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Chapter Two
Chapter Two - God Save The King
“If we simply allow ourselves to bicker and quarrel and have no body mediate our disputes, then we shall be reduced from a sovereign nation to a subject of the British once again. Strengthening our central government is not tyranny, it is, in fact, an antidote to tyranny.” - Alexander Hamilton (July 1787, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Shays’ Rebellion and its casualties was fresh in every American’s mind. Not even a decade after the end of the American Revolution and it looked like civil war was looming between the newly-independent states. States had gathered months prior in Annapolis to revise the Articles of Confederation; however, nothing would come of this meeting as several states did not attend and no changes were made. The Philadelphia Convention (later known as the Constitutional Convention) sought to avoid Annapolis’ mistakes.
The Old State House (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Two major plans came from the convention, the Virginia Plan and the New York Plan, proposed by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton respectively. Madison’s Virginia plan called for a bicameral legislature determined by population and led by an elected weak executive. The Virginia Plan also enclosed term limits for legislative and executive seats to allow rotation in office. The New York Plan endorsed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in both chambers. The lower house would be elected to three year terms, while the appointed Senate would serve for life. It also supported a strong executive who would serve a lifelong term, would serve as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and approve or veto bills from the legislature. The Virginia Plan garnered support from the populous states and the south, while the New York Plan would garner support from the smaller states and the north.
Supporters of the Virginia and New York Plans locked horns for several weeks. Supporters of the Virginia Plan attacked the New York Plan as being too “authoritarian” and taking away too much power from the states. In contrast, supporters of the New York Plan attacked their opponents by claiming that only large states would have a say in the national government, while small states would have almost no voice. This deadlock would continue until the Connecticut delegation would introduce their own plan. The bicameral legislature would have an elected, population-weighted lower house, and an appointed, equally weighted upper house. The lower house would have the power to introduce and pass legislation, declare war, and manage finances. The upper house would serve as a check on the lower house, having the power to revise legislation and review judicial appointments chosen by the lower house. The lower house would choose a president to serve as the leader of the body, while a national executive would serve as head of state and ratify bills passed by the legislature. After the introduction of the Connecticut plan, the deadlock ended and progress was made. There was one lingering problem, who would be best suited to serve as the executive?
Some delegates suggested that a military figure should serve as the national executive. Others suggested a directly-elected executive who could serve for short terms. Then, an originally controversial idea took center stage: a monarchy. Some had suggested in years prior that the late General George Washington should be crowned King, but many originally dismissed the idea of a monarchy as counterintuitive for the revolution. Given the poor situation of the confederal republic, a monarchy was reconsidered by many as the populace called republicanism into question. Supporters, namely Nathaniel Gorham and Alexander Hamilton, argued that a neutral monarch with restricted powers would preserve the union and ensure that civil war or authoritarianism would never overtake the United States. Opponents, namely Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, believed that a monarchy was too “British” and, similarly to their opposition to greater federal control, would lead to authoritarianism. Discussions about a hypothetical monarchy evolved from whether or not to have a monarch to candidates for the crown. Rumors circulated that Prince Frederick of York and Albany would be offered the throne prior to the convention, but these rumors were shut down quickly. Another candidate took center stage, a man who helped the colonists fight for independence and was held in high esteem by both Americans and Europeans.
Enter Prince Henry of Prussia.
Prince Henry of Prussia, The Man Who Never Lost a Battle
Prince Henry had gained a strong reputation in North America. He personally supported the revolution when word of it hit Europe, and when his brother decided to recognize the United States, Henry was more than willing to help the Patriots’ cause. He arrived in North America in 1778 and commanded troops alongside Washington at the Battle of Monmouth. Washington and Prince Henry successfully defeated Clinton’s army on June 28th, killing 600 and capturing 1,500 soldiers. Prince Henry would oversee the defeat of Baron von Knyphausen at the Battle of Springfield, also known as the “Battle of the Germans” due to most units and commanders hailing from the German states. Following Springfield, New Jersey was secured by the Patriots and Prince Henry was moved to South Carolina, overseeing a victory against Banastre Tarleton at Cowpens. His signature battle, however, was Yorktown, where his Prussian volunteers, combined with American and French forces, forced Lord Cornwallis to surrender and pushed Great Britain to peace negotiations. Despite Prussia going to war with Austria over the Bavarian throne in 1782, Henry decided to stay in the United States and resided in Philadelphia, maintaining his rank of Brigadier General in the Continental Army. Because of this, Prince Henry was a frequent dinner guest of many of the Philadelphia Convention’s delegates.
When Prince Henry’s name was thrown in as a candidate for the monarchy, nearly every member of the convention knew who he was. He had been a voice for the Enlightenment and was a man they fought alongside. He was easily trusted, and American opinion of Prussia was high. The convention voted on the proposal for a monarchy and, by a 8-3 vote, the monarchy was now officially part of the Constitution.
The final draft of the constitution contained three equal branches: the legislative, the monarchical, and the judicial. Article I of the Constitution established the United States Congress. The Congress was designed per the Connecticut Compromise, with a population-determined lower house and an appointed upper house. Article II of the Constitution established the Monarchy of the United States. The monarch was formally established as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, designated as the head of state, and would approve or veto bills that passed through Congress. To prevent the entanglement of the monarchy with politics, members of the royal family are forbidden from voting or attending Congress without a formal invitation from the President. Finally, Article III established the Supreme Court. Justices for the Supreme Court would serve life-terms, would be nominated by the House of Representatives, and approved by the Senate.
The first United States General Election was held from November 1788 to March 1789, electing the first House of Representatives. The American Whig Party, led by Massachusettsan John Adams, secured a majority in the House, with James Madison’s Liberty Party in the minority. The Whigs swept seats in New England and the northeast, while the Liberty Party performed best in the south. The 1st United States Congress convened in New York City and elected John Adams as the President of the Congress.
John Adams, 1st President of the United States
A week after Congress convening, officials relocated from New York City to Philadelphia to attend the coronation of King Henry at Christ Church (the United States was officially a secular state, however monarchs could choose where they would be coronated). After Henry took the oath and the bishop placed the bejeweled crown on the king's head, people both inside and outside the church chanted:
"God save the king!"
"God save the king!"
"God save the king!"
Any and all feedback is appreciated.
“If we simply allow ourselves to bicker and quarrel and have no body mediate our disputes, then we shall be reduced from a sovereign nation to a subject of the British once again. Strengthening our central government is not tyranny, it is, in fact, an antidote to tyranny.” - Alexander Hamilton (July 1787, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Shays’ Rebellion and its casualties was fresh in every American’s mind. Not even a decade after the end of the American Revolution and it looked like civil war was looming between the newly-independent states. States had gathered months prior in Annapolis to revise the Articles of Confederation; however, nothing would come of this meeting as several states did not attend and no changes were made. The Philadelphia Convention (later known as the Constitutional Convention) sought to avoid Annapolis’ mistakes.
The Old State House (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Two major plans came from the convention, the Virginia Plan and the New York Plan, proposed by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton respectively. Madison’s Virginia plan called for a bicameral legislature determined by population and led by an elected weak executive. The Virginia Plan also enclosed term limits for legislative and executive seats to allow rotation in office. The New York Plan endorsed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in both chambers. The lower house would be elected to three year terms, while the appointed Senate would serve for life. It also supported a strong executive who would serve a lifelong term, would serve as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and approve or veto bills from the legislature. The Virginia Plan garnered support from the populous states and the south, while the New York Plan would garner support from the smaller states and the north.
Supporters of the Virginia and New York Plans locked horns for several weeks. Supporters of the Virginia Plan attacked the New York Plan as being too “authoritarian” and taking away too much power from the states. In contrast, supporters of the New York Plan attacked their opponents by claiming that only large states would have a say in the national government, while small states would have almost no voice. This deadlock would continue until the Connecticut delegation would introduce their own plan. The bicameral legislature would have an elected, population-weighted lower house, and an appointed, equally weighted upper house. The lower house would have the power to introduce and pass legislation, declare war, and manage finances. The upper house would serve as a check on the lower house, having the power to revise legislation and review judicial appointments chosen by the lower house. The lower house would choose a president to serve as the leader of the body, while a national executive would serve as head of state and ratify bills passed by the legislature. After the introduction of the Connecticut plan, the deadlock ended and progress was made. There was one lingering problem, who would be best suited to serve as the executive?
Some delegates suggested that a military figure should serve as the national executive. Others suggested a directly-elected executive who could serve for short terms. Then, an originally controversial idea took center stage: a monarchy. Some had suggested in years prior that the late General George Washington should be crowned King, but many originally dismissed the idea of a monarchy as counterintuitive for the revolution. Given the poor situation of the confederal republic, a monarchy was reconsidered by many as the populace called republicanism into question. Supporters, namely Nathaniel Gorham and Alexander Hamilton, argued that a neutral monarch with restricted powers would preserve the union and ensure that civil war or authoritarianism would never overtake the United States. Opponents, namely Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, believed that a monarchy was too “British” and, similarly to their opposition to greater federal control, would lead to authoritarianism. Discussions about a hypothetical monarchy evolved from whether or not to have a monarch to candidates for the crown. Rumors circulated that Prince Frederick of York and Albany would be offered the throne prior to the convention, but these rumors were shut down quickly. Another candidate took center stage, a man who helped the colonists fight for independence and was held in high esteem by both Americans and Europeans.
Enter Prince Henry of Prussia.
Prince Henry of Prussia, The Man Who Never Lost a Battle
Prince Henry had gained a strong reputation in North America. He personally supported the revolution when word of it hit Europe, and when his brother decided to recognize the United States, Henry was more than willing to help the Patriots’ cause. He arrived in North America in 1778 and commanded troops alongside Washington at the Battle of Monmouth. Washington and Prince Henry successfully defeated Clinton’s army on June 28th, killing 600 and capturing 1,500 soldiers. Prince Henry would oversee the defeat of Baron von Knyphausen at the Battle of Springfield, also known as the “Battle of the Germans” due to most units and commanders hailing from the German states. Following Springfield, New Jersey was secured by the Patriots and Prince Henry was moved to South Carolina, overseeing a victory against Banastre Tarleton at Cowpens. His signature battle, however, was Yorktown, where his Prussian volunteers, combined with American and French forces, forced Lord Cornwallis to surrender and pushed Great Britain to peace negotiations. Despite Prussia going to war with Austria over the Bavarian throne in 1782, Henry decided to stay in the United States and resided in Philadelphia, maintaining his rank of Brigadier General in the Continental Army. Because of this, Prince Henry was a frequent dinner guest of many of the Philadelphia Convention’s delegates.
When Prince Henry’s name was thrown in as a candidate for the monarchy, nearly every member of the convention knew who he was. He had been a voice for the Enlightenment and was a man they fought alongside. He was easily trusted, and American opinion of Prussia was high. The convention voted on the proposal for a monarchy and, by a 8-3 vote, the monarchy was now officially part of the Constitution.
The final draft of the constitution contained three equal branches: the legislative, the monarchical, and the judicial. Article I of the Constitution established the United States Congress. The Congress was designed per the Connecticut Compromise, with a population-determined lower house and an appointed upper house. Article II of the Constitution established the Monarchy of the United States. The monarch was formally established as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, designated as the head of state, and would approve or veto bills that passed through Congress. To prevent the entanglement of the monarchy with politics, members of the royal family are forbidden from voting or attending Congress without a formal invitation from the President. Finally, Article III established the Supreme Court. Justices for the Supreme Court would serve life-terms, would be nominated by the House of Representatives, and approved by the Senate.
The first United States General Election was held from November 1788 to March 1789, electing the first House of Representatives. The American Whig Party, led by Massachusettsan John Adams, secured a majority in the House, with James Madison’s Liberty Party in the minority. The Whigs swept seats in New England and the northeast, while the Liberty Party performed best in the south. The 1st United States Congress convened in New York City and elected John Adams as the President of the Congress.
John Adams, 1st President of the United States
"God save the king!"
"God save the king!"
"God save the king!"
Any and all feedback is appreciated.
- Roosevelt
- Word Count: 1.3k