Death of a Republic (A monarchical USA timeline)

[Schnozzberry]

Hey everybody, with the server being as stable as modern Somalia, I can only pray that this is seen by those who enjoy this time line. Anyway, here's lucky update 13


“One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes a revolution in order to establish a dictatorship.”
—George Orwell

Governor Bowdoin arrived in Boston on June 20th to a precarious situation. After having been in active revolt for eight months against Bowdoin’s government, Massachusettsans were none too pleased to have Bowdoin back. However, Bowdoin was fully aware of his unpopularity, and took active measures to boost trust in the restored government. His first act after returning to Boston was rescheduling the unheld April gubernatorial elections to September. Bowdoin also lifted some of the harshest of the Riot Acts passed in the early days of the revolt, and pardoned all who had served in the Regulator army, as well as confirming Daniel Shays’ pardoning.

However, these measures did nothing to smooth over the largest issue that Bowdoin would have to deal with: the former members of the FRRM’s legislature. Popular opinion, even amongst loyalists in Massachusetts was that the members of the legislature held too little power for any of their actions to be considered properly treasonous. However, in Bowdoin’s mind, the members of the legislature were guilty of treason and on June 24th, Bowdoin ordered that they be tried.

In New Hampshire, the chaos caused by the Regulator invasion was finally beginning to subside. Joshua Bartlett, one of the two remaining claimants to the Governorship, abandoned his claim and John Langdon became the new governor of New Hampshire. The new government assembled in Dover on June 22nd making Dover the de facto capital of New Hampshire. One of the first acts of the new government was to declare the actions of the Peabody government null and void as well as to confirm Langdon’s governorship.

When news of the Regulator defeat reached Maine, it was met with elation. Many in Maine had been nervous in regards to a Regulator invasion. However, in the mix of the elation was a question. What was to become of Maine? With their temporary Republic, Maine had demonstrated that it did not need to be administered by Massachusetts and many in Maine believed that Maine should remain a state. If Maine did successfully break away from Massachusetts other questions would have to be answered. Would Maine join the United States? If they did, would it be on an equal level as the remainder of the states? For the current moment being in political limbo was acceptable, but eventually decisions would have to be made on Maine’s status.

For Washington, the victory further conflicted his beliefs on America’s future. He was an advocate for a moderate, republican style of government, none too dissimilar to the government of the Articles of Confederation. However, the failure of such a government in stopping the current crises, and his success as Emergency Executive, (Washington only used the official name of the office, he never used the term Dictator), was an antithesis to his own personal beliefs. Washington even considered resigning in the days following his victory in Springfield, but he was convinced to remain in office until he oversaw the putting down of the Carolinian Slave Revolt.

After Bowdoin’s return to Boston, Washington and his army returned to New York, arriving in the city on July 2nd. The army rested for several days in New York, and on July 4th, celebrations for both Independence and the victory against the Regulators were held. In a scene not dissimilar to a Roman Triumph, a parade with the American soldiers was held. Cheering crowds of citizens lined the streets, waving flags and banners. In the lead of the whole procession was George Washington, riding on a white horse, a giant amongst men. Truly, if anyone was destined to lead the nation, Washington was the man to do it.

But, suddenly, a shot rang out, echoing above the noise of the crowd. Fired from a building only slightly ahead of the parade, the shot struck Washington in the head, showering blood, brain and bone fragments into the crowd on the opposite side. Screams rang out, as the General, so beloved by his people, fell from his horse, dead before he hit the ground. The firm hand which had steered America from the brink of disaster was gone. Who could lead the Union now?

 

[Knightmare]

I blame the Regulators. They're probably involved.

 

[Schnozzberry]

I blame the Regulators. They're probably involved.

Oh, certainly. I'm going to have a mini-segment out soon, in a bit of a different style, that's about Washington's assassination.

 

[Knightmare]

Oh, certainly. I'm going to have a mini-segment out soon, in a bit of a different style, that's about Washington's assassination.

And the best part is, even if they aren't, they make for ideal scapegoats!

 

[Herr Frage]

"Our Cinncinatus has been struck down by coward and traitors. Gunned down as he was hailed once more as savior to his nation. There can be no reason our reply, only the passion that is the birthright of all those who have been wronged as the American people have today."

"Our guardian angel has gone to his reward. God help we who remain."

 

[Virginia Liberal]

I just caught up great tl.

 

[star lord 7]

Well... that escalated quickly... This pretty much guaranteed that the struggling republic is gonna continue tearing itself apart. As a request, could we know more about this Carolinian Slave Revolt?

Also, I'm loving this TL! Keep it up!

 

[Herr Frage]

Say now, Vermont is still independent right? If stuff goes crazy in US maybe Vermont and Maine as allies could make independence work?

I actually do not expect a big breakup at this point. North and South have both just gotten out of a big fight they needed help getting the upper hand on. So I think hanging together will appeal to many elites. The question will be how to reform the Union. And independent states like Maine and Vermont if they don't care for the reforms might say "No." To admission.

 

[Schnozzberry]

I'm really glad to hear people are enjoying this timeline. If I'm honest, I was a bit nervous.

And the best part is, even if they aren't, they make for ideal scapegoats!

Huehuehuehuehuehue

"God help we who remain."

There's a chapter title, thanks Herr.

Well... that escalated quickly... This pretty much guaranteed that the struggling republic is gonna continue tearing itself apart.

I actually do not expect a big breakup at this point. North and South have both just gotten out of a big fight they needed help getting the upper hand on. So I think hanging together will appeal to many elites. The question will be how to reform the Union.

While it might sound like a cop-out, both of you are correct to some degree. The Elite will support an established and strong union, which will conflict with the desires of the people, and keep the violence simmering for future generations.

As a request, could we know more about this Carolinian Slave Revolt?

Certainly, that's in either the next update after the finisher on Washington's death. It's going to be far more messy than Massachusetts.

 

[Herr Frage]

There's a chapter title, thanks Herr.

You're welcome.

While it might sound like a cop-out, both of you are correct to some degree. The Elite will support an established and strong union, which will conflict with the desires of the people, and keep the violence simmering for future generations.

So, interesting times. Seems to support my theory of the two independent republics remaining aloof for sometime yet. I am thinking Britain would leave the two alone unless they requested annexation to the Empire(I read Ira Allen did hope to try this in Vermont). Buffer states between the USA and Canada.

And in Massachusetts, the Regulators are beaten yet the question remains of how to address the matters that caused the uprising.

 

[Schnozzberry]

Hi everybody, I'm back. Real life has gotten in the way for the past few weeks, so I've only been able to write in bits and snatches, and that's why this update is somewhat scattered and small. However, the next update will be back to form, and will deal with the Carolinian Slave Revolt.


“He will be the greatest man in the world."
—King George III

The death of Washington echoed throughout the American nation and sent most patriotic Americans into a rage. Across the whole nation, an overwhelming desire to deal with those responsible began to take hold. Dealing with the actual shooter turned out to be easy. Charles Oswald, a twenty-eight year old Bostonian was the man responsible. However, finding out why Oswald shot Washington was going to be impossible, as when Oswald was being arrested, he was knocked over the head and fell unconscious, never to awake again.

Without the ability for Oswald to reveal why he shot Washington, accusations began to ring across the country. While the most likely answer was simply that Oswald was a supporter of Hopswood, that didn’t stop various American newspapers from printing wild theories. A Georgian newspaper accused Oswald of being a British agent, while a Boston newspaper would blame those who wanted to turn America into a tyranny of assassinating Washington.

For those hard at work at the constitutional convention, Washington’s death was a shock and for those who were pushing for a stronger government, it was a tragic blessing. Tensions between those who wanted a strong federal government and those who wanted a weak federal government were escalating. On July 5th, a day before the news reached Philadelphia, two of the delegates from New Jersey had left the convention, blocking New Jersey from voting. However, with Washington’s death came an inspired wave of determination to save the Union, which held the convention together despite the deadlock that had ground proceedings to a halt.

In the south, Washington’s death came at one of the darkest moments. A recent Virginian attempt to push into slave-held North Carolina had ended in disaster, with the loss of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, which cut New Bern off from the rest of Virginian held North Carolina. Coupled with the recent fall of Augusta to South Carolinian revolting slaves, Washington’s death seemed to be the final nail in the southern coffin.

Three days after Washington’s death, however, another piece of news struck the nation: Britain was trying to prop up a native protectorate in the Northwest. While it was a poorly kept secret that Britain was supplying natives in the Northwest, this was an active attempt to gain control of American territory. Coupled with the British held forts in the region, America was suddenly under the serious threat of being boxed in from the North and West by Britain. With the death of the man who had led them in the revolution against Britain being dead, fear and paranoia about a future British invasion began to creep across America.

 

[Knightmare]

he was knocked over the head and fell unconscious, never to awake again.

Uh huh. And how many times was he knocked on the head?

 

[Schnozzberry]

Uh huh. And how many times was he knocked on the head?

Probably a lot. Potentially with some pointy things. But, miraculously, nobody saw who hit him.

 

[diestormlie]

Probably a lot. Potentially with some pointy things. But, miraculously, nobody saw who hit him.

He fell down the stairs. And out of a high window. Thrice.

Tragic, really.

 

[LordVorKon]

He fell down the stairs. And out of a high window. Thrice.

Tragic, really.

Slipped on a patch of ice. In July.

 

[Herr Frage]

Slipped on a patch of ice. In July.

And landed upon three bayonets; and a broken bottle of whiskey. Said whiskey produced by jackman's a local distillery providing stress relief and passion on the bottle for today's vengeful patriot; check your local pub/tavern for jackman whiskey.

 

[Schnozzberry]

It's update time! Nothing much to say, except that the next update will also be about the Carolinian Slave Rebellion as well. this is more of a setup/catch up piece.

"...the crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood."
—John Brown

Ever since the slaves had risen up in the South, the largest issue facing the slaves was a lack of organization. While Abram had been the organizer of the initial revolt, control slipped away from him instantly. Instead, the slaves grouped into gangs. While there was little conformity in the gangs that were active in the earliest days of the revolt, they can loosely be grouped into two types. The first type is the “family gang.” Family gangs tended to have populations in the hundreds, consisting mostly of infirm, elderly and youths, with few able-bodied slaves male or female. The family gangs served to protect slaves who weren’t fighting, and were often mobile, fleeing from white militias.

The second type of gang were the “fighting gangs,” which made up the armies that fought the whites in the south. Fighting gangs had populations between fifty and a hundred able-bodied slaves, mostly male slaves, but roughly 25% of the slaves who fought in the fighting gangs were women. Rarely operating alone, gangs would work together as armies, such as the one that took Charleston. Holding the armies together proved to be difficult, as fighting gangs tended to stay in certain regions, prohibiting long ranged excursions by armies in the early days of the revolt.

In the first two months of the slave rebellion, organized slave armies were successful in capturing several of the major towns in both Carolinas. However, by the end of April, organized resistance against the slave revolt by whites in the Carolinas had collapsed, and with it went much of the cohesion of the slave armies. The fighting descended into a series of struggles between small groups of whites and slaves in the countryside, with little to no quarter being given. Towns saw surprisingly little fighting, largely controlled by militias that were too large for the disorganized groups of whites, and the fighting gangs of the slaves.

As the Carolinas descended into chaos, a group of slaves in Charleston began to organize. The city had been the first major target taken by the slave revolt, and even with the slaughter that had killed the entirety of the white population, Charleston was still too populous to be ruled by the gang system that had developed. Instead, the leaders of the slave army that had taken Charleston organized a government with the help of a freedman preacher, Samuel Commerce. On April 14th, the Republic of New Africa was proclaimed. Leading it were two former army leaders, William Smalls and Luge Edgefield, who took the title Kannifo (a Twi term for leader).

However, for as enthusiastic as the citizens of Charleston were for their new Republic, convincing the slave rebels outside of Charleston would be a slow process. Roads were nearly unusable, due to white and black bandits who would attack passers practically the moment they left the safety of a militia held territory. The majority of the towns in the Carolinas too posed a serious issue. Almost all towns in the Carolinas were controlled by white militias, and as the New Africans found out when the New African army tried to take John’s Island, the white militias would neither take, nor accept quarter.

 

[Herr Frage]

I forget what happened in Georgia? At this rate they may invite Britain or Spain in to guard against this revolt spreadig as the North seems unable or unwilling to save the South from their perspective I expect.

Hmm, in fact I could see private groups of Carolinian whites approaching the UK begging to be taken back under the Empire's protection. Claiming the Southern Whites will be loyal subjects if the Red Coats save the prodigal sons of the South from the revolution/race war.

Sadly I don't see any support coming for New Africa. Aside from being a 'black state' in the New World like or not its having to fight a race war. And can it rally an appreciable number of the gangs before they unite under simple survival for the coming counterattacks? So like the Regulated Republic it may only be a question of how long it last and how catastrophic the outcome will be to its supporters.

 

[Knightmare]

Hmm, in fact I could see private groups of Carolinian whites approaching the UK begging to be taken back under the Empire's protection. Claiming the Southern Whites will be loyal subjects if the Red Coats save the prodigal sons of the South from the revolution/race war.

Doubtful. Travel time would be too long, and more to the point.... Why would Britain want them back? The Red Coats would have to put down a good sized slave revolt that could easily lead into US territory, which would be costly.

 

[The_Shortline_Gamer_KSP]

Is the republic of new africa limited just to charleston, or the rest of the slave controlled territories?