An Empire of Liberty

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Hey, all! After a bit of a hiatus from the site, I've decided to come back fresh, with an idea I've been thinking about for a while now. One of the main mistakes I've made previously was working on several projects at once, most of which required frequent updating. Therefore, my goal is to focus on this timeline for the foreseeable future. In addition, updates may come infrequently at times, depending on my schedule. I apologize in advance for any delays that may result, but on most occasions I hope to get out an update every one or two weeks at the least.

This timeline will focus on an America which becomes even more expansionist than it already was, while maintaining many of its other characteristics. Of course, butterflies will occur in the rest of the world as well. Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoy it.

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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter I
1805-1809

An Excerpt from The American Presidents
written by William Grayson, 2019

President Jefferson and his new running mate, George Clinton, easily won the 1804 election, carrying 162 electoral votes and fifteen states. Although Jefferson's second term has often been less remembered than his first, it was just as impactful.

In America, 1805 went by without incident, although Napoleon's decisive victory at Austerlitz sent shockwaves throughout Europe. However, the following year would prove to be different. Aaron Burr, the former vice president, had lost both his position and his reputation in 1804. As a result, he fled west, and soon began to plot one of the most startling conspiracies of early America - to make himself the ruler of an independent Louisiana. He sent out diplomatic feelers to Anthony Merry in the spring of 1806, the British diplomat to America who had not liked Jefferson ever since the presentation incident (the feeling was mutual). Before Merry could respond, however, Charles James Fox, the pro-American Foreign Minister, recalled him to Britain. It seemed to be a bright spot for Anglo-American relations, but it quickly faltered when Fox died just a few months later.

Although his attempt to gain aid from Britain was stymied, Burr continued to plot. He eventually gained the support of James Wilkenson, the territorial governor of Louisiana, but Wilkenson soon backed out in the fall of 1806, and reported the plot to Jefferson. Unfortunately, Burr was somehow tipped off of the betrayal, and quickly gathered a small force. After he repulsed federal investigators sent to arrest him, President Jefferson realized that a militia force was needed. The President offered another military commission to the disgraced George Rogers Clark, who had been lauded for winning the Northwest in the Revolutionary War. Clark quickly gathered a group of militia, and marched on Burr's men. Although the Burrist force put up some resistance, they were quickly defeated by Clark's troops. Burr was shipped back to Washington D.C, tried, and unceremoniously hung for treason in 1807. It was a unifying moment for America - between his conniving in the Election of 1800, his murder of Alexander Hamilton, and his schemes in the west, every American had a reason to hate him. Clark, meanwhile, had his fortunes reversed by the short campaign - he regained his prestige, and died in relative comfort in 1818.

In 1807, a new invention that would revolutionize America would appear - the steamboat. Robert Fulton would begin a commercial enterprise of steamboats going up and down the Hudson River. This would fundamentally change trade, especially in American waterways. He would gain a patent on the technology in 1809.

While a domestic problem had been solved, foreign issues began to pop up. First of all, Napoleon's victory at Friedland pushed the Russians out of the war, allowing Napoleonic forces to begin to focus on Spain in what would become known as the Peninsular War. Napoleon became even more bolder against the Americans. However, Britain was much more of a worry to the Americans. First of all, British forces won several key victories in the Rio de la Plata, including at Montevideo and Buenos Aires. By the end of 1807, they had begun to consolidate their hold in the region, giving them yet another foothold in the Americas. Secondly, the British had grown much more aggressive with their impressment of American sailors, something exemplified with the Chesapeake-Leopard affair. That incident led to intense anti-British sentiment, but Jefferson, wanting to remain neutral, quickly calmed the fire.

The Burr conspiracy, French success in Europe, and British expansion in America had slowly convinced Jefferson of one thing that he fervently opposed earlier in his career - America needed a professional, trained armed force. Therefore, Jefferson began to advocate the Military Preparedness Act. The act would provide for the slow expansion and training of the American military, and finance it with a tariff on British goods. The Federalists and many Democratic-Republicans supported the act, but many more radical Democratic-Republicans led by John Randolph opposed it - they accused the party of betraying its nature. The Act was eventually signed into law on December 22, 1807.

Jefferson's last major contribution as President was the abolishing of the slave trade. Great Britain had done it in 1807, and Jefferson passed a law abolishing the slave trade in 1808. Although Great Britain asked for American assistance in helping patrol the waters for slave trading with its West African Squadron, Anglo-American tensions were too great for this to be feasible.

Jefferson announced that he would follow George Washington's precedent, and would not run for another term. Leaving on popular terms, he would be succeeded by James Madison, his secretary of state.

An Excerpt from Arthur Wellesley
by Harold Danforth, 1947

It shocks many people to learn that the famed, disabled poet was actually once a general in the British army, and was a key figure in the early Peninsular Wars. One must think that one of the founding figures of Romanticism, with an impact comparative to Wordsworth, could not have his roots in such a violent art as war.

By 1808, Wellesley had grown to be promoted to Major General, after serving admirably in India. In recognition of his skills, he was chosen to be the initial commander of British forces serving in the Iberian Peninsula. He served admirably,

Everything was to change at the town of Porto, on May 12, 1809. Where 18,000 Portuguese soldiers drowned after a decisive defeat by the French a few months before, Wellesley hoped to drive French troops out of Portugal. However, it was not to be. Although British troops initially fought well, a cannonball hit Wellesley in the legs, crippling him. Without leadership, the British troops lost the battle, and the French were able to press their advantage. Before Porto, Wellesley had a near-perfect winning streak, and many scholars and historians, most notably Winston Churchill, have written about what might have happened if Wellesley had continued his military service.

Through some miracle, army doctors managed to ensure that Wellesley's life was safe. However, they were forced to amputate both of his legs, rendering him immobile and therefore unfit for service. As recompense for his admirable service, the British government gave the now ex-general a hefty pension. With this, he was able to purchase a country estate in the Midlands by the sea, so he could get some fresh air.

Soon growing bored, the man turned to writing, and for his inspiration he used the nature surrounding him. While his early poems were not as well-formed as his later ones, there were clear signs of improvement. And slowly but surely, the general turned into a world-renowned poet.​

 

[Unknown]

Good start; waiting for more, of course...

 

[KaiserWilhelm]

Watching! Interesting so far...

 

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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter II
1809 - 1813

An Excerpt from A World Turned Upside Down - The Reign of George III, 1760-1820
written by G. B. Abbot, 2012

Although Britain had won several early victories in the Peninsular War, the tide began to turn in the spring of 1809. Two key events marked this shift. The first was the failure of Austria to once again declare war against France. Although many in the Austrian government supported the idea of renewed war against France, it was reasoned that the war would be yet another defeat, and France might impose even more stringent terms upon Austria. This left Great Britain and its Iberian allies alone to face France and its allies, and ensured that France could focus on the war in Iberia. The second was the crippling of Arthur Wellesley. Although it propelled the man himself into a prestigious career in poetry, it did no wonders for the British war effort. Soon, France was surely but surely making progress against the Allies.

As the world entered into the second decade of the nineteenth century, the mood in Britain was increasingly pessimistic. Although Britain and the Iberian rebels were entrenched in Iberia, France was slowly prying that hold loose. To make matters worse, British troops were decisively defeated by Dutch forces when they tried to invade Holland and create a diversion. In South America, a new revolutionary tide came to Britain's newly-gained holdings in the Rio de la Plata area, beginning the May Revolution and forcing Britain to divert even more resources to defeat it, which it did shortly. To make things worse, the King was beginning to slide into insanity, something would be complete by the end of 1811.

The British did have advantages - the British people were mostly kept unaware of the true extent of the defeats in Spain. In addition, the Royal Navy still ruled the waves, and Britain kept a firm hold on its colonies. And for the most part, British efforts were concentrated on the Iberian Peninsula. This allowed Britain to hold Iberia for a long time, but to most observers it was clear - if Britain was to win the Peninsular War, drastic change would have to occur. And in 1812, it did - just not in the way that the British liked.

1812 was a year of three major crises in Great Britain. The first was the assassination of Prime Minister Spencer Perceval in February. While this had little to do with foreign affairs, it certainly provided a shock to many Englishmen. To have a sitting Prime Minister murdered in cold blood was simply inconceivable to many subjects of the Crown. It demoralized British morale.

The second two crises had the misfortune (for the British) to occur within a week of each other in June. The first was for the Americans to declare war on Great Britain. The Royal Navy had been harassing American shipping for years, and not even American tariffs would impede the British, certainly not while the nation was fighting against Napoleon. While the Americans certainly couldn't threaten British positions in Europe, they certainly posed a large threat to Canada. Some wild rumors even suggested that the Americans somehow had the capacity to invade the Rio de la Plata, although it was soon proved that these rumors were unfounded. However, the war with the Americans would certainly distract Great Britain.

The second, which was much worse for the British, was the entrance of Napoleon's Grand Armee into Spain. While Napoleon had initially considered invading Russia, his advisors convinced him to deal with the British threat before he got himself involved in any two-sided conflict. The Emperor's mere entrance caused a huge drop in morale for British troops, and he soon began winning victories against rebel forces. All knew that it would be a matter of time until he confronted British troops directly.

The British Empire was in crisis.

An Excerpt from The Canadian War
written by George Frankland, 1989

In the 1810 mid-term elections, a wave of anti-British candidates were elected to office. Many Americans thought that the British were restricting their independence, by seizing American ships and impressing their crews on the waves as well as supporting Indian tribes in the Old Northwest. Chief among their number was the young, ambitious Henry Clay, who would soon prove to leave a mark on the growing nation.

Another step towards the war was taken at Tippacanoe, where General William Henry Harrison defeated the forces of Tecumseh, an Indian chief, and scattered his forces. Both generals would prove to leave a lasting mark on the Canadian War for their respective side.

Finally, in June 1812, President James Madison was pressured to declare war on Britain. As it turns out, he could not have chosen better timing. Less than a week after war was declared, Napoleon's Grand Army marched into Spain, further driving down British morale.

As war started, the Americans seemed to have an upper hand, especially with the trained military that had been slowly growing since Jefferson's "Don't Tread On Me" Act of 1807. In preparation for the war, the Americans had a clear strategy. While trained, professional forces would assault Montreal, militias would attack Canada in different areas. The first attack came in the west, led by General William Hull in August. Although American forces penetrated Canada, Canadian forces led by Isaac Brock repulsed Hull's invasion, chasing him back to Detroit. Through misdirection, Brock and his Indian allies, led by Tecumseh, would convince Hull that their army size was much larger than it actually was - in fact, it was heavily outnumbered by the Americans. Although Hull and his forces repulsed the siege somewhat easily, Hull refused to attack Canada again, believing that American forces would be easily defeated by the Canadian defenders. This led to the Canadian and Indian forces being able to fortify themselves. The line would remain static until Hull was finally removed from his post and replaced with General William Henry Harrison in early 1813.

In the east, things went more smoothly. The main part of the regular army, led by Henry Dearborn, managed to capture Montreal somewhat easily, cutting off anything west of the city from British resupply. To reassure the French Catholics who feared persecution from the Americans, Charles Carroll, an aging, Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, was sent to become the military governer of Quebec. Through his efforts, many French Canadians grew to tolerate American occupation, at least for the short term. Meanwhile, at the Battle of Queenston Heights, American troops won a narrow victory - many scholars credit the training provided by the Don't Tread on Me Act for this slight victory. The one major result was the death of Isaac Brock. He died a martyr for the Canadian cause, and even today, he is revered in some parts of Canada.

Although the war was still unpopular in New England, it was going well enough for President Madison to easily win re-election in November 1812.

As 1812 turned into 1813, America was clearly winning the war in Canada, but it was not a "mere matter of marching" as President Jefferson had predicted. The Canadians were willing to fight hard, and although they were on the defensive, their leader had been killed, and they were cut off, all hope was not yet lost. Without the training that they had received, it is likely that American armies would have been able to make the gains that they did in the crucial early stages of the war.​

 

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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter III
1813 - 1817

An Excerpt from The Canadian War
written by George Frankland, 1989

The first half of 1813 proved to be as slow as the previous war. While in the east, the Americans were making slow progress against the Canadians, who had by now taken up tactics used in the Peninsular War back in Europe, the situation was an utter stalemate, in which Tecumseh and his forces cooperated with the British to hold American troops at bay - this was mostly due to Hull's blunder early in the war.

Finally, however, this stalemate was broken in September 1813, at the Battle of Lake Erie. In the battle, commander Oliver Hazard Perry gave the Royal Navy a blood nose, guaranteeing American control over Lake Erie, and breaking the stalemate in the west. Harrison and his troops were finally able to give chase to Tecumseh and his British allies, defeating them at the Battle of the Thames in October. Meanwhile, Native Americans who had tried to replicate Tecumseh's success were brutally defeated by General Andrew Jackson in the Creek War.

The victories at Lake Erie and the Thames began a new phase of the war. With Tecumseh's Confederation broken, as well as the organized Canadian resistance in the West, morale improved, and Harrison's army was able to join with its eastern counterparts to make a unified push into Canada. On December 31, 1813, American forces entered Quebec - it was the thirty-eighth anniversary of the failed American attempt to take the city during the Revolutionary War. A goal accomplished, American forces hunkered down in the city in the winter. All generals tried their hardest to convince the French Catholics of the region that the Americans would be at the least no worse than the British, and while guerilla warfare continued throughout the winter, reprisals were contained, and the Quebecois grew to respect the American presence.

Meanwhile, however, political forces in Britain were aligning, and it was not in the favor of the Americans. With the French slowly driving out the British presence in Iberia, several key members of the government began to advocate an "American Strategy". The hope was that a British victory in the Canadian War would boost morale and allow Britain to focus on events in Europe. The strategy was officially set in place on April 11, 1814, when the last British troops withdrew from Spain. While the Americans had been able to solidify their Canadian gains in the winter, when spring started, they found their efforts being repulsed by British troops, in both Newfoundland and Labrador, the northern portion of Lower Canada. However, when British forces tried to attack American positions, they found themselves repulsed as well. Most worryingly to the British, a slowly growing amount of French Canadians were beginning to actively side with the Americans.

However, the most worrying aspect of the American Strategy was the blockade of America by British forces. While it brought considerable outrage to New England Federalists, who at one point considered succeeding from the Union at the Albany Convention, it was also threatening to the South. British forces tried to launch amphibious assaults concentrated in the area of the Chesapeake Bay, most notably on Baltimore and Washington D.C. While both of these attempts were repelled by trained American garrisons, inspiring Francis Scott Key's lyrics to The Star Spangle Banner, it proved that the British could threaten American positions. By the end of 1814, the Canadian War had quickly adopted the dynamic of the Peninsular War in Europe. While Britain dominated the sea, they were held off by American forces at land, while the rebel groups they supported were slowly dwindling in strength.

An Excerpt from A World Turned Upside Down - The Reign of George III, 1760-1820
written by G.B. Abbot, 2012

With the withdrawal of British forces from Iberia, it took the French much less effort to brutally crush the rebel activity on the peninsula. The "American Strategy" proved to be a failure - while the British could easily hold off the Americans, their offensive projects had failed, and all the while they had allowed Napoleon to win another victory on the European Continent. The British public clamored for a quick end to the war.

The British government, hoping to save face on the "American Strategy", decided to try an approach, nicknamed the "Anaconda Plan." The British goal was to capture the Mississippi River, the main American waterway. Then they would be able to attack America from the west, which was a lightly-defended area. Attacking from the east, the west and the north, the Americans would be crushed, and then the British could refocus their attention on affairs in Europe.

New Orleans, the gateway to the Mississippi, was the obvious first target. However, with the British government rushing the plans, they were poorly coordinated, and with the British Army stretched thin, only about 8,000 recruits were sent to New Orleans. The British government would later claim that they purposefully made sure that their army would be small as not to cause alarm in the American army, which might cause reinforcements to be sent. Whether this claim is true is up for a large amount of debate, which is amplified by the events that resulted from this decision. They were crushed by a ragtag defense led by General Andrew Jackson in February 1815, who would become a hero in America for his actions, with General Edward Pakenham being killed in the action.

When news returned to the British, they were despondent. The public was about to riot, and the British government was forced to ask for a truce with America and France on June 18, 1815. Both parties accepted.

In the treaty with France, Britain was forced to give up Gibraltar to Spain, but was allowed to keep the overseas colonies it had, except for the Caribbean, where it returned all of the islands it had captured to France, along with all parts of Guiana that it had captured. George III was forced to renounce his claim to Hannover, which would be forever incorporated into the Confederation of the Rhine. In addition, Britain was forced to join the Continental System.

In the treaty with America, Britain was forced to respect American maritime rights, although with the end of the Napoleonic Wars, this was a moot issue. It was also forced to hand over most of Canada, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador, to America. In return, however, America was to provide for the transportation of any Loyalists who wished to flee Canada. Thousands left, some of whom were previous American loyalists who were forced to depart once more. For almost all immigrants, the destination was Patagonia, who's population greatly benefited from the expansion, so that it became a viable colony for Britain - it would eventually grow to replace Canada.

An excerpt from The American Presidents
written by William Grayson, 2019

With the end of the Canadian War, the Federalist Party finally collapsed, providing the Democratic-Republican party no resistance, and starting the Era of Good Feelings. 1816 was largely a year of the nation recovering from the war and slowly incorporating its new territories in the Union. When the war ended, Charles Carroll stepped down as his post as Governor of Canada, and the territory was split. Most of what America had of Lower Canada became the Quebec Territory, but with New York gaining some territory, along with the full extent of Maine's claims being recognized. The eastern half of Upper Canada became the Niagara Territory, while the western half became unincorporated territory. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island were merged to become the Territory of Acadia.

Charles Carroll had governed expertly, especially in Quebec. It was clear that to ensure that the area was stabile, someone just as good was needed. James Madison came up with a suitable replacement - the Marquis de Lafayette.

Although Lafayette had refused a governership of Louisiana a decade prior, there was reason that he would accept the offer. With Napoleon having removed any threat to his power, Lafayette had no influence in France, and Lafayette feared that Napoleon may re-arrest him. As such, he decided to agree to the American offer, giving him and his family a safe place to stay. It also didn't hurt that he would have political influence, and was generally admired by all Americans.

Madison obeyed the two-term precedent, and stepped aside. His secretary of state, James Monroe, was elected president. In an attempt to show unity, Monroe chose DeWitt Clinton, a candidate that the Federalists had thrown their support behind in 1812, as his vice president. With the Federalists putting up token resistance with Rufus King, Monroe easily won, and was inagurated the nation's fifth president in 1817.
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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter IV
1817 - 1821

An Excerpt from A World Turned Upside Down - The Reign of George III, 1760-1820
written by G. B. Abbot, 2012

In the aftermath of Britain's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars, no member of the government was particularly popular. However, in most cases, public vitriol was reserved for George, the Prince Regent. While Britain was losing the Napoleonic Wars, the Regent was wasting tax-payer money for his own extravagant enjoyment, and he soon became the scapegoat for the public.

This was seized upon by many members of Parliament who had been disgraced by the Napoleonic Wars, who created a cabal designed to remove George from the line of succession and disgrace him to regain their own popularity. A secret letter composed by Lord Castlereagh, the leader of the plot, provides another, less self-serving justification - "The madman had done nothing but ill for Britain when he was but a regent. Imagine what would have happened if we had put a crown on his head!"

To the surprise of many, the cabal actually found a huge scandal - namely, the secret 1785 marriage between the Prince Regent and Maria FitzHerbert, a twice-divorced Catholic. Once this information was revealed, George was forced to give up his position and his place in the line of succession to his brother Frederick, the Duke of York. It provided a huge scandal for the royal family that led some to question the monarchy for the first time, although these doubts were quickly dispelled by Frederick's more competent leadership.

Many felt sympathy for the Prince Regent after this scandal, including much of the royal family. When Frederick ascended to the throne in 1820, his first priority was to advocate a Catholic Emancipation Act, which would be signed in 1821, a few months after his coronation.

An Excerpt from The Age of Revolutions
by Thomas Gibson, 2015

The Latin American revolutions had started simmering after Joseph I's ascension to the Spanish throne in 1808. However, they began in earnest around a decade later. In the immediate aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, Joseph was focused on his European territories, stabilizing both his power and his new Iberian kingdom in general, after the devastating Peninsular Wars. In the meantime, he had left the old Spanish colonial infastructure shattered, and there were different factions all throughout that supported Joseph, the old Spanish government, or independence.

Finally, in 1817 and 1818, Joseph turned his attention to the colonies, and he did not like what he saw. Freshly recruited soldiers were sent from Iberia to the former Spanish colonies. And although they managed to cement control over most of the colonies, resistance there was brutal - in most cases conditions in Latin America were worse than they were in Spain during the Peninsular War.

Meanwhile, Napoleon had his own amount of mettling. When the French Emperor received word of his brother's campaigns in Latin America, he sent a letter to his brother, part of which read,

"Regrettably, affairs across the sea are much different than they are here in Europe. If I cannot subjugate an island [Haiti], then you cannot subjugate a continent."

In addition, recently declassified documents on both sides of the Atlantic reveal that Napoleon had reached out to almost all of the Latin American independence movements, offering to secretly support these movements if they agreed to join the Continental System once having declared independence. However, all of these movements rejected his offer - they were all very anti-Napoleon, and wanted to be truly independent from Europe. If they did, however, it certainly would have caused considerable friction between France and Iberia.

By 1821, most of Iberia's colonial possessions were independent, with the exception of a few islands in the Pacific and Caribbean.

The American government stayed completely neutral in the Latin American wars of independence, still digesting their conquest of Canada and not wanting to anger Napoleon or his allies. However, most Americans sympathized with the rebels, so much so that some went south as volunteers to serve in the war of independence, and they were not stopped. The only American action during the period was the seizure of Florida by Andrew Jackson in 1819.

The British, who wanted to weaken Napoleonic Spain, supported the rebels with weapons and guns, using the same methods they once did in the American Old Northwest in the 1790's and 1800's, from their new colony in Patagonia. Several British subjects would fight in the Latin American wars of independence. These actions angered Iberia, although France put strong pressure on the nation to not get into any open conflict with Britain.

...

Although most newly-independent nations were Spanish-speaking, and adopted entirely new governments, there was one major exception to this rule - Brazil. It had been ruled by the old Portuguese Royal Family, who declared themselves Emperors of Brazil, ever since they had been forced to flee Portugal itself. Unlike the former Spanish colonies, there was not much unrest, and when Joseph's forces landed in Latin America, they did not touch Portugal.

An Excerpt from The American Presidents
written by William Grayson, 2019

One of President Monroe's first actions was to tour the Northeast and Canada. He was greeted by cheering crowds at every stop, a sign emblematic of the Era of Good Feelings. Throughout the first two years of his first term, Monroe had an easy time governing, with not much political crisis occurring.

This would change with Andrew Jackson's invasion of Florida in 1818-1819. While fighting the Seminole Native Americans, Jackson invaded Iberian Florida. With Iberia being embroiled in the Latin American Wars of Independence at the time, there was not much it could do to defend it, and while it issued a diplomatic objection, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams convinced President Monroe that the invasion was justified, and America purchased Florida in 1819 with the Adams-Onis Treaty.

Meanwhile, the infastructure of America continued to expand. The most ambitious project during Monroe's first term was the Erie Canal, begun in 1817 and enthusiastically supported by Vice President Dewitt Clinton, who was a New Yorker itself. The plan was to connect Albany, the capitol of New York on the Hudson River, and Lake Erie, allowing goods to flow from the Atlantic to Lake Erie without having to use the St. Lawrence River. Although the proposal angered some Quebecois, Governor Lafayette managed to calm tensions in the region.

In Canada, many territories began to take steps for statehood, and by 1821 many predicted that there would be at least one Canadian state by the end of President Monroe's next term. Indeed, the President was re-elected unopposed in the election of 1820.

An Excerpt from A Special Relationship - The Russo-American Friendship
written by Grigori Dogochevsky, 1991

The victory of Napoleon in 1815 presented an uncertain future for both powers. Although they both were at war with Britain by the war's end, they were not influenced by Napoleon or his policies, although many, especially in Russia, feared that Napoleon would try to gain more influence in Russian affairs. In addition, America's conquest of Canada made it the prime threat to Russia's colonies in Alaska, which Russia wanted to maintain, at least for the time being.

In 1817, Pyotr Ivanovich Poletika was appointed Russia's second ambassador to the United States. Upon arriving in Washington, he met with Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, himself a former ambassador to Russia. The two diplomats would begin work of the Russo-American Treaty, which would be signed in 1821. The treaty would cement the borders of Russian Alaska, but more importantly it contained a clause expressing a spirit of friendship between the United States and Russia. Although it meant little at the time, this clause would blossom into one of the greatest friendships in modern history.







​

 

[606jae]

posting to help keep an eye on this

 

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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter V
1821-1825

An Excerpt from The Age of Revolutions
by Thomas Gibson, 2015

As the Latin American Wars were beginning to wrap up, a new revolution was brewing, this time in Southeastern Europe.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Ottoman Empire had expanded throughout the Middle East and the Balkans, at several times threatening Vienna. However, by the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire was a state in decline. Many of its European Orthodox subjects had been long displeased with Ottoman rule, and tensions finally reached a breaking point in 1821, when the Greeks declared independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Although the Ottomans outmatched the Greeks, it was clear that the European powers would be vital in the conflict - specifically, Russia, France, and Great Britain.

Russia eagerly supported the war. They were a key rival of the Ottomans, and sympathized with the Orthodox Greeks. They were also keen to gain an ally in the Mediterranean, to help expand the Russian Navy as well as another front in the case of another Russo-Turkish conflict.

France, under Napoleon I, supported the Greeks as well, but for more cynical reasons. They, too, wanted to gain an ally in Southeastern Europe, and Napoleon also wanted to improve relations with the Russian Empire.

The British government was a staunch supporter of the Turks. They wanted to maintain the Ottoman Empire, and they also didn't want France or Russia to gain a new ally there. However, when it became clear that both France and Russia were supporting the Greeks, the British did not want another war so soon as the last one. In addition, the British public was very pro-Greek, with the famous poet Lord Byron fighting and ultimately dying in the War of Revolution.

With the British staying out of the affair, and both France and Russia supporting it, it soon became clear that the Ottomans would lose. The Ottomans eventually recognized Greek sovereignty in 1825 - this would become a "dress rehearsal" for the later Balkan wars of independence.

An Excerpt from The American Presidents
written by William Grayson, 2019

President Monroe's second term was just as peaceful as his first. However, during this period, America took several steps that would influence its foriegn policy for decades to come.

The first event was the "colonization" of Liberia, a tract of land on the western coast of Africa laid aside by the American Colonization Society to settle freed slaves, which would then largely handle their own affairs. The society was supported by many, including Monroe, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Clay.

The first years of the Liberian colony were very rough, with colonists facing attacking natives and disease. This would shape Liberian society, where in a cruel twist of irony, the former slaves imposed a strict racial system on the Liberian natives just as bad as the system of slavery. However, these truths were covered up by the Society, and the colony continued to be supported by many across America.

The second was the Monroe Doctrine, which was actually written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. America had supported the Latin American Wars of Independence, although it officially remained neutral. Now these states were independent, and they faced some governmental instability. Many in America that either Spain, France, or Britain would try to take over these colonies, none of which were particularly friendly to American interests. So the Monroe Doctrine was made, declaring that America would protect the Western Hemisphere from European colonialism, except for where it already existed. This doctrine was the beginning of American influence in the Western Hemisphere.

In addition, Monroe's second term saw the addition of the three Canadian territories as US states - Niagara, Quebec, and Acadia. Although many in the South complained that they would not have as much representation, leaders such as Henry Clay helped to assuage their fears by adding Missouri to the Union as a slave state. When Quebec became a state in 1824, Lafayette refused to stand for election as the state's first governor, instead launching a tour of all of the United States, where he was recieved as "the last of the Revolution" before going into retirement.

Monroe followed the two-term precedent, which meant that his successor would be elected in 1824. However, unlike in 1808 and 1816, when the search for a presidential successor was relatively easy, this would be a complicated election.

Three candidates were considered - Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and Henry Clay. As the 1824 convention occurred, it was deadlocked. Although Jackson was the candidate of the "common man", he was feared by many, especially the elites and those in the North. John Quincy Adams was very popular in New England and Canada, and had a strong background as the Secretary of State, he was seen as too elitist by many. Clay had years of experience and compromise behind him, but he was viewed as too young by many, and was the least popular of the three, although he had strong support in the West, where he supported infastructure. To many onlookers, it appeared as if the Democratic-Republican party would be broken up.

However, just as things were beginning to look bad for the Democratic-Republican party, a compromise candidate was added - DeWitt Clinton, the current vice president. The delegates, hoping to break away from the deadlock, quickly nominated Clinton as the nominee. Clinton chose Jackson as the nominee, to help strengthen his support among the "common man" and ensure geographic diversity. Clinton would run unopposed in 1824, and he would become the sixth president. The Era of Good Feelings would continue.

​

 

[Unknown]

This is an interesting TL so far; hopefully, there'll be some maps soon (if you need any help, PM @Kanan or @Reagent...)...

 

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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter VI
1825-1829

An Excerpt from A Special Relationship - The Russo-American Friendship
written by Grigori Dogochevsky, 1991

With the ascension of Nicholas I to the throne in late December 1825, the Tsar tried to pursue an alliance with America. With the newly independent nation of Greece wavering between the French and Russian spheres of influence, Russia was still diplomatically isolated. However, he was rebuffed by President DeWitt Clinton, who cited an avoidence of "entangling alliances" espoused by both Washington and Jefferson. Clinton turned away from the foriegn affairs of Monroe's second term, focusing on domestic affairs for his term in office. Clinton also may have been alienated by the brutal crushing of the liberal Decembrist movement.

An Excerpt from The American Presidents
written by William Grayson, 2019

The administration of DeWitt Clinton was in many ways a continuation of Monroe's and the Era of Good Feelings. Clinton advocated internal improvements, and under his term, infastructure such as roads, railroads, and canals spread, and the state of public education greatly improved across the United States. Many believe that Clinton was inspired by Napoleon I, who had begun a program very similar in the 1820's, but it has been proven that Clinton had supported these ideas since before he was Vice President.

A major event in Clinton's term was the deaths of both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The two had been close friends, but grew apart during their presidencies due to political differences. However, later in life, they reestablished their friendship. This event heralded for many the definitive end of the Revolutionary era, as they paid their respects to these two presidents.

Clinton seemed destined for a second term, but it was not to be. He died suddenly in February 1828 of heart failure. His successor would be Vice President Andrew Jackson. While the Constitution is unclear on the true authority of an "Acting President", Jackson, in his usual fashion, quickly asserted that he had become a full President, with all of the rights thereof. Jackson's massive electoral victory in November would assert this view, and it would become accepted for the rest of American history.

An Excerpt from Religion in America
written by Jean Goodman, 2005

There is no concrete starting and ending point for the Second Great Awakening - exactly how long it lasted has been the subject of numerous debate. What can't be debated is that the Second Great Awakening reached its height in the aftermath of the Canadian War, and this lasted into the 1830's.

With America now being independent of Europe, many Americans wanted to belong to their own independent churches. While more established American churches such as Methodism and Baptism experienced significant growth, other new sects gained popularity. A subtype of these new sects was the utopian churches such as the Shakers, which created utopian communes, which ultimately failed.

This was also the blossoming of African-American faiths, which were often branching off of other "white" faiths who rejected African-American converts. Many abolitionists, both white and black, used religion as a key argument for the abolition of slavery, with the narrative of Moses and the Exodus becoming a popular subject for songs.

However, the most interesting sect founded during this period is the New American Church, colloquially known as Americanism.

It was founded by John Tyler. He was a part of an established, wealthy Virginia family, and lived a comfortable if boring life. In 1808, at the age of 18, Tyler would be accepted into the new Army provided for by the Military Preparedness Act of the previous year. Tyler would serve in the new Army in the Canadian War. Tyler served with merit in the push through Canada, until he was wounded and knocked unconscious in the 1813 assault on Quebec. This experience gave him what modern experts term as post-traumatic stress disorder In his delirium, which lasted until New Year's 1814, he later claimed that he would be visited by an angel, who revealed to him the "truth of Providence".

After his return from the war, Tyler returned home, but due to his "visions" he was unable to keep work. With his parents dead, he soon retired to his homestead. To try to cure his post-traumatic stress disorder, Tyler tried numerous drugs, which only increased the potency of the visions.

Finally, around a decade later, Tyler re-emerged from his self-imposed exile, declaring that over the past decade he had been receiving the word of God. At first, he was thought of as a crazed lunatic, but with the twin deaths of Presidents Adams and Jefferson on July 4, 1826, his words began gaining credence, and he began gaining a following. Shortly after this, he began publishing a series of religious pamphlets and novels that would later become known as the "Thirty-Three Books", which increased the religion's spread.

Early Americanist beliefs included the belief in Manifest Destiny, America's god-given right to expand across the continent, polygamy, and the concept of Patriot-Saints, with heroes of America (primarily of the American Revolution) taking the place of Catholic saints, and the idea of communal living - the idea that Americanists should only live with each other, on special "compounds" that were built. Nonetheless, the early Americanist church was subject to much ridicule and persecution in its early days.


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[dakkafex]

Early Americanist beliefs included the belief in Manifest Destiny, America's god-given right to expand across the continent, polygamy, and the concept of Patriot-Saints, with heroes of America (primarily of the American Revolution) taking the place of Catholic saints, and the idea of communal living - the idea that Americanists should only live with each other, on special "compounds" that were built. Nonetheless, the early Americanist church was subject to much ridicule and persecution in its early days.

Getting some real American Fundamentalist Church vibes from this.

That being said, I always enjoy it when authors look at religious faith, it seems to be an under-explored area in a lot of TLs and it's good that you're dipping into cultural and non-elite experiences alongside those of Tsars and Presidents. Unrelated, but what are the rough boundaries of Greece at this point?

 

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Getting some real American Fundamentalist Church vibes from this.

That being said, I always enjoy it when authors look at religious faith, it seems to be an under-explored area in a lot of TLs and it's good that you're dipping into cultural and non-elite experiences alongside those of Tsars and Presidents. Unrelated, but what are the rough boundaries of Greece at this point?

Americanism is meant to be an AFC-Mormon hybrid, but one that's less prevalent than in WMIT.

Greece is at roughly its 1914 OTL borders.

Thanks for the feedback, by the way. It's much appreciated.

 

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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter VII
1829-1833

An excerpt from The American Presidents
written by William Grayson, 2019

Especially after Jackson's electoral victory in 1828, he began implementing "Jacksonian democracy" - the expansion of the franchise to any white, adult, male and the implementation of the spoils system. Jackson also was the first president to effectively use the veto. These factors caused an "anti-Jacksonian" faction to emerge within the Democratic-Republican party, led by Henry Clay. Although the rift wasn't quite enough to break apart the Democratic-Republican party, it was generally considered as the end of the Era of Good Feelings.

Jackson's aggressiveness applied to the foriegn stage, as he fought for trade deals with other nations. One of his foriegn conflicts that stood out was with France, from whom he demanded compensation for the ships and sailors impressed by the French Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The clash between two larger-than-life generals, Napoleon and Jackson, has become a subject of much scholarly interest. Finally, Napoleon relented and paid five million dollars in compensation. This was taken as a huge victory by the Jacksonite wing.

Jackson also wanted to impose a tariff, but this was opposed by many, but in particular the state of South Carolina, who decided to nullify the bill. While Jackson was firmly against this, his vice president, John Calhoun, was pro-nullification. As the state of South Carolina prepared for seccession, Jackson warned that military force would be used. In the end, Jackson's hot-headedness would lead to South Carolina leaving the union, with John Calhoun as its "president."

Jackson did not take this kindly, and quickly began mustering troops. Quickly realizing what he had gotten himself into, John Calhoun reached out to other Southern states, hoping to create some kind of a confederation between southern states. While no state government officially joined, a number of settlements did secede to join "Calhoun's Confederacy".

When Jackson and his army quickly made their way south, their journey was for the most part peaceful, with most of the militia assembled refusing to fight Jackson out of either admiration or fear. In one account, when the Federal Army came upon a particularly large group of militia, Jackson stepped in front, and declared, "If any of you will shoot his President, here I am." The militia either disbanded or joined Jackson's army. Jackson ensured that no looting or destruction would take place, and any rebellious areas were left untouched. When asked about this policy of leniency by a newspaper, Jackson replied, "I am a man of the South, and I know that the people of the South, other than that bastard John Calhoun, harbor no ill will to the Union. I will not inflict unneccessary cruelty upon the land that I love."

Finally, Jackson's army marched into Charleston virtually unopposed. Calhoun tried to flee, but he was captured. A day later, he was hung by Andrew Jackson personally. When Jackson was asked what he was most proud of, the general simply replied, "I hung John Calhoun."

In the end, the South would never try to defy the Union again.

On a more peaceful end, Jackson was opposed to the Second Bank of the United States, and especially its head, Nicholas Biddle. After the Nullification War ended, Jackson focused on this. The anti-Jacksonian faction was horrified, and Henry Clay went to the White House to try to figure out some sort of a compromise, which occurred. In the end, the Bank would continue to exist, but major reforms would occur and Biddle was to be removed from his position. While most economists say that if the Bank was dismantled, a financial crisis would have followed, this compromise ended up benefiting the economy of the United States.

Needless to say, Jackson was re-elected in 1832.

An excerpt from Fort Hill Destroyed by Americanist Mob
by the New York Post, 1833

Fort Hill, the home of John Calhoun, was burned down by a mob three days ago. These members have been arrested by Federal authorities, and made no attempt to flee. When interrogated, it has been revealed that the mob was made up of Americanists.

John Calhoun, the recently-deceased leader of the "Republic" of South Carolina, has been labelled as an American traitor by John Tyler, the founder and head of the controversial New American Church. During a sermon at Woodburn, Tyler has been quoted as saying, "Accursed be the Traitor Calhoun, for he has joined the ranks of Traitor Arnold and Traitor Burr, who are the brethren of Cain, Judas, and all of those who have left the True Faith." In recent months, the term "ABC traitors" has entered many Americanist circles.

Due to this mob violence, authorities on many levels have begun to crack down on Americanist circles, fearing further violence on the part of the Americanists. This has contributed to the already tense relationships between Americanists and non-Americanists, which many fear may explode into violence. John Tyler has not yet responded to these new measures.





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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter VIII
1833-1837

An Excerpt from The American Presidents
by William Grayson, 2019

While Jackson's first term was eventful and for the most part positive, his second would be dominated by minor squabbles, apart from one atrocity - the Indian Removal Act. While it had been signed in 1830, and initially only provided for the "removal" of tribes in the southeast of the United States, it largely went under the radar due to larger crises. The Act represented a break from the policies of presidents before, who advocated an integration of Native American tribes. Jackson himself portrayed it as an act of mercy, as he contended that the southeastern tribes would be recipients of violence by white settlers.

As the crises of Jackson's first term began to be resolved, however, the issue came into the forefront. Henry Clay's anti-Jacksonians clashed with Jackson over the policy, blasting it as a grotesque act. Government inaction over the matter led to white settlers and Native Americans getting into conflict, which increased over time as the debates continued in the government. Jackson used this violence to prove his point that whites and Native Americans could not peacefully coexist. The situation was quickly escalating, as a crisis was beginning to develop.

Finally, Jackson put his foot down, proposing an amendment to the House to force any Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to be forcibly relocated by the Federal Army. While the anti-Jacksonians were horrified, they were outnumbered in the House and the Senate, and the act was passed. It was met with violence from Native American tribes across the nation, but local militias put down these revolts, often brutally.

What followed was the "Trail of Tears", in which thousands of Native Americans died on the journey west due to sickness, fatigue, and poor supplies. Clay blasted Jackson for the terrible conditions on the journey, while Jackson blamed Clay for exasterbating the system and forcing Jackson to take further action. This would reignite tensions between the anti-Jacksonians and the Jacksonians.

Meanwhile, the Texan Revolution broke out in 1835. Mexico had encouraged American settlement in the region shortly after it gained its independence, but cracked down in the 1830's, with discontent leading to the Texan Revolution. After suffering numerous defeats and massacres, most famously the Battle of the Alamo, the Texans rallied under Sam Houston, and defeated the army of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, capturing the president himself, and forcing him to recognize Texan independence and retreat south of the border. While Andrew Jackson wished to annex Texas, the anti-Jacksonites were against this, and with the Democratic-Republican convention coming up, many party leaders made it clear that annexation was not a good idea, as it might split the party. Jackson recognized the republic, but that was all he could do.

Finally, the 1836 convention approached, with the Democratic-Republican party once again at a breaking point due to the Trail of Tears. In an effort to keep the party united, Clay was chosen as the Democratic-Republican nominee, which helped in keeping most of the anti-Jacksonians in line. However, a small sector of politicians disgusted by Clay's "deal with the devil", led by former Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, formed the Free Soil Party.

The elections of 1836 proved to be very sectional. While Clay won the South and the West, Adams held New England, New Jersey, and Canada. Quebec, Pennsylvania, and New York proved to be close between the two candidates, but Clay ended up winning Pennsylvania and New York while Adams won Quebec.

Meanwhile, another peace of revolutionary technology would be invented by an American - namely, the telegraph invented by Samuel Morse. It allowed much faster communication over long distances, and it was soon adopted by many nations, from America to France to Britain.

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Hey, all! I hope you're enjoying the timeline. I apologize for the lack of much content in Chapter 8, so I hope this makes up for it. I'm going to take some time to address some points, make some announcements, and ask a couple of questions. If you want to skip over this, you certainly can.

The State of the World outside of America, 1836

South America - Largely the same as OTL. I fear that this timeline will probably feature the dreaded "nothing happens in South America" trope, at least for a while - I'm not that familiar with mid-19th century South American politics. British Patagonia is basically the new Canada, with new British immigrants slowly colonizing further and further south.

Europe - The butterflies have flapped their wings during the Napoleonic Wars, leaving the continent much different. The Finnish War never happened IOTL, which means that Finland is still Swedish, the Netherlands is still "independent" under a Bonaparte monarchy, and with no War of the Fifth Coalition, Austria retains Istria and Tyrol. The Papal States (with its IOTL 1870 borders), the Confederation of the Rhine, the Duchy of Warsaw, and the Italian Confederation (made up of whatever isn't in Papal or French hands) are all independent, with various degrees of influence from France.

After Frederick's death in 1827, William IV comes to power, and when he dies next year, Victoria's ascending to the throne.

The various German nobles are still around in the Confederation of the Rhine, but they are largely powerless and symbolic.

Africa - Again, the state it was IOTL. The "colony" of Liberia is around, and the French have taken over Algeria. South Africa remains under the control of the Dutch. However, in about a decade, things are about to change.

Asia and Oceania - Again, things are mostly as IOTL. Britain is focusing on the colonization of India and Australia to restore national prestige, and they're shipping increasing amounts of opium to China.

On Scheduling

I've been updating this every day, however, this pace will not last. I may begin to slow down updates next week, and the week after that there won't be any updates. I'll try to keep updates once a week, and who knows, they might return to daily at some point, but with school approaching, the pace will definitely slow down.

Questions

1. Do you find this hard to read? I'm considering making some formatting changes to help make the timeline less of a wall of text, but if you feel it's unnecessary, I won't implement it.

2. As Canada becomes increasingly integrated into the Union, there will be some Canadian presidents, especially in the 20th century. As I'm not that knowledgable on Canadian politics, are there any Canadian figures (especially Prime Ministers) that would make good American presidents? Ideally, candidates would fit the constitutional requirements and be natural-born citizens.

As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, I'd love to hear them. Thanks for reading along - it's much appreciated!


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[Stretch]

All I ask for is a rough map of the Union as it exists currently? Even scrawling over an OTL map will help me see the divergences.

 

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All I ask for is a rough map of the Union as it exists currently? Even scrawling over an OTL map will help me see the divergences.

As you requested. Obviously, the further west or north you go (especially in Canada), the less American control there is. However, these are the official borders of America around 1836.

The Arctic Islands were abandoned by Britain after the Canadian War, and as of now they're unclaimed by either side.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

As you requested. Obviously, the further west or north you go (especially in Canada), the less American control there is. However, these are the official borders of America around 1836.

The Arctic Islands were abandoned by Britain after the Canadian War, and as of now they're unclaimed by either side.

Holy hell, that's alot of Destiny to Manifest right there

 

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An Empire of Liberty

Chapter IX
1837-1841

An Excerpt from The American Presidents
by William Grayson, 2019

One of the first problems for President Henry Clay were the Canadian Rebellions in 1837-38. While many British loyalists had fled for Patagonia after the Canadian War two decades prior, some had remained in Canada, and they allied with those wishing for more autonomy, organization, or even independence from the United States. However, at this point the Federal Army was strong enough to deal with disputes, especially after the Nullification War. However, while the Southerners' fight was half-hearted, the Canadian rebellion lasted for a year, in which rebels used guerilla tactics and caused significant damage to Federal forces.

Andrew Jackson, who was still influential, was decidedly more against the rebellion than he was during the Nullification War, especially after the Canadians proved to be more tenacious than the Southerners. While Clay favored some concessions to the Canadian rebels, the Jacksonites, who were still powerful, opposed, as did the people of the United States. In the end, although Clay managed to issue a general pardon of the rebels, Congress blocked any of Clay's attempts to give any more concessions to the Canadian rebels.

Clay's policies on a domestic level were similar to Dewitt Clinton's - an expansion of infastructure and education. The growth of business was encouraged. Meanwhile, Clay refused to annex Texas, fearing a war with Mexico that the president didn't want, especially with the Canadian War.

In the Election of 1840, Clay decisively won re-election, defeating Martin van Buren, the Free Soil nominee.

An Excerpt from The Sun Never Sets - The British Empire in the Victorian Era and Beyond
by G.B. Abbot, 2014

Ever since the victory of Napoleon in 1815, British prestige had dropped to an all time low. They had been effectively shut out of European affairs, and defeated by the upstart Americans in the Canadian War. While the reigns of Frederick and William had certainly gone well, with Britain stabilizing any domestic issues (especially with the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1823) and it had also expanded its colonies in Asia and Oceania.

However, the Opium War was the war that led to the restoration of British prestige. China had long-standing restrictions on foreign merchants, and to try to subvert this British merchants had begun importing opium into China. The Chinese population quickly became addicted, and the importation of opium became a crisis in China. Finally, in 1839, the Chinese destroyed large amounts of opium, and when British merchants called on the government for aid, the war began.

The technologically advanced British forces easily defeated their Chinese counterparts, and in 1842 forced the Chinese to sign the Treaty of Nanking, which gave the British control of Hong Kong and opened up China to foreign trade. For the Chinese, it would be the first in a long line of "unequal treaties" that would open China up more to European, American, and later Japanese trade.​

 

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As the speed of updates begins to slow down, here's a bit of a tidbit.

An excerpt from An Analysis of German Poetry
by Xavier von Dreussel, 1902

Die Wacht am Rhein, or The Watch on the Rhine, is a poem written by Max Schneckenburger in 1840. The poem describes a young Rhenish soldier who's been deployed on the Rhine, which is a boring assignment due to the closeness of the French and the Confederation of the Rhine, and his yearning for glory. With no major conflicts having gone on in Germany for decades at the time of this writing, it struck a chord with many Germans, and it would eventually be put to music in 1853 and become the national anthem of the Confederation of the Rhine.

While it is clear that Die Wacht am Rhein focuses on the relations between France and the Confederation, how so is debated by many scholars. While most argue that the song is pro-French, a vocal minority posit that the song is secretly anti-French, as it openly discusses "the German Rhine", and was only disguised as a pro-French poem to avoid censorship. However, in recent years, it has proved to be a boon in recent times with the unrest in the Confederation, with both pro-French and anti-French being able to agree with their various extrapolations from the song.​