A Confederate Monarchy

Prologue: We diverge from written history at the Battle of Gettysburg. Instead of disobeying orders and not doing so; Ewell takes Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Ridge on the evening of the first day of the battle thus giving the Confederates the high ground and ultimately allowing the Confederates to win. After this victory(which will be considered by historians as the ‘Saratoga of the American Civil War’), the British and the French who up until this point have been watching the war on the sidelines, begin to actively support the South in both terms of equipment and troops (via Mexico occupied by –at this time IRL- the French). This new found strength gives the Confederates the edge they need to triumph over the Union and win the war. Robert E. Lee is seen as the Washington of his day and is catapulted by the people into the presidency in 1866. Considered the true 'Embodiment of the Confederacy', the people and legislature of the CSA offer Lee the same that was offered to Washington; the crown of the country he helped to create. Instead of refusing as Washington had, Lee accepts and is crowned 'King of the Confederate States of America' on July 3rd 1868 (on the fifth anniversary of his great triumph (as it seemed fitting)) after being president/regent for 2 years.

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Author's note: this being my first timeline I really don't know what i'm doing. Feedback is appreciated.

I also need ideas.
 
Okay, first off, Ewell did not disobey orders.

Secondly, with what again is he supposed to take Culp's Hill if he does decide it is "practicable"?

Thirdly, if somehow that's addressed and he's not knocked off the hill by Union reinforcements - why on earth does this lead to British recognition?

Finally to skip to the chase: WTF, Lee becoming king?!

That makes no sense at all.
 

scholar

Banned
This is unique, interesting, and somewhat creative. I would encourage you to continue this timeline and work on it as much as you can.

However, its just not plausible. Not in the way you describe. If the Americans do something stupid like supply the republicans in Mexico, France might move to back the Confederacy. However, such a move might make the British support the Americans. At the very least it would prevent the British from mobilizing to assist the Confederacy. An intervention in the conflict by the French in support of the Confederacy due to Union actions against the second Mexican Empire is a good starting point for an independent Confederacy. However, the Confederacy is another face of the United States. Its a region that has its own values, but ultimately is still part of the same nation and embodiment of ideas. I find most notions that the Confederacy to be destined to fall apart or become a military dictatorship grossly out of step with the nature of American society in general both pre-civil war and after.

In order for a monarchy to be realistically formed you need to be able to, for instance, create a situation where you could make the Union in a similar scenario at this time become a monarchy. That's not an easy thing to do. One of the only ways I can think of is American Romanticism regarding European culture (monarchies in particular) and a prevention of republican nationalism taking hold around the world, a second or third generation American "royal" from one of the families is an incredibly popular individual and rises that way in the midst of severe economic strife and disillusionment with the current government as well as many of the blocks that make up that foundation.
 
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