Official "Retrospective History of the United States" Challenge Thread

[d32123]

Originally Posted by Nerdlinger

The states have to be admitted as is (OTL borders and all) and in time for the first presidential election in which they could vote in OTL. Territories are up for grabs, however.

Aren't you afraid that this will severely limit the creativity of the project, though?

[Nerdlinger]

Originally Posted by d32123

Aren't you afraid that this will severely limit the creativity of the project, though?

How so? I'd think the alt-US would have to at least be geographically similar to our own. Like I said, though, you can do what you will with the territories. (Originally, I said the territories had to be the same, but I've relaxed this rule.)

If, however, there is a severe objection to the state rule, I may revise it.

[Turquoise Blue]

Hey, Nerdlinger, are you OK with me going in the future of the TL? Because I would like to round-up to 50, not have 49...

[d32123]

Originally Posted by Nerdlinger

How so? I'd think the alt-US would have to at least be geographically similar to our own. Like I said, though, you can do what you will with the territories. (Originally, I said the territories had to be the same, but I've relaxed this rule.)

If, however, there is a severe objection to the state rule, I may revise it.

Hmm may I write my own version of this without following your guidelines under the assumption that it won't be up for voting?

[Nerdlinger]

Originally Posted by Turquoise Blue

Hey, Nerdlinger, are you OK with me going in the future of the TL? Because I would like to round-up to 50, not have 49...

Got a little OCD? That's OK, I have a touch of it myself.

The future, at least beyond the 2012 election, is up to you (and beyond the requirements of the challenge, but that's fine with me). You might want to hold off on writing the future sections for a few months in case Obama isn't elected here in 2012.

[Nerdlinger]

Originally Posted by d32123

Hmm may I write my own version of this without following your guidelines under the assumption that it won't be up for voting?

You may if you like (I can't stop you, of course). However, I hesitate to say that you should put in it this thread, since it will already be quite cluttered with all the qualified TLs. Which rules don't you wish to follow and why?

[d32123]

Originally Posted by Nerdlinger

You may if you like. However, I hesitate to say that you should put in it this thread, though, since it will already be quite cluttered with all the qualified TLs. Which rules don't you wish to follow and why?

I'm not sure yet. I'd probably just change the borders of the US and the politics of the candidates just to give it an alternate feel and break the mold. I might not even go through with doing it, since I have a plethora of TL's technically going on right now and I'm a lazy noob. I'd post it in ASB initially either way, though, since it will undoubtedly be unrealistic by the post-1900 forum's standards.

[Nerdlinger]

Originally Posted by d32123

I'm not sure yet. I'd probably just change the borders of the US and the politics of the candidates just to give it an alternate feel and break the mold. I might not even go through with doing it, since I have a plethora of TL's technically going on right now and I'm a lazy noob. I'd post it in ASB initially either way, though, since it will undoubtedly be unrealistic by the post-1900 forum's standards.

Yeah, if you're going to mess with the personal politics of the candidates, that's definitely outside the realm of the challenge. It'd be an interesting TL for me to follow, but I'd ask that you please start your own thread for it.

[Turquoise Blue]

Originally Posted by Nerdlinger

Got a little OCD? That's OK, I have a touch of it myself.

The future, at least beyond the 2012 election, is up to you (and beyond the requirements of the challenge, but that's fine with me). You might want to hold off on writing the future sections for a few months in case Obama isn't elected here in 2012.

No chance of that, Obama will win 2012 in AH.com. Or do you mean the real election?

[d32123]

Originally Posted by Turquoise Blue

No chance of that, Obama will win 2012 in AH.com. Or do you mean the real election?

You never know he could die or come serious scandal could break out. Or our far-right wing membership could skyrocket in the next few months. Either that or things start trending leftward and the Green Party wins here (yeah right).

[Abhakhazia]

Originally Posted by d32123

You never know he could die or come serious scandal could break out. Or our far-right wing membership could skyrocket in the next few months. Either that or things start trending leftward and the Green Party wins here (yeah right).

Nah. Neither are likely to happen.

[The Red]

Well here we go.

SEO: Redverse.

Prolouge

"A true history of human events would show that a far larger proportion of our acts are the result of sudden impulse and accident than of that reason of which we so much boast."

- Peter Cooper

The relative peace of the United States of America, prior to the Civil War, was not one which was pre-destined. Indeed, war with Britain seemed inevitable during the Napoleonic Wars, drummed up by the more jingoistic members of the American press, in reaction to British measures against American commerce bound for France and the kidnapping of American citizens to serve with the Royal Navy. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, Federalist candidate Charles Pinckney narrowly won the 1808 Presidential election on the basis of 'No Americans in a European War', pointing out the relative weakness of American ground and naval forces against the most powerful nation on earth.

The diplomacy legacy set by Pinckney's meetings with Lord Liverpool would have a bearing on the threatened engagements with various Native American tribes, after the heated debate over the controversial 'Indian Removal Act' in 1830 threatened a genocidal conflict on the Northern American continent. Osceola's visit to the White House would be historic, and although it would cost President Adams any chance of running again, it would develop a system of Native American Autonomy that would act as a peaceful template for years to come.

The Whigs and Libertarians of the forties would exercise a new diplomatic force in their dealings with the Mexicans. Though there were many calls for war by overconfident Democratic congressmen, the power of finance prevailed with Texas, California, New Mexico and Nevada being sold to America for a relatively small sum by the cash stripped Mexican Empire. Territory quickly paid for itself with the discovery of gold in California, the American economy boomed without a single drop of blood.

It is perhaps ironic that the American diplomatic tradition would fail, not with the Europeans, Native Americans or Mexicans, but when looking inward...

[Nerdlinger]

Very nice start, Red. I like the foreshadowing and the use of pictures. One thing I can't help pointing out -- it's Pinckney, not Pickney. Keep up the good work.

[The Red]

Originally Posted by Nerdlinger

Very nice start, Red. I like the foreshadowing and the use of pictures. One thing I can't help pointing out -- it's Pinckney, not Pickney. Keep up the good work.

Jeeez, no need to be so nit-pinckney!

But thanks all the same.

[Turquoise Blue]

Good intro. I like it.

Being the unconventional person I am, I'm not doing one until the whole thing's typed up and posted. There will be a Mexican-American War in my TL.

[The Red]

Originally Posted by Turquoise Blue

Good intro. I like it.

Being the unconventional person I am, I'm not doing one until the whole thing's typed up and posted. There will be a Mexican-American War in my TL.

Thanks, are you going to post it all as one giant post then?

[Turquoise Blue]

Originally Posted by The Red

Thanks, are you going to post it all as one giant post then?

Probably not. I'll probably post like this, and post it, bundled up together in the right order, in a test thread, if I can be bothered, really.

[The Red]

Originally Posted by Turquoise Blue

Probably not. I'll probably post like this, and post it, bundled up together in the right order, in a test thread, if I can be bothered, really.

I look forward to it.

There's always Timelines and Scenarios when you're done?

[Evan]

Originally Posted by metastasis_d

Then again, they could all simply start actual timelines in their own pre-1900 threads and link to the updates here, in order to avoid clutter. That can encourage people who didn't participate to read.

I like this idea...

I'll post mine here sometime next week, after I do a little more planning:
The Slaughter of Butterflies.

[Justin Green]

Hey Red, is that Peter Cooper quote from the Peter Cooper, elected potus here?