Not So Far From God, (Still Close To The United States): An Alternate North America

[jycee]

Not So Far From God: An Alternate North America
by Jycee

The possibility of wanking Mexico has been an object of debate in this forum for quite some time. Some agree that it is an easy country to wank due to the possibilities and opportunities, others believe it is impossible to wank it due to how it behaved early in its history. What is true, however, is that it (along with Canada) is usually a victim of Ameri-wanks and that it rarely happens the other way around.
The problem in attempting to wank Mexico mostly relies in two places: the first is its northern neighbor, the second its internal divisions (the criollo elite, the meztiso middle class, the indigenous underclass, the Church, the military, the intellectuals, etc). Unless these get solved quickly Mexico is doomed to fail. Right? I think that this is not necessarily true. Mexico can rise to become a power even if many of its internal divisions are present and even if it still has a strong northern neighbor (though not as strong). How?
Well all wanks are relative. OTL is a bit of an Ameri-wank so an Ameri-wank TL requires the US to be much larger than being the world’s sole superpower. A Mexi-wank TL only requires for Mexcio to do a little bit better initially, something that is not too difficult, and rise to be a major player (though not necessarily the only one) by the late 1900s.

This TL however will not be exclusively focused on being Mexi-wank. It will be about a very different North America. I’m not even sure how it will end; I’ve figured stuff out up to the 1860s-70s and a rough outline of the rest. But things can change as the TL develops. To make sure it is not exclusively a Mexican focused TL, I will write on the Mexican perspective, the American perspective, and the perspective of one of my favorite AH nations, which will be revealed in due time. Most of it will be done in a history textbook format (because it is the easiest to write) but I will add a few quotes, speeches, journal entries, etc as I come up with them. There will also be a bit of a butterfly net on the people that are around.

Finally I’ve got to thank those TL’s and the AH.com writers that have inspired me. If the influences are obvious at times please don’t take it to be plagiarism regard them as an homage or a pastiche at the least. You are good historians researchers and writers. I’ve been posting in your TL’s so you know who you are.

Anyway without much further ado

The POD: The Conspiracy of the Machetes [1] is successful in killing the viceroy of New Spain in 1799. Though the subsequent rebellion will take time to actually finish the job. Thus Mexico is born earlier, more stable, and at time in which there is much more happening around the world. Thus causing certain changes to happen rapidly [2]. I will go into further detail in the first update.

And a few excerpts that will give you hints on were this is headed.

“Although we usually consider September 9th 1808 to be the day the movement for Mexican independence began, the fight for independence had been an ongoing struggle for almost a decade. Starting with the Rebellion of Guadalupe [3] sporadic uprisings against Spanish rule had been common even a few years before Jose de Iturrigaray’s time as viceroy. Furthermore the advance of American filibusters into the northern territories, particularly in Tejas (which then included all land west of the Sabine and east of the Bravo), had sparked numerous pro-republican movements since Aaron Burr attempted to establish the first independent nation in the American Southwest. San Antonio itself was used by Burr as a launching point of his incursions into New Spain a full year before the declaration of independence.” – Freeing Mexico: A Brief Summary of Mexico’s Struggle for Independence by Ernesto Moreno, Universidad Autonoma de Laredo, 1993

“Aaron Burr could be considered one of the most controversial figures of American history. Most American textbooks depict the third vice-president as a traitor, rightly so; Thomas Jefferson believed Burr’s treason to be obvious and placed significant effort into getting Burr arested. However by the time anyone could have made a move Burr was already safely across the border in a country he helped create. The American traitor is actually responsible in part for the existance of at least two North American nations, maybe more.” – Our Traitor: A Short Biography on Aaron Burr by Ana Sofia Wilkerson, University of Sabine Crockett, 2001.

“After all of his accomplishments the man still had ambition for more. I can respect that.” Andrew Jackson after meeting the Mexican General Agustin de Iturbide in Havana, Cuba 1821.

“He was destined to be something big. I should know; I saw much of myself in him.” General Agustin de Iturbide after meeting future US President Andrew Jackson in Havana 1821.

“Never has our country seen such treachery as that which Fremont has partaken in. Not even vice-president Burr could have created such an abomination as the one that man has created in the Pacific!” – US President Thomas Benton on the actions of his son in law, 1848.

I hope that I have piqued your interests.

[1] Obscure point in Mexican history, check out wiki here just for background. But it will be covered in the next update.
[2] However there will be a bit of a butterfly net outside North America just cause it would be impossible to explain every little change in the world and because I am not that familiar with Asia’s history. But we will worry about that in due time, which won’t be for a while.
[3] This is what the Conspiracy of The Machetes will be known as in TTL due to its success.

[T3h_shammy]

I'll be the first to say interesting . I feel like Mexico got a series of bad breaks IOTL and with the correct set of events could totally be a regional power and with a bit of handwavium and good luck a world power.

[KingByng]

It does look interesting. I get the impression that you're balkanizing North America? If so, please don't screw over Canada!

[Capibara]

I will follow any timeline that features a stronger Mexico, so count me in

[Thande]

Interesting start.

[GreatScottMarty]

I am on bored as well. keep it coming looks very interesting

[Lord Grattan]

Originally Posted by Yaraday

It does look interesting. I get the impression that you're balkanizing North America? If so, please don't screw over Canada!

I imagine that "Canada" shall not extend west of Lake Nipigon & the Hudson's Bay Watershed in TTL. The USA may not get past the Mississippi either if the Louisiana Purchase is butterflied away. If it does aquire the region, expect a more northerly "westward expansion" from the Americans.

[jycee]

Alright so here is the first update mostly just covering the POD. Hope you enjoy.

Prelude: The Death of a Viceroy

Life for a non-Spaniard in New Spain was not particularly easy. A strict caste system and a heavy bureaucracy kept most people from improving their lives and severely undermined progress throughout the colony. Even the criollos (those of European blood born in the Americas) were not allowed high positions in the government or military; a right reserved exclusively for the peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain). The viceroy himself was also subject to La Real Audiencia y Chancillería, a highly corrupted branch of the colonial government, and to El Consejo de Las Indias located all the way back in Spain. In fact most viceroys were impotent figureheads who served only as a representative figure of the Empire [1]. The lower, and by far most abundant, castes had absolutely no say in the government.
It is no mystery then why as the ideas of the enlightenment filtered through the censors and after seeing the success of English colonies achieving their independence that many in New Spain wanted the same for their home. By the end of the 18th century many criollos and mestizos alike began to meet and conspire against the Spanish rule all across New Spain. Most of them posed little threat to the government and never managed to materialize. But in late 1799 a group of criollo youths, tired of the position they found themselves in, took action. Armed with only eight guns and around fifty cutlasses [2] Pedro De La Portilla led a small force into the viceroy’s palace and hold several officials hostage. Though their attempt was quickly and easily suppressed it resulted with the death of Viceroy Miguel José de Azanza and the inspiration that many others needed to raise in arms against the Spanish.
The event was known as The Rebellion of Guadalupe, due to the fact that the conspirers attempted to use the patronage of the Virgin of Guadalupe as a way to gain popular support had they succeeded.
Most of what we know about the actual planning comes from the published journal of Isidoro Francisco de Aguirre, a cousin of De La Portilla who did not participate in the conspiracy but published a journal after the independence as a way to gain recognition of his cousin’s efforts.

“[They] met again early in November in a house at Alley of the Gachupines; I myself find the name of the meeting place somewhat ironic. I had decided not to take part in the insurgency several weeks back after first meeting in the summer. What was discussed in November, I do not know since I was not present. Nevertheless it was more than clear that Pedro was planning to take action as soon as it was possible.”

“The opportunity came in December 12th of that same year during the celebrations of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Pedro attended mass in the Cathedral with the rest of the family early that morning before meeting with his men in a house behind the palace.” – excerpts from Aguirre’s journal. [3]

Most of the “official’ reports of what happened inside the palace are incomplete and the what little is written often contradicts itself. But it seems that once inside the palace De La Portilla’s force made their way to the hall where most of the high officials were holding their celebrations. The viceroy however had taken off and was not present at that moment. The conspirators, along with several guards they had bribed, managed to hold the officials and their families’ hostage for a couple of hours before the rest of the palace guard managed to break into the hall. The conspirators then opened fire into both the guard and the crowd. By the end of the night most of De La Portilla’s men had been killed captured or had fled. Those who were captured later faced trial and execution under the inquisition. The viceroy’s body was found in a hallway away from were most of the action took place.
As soon as the news of the revolt inside the palace spread into the celebrations outside in the Zocalo (main square in Mexico City) the City broke into a riot. Many attempted to storm into the Palace. The riot however was forcefully quelled within hours leaving several dead bodies in the Zocalo, Palace, and Cathedral. Within a few weeks news had spread all across New Spain and several smaller riots broke in major towns. Some of the bloodiest occurred in Merdia and Guatemala, the departments where the Spanish held the least amout of authority in.

An interesting fact is that Miguel José de Azanza was officially no longer viceroy. A month earlier Félix Berenguer de Marquina had been named viceroy by King Charles IV but had not and would not arrive in New Spain until April of the following year. Nevertheless the message across New Spain was clear; the next viceroy would have to enact changes or face the same fate as his predecessor. Upon his arrival Berenguer would find a broken New Spain difficult to govern and hungry for autonomy.
Who exactly delivered the killing shot to Azanza is unknown. Though after the War of Independence a palace guard claimed to have been a member of those who were bribed by De La Portilla took credit for the action. His claims however have not been proven.

[1] Some viceroys did manage to hold quite a bit of power, particularly in the early years of the viceroyalties. But for the most part this was the case in the later years of the viceroyalty.
[2] They had fewer guns in OTL. But since the actual event occurs a month after their arrest in OTL I reckoned they would have a few more by then.
[3] This is the actual POD; in OTL Aguirre betrayed his cousin and turned him to the authorities. Here he simply decides not to take part in the event. I made him a coward rather than a Judas.

- Coming up next: Thomas Jefferson makes a deal!

[jycee]

Alright here is a new update. This time there is a bit on the US, there will be more on the following updates. But the butterflies are just reaching Washington.

Chapter One

Insurgency in New Spain

“Though the Rebellion of Guadalupe was the first and possibly the most successful of the pre-1808 uprisings it was not the only one to occur prior to Iturrigaray’s declaration. When Berenguer arrived in New Spain he found a population angered at Spanish rule and his actions did little to ease the situation. Instead of focusing in New Spain’s internal problems Berenguered focused in eliminating outer threats. Major ports, including Veracruz, Matamoros, and Acapulco, were reinforced to avoid British raids, as were the northern presidios to avoid American expansion (ironically New Orleans was sold to the American’s that same year). Berenguer’s indifference towards New Spain’s internal problems simply caused them to grow in size and the rebellions along with them. These latter rebellions helped by promoting a new national sprit, which rapidly spread across New Spain; without it independence might have been impossible. Interestingly enough most of the subsequent uprisings were not started by the criollos, as was the rebellion led by Portilla, but by the mestizo and indigenous, middle and lower classes. The largest of these rebellions include: the Tepic Conspiracy (in which the idea of crowing an Emperor for New Spain was first promulgated) and the Nuevo Leon Incident where a pseudo-Emperor was actually crowned. Collectively these events are known as the Indio Mariano Rebellion.
The uprising began in Tepic, where a handful of influential men under the leadership of José Desiderio Maldonado, began to promulgate the idea of crowning a monarch from New Spain. Maldonado and his men planned to hold a symbolic coronation of a native of Tlaxcala in January 5th 1801 as a form of protest against the Spanish government [1]. The ceremony - however - was interrupted by the local Spanish forces rapidly turning the otherwise peaceful demonstration into a violent confrontation. Through out the following weeks a series of battles occurred through out the department Guadalajara. Most of the movement was quelled within a couple of days but Maldonado and several leaders managed to escape to Guadalajara City [2]. Rumors that a force of 1,000 Yaquis and Yumas had gathered to assist Maldonado and were heading south sparked a second uprising in Tepic on January 19th. Maldonado gathered a force in Guadalajara and headed back to Tepic. Once again his force was defeated and the insurgents were forced to scatter through out New Spain. Several smaller battles followed though out Guadalajara in the following weeks but the rebellion was successfully quelled by spring. [3] Maldonado himself lived to see the independence of New Spain; however he would denounce the coronation of a peninsular as Emperor.
Six months later a short uprising occurred in Nuevo Leon. The rebels apprehended in Nuevo Leon claimed to be fighting under the leadership Mariano I Emperor of New Spain; the pseudo-Emperor was apprehended with the force he was identified as a local Indian by the name of Juan José Garcia. Because neither Maldonado nor any of the Tepic leaders were present in Nuevo Leon most historians now believe that Garcia was not the man crowned in Tepic and that in fact he was simply a criminal who used the title to gain support of locals. By using the title Garcica managed to gain a significant following so that when he was apprehended in Nuevo Leon for attempting to steal cattle several of his followers attacked the city to free their Emperor [4]. Today Garcia is considered a folk hero in Nuevo Leon even having a small plaza with a monument dedicated to his majesty Emperor Mariano I.
Besides these rebellions other uprising were attempted by the indigenous and mestizo class in Nueva Vizcaya, Sonora, and more prominently in Guatemala and Yucatan where the indigenous class was the majority and the Spanish government had always had problems holding its rule. However for the most part Spain kept peace in the center of New Spain: Veracruz, Puebla, Guanajuato and Mexico. As long as it had a hold in the major provinces any hope for a unified independent Mexico was doomed to fail. Even if Bereguer had attempted to solve New Spain’s internal problems his actions would have been regulated by the Audiencia, which wanted little reform in the colony as possible. Disgusted by the impotence of his position Bereguer resigned within a few years; In January 1803 he turned the government to his successor Jose de Iturrigaray”.
– Freeing Mexico: A Brief Summary of Mexico’s Struggle for Independence by Ernesto Moreno, Universidad Autonoma de Laredo, 1993

Mr. Jefferson Makes a Deal

“The Purchase of New Orleans was a vital moment in the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson; it guaranteed the naval dominance in the are for the US, control of the Mississippi trade and allowed for the latter expansion into the rest Louisiana territory.
At the time of Jefferson’s ignaguration Spain was facing serious financial troubles. British attacks on its colonies and a blockade of its major ports only worsened the situation. After the first rebellions broke out in New Spain, American officials had been sent to Spain with the purpose of negotiating a treaty in which the US would acquire New Orleans from Spain and financially assist Spain against the rebellions and British incursion into New Spain. Jefferson’s predecessor, John Adams, had already considered the idea of purchasing the port from Spain but negotiations did not begin until Jefferson became president. Immediately after inauguration Jefferson sent Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans for 10 million dollars. France was also interested in acquiring the territory as Napoleon’s government had plans in starting a colonial Empire of their own. A small bidding war began but France backed down at the possibility of loosing Spain’s alliance against the British if the negotiations happened to fall apart. In November 1801, less than a year into the presidency of Thomas Jefferson the United States purchased New Orleans for 12 million dollars.
In the haste of finishing the transaction and transferring New Orleans over to the Americans several details of the treaty had been overlooked. For starters there was no direct land connection between the port and the rest of the United States; for the Americans it seemed easiest to assume that the purchase included the land between the Mississippi River and the Pearl River. It was this territory that was later organized into the New Orleans Territory. However others disagreed and argued that the new boundary should extend all the way to the Perdidio River to the East and the Arroyo Hondo to the West, while Spain insisted in having West Florida extend all the way to the Mississippi. The extreme claims on both sides were rapidly dropped and Robert R. Livingston was able to negotiate a treaty establishing the border at the Pearl River to the east and the Mississippi to the west. The area south of the Mississippi remained in Spain’s hands but with the American presence in New Orleans it quickly fell into American jurisdiction and will continue to be disputed throughout Jefferson’s time as President.”
- The Origins of The Livingston Doctrine and Early American Expansion by J. T. Storms, North Platte University, Press

[1] The pseudo-coronation occurs day earlier that OTL. Allowing for part of the ceremony to actually take place before Spanish arrival.
[2] The state Nayarit is still part of the Department of Guadalajara, consisting of the present day state of Nayarit and Jalsico. Thus I am referring to Guadalajara as all of the department and Guadalajara City as the present day City of Guadalajara in the state of Jalsico.
[3] The uprisings are similar as the ones in OTL but longer and bloodier. In OTL this rebellion was quelled in a couple weeks. ITTL small uprising continue for more than a month.
[4] In OTL Garcia had no followers and acted alone. Thus ITTL this rebellion is significantly larger in size.

[jycee]

Just edited yesterdays post a bit and I am adding a map.

[Lord Grattan]

A helpful and well done map.

[jycee]

Originally Posted by Lord Grattan

A helpful and well done map.

Thanks! And here is the next update. Hopefully this one gathers enough interest. Its a big one.

Chapter Two:

Jefferson’s First Term and a Bit More

The New Orleans’s purchase brought the amount of power the federal government had a right to into question. Jefferson himself was unsure if the government had the right to purchase land. Thus, even though a majority of congress supported the purchase, Jefferson pushed for the creation of a constitutional amendment that clarified the federal government’s right to purchase land. This became the first of two amendments passed during the Jefferson administration, the latter revising the presidential election procedures.
Besides the purchase of New Orleans Jefferson stayed true to his promises of reducing federal power as much as possible. To do so Jefferson tried to reduce the national debt as much as possible, believing that the nation did not need a line of debt to build credit. Furthermore Jefferson repelled many established taxes; this made the government excessively dependent on costumes revenue (this policy would latter prove disastrous when trade between the United States and Europe is interrupted by the Napoleonic Wars). As for the military Jefferson reduced it to state militias, completely scrapping the federal navy built during the Adams administration; Jefferson received heavy criticism for this. Recognizing that military leadership would be needed when taking civilians into battle Jefferson did establish a Corps of Engineers and a Military Academy. [1]

In 1803 Ohio was admitted as a state; as the nation expanded the anti-federalist policies of Jefferson became increasingly appealing to most voters causing major rifts in the Federalist Party. By the election of 1804 most moderate federalists had defected towards Jefferson’s party leaving New England as the only Federalist stronghold.

Jefferson’s time in office also saw the first forced relocation of Indian tribes. In the southwest several tribes were forced out of their ancestral territory many of them fleeing to Spanish Florida, where the lack of authority gave them much freedom. Meanwhile in the Northwest, the Shawnee continuously led raids into white settlements as their leaders attempted to form a confederacy of Indian tribes in the area. Relationships with Britain strained as it became clear that Britain was supplying the Shawnee and other tribes in their raids. Though Jefferson kept a cool head and followed Washington’s Neutrality Act throughout his first term tensions between America, Britain, and the Indian tribes continued. Britain’s incursions into Spanish Louisiana, through British North America and their unofficial support of Aaron Burr’s western expedition into Tejas did not help ease the tensions at all. By the time of Jefferson’s reelection it became clear that the only way to avoid Britain from taking over Louisiana would be for the United States to take it for itself.


How a Viceroy Began a Revolution

“The early years of Iturrigary’s time as a viceroy could be described as the calm before the storm. Like his predecessor Jose de Iturrigaray arrived to a New Spain in the midst of rebellion. However he had brought with him a large quantity of arms from Cuba to supply the regiments of Veracruz, Mexico, and Puebla to avoid any major uprisings in the main cities of central New Spain. The military was indeed successful in quelling most revolts and staging a counter-guerilla movement in the Sierras. [2]
Once he reached the capital Iturrigaray rapidly gained popularity amongst the criollo elite and middle class for his friendly and open character. Unlike his predecessor Iturrigaray was willing to make internal reforms in New Spain, amongst them an agricultural reform that allowed for the establishment of new vineyards in certain parts of the colony and the opening of a new granary in Guanajuato. Furthermore Iturigaray pushed for a safety reform in the mining industry as well as a bridge and road building project.
In 1803 the Prussian explorer Alexander von Humbolt arrived in Acapulco making extensive, and much needed, research on New Spain’s geography. Humbolt estimated the population of New Spain to be around 6 million. Humbolt’s publishing’s had a curious effect on the criollo and mestizo populations; the news of New Spain’s riches stirred a sense of national pride. The viceroy himself was impressed and openly expressed the possible potential that an autonomous New Spain could achieve. The viceroy’s sympathy towards the criollos resulted in major discontent amongst the peninsulares. The Audiencia began disallowing most of Iturrigaray’s proposals, causing the viceroy to become increasingly frustrated with his lack of power.
In March 1805 news reached New Spain that war against Britain had been declared by Spain. Iturrigaray gave out orders to put the colony in a state of defense and to increase payments to Spain. Iturrigaray placed Francisco Antonio de Velázquez in command of the defenses along the Gulf Coast. Velazquez had been previously tried for treason during the Berenguer administration for assisting the criollo conspiracies. The apointment of Velazquez along with the transfer of church funds to the government to assist in the payments created a major opposition against the viceroyalty amongst the Spanish. In that same year a new rebellion lead by Pedro Martin initiated a rather successful guerrilla campaign in the Sierras. When the viceroy asked for further funding and assistance in putting down the rebellion the Audiencia not only refused but was also looking for a replacement for Iturrigaray. The war in Europe however delayed the possibility of any replacement arriving anytime soon. Tensions in New Spain strengthened, as rebellions continued and Britain was making significant incursions into Louissina and Tejas with the assistance of the American ex-vice-president Aaron Burr.
In July 13 1808, news was received in Mexico that the Spanish King had abdicated in favor of Napoleon. That same week a group of criollo councilmen presented Iturrigaray with a plan to form a provisional autonomous government in New Spain with Iturrigaray at its head. The viceroy as well the Mexico City council accepted the plan, which was lead by Juan Francisco Azcárte. Five days later in July 20th Diego Leña leader of the Ayuntamineto of Veracruz in Xalapa declared his support and called for the formation of a congress of representatives for New Spain. The Audiencia however did not support the plan and in the first week of August the Inquisitor Bernardo Prado declared the movement an act of heresy. However this did not stop the creation of a congress parallel to the Junta and the Audiencia by the criollo party. When a representative of the Junta of Seville arrived in New Spain early in September both sides requested recognition by Spain as the legitimate government. The calm had ended and the storm would soon be raging in full force.
The spark ignited sooner than anyone anticipated. The representative from Seville recognized the peninsular government and ordered the arrest of Iturrigaray and other insurgent leaders. At the same time Melchor de Talamante, a leader in the criollo government openly declared the dissolution of all political ties between Spain and what he called ‘The Sovereign State of The Americas’. At Talamante’s cry Mexico City broke into riots. The Spanish forces, lead by Gabriel J Yermo, were moved into city to suppress the revolt.
In September 9th 1808, before Yermo managed to enter the capital, Jose de Iturrigaray publicly announced his resignation as viceroy of New Spain, his support for the insurgency, and the abolition of the Audiencia. Previously Iturrigaray had drafted a letter with the same announcement, which was delivered to Yermo and the representative from Seville.
Today Iturrigaray’s announcement is celebrated as the day of Mexican Independence.
Because Yermo’s forces were at the gates of Mexico City at the moment of his announcement, Iturrigaray hastily left the city and fled to Queretaro, where the governor, Miguel Dominguez and his wife Josefa Ortiz had openly declared in favor of the insurgency. In Queretaro, Iturrigaray met Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla [3], a local pariah who had managed to raise a considerably sized militia in a rather short time and James Wilkinson an American with a rather odd proposal”.
– From Viceroy to Emperor: How Iturrigaray turned New Spain into Mexico by Beatriz Ugalde y Ramos, Universidad Ibero-Americana Acapulco, 1975


Aaron Burr Goes West

“With the purchase of New Orleans in 1802, the Spanish Louisiana became isolated from the rest of New Spain and was left unprotected from British or American incursions. Furthermore Napoleon was rather irritated at the news of the sale since he had developed hopes for expanding his Empire into North America. In short everybody was looking for an opportunity to take Louisiana. Aaron Burr was the first to plunge for it.
While still holding the vice-president’s office Burr had met with the British ambassador to discuss his plans for the territory. Apparently Burr planned to break off New Orleans from the United States and establish a “Southwestern Republic” under the protection of a European sponsor.
In 1804, before Jefferson’s reelection, the vice-president got tangled into a duel with the Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. The duel resulted in Hamilton’s death and Burr being accused of murder. Although Burr was allowed to finish his vice-presidential term he did not run for reelection. With his political career apparently over, Burr began to consider the possibility of completing his western plans.
Burr had previously leased 40,000 acres of land in Tejas from the Spanish government. Burr was convinced that he could claim the land for himself with a relatively small force in the case a war broke out over Louisiana and/or Tejas. With the rebellions in New Spain increasing day by day and the scramble between the U.S., Britain, France, and Spain over the remainder of the Louisiana territory Burr realized the needed war was eminent.
Just a year after stepping down from the vice-precidency Burr was contacted by the new governor of the New Orleans territory James Wilkinson and the Anglo-Irish aristocrat Herman Blennerhassett. Wilkinson offered the possibility of breaking off New Orleans while Blennerhassett had enough capital and resources to pull off the conspiracy. Throughout the following year Blurr traveled across the Louisiana Territory and Tejas. In travels Burr enlisted the Catholic Bishop in New Orleans and a group of criollo entrepreneurs from New Spain into his plans. The final pieceses of the conspiracy fell into place early in 1806 when French minister contacted Burr guaranteeing French support. France was not keen in seing the United States or Britain create a colossus in North America and Burr’s success would help impede this.
With everything in place Burr then proceeded to move into his holdings in Tejas along with his small force of farmer-soldiers. In the summer of that year President Jefferson was informed of Blurr’s plans. Jefferson declared Burr a traitor but by then Burr was already safely settled in Tejas, which at that point was still part of New Spain.
Once in Tejas the plan was straightforward: initiate a rebellion, declare Tejas independent from Spain and once a war broke out over Louisiana move into New Orleans where the new state would be based in. The war, however, began much sooner than what Burr had anticipated. Tension between Britain and the United States had broken off into war that same year and New Orleans was readily reinforced. Furthermore, because of his involvement in the conspiracy, Wilkinson had been deposed of his position as governor and had fled to Mexico City. Burr was then forced to change his plans. Rather than heading east towards New Orleans his forces would move would into New Spain. This time the opportunity came earlier than expected; New Spain had just declared its independence from Spain and the country had exploded into full fledge rebellion.
In San Antonio de Bexar, the capital of Tejas, Juan Bautista de las Casas and Ersmo Seguin [4] had declared their support for the rebellion and deposed the local governor. Attempting to seize the opportunity Burr contacted the insurgents and offered his support. With Burr’s aid Tejas easily fell into the rebels hands and San Antonio became the hub of all northern rebellions. In early 1809 Burr’s army had crossed the Rio Bravo and captured Laredo in Nuevo Leon. Once in Laredo Burr was informed that Wilkinson had contacted Iturrigaray in Queretaro and was negotiating the terms for their support. Though the ex-viceroy had little to offer at the time Burr was conscious that support for each other would be beneficial for both parties”.
– Our Traitor: A Short Biography on Aaron Burr by Ana Sofia Wilkerson, University of Sabine Crockett, 2001.

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[1] If anyone knows a good alternate location rather than West Point. I would be very grateful, I want to have small differences and such from OTL.
[2] Yes the names will become much more familiar now.
[3] Thats Juan Seguin's father.

[Lord Grattan]

Regarding an alternate "West Point" site, it may or may not work given your story line, but how about Breed's Hill at Charlestown, Massachusetts? It's the sight of the Royal Military Acadamy in my CoHE TL.

[jycee]

Thanks Gratan I think Breeds Hill works perfectly.

Anyway next update. (BTW how is the format working out? I tried to make it less bulky in this last update.)

The Rest for Seven More and the War the Followed

Halfway through Jefferson’s tensions between the United States and England were fairly high. Both were greedily eyeing Louisiana, and began sponsoring expeditions into the territory in order to establish alliances with the natives; forts were built along the respective frontiers. With the war in Europe growing, Britain tightened its grip on the Atlantic trade. It became common for the British navy to seize and search American merchant ships, particularly those thought to be trading with France. President Jefferson did his best to solve the matters diplomatically but in the end his attempts proved futile.
In the summer of 1807 The British warship HMS Leopard attacked and boarded the USS Chesapeake near the coast of Virginia. When the ships encountered each other The British requested to search the American ship for deserters, when the Chesapeake refused the Leopard opened fire killing four American’s including commodore James Barron. [1] The Chesapeake was then boarded and four of its crewmembers were arrested as deserters.
The American public was outraged. President Jefferson himself noted, “Never have I seen this country in such a state of exasperation”. For the moment cooler heads prevailed; President Jefferson preferred to place economic pressure on Britain with an embargo instead of going to war. The embargo only resulted in further increasing the tensions with Britain.
The embargo also had severe internal side effects that placed the nation at odds against itself. With out the possibility of trade with Britain, New England began spiraling into an economic downturn. With unemployment rising rebellions sparked in several border towns of Maine and Vermont. New England politicians lobbied for the embargo to be removed. In January of 1808 a committee was set to revise the embargo. It was not removed; in fact it was extended to include all local and fishing vessels as well.

In Europe the Napoleonic wars continued to escalate and their effects began to be felt in America. Napoleon became disillusioned with the idea of France establishing a North American Empire after a failed attempt to re-conquer Haiti. Seeing a window of opportunity Robert Livingston immediately began negotiations with both Spain and France. In the spring of 1808 a letter from Livingston reached President Jefferson; France was willing to accept the American claim of Louisiana if an agreement was reached between Spain and the United States. Livingston urged the president to accept Spain’s terms and take hold of the continent. In June 1808, Spain (under French pressure) sold the remainder of Louisiana to the United States for 7 million dollars. Upon completion of the sale Napoleon noted that the treaty “raised the United States as a maritime rival that will sooner or later humble England’s pride”.
Britain was outraged when the news reached London (possibly earlier than Washington) and refused to acknowledge the treaty. Britain argued that Spain was forced to give up those lands. Therefore the treaty was invalid. And threatened to go to war if the US went ahead and occupied Louisiana.
As a preemptive measure to possible British incursions, American forces were moved to occupy Fond du Lac [2] and other regions along Lake Superior. Some of these regions, including Fond du Lac, had been the cause of several border disputes with Britain. The British troops refused to move. It did not take long for some frontier troops on both sides to assume war had started back east and that the news had not reached them yet. The first skirmishes of the war were seen in this area. When news reached Washington, Montreal, and finally London. Both countries readily entered a state of war.
The war initiated with a strong, well-prepared American offensive. In Upper Canada, General William H. Harrison drove his troops around the northern shores of Lake Ontario. Supporting Harrison on the water was Commodore Oliver Perry. Perry managed to defeated the British fleet in the Battle of Lake Eerie. Shortly afterwards Harrison captured Mississaugua. Harrison was unable to take York [3] before winter, a severe set back in American plans.
In the east American forces had prepared and planned for an invasion of Canada since the time of the Revolution. But even with all the planning Americans were unable to capture any of Canada’s major cities above the St. Laurence. Despite early American successes the war quickly fell into stalemate as winter crept in. With most of the battlefields frozen, the war spread into the seas where Britain had the clear advantage.
Though out the winter, Britain managed to successfully blockade all major New England ports and Chsapeak Bay. Once again trade in New England plummeted. A few sporadic riots against the war and the embargo occurred but non as large as those in the spring.
Perhaps the most significant British victory was the Battle of Alexandria. It success allowed the British forces to move onto Washington D.C. The defeat was a major blow on the American morale but the British were unable to advance any further. The capital suffered from constant bombarding across the Potomac but Maryland remained free of British forces.


November 1808 – January 1808 winter sets in. British naval blockade and advances. Burning of Washington, Boston, New York. U.S. victory in New Orleans. Eyeing Florida.
March 1809 – US resumes offensive control in the north but result in failure.
Livingston sworn into office in Pennsylvania.


A Congress for the Insurgency

The first Congress of Anahuac by the insurgents in New Spain was held in late November 1808 in Dolores, Queretaro. It was a direct precursor to the establishment of a national congress from Mexico after Independence. The congress was held by Iturrigaray and the other insurgents as a means to organize the rebellion and establish a set of guarantees and goals post independence and establish a plan for the new government. Besides full autonomy from Spain, it seemed the insurgents disagreed on everything. Miguel Hidalgo and his followers insisted on the abolishment of slavery and the caste system while Iturrigaray and most of the criollos present had little opinion in those matters as long as the peninsulares lost their privileges. They were more concerned with limiting the power of the Church particularly that of the inquisition. Being a man of the church Hidalgo could not agree to this.
As to what government the new nation should adopt there seemed to be similar problems. Hidalgo made it clear that he was fighting in name of Ferdinand IV and was only rebelling against the puppet regime set up by Napoleon. His plan was to bring the monarch to Mexico. Iturrigaray, with reason to, saw this as impossible and impractical. Opting to set a government created by the people of New Spain. He believed in the monarchy as a governing system but whether or not Iturrigaray was already planning to take the crown for himself at this moment is uncertain. The presence of some Americans from Burr’s party gave many the idea of establishing a federal republic. Jose Miguel Fernandez Felix [4], a representative from Veracruz, was a major supporter of this idea.
Even the name for the new nation became an object of debate. Iturrigaray and most criollos continuously referred to it as New Spain causing accusations of being unpatriotic. Meanwhile Hidalgo’s men pushed for the use of Anahuac as the nations name. The name will not become popular at all. [5]
After much debating major points were agreed upon and the The Solemn Act of Declaration of Independence for the Americas was drafted. The document had points as follows:
1. America is free and independent from Spain and all other nations, and governments.
2. The Catholic faith as the sole religions. (Specifics on the power of the church were left to interpretation).
3. Establishment of a National Congress made up of elected representatives from the provinces.
4. Division of power.
5. Abolition of privileges towards the law. (Effectively abolishing the caste system).
6. Laws should promote patriotism industry, and education should be effected.
7. Abolition of Slavery
8. Abolition of Torture
9. Foreign troops should not enter the country and, if they do so to render assistance, may not approach the seat of government.
10. Sponsoring of expeditions to the interior of the nation.
11. December 12th dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe and September 9th to the Nation’s Declaration of Independence are to be celebrated.

The congress also established an organized system to lead the insurgent army. Iturrigaray was named Supreme Commander of the Insurgent Forces. Ignacio Obregon and Ignacio Allende were to lead the army alongside Fernandez Felix and Morelos. Francisco Antonio Velazquez was named Admiral even though the insurgency had no navy of its own. Velazquez planned to give it one so he joined Fernadez and Obregon in their march towards Tampico and Veracruz.

The congress also designed the first flag, which was proposed by Jose Maria Morelos, one of Hidalgo’s followers. It placed the national eagle on a blue backround representing the nation’s faith and the patronage of the Virgin of Guadalupe with the words Faith and Liberty written on it.



1 - In OTL he was just injured. His death will place more pressure on Jefferson to go to war.
2- Duluth in OTL
3 -Toronto
4 - Morelos actually proposed that name in OTL and kept using it untill his death.

[rcduggan]

BTW, you are missing a footnote in post #12.

This looks great so far. Mexico in this era is very interesting, and the situation could evolve in so many ways. Hope to see this continued.

[jycee]

Originally Posted by rcduggan

BTW, you are missing a footnote in post #12.

This looks great so far. Mexico in this era is very interesting, and the situation could evolve in so many ways. Hope to see this continued.

Thanks for the interest on the TL. I hope to have both wars progress significantly in the next update or two so the TL can take off as it is intended. (I'll have an update ready in a few days).

As far as the missing footnote just ignore it for now. I can't remember what was supposed to go there and I can't edit the post now anyway. So don't worry about it if it is important it will appear on my notes and I will post later.

[jycee]

Alright here is the rest of the war between the US and Britain. Hopefully I will have a map with the new US borders soon. Enjoy.

The Livingston Gamble

The first months of the war against Britain coincided with the presidential elections of 1808. With the legitimacy of the Louisiana Purchase still in question the Democratic Republicans sought a candidate that showed consistency in Jefferson’s policies. Jefferson himself was given the opportunity to run for a third term but decided against it to avoid the further expansion of executive powers. In his place the Dem Reps nominated Robert Livingston, who had handled the negotiations of both the New Orleans and Louisiana purchases. Livingston was able to easily secure the election against Federalist nominee Charles C. Pickney thanks to the popularity of the Jefferson administration. Besides the change in President Livingston kept most of Jefferson’s administration intact. At the time of Livingston’s inauguration the war was caught in a stalemate. York and Montreal remained unconquered but the British had not managed to take the fight into American territory. Similarly, in the south the Americans had managed to drive the British out of Virginia but the American coast remained under the British blockade. Spring, however, brought a new front into the war.

Before the war erupted William H. Harrison, then governor of the Indiana territory had been in the process of negotiating the purchase of more land from the Native tribes for white settlement. When the war erupted the negotiations stopped and it did not take long before the British approached the Shawnee leader Tenskwatawa with the proposition of an alliance. The Shawnee “prophet” had been the cause of a militant religious revival amongst the tribes in the Northwest Territories. With the help of the British, Tenskwatawa, and his brother Tecumseh, organized several of the Northwest tribes against the Americans. In March of 1809 Tenskwatawa’s forces successfully lead an attack on Fort Recovery, and began moving south towards Vincennes. Distracted with the war in Canada Harrison was unable to respond in time within the month Tenskwatawa achieved another victory near Greenville Ohio. Harrison was forced to split his forces and retreat back towards Fort Wayne. This gave the British the upper hand in the Great Lakes and most of Perry’s advance in Lake Eerie had been undone by the summer.

Not every tribe had allied with Tenskwatawa. Little Turtle, the War Chief of the Miamis was distrustful of Tenskwatawa and accused the prophet of being a fool and a hoax. The Shawnee chief Black Hoof was equally distrustful of Tenskwatawa. Andrew Jackson, a lieutenant under Harrison, met with the chiefs and recruited their forces against Tenskwatawa.

The war in the east did not look much more hopeful for the Americans. In April both Boston and New York had suffered from heavy bombardment from the British blockade and the British were once again at Washington’s doorstep. By May 1809 it seemed that the United States would have it best by surrendering and accepting British terms. President Livingston however refused to loose a war just a few months after his inauguration. Knowing that the war on Europe was escalating and the Britain was in need of a quick peace so it could concentrate in Europe President Livingston ordered a series of offensive attacks in hopes of gaining better ground before suing for peace. The offence will latter be known as the Livingston Gamble.

Surprisingly the offensive was successful and by September 1809 the US was able to recover most of their losses from previous spring. Perhaps the most significant of the American victories of 1809 was a series of simultaneous assaults on Montreal, Kingston and Fort Niagara under the command of Henry Dearborn. In the West Andrew Jackson and his Native allies managed to secure a victory against Tenskwatawa near Dayton, Ohio. Although the conflict against Britain would be over within a few months, Tanskwatawa and his brother will continue to be a nuisance on the North West for a while longer.
By October 1809, at a point in which American morale was at its highest, President Livingston offered Britain an armistice to negotiate a treaty. With the war in Europe picking up pace Britain opted to accept the peace. While the United States had the advantage by the end of the war, Livingston had to make some concessions being fully aware that if the war was prolonged it could only end badly for the States.

In the Treaty of Cordoba Britain, signed in February 1810 recognized the United States’ right over the Louisiana Territory. However the US had to concede, in exchange the strip of land in the northern Superior around Pond du Lac. The strip had been the cause of dispute between the Indiana Territory and Rupert’s Land and still remained occupied by the British at the end of the war. The war had torn a rift between Britain and the Unites States that will affect the development of North America for the coming century. The reaction to the end of the war was ecstatic; many believed America had finally outdone its former master and celebrations of “The Second War of Independence” were common through out the states.
Napoleon had the following to say about the war: “The accession of the Louisiana forever affirms the power of the United States, and England will now have a rival who will sooner or later humble her pride”.
The peace signing had a secondary treaty signed between the Unites States and Spain in which the status of Florida was reaffirmed. For some time now white settlers had been moving into West Florida. The rest of Florida provided runaway slaves with refuge amongst natives who had become increasing hostile to white settlers in the area. In the treaty Spain promised to fortify Florida and assist in the return of runaway slaves in return for assistance in quelling the revolts in its colonies and certain trade benefits. In the treaty the southern borders of the Louisiana territory were established at the Neches River and allowed American settlers to move into Northern Tejas.
In Britain the war was seen as a minor affair compared to the troubles in Europe. However with the political rift created Britain reinforced the defenses of its North American colonies and began to look for new partnership possibilities in North America. For both the Unites States and Britain the war would soon be forgotten and overshadowed by a much larger conflict in the upcoming years.

[Hresvelgr]

Consider me a subscriber, I'm always fascinated with Latin-American timelines! BTW, I hope that flag isn't going to be the permanent Mexican flag... For some reason the first rebel flags looked really terrible, especially in comparison to the awesomeness that is the current flag.

[Equinox]

In the Treaty of Cordoba Britain, signed in February 1810 recognized the United States’ right over the Louisiana Territory. However the US had to concede, in exchange the strip of land in the northern Superior around Pond du Lac. The strip had been the cause of dispute between the Indiana Territory and Rupert’s Land and still remained occupied by the British at the end of the war. The war had torn a rift between Britain and the Unites States that will affect the development of North America for the coming century. The reaction to the end of the war was ecstatic; many believed America had finally outdone its former master and celebrations of “The Second War of Independence” were common through out the states.

No! I don't want to be british

[Nekromans]

Originally Posted by Equinox

No! I don't want to be british

Don't worry! The chances of you living at all in this world have been utterly extinguished.