A New Dawn Rising: What if America stuck by her ideals?

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who is reading this, its my first one so there's a few mistakes here and there. Would love to know what you like and dislike about it?
I think it's great. I hope you don't think I was trying to take you down. I was just pointing out some things that I would want someone to point out if I ever made a TL. I was very happy to see that Benedict Arnold eventually became president in this TL. Arnold is such an interesting character and imagining him as president is so strange to me (in a good way). I very much look forward to how this TL continues to grow. If possible, I'd love to see some updates on the wider world and also on how American Canada is growing.

Keep up the good work!
 
I think it's great. I hope you don't think I was trying to take you down. I was just pointing out some things that I would want someone to point out if I ever made a TL. I was very happy to see that Benedict Arnold eventually became president in this TL. Arnold is such an interesting character and imagining him as president is so strange to me (in a good way). I very much look forward to how this TL continues to grow. If possible, I'd love to see some updates on the wider world and also on how American Canada is growing.

Keep up the good work!
Thank you. I did not. I apricate the comments. Being my first story, adapting on what does and doesn't work. it should improve the more I write. Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy what's coming. One thing I hope to implement in other stories is a look at the wider world, wanted to keep this one focused on America. The next one is more global though.
 
Chapter Seventy-Five- The Cabinet of a Military Mind New


Chapter Seventy-Five- The Cabinet of a Military Mind​

Grant would run his time as president like a genera for that was what he had known for a very long time . He expected great discipline but did grant rewards for those doing well. He was hard but fair, making choices to advance America but only if they were considered successful, he did not like giving promotions based on favouritism like many of the other aspects of government did. His actions pre-dated the end of the spoils system and would not be remembered for it because grant is now looked on as a man who could of done so much more he did establish the Education department though its scope would be limited for now and there would be no official Secretary. Tragedy would strike before grant could make major changes: His Cabinet included:

Secretary of Defence: Ely S. Parker- Parker was back and this time he would see action. He began organising the expedition to china as the empire collapsed and factions began to appear. He would work closely with the state department to help supply the democratic faction. He would also see the launch of the world’s first battleship in 1878 named the USS Lee. It would be the first to be completely made out of steel, a big development for the US navy.

Secretary of State: Robert Todd Lincoln: A former president in the cabinet was unheard of but was not against the law. He could not be included in the succession of office which had been established in the 1870s. Lincoln would gain control over Hong Kong in his term in office which would serve as a base to arm democratic rebels in china. This would bring the annoyance of japan as Lincoln also began to meddle in Korea. Lincoln would also secure the Philippines as the second American protectorate as the Spanish lost to the rebels there.

Secretary of the Treasury: Ada Lovelace - A women were still in charge of the treasury and it no longer seemed insane. She worked closely with the other departments to achieve maximum efficacy. She reformed the counting system and the currency to make it easier and more efficient for America . She began to use public funds alongside the home department to begun creating state parks to gather more income for the treasury.

Secretary of home development: John A. Roebling – Roebling was back and continued to improve cities including the introducing of massive sewer systems, the installation of gas systems. During this time cities like New York and Chicago began to build upward with the first skyscrapers appearing, he would also look into hydroelectric power.

Secretary of Health: Florence Nightingale -. Florence Nightingale was back and this time she expanded nursing schools across the plains of America and the west, she opened the first dedicated burns ward in New York and pushed for free dentists. She also began to advocate for more research into medicines which had slowly become a thing during the late 1870s. Nightingale also began talking about free health care though this was pushed aside for now.​
 
Chapter Seventy-Six- Regulate It! New

Chapter Seventy-Six- Regulate It!​

Grant was a former alcoholic. He had turned to the drink after leavening his job and struggling with life. Though he and manged to come around he still saw alcohol as a massive problem in America . Though he knew he could not ban it for income from booze was too much to remove it completely. However, a report in 1877 allowed grant to enact some forms not just on alcohol. Florence Nightingale and the health department had come up with a number of findings on food and drink, the way it was stored and used. The effects of alcohol on the human body were also discovered along with the long-term societal effects of Tabaco after many surveys among the population. Grant saw this as a chance to act on it and began drafting up reforms with Nightingale. Though he knew he would not be liked for it, the long-term health benefits would be needed. The Pure Food and Drug Act 1878, the Alcohol laws of 1878 and the meat inspection act of 1878 were all passed. Collectively, the laws provided for the labelling of foods and drugs and the inspection of livestock, and mandated sanitary conditions at meatpacking plants. An age limit of 16 was placed on Alcohol meaning it could no longer be sold in normal shops, instead new shops would open that would sell only Alcohol boosting the economy further. Acts of violence or destruction while under the influence of Alcohol was made a crime so was abusing one partner under the influence of Alcohol. it was the answer to the calls for probation for now but the issue would not die down. to some Alcohol was simply the devil's brew.​
 
Chapter Seventy-Seven- Explosion on The Mississippi New


Chapter Seventy-Seven- Explosion on The Mississippi!​

In March 5th 1879, one year before the election. The cabinet of America were to meet on a new experimental kind of boat on the Mississippi. Secretary of Defence Ely S. Parker, Secretary of home development John A. Roebling and Secretary of Health Florence Nightingale would all attend alongside president grant and vice president Schuyler Hamilton. The ship was touring the Mississippi powered completely by a new kind of motor engine without steam. It was a grand affair ready to kick start an American tourism industry. At 9am in the morning the ship set of down the Mississippi with pleasant skies. The ship was mostly made out of wood though some steel was used to save money. Secretary of the Treasury Ada Lovelace had declined to go along as she was too busy with her work and did not understand the need to go on this new ship. The president and the cabinet would mingle with voters and gain southern thoughts on what the president could do, the south was a key voting base in elections. There was food and drinks. The new ship was considered a success and president grant could not wait to provide federal funding to expand the new fleet of naval ships to travel up and down the Mississippi.

At 11am disaster struck; the new engine exploded sending flames licking though the vessel. It was revealed after the engines were in fact steam but pressure build up and overheating caused them to explode, the cabinet were lied to in order be impressed and to persuade them to give clout to the new ships. When the engines exploded fire ignited quickly spread as the ship listed hard throwing many into the alligator infected waters including the vice president who would perish first. Secretary of Defence Ely S. Parker and Secretary of home development John A. Roebling would also perish while trying to stop flooding after a secondary explosion. Florence Nightingale would stay with people for as long as she could helping them of the boat onto the nearby bank before a further list to port made her leave the ship as well. The president who was below deck at the time became trapped within a room under a fallen wooden beam as water gushed in, he too would perish. Half the cabinet, the president and vice president were dead. America began to panic but congress acted. The presidential succession act determined that the next person in line after the death of the president, the vice president and the senior members of the cabinet would be the Secretary of the treasury. That would be Ada Lovelace. The first women ascended to the office under tragedy but was determined to set out her own legacy, to change America . For beter or for worse.​
 
Part Fourteen: The Presidency of Ada Lovelace New

Part Fourteen: The Presidency of Ada Lovelace​

Ada Lovelace.png
 
Chapter Seventy-Eight- A Women’s Touch New

Chapter Seventy-Eight- A Women’s Touch​

Ada Lovelace was a smart woman. her mathematical talents led her to a long working relationship and friendship with fellow mathematician Charles Babbage. She had reformed the treasury to be more efficient but had never expected to be president. But when the president, the vice president and most the cabinet died she ascended to the office. A sixty-five-year-old women she was not considered suitable for the office but she pressed on. With only one year to the election of 1880 many did not expect her to assemble a cabinet or run for a full term but once she had the office Lovelace was not ready to give it up without a fight. She assembled a cabinet, fought the election of 1880 which she won then served eight years winning the election of 1884. Throughout her term, Lovelace used a cabinet of people she considered smart who could help her with her agenda, she was the first to appoint an education Secretary. These people included:

Secretary of Defence: Edward Baker Lincoln- The second son of Lincoln and the brother of president Robert Lincoln, Edward would begin training the military to handle tougher situations, establishing the Lincoln doctrine. He believed that any fighting would no longer be fought out in the open but in the forests, jungles and mountains. Lincoln established the United States Army Ranger corps focused mainly on infiltration tactics and sabotage.

Secretary of State: James G. Blaine: The former president would step down from his role, shaken by the events he missed during the Mississippi Disaster of 1879. The new head of the state department was James G. Blaine though unexperienced he did bring something new Lovelace wanted. Lovelace had come to see what she considered as an unnecessary action of the yesteryears and if America was to move forward it had to let go. With the death of King Charles II, the third in 1878 led to the rise of King Henry the 9th (the son of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany and grandson of king George the third). Blaine would slowly work to normalise relations with the British and Spanish while also increasing influence in Korea.

Secretary of the Treasury: Robert Ray Hamilton - Now president Lovelace could not run the treasury instead she placed her friend Robert Hamilton in charge of the treasury. The 1880s would see a decrease in military spending as love lace attempted to shun the America n people’s warlike past. Robert Hamilton would instead funnel more money into education, the colonies and the improvement of the growing slums inside cities. Robert Hamilton kept the treasury afloat and was praised for his actions in establishing new paper notes in 1885.

Secretary of home development: N/A- The home development department was eating up funds by the 1880s. it was considered outdated and unnecessary as most infrastructure problems could be dealt with a smaller team. To that end, Lovelace rolled the home department into the state department ending its role in America .

Secretary of Health: Florence Nightingale - Florence Nightingale was back. She was much older now but continued to work on bringing healthcare to Mexico and the colonies. Nightingale began campaigns for healthier eating and exercise. She would be most well-known for establishing free health clinics for the poor. She also pushed for better treatment for immigrants on ships, considering the practices unhealthy.

Secretary of Education: Charles Dickens/ Oscar Wilde - A sixty-eight-year-old man from England, dickens had written many novels during his time living in America . He was also a good friend of Lovelace. Lovelace did not want a established person in the role for she did not believe they would grasp the idea of education. Despite being old, For Dickens, a good education could be the bulwark against ignorance, cyclical poverty and crime. He would serve four years in the role establishing schools for the poor which attendance was mandatory twice a week, the strain of work would kill him in 1884. Oscar Wilde was an aspiring writer at the age of thirty, he had left Ireland after his messages of education for the masses was ignored. He became dickens protégé and took over after his death. Wilde was younger and pushed harder, he manged to secure the place of science and history in schools and also established schools for girls.​
 
Chapter Seventy-Nine- All or Nothing New

Chapter Seventy-Nine- All or Nothing​

Ada Lovelace was a woman. Yet women were not protected from abuse, they could not devoice nor did they have much said in the way they lived their life’s. Very few women worked, got educated and for the poorer women it was even harder to meet up. Lovelace dedicated a statue to the women of the revolution in New York in 1885 and gave her *all of nothing* speech declaring that women have fought for this union just as much as men and now it was time to make things equal. The south was not pleased with this. They had already been forced to accept black workers have protection, they now believed a woman was trying to bring ruin their way of life, trying to force them to become the housewife’s while the women with no brains drove the country into the ground. There were protests by southern women and men demanding there right to life being protected. Lovelace was pushed by southern governors as well to consider not being too radical but Lovelace was not one for talking and stood by her all or nothing speech. She was not prepared to let the south win.

With a majority in congress, Lovelace passed the People’s rights act of 1887. It granted the right to devoice if both parties agreed, protected all from physical harm for partners, allowed women to seek education and more importantly established what would become the America n nursery system which would allow women to have care for their children. In making sure both sexes were represented, Lovelace had subjected some fears but some in the south were not happy. In Georgia the governor’s mansion was set on fire and in Florida two socialist members were shot. Things were heating up and Lovelace was not amused. She would deploy the national guard in order to keep order, proving to many that she would not mess around. Lovelace however had alienated some people including Theodore Roosevelt because as Lovelace preached equality for the masses, she tended to ignore the large cooperation’s growing in the abbesses of the home development department and the growing inequality between rich and poor.​
 
Chapter Eighty: The Spoils of Africa New

Chapter Eighty: The Spoils of Africa​

America had begun interest in Africa by colonising Liberia. Spain, the British, the Dutch, the Germans and eventually the French had also become interested in the vast lands of Africa. Spain had morocco, France had taken Algeria while the recently independent Italy had a growing influence in Libya and Egypt. The colony of Liberia was one of the largest and most prosperous though most of the western influence was regulated to the coast. The Congo was a heavily contested point in Africa claimed by America , the Dutch and the Germans. By the early 1880s many factors including diplomatic successes, greater western local knowledge, and the demand of resources such as gold, timber, and rubber, triggered dramatically increased involvement in the continent of Africa. Lovelace wanted their colonies to be free and that their subjects should be open to rights they deserved as America ns after ten years of being a part of the country. Lovelace also believed more land could lead to more business as companies would rush to invest. The race for colonies made Germany start launching expeditions of its own, which frightened both British and Spanish statesmen. Hoping to quickly soothe the brewing conflict, President Lovelace convinced Britain and Germany that common trade in Africa was in the best interests of all three countries. Under support from the America ns and the initiative of Portugal, Otto von Bismarck, the prime minster of Germany, called on representatives of 13 nations in Europe as well as the United States to take part in the Berlin Conference in 1884 to work out joint policy on the African continent.

The General Act fixed the following points in Africa:

To gain public acceptance, the conference (pushed by America and France) agreed to end slavery by African and Islamic powers. Today it could be considered the first modern international law as each country apart of the deal agreed to make slavery illegal permanently. Scandinavia would follow in 1889, Russia would follow in 1890 and the Ottoman empire would finally follow in 1897. A joint colonial society was set up in Switzerland called “International Association for the protections of Africans, it would be a predecessor for what was to come but would focus on stopping any form of slavery or slave trade.

The powers would have free trade throughout the Congo Basin as well as Lake Malawi

The Niger and Congo rivers were made free for ship traffic.

A nation could not claim land If it did not have significant occupational forces or administration in the area they are claiming.

Definition of regions in which each power had an exclusive right to pursue the legal ownership of land. A power must prove it has attempted to pressure legal and peaceful measures before invasion to the IAPA.

The Scramble for Africa sped up after the Conference since even within areas designated as their sphere of influence, the European powers had to take effective possession by the principle of effectivity. In central Africa in particular, expeditions were dispatched to coerce traditional rulers into signing treaties. Bedouin- and Berber-ruled states in the Sahara and the Sub-Sahara were overrun by the French in several wars and purchases. With south African aid the America ns moved up from South Africa while Italy moved down from Egypt.

Within a few years, Africa was at least nominally divided up south of the Sahara. By 1895, the only independent states were:

Ethiopian Empire, the only free native state, which fended off Italian invasion from Eritrea in the First Italo-Ethiopian War of 1889–1896.

South Africa: it had become free from Britain during the great collapse and had warm relations with America . Aiding them in pulsing up to colonise parts of Africa.​
 
Chapter Eighty-One: Transforming the Presidency New

Chapter Eighty-One: Transforming the Presidency​

The presidency was over a hundred years old by the time Ada Lovelace came to office. despite being new herself, the office wasn’t. While European monarchs and prime ministers lived in the newest homes of the 1880s with the newest in technology the president of the united states lived in the Whitehouse, no major renovations or changes had happened since the early 1800s and because of this it was outdated. Cables had been installed for the telegraph but that was all. As time had passed the White House had become more overcrowded. The location of the White House was questioned, just north of a canal and swampy lands, which provided conditions ripe for malaria and other unhealthy conditions. It was not the only problem the president faced, while the rich of America had begun the slow transition to motor cars the presidency continued to use horse and carriage which was slower. There were plans to leave the Whitehouse behind and build a new mansion away from the city but president Lovelace vetoed it. instead, the president would move to a smaller home while a new white house was constructed. Keeping the outer structure but improving and expanding the inside. About twenty wagonloads of furniture and household items were removed from the building and sold at a public auction. All that was saved were bust portraits of John Quincy Adams and Martin Van Buren. Afterword’s the inside was gutted completely, revealing the rotting sinking structure within, had it been left the Whitehouse could have collapsed into the swamp in under thirty years.

The white house was reinforced with new steel and iron then it was raised under a new foundation to protect it from the swamp. A National Wing on the east was built for a historical art gallery, and a wing on the west was constructed for the official duties of the president. By moving the president’s office into the new west wing, the renovators were able to remove a staircase expanding the space of the first family allowing for new bedrooms. A larger basement was added for the Whitehouse staff. Different periods of the early republic and world history were selected as a theme for each room: The Federal style for the Green Room, French Republic for the Blue Room, America n Empire for the Red Room, Louis XVI for the Yellow Oval Room, and German for the president's study, renamed the Treaty Room. Antique furniture was acquired, and decorative fabric and trim based on period documents was produced and installed. Lovelace wanted the Whitehouse to remain in the image of the old while also being new. The old stables were converted into a new garage for cars and a swimming pool was also added into the Whitehouse. The garden, the first lady’s office and the meeting rooms were all shifted to the former location of the president’s office. telephones were also installed in the Whitehouse and a guard’s break area was introduced. The construction on the new white was would be complete in 1893 after Lovelace’s term but it would establish a new strong Whitehouse that would remain for another long period of time.
 
Chapter Eighty-Two: Pensions and Greed New

Chapter Eighty-Two: Pensions and Greed​

Despite Lovelace appointing her cabinet based on merit, this was not a common thing among the state departments themselves. Many member of the state department were chosen via wealth or family connections something Lovelace ignored. Congress was divided on the issue and Lovelace was reluctant to address the issue for fear of alienating the cabinet and congress. Lovelace had gotten most of her agenda done in office and knew she couldent do it if she alienated them.
Lovelace knew she had to do something. She set up a reform Commission in order to evaluate changes. She appointed Theodore Roosevelt and Hugh Smith Thompson, both reformers, to the Commission, but otherwise did little to further the reform cause. Lovelace largely ignored Roosevelt, who frequently called for the establishment of a merit system. By ignoring Roosevelt, Lovelace pushed Roosevelt towards the democratic-republicans who had became anti-big business while the socialists stood behind businesses while also trying to advance rights. Many considered it odd the socialists would do this but Lovelace knew that their ideals would never pass without business support. Lovelace’s solution to the growing surplus in the federal treasury was to increase pensions for veterans. She had presided over the enactment of the Dependent and Disability Pension Act. However, the damage was done, the news of family members in state departments and bribes going around reached the media. The shine of a new tomorrow of progressive socialists faded though they had done good they were nothing different now to what had come before. Because of her inability to act on the spoils system, Lovelace would be remembered only as a mediocre president despite her successes.​
 
Chapter Eighty-Three: The Election of 1888 New

Chapter Eighty-Three: The Election of 1888​

Ada Lovelace would under the laws of office, have to step down in 1888. She was disliked but also loved by many. Both popular and unpopular, historians would never truly be able to agree where she would fall. She did good for America but her actions had left many in poverty and though the Economy was decent it was tinkering on the edge. Mass spending had left the economy in a decent shape but increasing pensions had pushed it over the age. Too scared to fully tax big business or the rich, Lovelace in the end left an America facing another economic depression. The socialists selected her vice president to run for office. Benjamin Harrison, Harrison was to be more of the same and for the economy and the America n democratic empire this spelled bad news if he was to win.

The socialist party of America would have the quickest rise and fall of any political party in America . A new man appeared on the scene. Theodore Roosevelt. As Lovelace refused to make larger changes, he rallied both progressives and centre people together. The democratic-republicans shifted again from the party of the south to the part of progress. Tacking over the party at a young age, Roosevelt was able to iron out the raciest and more old elements of the party. By uniting the progressives, the centre and some members of the right, Roosevelt signalled the end of the socialist party.

For the first time in American history, America became a one party system as Roosevelt won the election of 1888. There were attempts to organise parties to stand against the democratic republicans but they were small and never nationwide. The largest voice he found against him was the Southern Democratic union party though with control over congress there was not much the SUD could do. Facing problems in china, Mexico, Cuba and at home Roosevelt came to the presidency when America needed stability. Roosevelt would give its stability, by chopping down the trees of corruption and starting anew. By the end of his term, Roosevelt would take America and her allies form powers to great powers and would expand America to its highest extent. Thus, beginning what would be known as The Golden age of the American empire.​
 
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