I adore the media updates, but the part about the invention of the dreadnought got me wondering about when the next Great War will start.
America - Albion's Orphan - A history of the conquest of Britain - 1760
- Thread starter Alt History Buff
- Start date
I guess the questions is....does it HAVE to?
Bereft of the competitiveness of colonialism in this scenario and without the rivalry of France and Germany, is World War I really inevitable?
OTL, there were plenty of times when that war could have been averted. But here, there is no European competition for colonies and France itself is not under any real threat from any area (Britain, Germany, the internally divided Habsburg Empire and Spain).
Russia is more Asian-centric and secure in her borders. The Ottoman is no longer the "Sick Man of Europe". Poland is stronger and secure in her borders.
The Habsburgs and the Northern Confederation look more likely to wage civil war than external war.
America certainly would not have any reason to get involved in a European War.
Four years of bloodshed costing tens of millions of lives is not a given.
Chapter 389
1908
Kingdom of Nepal, Maratha Empire
King Mahesh Wesley II would formally approve the creation of a new "Youth Scout" organization recommended by the Peshwa's "Advisor" Robert Baden-Powell. The Wessex-born mercenary had served the Peshwa on the subcontinent for nearly two decades in the military and now was moving more towards a political office. Nepal had perhapas more autonomy than most of the assorted Kingdoms of the Maratha Empire and King Mahesh knew better than to do anything to incur the Peshwa's wrath.
Over the years, the "Gurkhas" of Nepal had formed the reputation of being the best soldiers in Pune's service, sometimes held in higher regard than the dwindling European regiments. Robert Baden-Powell had gained the Peshwa's ear (or that of his Ministers) and managed to convince him that forming a youth organization focusing on survival skills would make for an excellent recruiting ground for effective Scouts, Spies and other functions requiring independent thought.
Eventually, Baden-Powell would leave Nepal and encourage boys the length of the Indian Subcontinent to participate. Poor rural youth would flock to the government sponsored organization to find some excitement in their lives. They would be taught the concept of honor, hard work, the value of education and bring a sense of unity to a region still largely sectional in orientation. The Peshwa, a young man of but 26 years, would ensure that veneration of the Peshwa would be a central feature of the Scouts.
Of course, Baden-Powell would have several other key accomplishments during his tenure in Nepal. Baden-Powell would help organize the University of Kathmandu and encourage the hiring of several well-trained European doctors to expand the health care system of the nation.
Tunguska River, Russia
In June of 1908, a meteor exploded over the vast Siberian plain, devastating tens of thousands of square miles of remote forest. Only by chance did this event occur over one of the most isolated and unpopulated places on earth. Had it occurred over a densely populated area, the devastation would be been immense.
A city like London, Calcutta or Beijing would be been utterly destroyed leading to uncountable deaths.
The German Confederation
Though they would seek aid from other Protestant nations, the assorted crowns of northern Germany would find few takes willing to help. Naturally, the Catholics of Poland or the Habsburg realms were not solicited for aid.
Thus the weak Royal response to the riots and rebellions of Saxony, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, Orange and other German Kingdoms would grant increasingly confidence to the revolutionaries. However, eventually the powers of the monarchies began to tell and those loyal units remaining to the Crowns would regain control over the cities one by one. Then they were able to press into the countryside.
By the fall of 1908, most of the regional monarchs had managed to suppress the disorders.
Of course, there were exceptions. The Danish King had long granted greater measures of personal and political freedom to his German subjects in Hanover, Holstein and Schleswig. The King of Oldenburg, who also held the American Crown in co-dominion, was already well along the way of reform to make his petty German state more inclusive.
Thus there were significant political differences even between the northern Protestant German states.
After regaining control over their countries, the Kings of Brandenburg and Saxony would publicly condemn their neighbors for "allowing this radicalism to cross borders". In a huff, the Danish and American-Oldenburg Kings would retort that THEIR subjects were not rebelling and perhaps the good Kings of Brandenburg and Saxony should mind their own business.
Bourbonia
After years of political turmoil, the Supreme Court of Bourbonia (granted "Home Rule" earlier in the century by France to deal with domestic issues) would formally declare ethnicity to have no bearing in suffrage. While this did not "grant" suffrage to all Bourbonians, it did allow those Polynesians, Melonesians and Aboriginals who met certain criteria (a minimum amount of land or wealth as well as a literacy test) which theorectically applied to French (or other European) settlers as well.
Per the laws of Bourbonia, over 42% of citizens (male) would be granted the right to vote and, for the first time, now included a substantial number of the descendants of the "recruited". The law would be flouted in some regions for a few years but, by the end of the decade, granting of suffrage was generally considered to be free and fair.
Detroit
With his hyper-efficient assembly line and supply chain allowing him to produce cheaper and cheaper, Henry Ford would raise the salaries of his workers to an almost unheard of $3.00 a day with a profit-sharing check at the end of the year which could reach as much as 20% of the yearly salary.
Jellinek Motors, his primary rival, had taken the lead in racing in the past few years...but not manufacturing and Ford was now outproducing Jellinek by 3 to 1 (and 2 to 1 over Buick) even WITH Jellinek's impressive financial support. Emil Jellinek realized he was not the equal of Henry Ford in manufacturing discipline (though his vehicles were considered more complex and stylish).
Seeking aid, Jellinek would find an ally in Billy Durant, a Bronx-based financer would dabbled in the automotive industry. There had been only one real rival to Ford for efficiency of assembly line on earth and that was the struggling Sandusky Automotive. Thus Durant arranged a merger with the relieved owner of Sandusky Automotive and implemented the Sandusky assembly line in Jellinek's Detroit plant. Durant was made President of the Jellinek Company, allowing Emil to focus on his racing.
Durant would take the best of Jellinek Motors and Sandusky Automotive while finding the best managers to challenge Ford Motor Company. One of these would be Walter Chrysler, who was put in charge of the Jellinek Plants in Detroit.
Now with plants in Detroit, Lansing (acquired from Ransom Olds) and Sandusky, Billy Durant determined that building his new headquarters out in Flint did not make much sense. Besides, even Durant's short time in the automotive industry was enough for him to become annoyed with Henry Ford's antics and, like his other main rival Buick, Durant would give Jellinek and Chrysler full supporting in assaulting Ford's stranglehold in his own city.
Kingdom of Nepal, Maratha Empire
King Mahesh Wesley II would formally approve the creation of a new "Youth Scout" organization recommended by the Peshwa's "Advisor" Robert Baden-Powell. The Wessex-born mercenary had served the Peshwa on the subcontinent for nearly two decades in the military and now was moving more towards a political office. Nepal had perhapas more autonomy than most of the assorted Kingdoms of the Maratha Empire and King Mahesh knew better than to do anything to incur the Peshwa's wrath.
Over the years, the "Gurkhas" of Nepal had formed the reputation of being the best soldiers in Pune's service, sometimes held in higher regard than the dwindling European regiments. Robert Baden-Powell had gained the Peshwa's ear (or that of his Ministers) and managed to convince him that forming a youth organization focusing on survival skills would make for an excellent recruiting ground for effective Scouts, Spies and other functions requiring independent thought.
Eventually, Baden-Powell would leave Nepal and encourage boys the length of the Indian Subcontinent to participate. Poor rural youth would flock to the government sponsored organization to find some excitement in their lives. They would be taught the concept of honor, hard work, the value of education and bring a sense of unity to a region still largely sectional in orientation. The Peshwa, a young man of but 26 years, would ensure that veneration of the Peshwa would be a central feature of the Scouts.
Of course, Baden-Powell would have several other key accomplishments during his tenure in Nepal. Baden-Powell would help organize the University of Kathmandu and encourage the hiring of several well-trained European doctors to expand the health care system of the nation.
Tunguska River, Russia
In June of 1908, a meteor exploded over the vast Siberian plain, devastating tens of thousands of square miles of remote forest. Only by chance did this event occur over one of the most isolated and unpopulated places on earth. Had it occurred over a densely populated area, the devastation would be been immense.
A city like London, Calcutta or Beijing would be been utterly destroyed leading to uncountable deaths.
The German Confederation
Though they would seek aid from other Protestant nations, the assorted crowns of northern Germany would find few takes willing to help. Naturally, the Catholics of Poland or the Habsburg realms were not solicited for aid.
Thus the weak Royal response to the riots and rebellions of Saxony, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, Orange and other German Kingdoms would grant increasingly confidence to the revolutionaries. However, eventually the powers of the monarchies began to tell and those loyal units remaining to the Crowns would regain control over the cities one by one. Then they were able to press into the countryside.
By the fall of 1908, most of the regional monarchs had managed to suppress the disorders.
Of course, there were exceptions. The Danish King had long granted greater measures of personal and political freedom to his German subjects in Hanover, Holstein and Schleswig. The King of Oldenburg, who also held the American Crown in co-dominion, was already well along the way of reform to make his petty German state more inclusive.
Thus there were significant political differences even between the northern Protestant German states.
After regaining control over their countries, the Kings of Brandenburg and Saxony would publicly condemn their neighbors for "allowing this radicalism to cross borders". In a huff, the Danish and American-Oldenburg Kings would retort that THEIR subjects were not rebelling and perhaps the good Kings of Brandenburg and Saxony should mind their own business.
Bourbonia
After years of political turmoil, the Supreme Court of Bourbonia (granted "Home Rule" earlier in the century by France to deal with domestic issues) would formally declare ethnicity to have no bearing in suffrage. While this did not "grant" suffrage to all Bourbonians, it did allow those Polynesians, Melonesians and Aboriginals who met certain criteria (a minimum amount of land or wealth as well as a literacy test) which theorectically applied to French (or other European) settlers as well.
Per the laws of Bourbonia, over 42% of citizens (male) would be granted the right to vote and, for the first time, now included a substantial number of the descendants of the "recruited". The law would be flouted in some regions for a few years but, by the end of the decade, granting of suffrage was generally considered to be free and fair.
Detroit
With his hyper-efficient assembly line and supply chain allowing him to produce cheaper and cheaper, Henry Ford would raise the salaries of his workers to an almost unheard of $3.00 a day with a profit-sharing check at the end of the year which could reach as much as 20% of the yearly salary.
Jellinek Motors, his primary rival, had taken the lead in racing in the past few years...but not manufacturing and Ford was now outproducing Jellinek by 3 to 1 (and 2 to 1 over Buick) even WITH Jellinek's impressive financial support. Emil Jellinek realized he was not the equal of Henry Ford in manufacturing discipline (though his vehicles were considered more complex and stylish).
Seeking aid, Jellinek would find an ally in Billy Durant, a Bronx-based financer would dabbled in the automotive industry. There had been only one real rival to Ford for efficiency of assembly line on earth and that was the struggling Sandusky Automotive. Thus Durant arranged a merger with the relieved owner of Sandusky Automotive and implemented the Sandusky assembly line in Jellinek's Detroit plant. Durant was made President of the Jellinek Company, allowing Emil to focus on his racing.
Durant would take the best of Jellinek Motors and Sandusky Automotive while finding the best managers to challenge Ford Motor Company. One of these would be Walter Chrysler, who was put in charge of the Jellinek Plants in Detroit.
Now with plants in Detroit, Lansing (acquired from Ransom Olds) and Sandusky, Billy Durant determined that building his new headquarters out in Flint did not make much sense. Besides, even Durant's short time in the automotive industry was enough for him to become annoyed with Henry Ford's antics and, like his other main rival Buick, Durant would give Jellinek and Chrysler full supporting in assaulting Ford's stranglehold in his own city.
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Chapter 390
1909
Manhattan
After years of petitioning, the territories of Iceni, Dobunni and Galatea were granted Dominion status in 1909. This represented all the continental territory of the Kingdom of British North America beyond the far northern territories which would likely never bear adequate population to achieve Dominion status.
King Alfred would make the now expected journey in 1909 to formally inaugurate the first Dominion elections to Parliament.
Jernigan (Orlando)
Over the second decade of the 20th Century, the primary focus of the motion picture industry was slowly moving from Fort Myers to an internal location (away from the sea and potential hurricane weather) to the central town of Jernigan. While something of a swampy area, the available land would allow for huge studios capable of meeting the massive demands of the growing industry.
The Basque Country, Spain
Over the course of the first few months of the unified Spanish Parliament, several regions would resist the centralization of political power in Spain. The Basque Country had long struggled to maintain their autonomy. The new central Parliament would formally abolish the old Cortes.
Thousands of Basque nationalists rose up in a defacto army, thus prompting the Spanish forces to march in. The resistance would be crushed, though low-level violence would remain for decades until the Spanish Parliament agreed to grant a limited autonomy for the Basque country and give protections for the unique language, etc.
Haifa
The remains of the Bab would be laid to rest in Haifa. The Bab would be remembered and honored more by the numerically superior Bahai than the handful of Babs.
Paris
The Russian ballet would brought to the world to great acclaim after months of performances in Paris.
Honshu, Nippon
Despite the Nipponese apprehension at allowing foreign "influence", the Emperor's advisors would agree to grant an American-French partnership design a railroad from Edo to Kyoto.
China
The Minister of Trade and Industry would extend an invitation to Henry Ford, the famous American industrialist to China in order to advise upon the potential for a Chinese automotive company. Ford, who as in the stages of setting up a new plant in Highland Park, Michigan, would promise to travel by the following year to Beijing.
Manhattan
After years of petitioning, the territories of Iceni, Dobunni and Galatea were granted Dominion status in 1909. This represented all the continental territory of the Kingdom of British North America beyond the far northern territories which would likely never bear adequate population to achieve Dominion status.
King Alfred would make the now expected journey in 1909 to formally inaugurate the first Dominion elections to Parliament.
Jernigan (Orlando)
Over the second decade of the 20th Century, the primary focus of the motion picture industry was slowly moving from Fort Myers to an internal location (away from the sea and potential hurricane weather) to the central town of Jernigan. While something of a swampy area, the available land would allow for huge studios capable of meeting the massive demands of the growing industry.
The Basque Country, Spain
Over the course of the first few months of the unified Spanish Parliament, several regions would resist the centralization of political power in Spain. The Basque Country had long struggled to maintain their autonomy. The new central Parliament would formally abolish the old Cortes.
Thousands of Basque nationalists rose up in a defacto army, thus prompting the Spanish forces to march in. The resistance would be crushed, though low-level violence would remain for decades until the Spanish Parliament agreed to grant a limited autonomy for the Basque country and give protections for the unique language, etc.
Haifa
The remains of the Bab would be laid to rest in Haifa. The Bab would be remembered and honored more by the numerically superior Bahai than the handful of Babs.
Paris
The Russian ballet would brought to the world to great acclaim after months of performances in Paris.
Honshu, Nippon
Despite the Nipponese apprehension at allowing foreign "influence", the Emperor's advisors would agree to grant an American-French partnership design a railroad from Edo to Kyoto.
China
The Minister of Trade and Industry would extend an invitation to Henry Ford, the famous American industrialist to China in order to advise upon the potential for a Chinese automotive company. Ford, who as in the stages of setting up a new plant in Highland Park, Michigan, would promise to travel by the following year to Beijing.
Agreed, any such war would likely be localized. Indeed, Central Europe is so broken up into various small to mid-sized countries that nation versus nation wars were unlikely and instead, a series of Civil Wars would take place.
Chapter 391
1910
Manhattan - January
The first public broadcast over the airwaves would take place when a performance of the Royal Opera House was shared with the relative few people who actually owned radios.
Manhattan - April
Recently elected Parliamentarian Boutros Ghali would be sworn into office in April of 1910. His family had emerged from the Coptic exodus generations earlier from Egypt and ended up in Galatea (which some claimed was like Egypt though without the great river). Of the half dozen new Parlimentarians selected from the three new Dominions, one was Jewish, one was Mulatto and Ghali was Egyptian. This represented the odd influx of migrants to the far western territories (now Dominions).
The night sky - June
Halley's Comet would swiftly become famous as the Earth swept through the tail of the comet. Every astronomer would do their utmost to take a glance and the event would spur additional interest in the field.
Galatea
The manager of a work gang expanding the southwest railroad, Jose Doroteo was granted a promotion in 1910 and offered another contract to help build several side-lines of the newly approved Trans-Oceanic railroad which would run from Nova Scotia to Paulgrad in Tikhookeaskoya (a dual-Tikhooeaskoyan and American project).
It would be a miserable project in the colder months and attrition by other managers would ensure that Doroteo would manage a work gang of over 500 workers. Doroteo would be promoted again in 1912 and ordered to lead the main line to completion by 1913. However, Doroteo would be poached by the Anahuacan railroad corporation who valued both his skill and his ethno-linguisitic identity. He was offered a small stake in the railroad as an incentive and the American-born Mestizo would rapidly turn around the inept Anahuacan railroad.
Detroit
Though Henry Ford, who had established a bus division, had prompted the city of Detroit to abolish the electronic streetcars, the other major corporate heads of Detroit, including Buick, Jellinek, Hiram Walker and several others, would oppose this and even offer to subsidize the streetcars (mainly out of spite). Even Ford's friend Thomas Edison refused to support the initiative.
Downtown Detroit would even soon develop an underground metro line (the bedrock of Detroit was well made for this) which was built utilizing a test drill produced by (and donated for free by) Westinghouse. Soon, this new and massive drill would be manufactured across the river in Mississauga and exported throughout the world, greatly easing the congestion in many major cities.
The opening of this underground metro would rapidly make the city rethink its growth, allowing for greater density of population in the city itself. Rather than separate standing homes, there would be rowhouses, etc, built in greater numbers near the underground lines.
Henry Ford would be livid and promptly announced the sale of his Detroit plant with the intent of building a much larger facility in Dearborn to the west. In this small city, Ford would open a savings and loan for his employees ensuring that they may purchase their own homes and, naturally, automobiles. Ford even loaned the seed money for tens of thousands of new home construction with the intent of ensuring reasonable home costs for his people.
As for the "plot to enslave Americans via urban transit", Ford would dismiss this as part of the "Jewish Agenda".
In the meantime, the New York financier Billy Durant would arrange for his holdings of Jellinek Motors to purchase the flailing Packard Luxury nameplate with the intent of "upselling". Seeing that the similarly purchased "Sandusky" nameplate had little public equity, Durant would retire it (as he had Olds) and simply use the facilities in Sandusky, Ohio and the skilled manufacturing talent of the plant to produce Jellinek's new model.
Habsburg Empire
Though the greatest friction between Kingdom and Empire throughout the Habsburg realms had long been Italy, it was in Bohemia and Silesia that the first major challenge in years would arrive upon the Emperor's doorstep.
The Kingdom of Bohemia and Grand Duchy of Silesia had long been quiet on the political front but both Diets would, in swift order, pronounce that Royal Orders affecting their nations could only be processed through THEIR DIET, not the Imperial one.
In the end, despite the monarchy's best hopes, the constituent parts of the Habsburg Empire seemed intent on tearing themselves along sectional, ethnic and linguistic divides no matter how the Emperor pointed out that all his peoples were safer united as one than separate.
Berlin
The Prince of Brandenburg, a handsome and intelligent young man, would be riding throughout Berlin on his new Daimler Automobile with his shrewish wife when an "anarchist" threw a bomb into his lap. It exploded, killing both Prince and Princess immediately.
Manhattan - January
The first public broadcast over the airwaves would take place when a performance of the Royal Opera House was shared with the relative few people who actually owned radios.
Manhattan - April
Recently elected Parliamentarian Boutros Ghali would be sworn into office in April of 1910. His family had emerged from the Coptic exodus generations earlier from Egypt and ended up in Galatea (which some claimed was like Egypt though without the great river). Of the half dozen new Parlimentarians selected from the three new Dominions, one was Jewish, one was Mulatto and Ghali was Egyptian. This represented the odd influx of migrants to the far western territories (now Dominions).
The night sky - June
Halley's Comet would swiftly become famous as the Earth swept through the tail of the comet. Every astronomer would do their utmost to take a glance and the event would spur additional interest in the field.
Galatea
The manager of a work gang expanding the southwest railroad, Jose Doroteo was granted a promotion in 1910 and offered another contract to help build several side-lines of the newly approved Trans-Oceanic railroad which would run from Nova Scotia to Paulgrad in Tikhookeaskoya (a dual-Tikhooeaskoyan and American project).
It would be a miserable project in the colder months and attrition by other managers would ensure that Doroteo would manage a work gang of over 500 workers. Doroteo would be promoted again in 1912 and ordered to lead the main line to completion by 1913. However, Doroteo would be poached by the Anahuacan railroad corporation who valued both his skill and his ethno-linguisitic identity. He was offered a small stake in the railroad as an incentive and the American-born Mestizo would rapidly turn around the inept Anahuacan railroad.
Detroit
Though Henry Ford, who had established a bus division, had prompted the city of Detroit to abolish the electronic streetcars, the other major corporate heads of Detroit, including Buick, Jellinek, Hiram Walker and several others, would oppose this and even offer to subsidize the streetcars (mainly out of spite). Even Ford's friend Thomas Edison refused to support the initiative.
Downtown Detroit would even soon develop an underground metro line (the bedrock of Detroit was well made for this) which was built utilizing a test drill produced by (and donated for free by) Westinghouse. Soon, this new and massive drill would be manufactured across the river in Mississauga and exported throughout the world, greatly easing the congestion in many major cities.
The opening of this underground metro would rapidly make the city rethink its growth, allowing for greater density of population in the city itself. Rather than separate standing homes, there would be rowhouses, etc, built in greater numbers near the underground lines.
Henry Ford would be livid and promptly announced the sale of his Detroit plant with the intent of building a much larger facility in Dearborn to the west. In this small city, Ford would open a savings and loan for his employees ensuring that they may purchase their own homes and, naturally, automobiles. Ford even loaned the seed money for tens of thousands of new home construction with the intent of ensuring reasonable home costs for his people.
As for the "plot to enslave Americans via urban transit", Ford would dismiss this as part of the "Jewish Agenda".
In the meantime, the New York financier Billy Durant would arrange for his holdings of Jellinek Motors to purchase the flailing Packard Luxury nameplate with the intent of "upselling". Seeing that the similarly purchased "Sandusky" nameplate had little public equity, Durant would retire it (as he had Olds) and simply use the facilities in Sandusky, Ohio and the skilled manufacturing talent of the plant to produce Jellinek's new model.
Habsburg Empire
Though the greatest friction between Kingdom and Empire throughout the Habsburg realms had long been Italy, it was in Bohemia and Silesia that the first major challenge in years would arrive upon the Emperor's doorstep.
The Kingdom of Bohemia and Grand Duchy of Silesia had long been quiet on the political front but both Diets would, in swift order, pronounce that Royal Orders affecting their nations could only be processed through THEIR DIET, not the Imperial one.
In the end, despite the monarchy's best hopes, the constituent parts of the Habsburg Empire seemed intent on tearing themselves along sectional, ethnic and linguistic divides no matter how the Emperor pointed out that all his peoples were safer united as one than separate.
Berlin
The Prince of Brandenburg, a handsome and intelligent young man, would be riding throughout Berlin on his new Daimler Automobile with his shrewish wife when an "anarchist" threw a bomb into his lap. It exploded, killing both Prince and Princess immediately.
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Chapter 392
1910
November
Manhattan
Though the economy had improved in the past year, the Unity Party remained somewhat unpopular after two years of recession following the banking collapses of 1907. The election of 1910 seemed likely to go the Fusionist way. William Jennings Bryan would, once again, lead the Fusionists. However, the electioneering system which Bryan set up to support the Party Platform (a relatively new concept) would continue to focus on "Free Silver" (the expansion of the money supply), anti-trusts, anti-big business, high tariffs, etc, etc.
However, over the past decade, the Unity Party had aggressively increased the money supply, broken assorted trusts (railroads, banks, steel, etc), kept a middle-road tariff to protect American industry, etc, etc.
In short, the Unity Party had coopted the majority of the Fusionist Platform for years, thus reducing the effectiveness of Bryan's message.
Against most expectations, the modest majority of the Unity Party was maintained and Roosevelt would maintain control over the Government.
Roosevelt also had to grit his teeth as his daughter gave birth to his second grandson. Of course, given how Alice was reportedly sleeping around Manhattan, it seemed likely that Taft was not the father.
But what could you do?
1911
May
Hoboken, New Jersey, Seat of the Supreme Court
Standard Oil, the massive Cleveland Company, would be formally broken up into dozens of oil drilling, oil refining and other related companies. This would be the last major anti-trust action for a number of years as steel, rail and other industries had already been broken into competitive segments.
The Supreme Court would make this declaration in early 1911 from their new facilities in Hoboken, across the border from Manhattan. This relocation was made from Manhattan for multiple reasons: the increasing congestion of Manhattan, the desire to "spread out" the national government spending, etc.
Hence, the Central Bank would move to the Bronx, New York Dominion. The Admiralty would move their headquarters to Staten Island, New Jersey.
Peru
The American Explorer Hiram Bingham became the first man to record the existence of Machu Picchu in centuries.
South Pole
Norwegian Roald Amundson and his four companions were the first to reach the south pole, a few weeks ahead of the American-Wessex joint expedition.
November
Manhattan
Though the economy had improved in the past year, the Unity Party remained somewhat unpopular after two years of recession following the banking collapses of 1907. The election of 1910 seemed likely to go the Fusionist way. William Jennings Bryan would, once again, lead the Fusionists. However, the electioneering system which Bryan set up to support the Party Platform (a relatively new concept) would continue to focus on "Free Silver" (the expansion of the money supply), anti-trusts, anti-big business, high tariffs, etc, etc.
However, over the past decade, the Unity Party had aggressively increased the money supply, broken assorted trusts (railroads, banks, steel, etc), kept a middle-road tariff to protect American industry, etc, etc.
In short, the Unity Party had coopted the majority of the Fusionist Platform for years, thus reducing the effectiveness of Bryan's message.
Against most expectations, the modest majority of the Unity Party was maintained and Roosevelt would maintain control over the Government.
Roosevelt also had to grit his teeth as his daughter gave birth to his second grandson. Of course, given how Alice was reportedly sleeping around Manhattan, it seemed likely that Taft was not the father.
But what could you do?
1911
May
Hoboken, New Jersey, Seat of the Supreme Court
Standard Oil, the massive Cleveland Company, would be formally broken up into dozens of oil drilling, oil refining and other related companies. This would be the last major anti-trust action for a number of years as steel, rail and other industries had already been broken into competitive segments.
The Supreme Court would make this declaration in early 1911 from their new facilities in Hoboken, across the border from Manhattan. This relocation was made from Manhattan for multiple reasons: the increasing congestion of Manhattan, the desire to "spread out" the national government spending, etc.
Hence, the Central Bank would move to the Bronx, New York Dominion. The Admiralty would move their headquarters to Staten Island, New Jersey.
Peru
The American Explorer Hiram Bingham became the first man to record the existence of Machu Picchu in centuries.
South Pole
Norwegian Roald Amundson and his four companions were the first to reach the south pole, a few weeks ahead of the American-Wessex joint expedition.
Chapter 393
1912
Milwoking, Marquette
John Flammang Schrank was born in Bavaria of the Habsburg Empire and immigrated with his parents to America at the age of 9. His parents died soon afterward leaving Schrank in the care of his aunty and uncle in Brooklyn. After the deaths of his aunt and uncle years later, Schrank would begin loosing touch with reality.
He claimed that the Ghost of William McKinley (who was still alive after his stroke in 1905) had ordered him to King Theodore Roosevelt.
Schrank followed Roosevelt on a trip west and managed to join in a crowd of well-wishers in Milwoking. As it so happened, Schrank would managed to shake the First Lord's hand moments before he fired two rounds of his pistol into Roosevelt's gullet. It would take hours for Roosevelt to die.
Schrank's fate was more immediate: he was torn to pieces by the crowd, leaving the world uncertain why this man had assassinated the First Lord (whom electoral rolls would reveal actually VOTED for Roosevelt twice). Naturally, conspiracy theories followed in abundance.
King Alfred would declare a week of mourning and quietly request that Parliament recommend another for the office. With remarkable speed, William Howard Taft, the son-in-law and ally of Roosevelt, would be selected.
By this time comically fat, the 350 pound Taft could barely bend to kiss the King's Ring and accept the seals of office.
Out of courtesy of her husband's position, Alice Roosevelt Taft would send away her lovers for the next three years and at least pretend to respect Taft if only for her family's sake. By this point, Alice Roosevelt had three children...and no real clue as to the paternity though most observers would state that all three resembled the new First Lord.
It was uncertain if the First Lord and his wife ever shared a bed again during his 3 years in office but there were no more children or snickered whispers of affairs until 1915 when Taft would retire from office and the couple would quietly divorce.
Wuhan, China
For years, Doctor Sun's democratic partisans had spread the gospel of reform among the educated classes. This would take the form of several local rebellions throughout the length of the vast country. While China had actually reformed much in recent decades regarding education, the economy, investment in infrastructure, adjusting the criminal system to modern standards, etc....this did not apply to political power. Naturally THAT would remain in the hands of the Emperor and his chosen officials.
Irritated, the old Emperor would order the insurgents brutally repressed and executed as traitors.
An overly eager courtier would go a step further and dispatch an assassin to Singapura. Doctor Sun Yat-sen would be found in his garden with a pickaxe still poking out of his skull.
Milwoking, Marquette
John Flammang Schrank was born in Bavaria of the Habsburg Empire and immigrated with his parents to America at the age of 9. His parents died soon afterward leaving Schrank in the care of his aunty and uncle in Brooklyn. After the deaths of his aunt and uncle years later, Schrank would begin loosing touch with reality.
He claimed that the Ghost of William McKinley (who was still alive after his stroke in 1905) had ordered him to King Theodore Roosevelt.
Schrank followed Roosevelt on a trip west and managed to join in a crowd of well-wishers in Milwoking. As it so happened, Schrank would managed to shake the First Lord's hand moments before he fired two rounds of his pistol into Roosevelt's gullet. It would take hours for Roosevelt to die.
Schrank's fate was more immediate: he was torn to pieces by the crowd, leaving the world uncertain why this man had assassinated the First Lord (whom electoral rolls would reveal actually VOTED for Roosevelt twice). Naturally, conspiracy theories followed in abundance.
King Alfred would declare a week of mourning and quietly request that Parliament recommend another for the office. With remarkable speed, William Howard Taft, the son-in-law and ally of Roosevelt, would be selected.
By this time comically fat, the 350 pound Taft could barely bend to kiss the King's Ring and accept the seals of office.
Out of courtesy of her husband's position, Alice Roosevelt Taft would send away her lovers for the next three years and at least pretend to respect Taft if only for her family's sake. By this point, Alice Roosevelt had three children...and no real clue as to the paternity though most observers would state that all three resembled the new First Lord.
It was uncertain if the First Lord and his wife ever shared a bed again during his 3 years in office but there were no more children or snickered whispers of affairs until 1915 when Taft would retire from office and the couple would quietly divorce.
Wuhan, China
For years, Doctor Sun's democratic partisans had spread the gospel of reform among the educated classes. This would take the form of several local rebellions throughout the length of the vast country. While China had actually reformed much in recent decades regarding education, the economy, investment in infrastructure, adjusting the criminal system to modern standards, etc....this did not apply to political power. Naturally THAT would remain in the hands of the Emperor and his chosen officials.
Irritated, the old Emperor would order the insurgents brutally repressed and executed as traitors.
An overly eager courtier would go a step further and dispatch an assassin to Singapura. Doctor Sun Yat-sen would be found in his garden with a pickaxe still poking out of his skull.
It's a bug with the latest update to the forum software, there's nothing the OP can do about it. Seems to be that any feature that points to an individual post (such as alerts and threadmarks) instead just points to the top of whatever page that post is on; the mod team is aware of it and hopefully Ian is working on some sort of fix.
Are all Indian reformers bufferflied away? Ram Mohan Roy or Vidyasagar etc
Yikes, who knows if this'll make Sun Yat-sen a martyr.
How's Europe (especially France) doing right about now? France is still the hegemon of Europe as it has been since the Fall of Britain, but how are they reacting to nations like Russia and Egypt going against their interest?
Chapter 394
1912
Northern Confederation
Over the course of 1912, the Northern Confederation, the predominantly Protestant coalition of German, Dutch and Scandinavian nations, would collapse with stunning speed. Throughout 1911, numerous German nations including Brandenburg and Saxony, would see civil unrest. While these were eventually put down, the autocratic German Kings realized that the assorted reforming nations (like Denmark whose King held Schleswig, Holstein and Hanover in co-dominion) were indirectly encouraging political dissent via example.
Shaken by the revolts of the previous years, the two most powerful German states, Brandenburg and Saxony, would take inventory of the political situation in Europe and determine that now may be the time to put an end to the Reformist factions throughout the dozens of German states.
The early 20th century was a unique time as the age-old antagonism between Protestant and Catholic states was at a historically low ebb. The diverse Habsburg Empire was experiencing its own internal turmoil as ethnic tensions risked tearing it apart.
Poland had actually been closely aligned with the Northern Confederation for decades as the Kings of Poland also viewed the Habsburgs (and the Russians) far more of a threat than the Protestants of northern Europe.
France, which over the centuries had long allied with Protestant Europe if it suited their purposes of antagonizing the Habsburgs, was also experiencing public dissention after the failed attempts to oust the East India Company from southern Africa and the ongoing aid offered to the "Protectorates" to expand inland from West Africa. While France had long been engaged in a slow but steady modernization, there remained a ways to go and 1912 would see the first time that the King of France found his appointments for high Ministry positions openly challenged by Parliament.
With French prestige deeply affected by the attempt to dominate Africa (relations with Spain and the Dutch Republic had reached their nadir), France's government remained in flux at a time when Europe seemed inclined to tear itself apart.
This left a unique opening to Brandenburg and Saxony to not only deal with the reformists in Germany but also feed off of the growing "Unification" sentiment at the same time. The key hindrance to this (assuming the Catholic nations were not inclined to intervene) was the King of Denmark. There had always been friction between the King and his German subjects in Holstein, Schleswig and Hanover despite the King granted the highest level of political autonomy in Europe. The "Pan-German" movement might find fertile ground here.
When a group of Schleswig Germans were arrested for a drunken demonstration, the Kings of Brandenburg and Saxony called upon all the peoples of Germany to cast off the "Scandinavian Oppressor". Saxon troops would invade Hanover while Brandenburgers attacked further north. Over the decades, the military readiness of Denmark had long since depleted. Even the once-vaunted Danish Navy was a second tier fleet at best.
The German subjects of the King of Denmark would react with great diversity. Some supported the King while some joined the "German Unification" party.
However, the war would soon spill over. The King of Sweden had long held Eastern Pomerania (Swedish Pomerania) with considerably less than an abiding interest in improving the lands. Instead, the Swedish administrators would squeeze Pomerania for all it was worth. When the "German Unification" movement began, the Pomeranians almost immediately threw off the Swedes only to find that Mecklenburg, perhaps the most politically and economically backward state in Germany, invaded instead. The King of Brandenburg, which had long sought to regain access to the sea (since losing it in 1760 with the sundering of the Prussian Empire), would immediately act in pushing aside the weak Mecklenburger army....and pronounce Pomerania annexed to Brandenburg.
Sweden was little less dysfunctional than many of these regions. Long ago, the King of Sweden had attempted to overthrew the Swedish Parliament...only to fail miserably and a new compliant dynasty placed in office. Since then, Sweden had languished in perpetual Parliamentary gridlock and the nation fell behind Denmark.
Sweden had also been experiencing unrest in Finland (the Finns were seeking autonomy) where Swedish domination was no less pervasive than in Pomerania.
The Swedish Parliament debated endlessly...and only slowly arranged for troops to enter Pomerania where they would join a four-way fight for control.
Naturally, Brandenburg's reallocation of forces to Pomerania would weaken their assault into Hanover, Schleswig and Holstein, irritating their ally Saxony to no end.
It had been assumed that Brandenburg and Saxony would swiftly receive aid from Mecklenburg and the small German states of Northwestern Germany (Orange, Hesse, etc). Now Mecklenburg was actively fighting Brandenburg and the other German states did not view the vision of Unification under Brandenburger/Saxon auspices to be particularly enticing as it would be obvious who ruled any theoretical unified Germany.
For all intents and purposes, the Northern Confederation had fallen apart.
Northern Confederation
Over the course of 1912, the Northern Confederation, the predominantly Protestant coalition of German, Dutch and Scandinavian nations, would collapse with stunning speed. Throughout 1911, numerous German nations including Brandenburg and Saxony, would see civil unrest. While these were eventually put down, the autocratic German Kings realized that the assorted reforming nations (like Denmark whose King held Schleswig, Holstein and Hanover in co-dominion) were indirectly encouraging political dissent via example.
Shaken by the revolts of the previous years, the two most powerful German states, Brandenburg and Saxony, would take inventory of the political situation in Europe and determine that now may be the time to put an end to the Reformist factions throughout the dozens of German states.
The early 20th century was a unique time as the age-old antagonism between Protestant and Catholic states was at a historically low ebb. The diverse Habsburg Empire was experiencing its own internal turmoil as ethnic tensions risked tearing it apart.
Poland had actually been closely aligned with the Northern Confederation for decades as the Kings of Poland also viewed the Habsburgs (and the Russians) far more of a threat than the Protestants of northern Europe.
France, which over the centuries had long allied with Protestant Europe if it suited their purposes of antagonizing the Habsburgs, was also experiencing public dissention after the failed attempts to oust the East India Company from southern Africa and the ongoing aid offered to the "Protectorates" to expand inland from West Africa. While France had long been engaged in a slow but steady modernization, there remained a ways to go and 1912 would see the first time that the King of France found his appointments for high Ministry positions openly challenged by Parliament.
With French prestige deeply affected by the attempt to dominate Africa (relations with Spain and the Dutch Republic had reached their nadir), France's government remained in flux at a time when Europe seemed inclined to tear itself apart.
This left a unique opening to Brandenburg and Saxony to not only deal with the reformists in Germany but also feed off of the growing "Unification" sentiment at the same time. The key hindrance to this (assuming the Catholic nations were not inclined to intervene) was the King of Denmark. There had always been friction between the King and his German subjects in Holstein, Schleswig and Hanover despite the King granted the highest level of political autonomy in Europe. The "Pan-German" movement might find fertile ground here.
When a group of Schleswig Germans were arrested for a drunken demonstration, the Kings of Brandenburg and Saxony called upon all the peoples of Germany to cast off the "Scandinavian Oppressor". Saxon troops would invade Hanover while Brandenburgers attacked further north. Over the decades, the military readiness of Denmark had long since depleted. Even the once-vaunted Danish Navy was a second tier fleet at best.
The German subjects of the King of Denmark would react with great diversity. Some supported the King while some joined the "German Unification" party.
However, the war would soon spill over. The King of Sweden had long held Eastern Pomerania (Swedish Pomerania) with considerably less than an abiding interest in improving the lands. Instead, the Swedish administrators would squeeze Pomerania for all it was worth. When the "German Unification" movement began, the Pomeranians almost immediately threw off the Swedes only to find that Mecklenburg, perhaps the most politically and economically backward state in Germany, invaded instead. The King of Brandenburg, which had long sought to regain access to the sea (since losing it in 1760 with the sundering of the Prussian Empire), would immediately act in pushing aside the weak Mecklenburger army....and pronounce Pomerania annexed to Brandenburg.
Sweden was little less dysfunctional than many of these regions. Long ago, the King of Sweden had attempted to overthrew the Swedish Parliament...only to fail miserably and a new compliant dynasty placed in office. Since then, Sweden had languished in perpetual Parliamentary gridlock and the nation fell behind Denmark.
Sweden had also been experiencing unrest in Finland (the Finns were seeking autonomy) where Swedish domination was no less pervasive than in Pomerania.
The Swedish Parliament debated endlessly...and only slowly arranged for troops to enter Pomerania where they would join a four-way fight for control.
Naturally, Brandenburg's reallocation of forces to Pomerania would weaken their assault into Hanover, Schleswig and Holstein, irritating their ally Saxony to no end.
It had been assumed that Brandenburg and Saxony would swiftly receive aid from Mecklenburg and the small German states of Northwestern Germany (Orange, Hesse, etc). Now Mecklenburg was actively fighting Brandenburg and the other German states did not view the vision of Unification under Brandenburger/Saxon auspices to be particularly enticing as it would be obvious who ruled any theoretical unified Germany.
For all intents and purposes, the Northern Confederation had fallen apart.
So Brandenburg will be the one to try and unify Germany? The ghost of Prussia must be proud.
I don't see most of other nations intervening, though I see the war spilling over into Scandinavia. But when it's all said and done, I don't see stability. Instead I predict something like 1848 in Germany by 1920 at the latest. After all, reformism is already out of the bottle.
I don't see most of other nations intervening, though I see the war spilling over into Scandinavia. But when it's all said and done, I don't see stability. Instead I predict something like 1848 in Germany by 1920 at the latest. After all, reformism is already out of the bottle.
Good point. I hadn't really approached the aspect of reform in India as yet. Mostly, this TL follows the power struggle between the Peshwa and the assorted Kings.
But I haven't addressed the reformist faction in India and will make a note to add some blurbs in future chapters.