Hey guys, I'm new to this forum, but I wanted to show you a timeline I've been working on.
POD: Benedict Arnold was not passed over for promotion by the Continental Congress, as in OTL. He, elated at his success, continued to lead the United States military to victory. This was especially evident when he discovered a British plot in 1779 to corrupt American generals and give West Point to the British, and managed to break up the plot before its conclusion. After a succession of American victories, America wins the war in 1781 with a much larger army, and a boosted economy and navy as well. OTL Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Newfoundland and Labrador are given to the US as part of the peace settlement in addition to the western American territories. The US managed to capture (with French help) large parts of these territories, enough to lay a claim, and they establish several forts. These are later admitted as the states of Bahama-Bermuda, Jamaica, Acadia(PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick) and Newfoundland-Labrador. The Cayman Islands become a tax-free territory, but later become part of the state of Bahama-Bermuda. In exchange for these territories, $14 million was paid to the British, and the British are allowed by the peace treaty to trade freely in these areas, provided there is no military involvement.
Constitution essentially identical to OTl, except a rule calling for military intervention in North America if a European invades the US or an ally of the US and English being made the official language.
All technological innovations as OTL with the exception of airplanes, airships, and the nuclear bomb.
All European, African, and Asian events as OTL up to around 1832
George Washington elected first president of the US, as in OTL. Term goes as OTL.
French Revolution and rise of Napoleon as OTL.
John Adams presidency as OTl. Alien/Sedition acts not passed until 1809, and for completely different reasons.
Thomas Jefferson elected in 1801, as OTl.
All major non-race related court decisions as OTL.
The timeline's significant POD begins when Thomas Jefferson, flush with success from the Louisiana purchase, which cost $18 million and includes restless Saint-Domingue (Haiti and the Dominican Republic),worthless to the French because of continuous civil disobedience, begins to build up a navy, and passes reform bills developing infrastructure in the United States in 1805. The Road and Population Reform acts are widely applauded, and the country's growth takes an early lead. Mandatory English-only education creates a unified linguistic environment in the US. English-only education was especially popular in the new US state of Saint Dominic, and led to it becoming an English-speaking state around the 1890's. In late 1805, Congress passes a bill that creates new public schools all over America, known for their high education quality. Entry required a fee of ¢75 a month (Indians and Saint Dominicans were exempt), but the schools were largely government funded, and provided English education and basic skills to students. This was a widely applauded bill, and Jefferson was lauded for it.
Note: All states admitted as OTL unless otherwise noted.
1807- Revolution in the new American state of Saint Dominic , which was admitted quickly as a state as a political move by Jefferson to try to keep unrest at bay by supposedly "equalizing" the political status of Saint Dominic, as slaves kept only at bay by the US military revolted against the US government. This revolt was quickly put down, although constant fighting would remain until around 1814, and the US experienced a strong backlash against blacks. Congress, at the extreme urging of Jefferson and the occupation officers in Saint Dominic, passes the Racial Integration Act, awarding continuous sums ($8 a year) of money to any white man who marries and has children with a free black woman. This act is extremely unpopular, regarded as sacrilege, and it is repealed in 1823 (although it is made unenforceable in 1812), but it does ease racial tensions in Saint Dominic as poor whites receive much-needed money for intermarrying, and mullatos are regarded as white if they are free. Instead of OTL Embargo Act, the Free Trade Act is passed, allowing trade from all across the world to flow into American ports with only nominal tariffs. Jefferson's foreign relations with Napoleon blossom, and public sentiment in both the US and France is very positive towards the other country. African slave importation is also banned, as required by the constitution, but the US circumvents this by importing blacks who were "proven subversives" as slaves from Saint Dominic. The white population in Saint Dominic grows significantly after the suppression of the revolution, due to the cheap land and seemingly endless supplies of slaves to work their plantations.
1808- President Jefferson signs a bill he authored that abolishes the Electoral College and allows direct election.
1809- President Jefferson reelected in landslide election, with most of his enemies swept out of office. President Jefferson establishes the American Empire Party on August 1, 1809, which immediately becomes the majority party in the US, as well as the only fully established, united political party. The Party is a centrist party, with conservative economic policies and relatively liberal social policies. Its stated aim was the absorption and Christianization of foreign territory, and the spread of American freedom and the English language all over the world, Jefferson's personal dream. August 1 becomes Empire Day, reflecting the imperialist dreams of the American people. Its propaganda campaign begins, and America rallies behind it. Nationalism is extremely widespread, and "spontaneous" demonstrations of nationalism and support for the Party and Jefferson are widespread. All other founding fathers besides Jefferson are portrayed by the Party as being flawed men, and that only through demonstrations of support for the Party can one become a true American. New election policies mandate that people only vote for a legally established political party, and Jefferson's influence prevents any party that actually pushes through his bureaucracy and manages to become official from winning any important elections (the earlier established Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties are legally merged into the Empire Party). The Alien and Sedition acts are passed in October, with the same powers that they had in OTL, supposedly due to a lack of patriotism for the war in Saint Dominic. Jefferson's political views changed significantly from OTl- he was still a champion of an agricultural state, but believed it was necessary for a strong (though non-intrusive) government to inspire and lead the people of America.
1810- A bill to abolish the House of Representatives is proposed on June 18. In November, the Presidential Action Act was passed, giving the president the ability to override any other governmental authority provided that he has the support of at least two thirds of the American people, determined by public vote. The Senate limit is defined at 3 due to the growing number of states and the need for more input, and the House of Representatives is definitively abolished on December 2 (supposedly due to the representation issue being resolved, but truly because the House of Representatives was less loyal to Jefferson). The Bill of Rights can also be overridden by the President, as long as the Senate approves (which is almost guaranteed because of Jefferson's political influence).
Note: The American Flag never changes from the 13 stars in a ring design(the Betsy Ross flag), despite the addition of new states. English as the sole language of America is enshrined in the constitution. The US manages to keep France as an ally by sending troops to help with the French occupation of Italy and using its navy to stop British pirates from raiding French ships.
The constant war against the Indians is not a major issue, and 90% of Indian resistance in the entire US had been wiped out by 1810 thanks to the US occupation policy, which states that civil unrest in an area is to be followed by suppression and resolution of the issue by any means necessary. Most Indians are moved into the Indian Territory, in OTL Oklahoma, in what is known as the "Road of Blood."
In 1811, a definitive agreement with Spain gives Florida, southwest Louisiana, and a part of west Colorado to the US for $5 million 8 years earlier than OTl, while the Mexican Revolution and subsequent Latin American independence movements will not start until 1827 because of a stronger Spanish colonial government. In the same year, a treaty of alliance is signed guaranteeing mutual military protection between France and the US. December 7, 1811 is the day when the US finally pays off its debts for both the war and the Louisiana purchase.