ally Edward Rutledge, also sought to coerce South Carolina's eight electors into casting each of their extra ballots in favor of Pinckney. If the scheme was successful, Pinckney would win the Presidency by a sizeable margin while Adams would remain Vice President, ensuring Federalist domination over the Executive Branch.

Had it not been for the torrential rains that engulfed the Palmetto State October of that year, it seemed likely that Hamilton's plan would've failed as Northern electors, favoring Adams, would refuse to vote in favor of Pinckney. But, with the state's roads mired by the weather, word of the scheme did not reach general political circles until after a majority of states had cast their votes. When the final tally was announced on December 7th, Pinckney carried the election with a total of 76 votes. Adams, as had been planned, managed to win the Vice Presidency, securing 71 votes in comparison to Jefferson's 68.

A majority of Federalists, although shocked at the sudden turn of events, were satisfied to know the Federalists had taken both offices. Adams himself, whose services and senority were far greater than that of the 46 year old President-elect, he resented the decision but remained faithful to his office. Nevertheless, the election would be the last time Adams ever addressed Hamilton personally.

Despite being defeated, Thomas Jefferson remained adamant that one day his Presidential aspirations would come true. In the meanwhile, though, the Virginian native seperated himself from the Goverment for a time, remaining at Monticello to collect his thoughts.

On March 4th, 1797, Thomas Pinckney was inaugurated as the nation's Second President at Federal Hall, Philadelphia, then the nation's capital. In his first inaugural address to the people (which had been mostly written by Hamilton himself), the new President committed himself to continuing the legacy of his predacessor while ensuring civic virtue be maintained. But, with Franco-American relations continuing to deteriorate, storm clouds had already gathered over the nation, warning of the storm to come.

[Aegyptos]

Very interesting scenario. I often wondered how things might have proceeded if the Democratic Republicans could have been prevented from gaining the presidency. Other than the gaining of the Louisiana Territory I can't think of a thing they did for the country. Is there good historical evidence of a strong friendship between Pinckney and Hamilton?

[Fatstalin]

Originally Posted by Aegyptos

Is there good historical evidence of a strong friendship between Pinckney and Hamilton?

According to several sources, Hamilton had favored Pinckney in opposition to Adams in both the 1796 and 1800 elections (although Thomas's older brother, Charles, ran for the Federalist nomination instead of Thomas himself in 1800). Thus, the only difference here is that Hamilton's scheme actually works instead of it back-firing as in OTL.

[Fatstalin]

Chapter II. Entering the Breach

"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" ~ Famous Federalist Maxim

Almost immedeately after Pinckney had been inaugurated as President, the largest crisis of his Administration presented itself. The Republic of France, affronted by the United States' in their ratification of the Jay Treaty (which, in their eyes, was a violation of the Franco-American alliance of 1778), had set its sights on America's merchant shipping and, by 1797, French privateers, bound by Letters of Marque issued by the Government in Paris, had exacted a considerable toll. Since 1795, nearly three-hundred American vessels had been siezed by sailors flying the tri-colour.

To Hamilton and his fellow hard-line or "High" Federalists, this was simply unacceptable and action needed to be taken. Thus, at every available occasion, Hamilton and his supporters advocated war to take care of the "French menace" once and for all. And, although Pinckney was much under the influence of the Hamiltonian faction, his correspondance with Vice President Adams (who he greatly respected for his senority and experience) had convinced the young President that such means could be resolved by Diplomatic efforts on the part of the US.

Thus, under the consent of Pinckney, a three-man peace mission was sent to Paris in the spring of 1797 with the sole objective of diffusing the accumulated tension over the past two years. Upon reaching the French capital, the three officials, John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry, and President Pinckney's eldest brother Charles (who had attempted to gain audience with the French Foreign Minister since the winter of 1796), were rebuffed by the Foreign Minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, who instead directed the Americans to a fellow associate, Mme. de Villette and her representatives Jean Conrad Hottinguer, Lucien Hauteval, and Mr. Bellamy. In return for their cooperation, the officials (designated as X, Y, and Z by the diplomatic mission's reports to Philapelphia) demanded a bribe totaling $250,000 Dollars to be delivered to Talleyrand before the Foreign Ministry would initiate negotiations. In response to the demand, it was claimed by many that Charles Pinckney was to have replied in defiance "No, no, not a sixpence," although such claims cannot be verified as of this age. Further attempts by which to extend the olive branch proved to no avail and by May the delegation was withdrawn.

Anti-French feelings, which had steadily increased for the past series of months, exploded into a shockwave of mass anti-sentiment as details of the infamous 'XYZ Affair' were made known in the President's State of the Union address in April of 1798. To Hamilton, it was the smoking gun he needed for war. At once, High Federalists called for the necessary measures to facilitate a full-blown conflict. Lobbyists from the across the country petitioned Congress for the englargement of both the Army and Navy while Hamilton, through his contacts in New Jersey, sought to transform the recently established Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures near the Passaic River into a fully functioning armaments factory. Of course, Congress, mostly dominated by Federalist representatives, quickly passed the majority of initiatives through the Legislature and, by June of 1798, had authorized the President "to acquire, arm, and man no more than twelve vessels, of up to twenty-two guns each" for use by the US Navy in protection of the Merchant Marine.

Finally, crumbling to the pressure placed upon him by Hamilton, Pinckney petitioned Congress for a Declaration of War on July 7th, 1798 and was immedeately given the go-ahead. For the first time since gaining Independence, the United States was now involved in a major war.

To oversee the management of the Army, which had been expanded from under 5,000 to more than 15,000 troops at the behest of Congress, George Washington was again called to the service of the nation as Commander of the Armies of the United States, while Hamilton himself recieved the rank of Major General (effectively placing him second-in-command). As Washington was too weak to leave his residence at Mt. Vernon, Hamilton became de facto leader of the US Army and spearheaded its efforts forwards. For the Navy, an additional ten vessels were ordered to be converted into frigates while Naval Yards in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia set to work completing orders for new warships.

For Jefferson and his Republican associates, the news of war with France was recieved with much hostility. In Philadelphia, Democratic-Republican representatives and their allies in the press campaigned to halt the war before it spiraled out of control, warning that a conflict of this magnitude would certainly destroy the values (not to mention fortunes) of the average American citizen. But, with the Federalists firmly in control of both branches of government and the Judiciary a lame duck in the matter, their efforts were of little avail. America was going to war.

[Jasen777]

Interesting. It seems that the U.S. will be hard pressed to come out of this war well.

[xchen08]

Presumably, this a more serious war than the Quasi-War of OTL, being declared and all. What I don't see is how the war could be that much more serious considering the main French fleet will be engaging the British, and as France does not yet have Louisiana, the U.S. cannot launch a land invasion.