AHC: American Monarchy

Your challenge is to create a POD or PODs that result(s) in an American Royal Family. Though you can initially make them have real political power, including absolute dominance, today the USA must must be a democracy and the monarchy must be like European monarchies are today: virtually powerless,
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
I want to pre-empt any "elective monarchy" nonsense by pointing out that the founding fathers (at least Jefferson and Adams, and IIRC Hamilton) are on record as explicitly opposing any type of "Polish kingship" which they saw as silly and the worst of all worlds.

So actual monarchy (albeit a Constitutional one), or none at all. The best POD would be for Washington to have a son, a Prince of Virginia-in-waiting. As it proved, he had to make do with surrogates like Hamilton and John Marshall.

Alternately, perhaps if he had a higher opinion of George Washington Parke Custis...
 
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scholar

Banned
Your challenge is to create a POD or PODs that result(s) in an American Royal Family. Though you can initially make them have real political power, including absolute dominance, today the USA must must be a democracy and the monarchy must be like European monarchies are today: virtually powerless,
Well, depending on how you go about it you can either A: Contemplate a complex and interesting web of interactions leading to a pseudo-French revolution analog inside of the United States using preexisting historical figures to create such a situation or B: have a POD in 1640-1650 leading to a different resolution of the English Civil War creating a scenario where the nobility flees to the new world and are later afforded permanent residencies there. With a powerful nobility existing inside of the English New World colonies it may be possible for a Brazil-Portugal break to occur, or should a revolution occur within English America anyways the nobility would be more inclined to promote their own monarchy rather than put faith in an ideology that is built around devaluing their current position and social standing.

Then have time run its course.
 
Your challenge is to create a POD or PODs that result(s) in an American Royal Family. Though you can initially make them have real political power, including absolute dominance, today the USA must must be a democracy and the monarchy must be like European monarchies are today: virtually powerless,


America Eterna: The History of the Federal Kingdom of America by Wolf:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=130143

Horizon to Horizon: The Imperial Commonwealth of the United States by Libertad:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=241138

The Course of Human Events by me:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=90617
 

Cook

Banned
At the end of the war of independence, much of the Continental Army had been with Washington for nearly eight years and had seen him struggle to support them when Congress was either indifferent or incapable of doing so. If the country had remained unstable, perhaps the general could have stepped in and provided a degree of stability, becoming the protector of the republic. The Protectorate period would proceed, with Washington nominating his successor, each new Protector becoming slightly more powerful until one of them is able to name his son or nephew as his successor, at which point the American monarchy is effectively born even if the United States remains a ‘republic’.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
I'd also advocate for "not Alexander Hamilton" since he'd been in the pay of the British since at least 1789.
 
Does this america have to be the america we know today, Or can it reamain in the boundaries set by the reaty of Paris?
 
Burr never planned on taking over Louisiana or any U.S. territory. The goal was Mexico. It was always Mexico.

He actually did plan to conquer the Louisiana Purchase territory and Texas territory, which would comprise the bulk of his empire. Only parts of Mexico would be included.
 
I just got a great idea....

Aaron Burr creates his planned empire in the Louisiana territory, then later annexes the United States.

An intriguing possibility; however, such a thing as that could only be accomplished by an Aaron Burr who's been endowed with abilities and skills that he did not possess in OTL.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
He actually did plan to conquer the Louisiana Purchase territory and Texas territory, which would comprise the bulk of his empire. Only parts of Mexico would be included.
That was never found to be the case, nor does history corroborate it. At the time of his filibuster, Texas was part of Mexico, so there is no distinction. He planned on snatching everything west of the Sabine River that didn't belong to the U.S., and his plans called for his invasion force to depart from New Orleans for Veracruz where he could stomp into Mexico City. The accusations of trying to carve off American territory came from James Wilkinson, who was about as trustworthy as a rabid dog.
 
That was never found to be the case, nor does history corroborate it. At the time of his filibuster, Texas was part of Mexico, so there is no distinction. He planned on snatching everything west of the Sabine River that didn't belong to the U.S., and his plans called for his invasion force to depart from New Orleans for Veracruz where he could stomp into Mexico City. The accusations of trying to carve off American territory came from James Wilkinson, who was about as trustworthy as a rabid dog.

And William Eaton, who, though a drunk at the time, was a bit more trustworthy.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
And William Eaton, who, though a drunk at the time, was a bit more trustworthy.
You mean the alcoholic mercenary (and self-proclaimed "general") who got drunk with Burr once and, shortly after Burr's arrest, had his longstanding claims against the government suddenly recognized to the tune of $10,000?

You've got a known traitor/spy and a bought witness, and the traitor's frankly more credible. This does not for a good case make.
 
You mean the alcoholic mercenary (and self-proclaimed "general") who got drunk with Burr once and, shortly after Burr's arrest, had his longstanding claims against the government suddenly recognized to the tune of $10,000?

You've got a known traitor/spy and a bought witness, and the traitor's frankly more credible. This does not for a good case make.

I've read an entire book on Eaton and his mission. He wasn't an alcoholic till towards the end, and a very good man and good soldier.

I've read a detailed account of that trial and what Eaton said, and to be honest, I'm inclined to believe him.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
I've read a detailed account of that trial and what Eaton said, and to be honest, I'm inclined to believe him.
As is your right. Clearly the court thought otherwise, and Burr rather masterfully pointed out that Jefferson had essentially bought the man.

He may have been a good soldier once upon a time, but by the time of the Burr trial he was a cash-strapped drunk, a failed adventurer, and a bought-and-paid-for witness whose testimony was only partly corroborated by a traitor in the pay of Spain.
 
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