AHC: Ceremonial American Royalty

I'm sure this has been done to death, but your challenge is to have the USA establish a purely ceremonial American monarchy following independence from Britain. The only rule is that the monarchy cannot be established by someone of non-American background, meaning no European (or otherwise) dukes or princes or whatever invited to become King. My preference would be to see George Washington as the inaugural King, but I'm interested in whatever you guys have to offer. What would be necessary to accomplish this? How would the presence of a monarch, who held no real legal power and was purely a cultural fixture, impact the development of the US?
 
My preference would be to see George Washington as the inaugural King

Washington. Would. Not. Become. A. King. It would be completely against his character, beliefs, and everything he stood for as a small "r" republican. The only way that could work is some ASB Assassin's Creed scenario where Washington magically turns evil and crowns himself king.
 
Washington. Would. Not. Become. A. King. It would be completely against his character, beliefs, and everything he stood for as a small "r" republican. The only way that could work is some ASB Assassin's Creed scenario where Washington magically turns evil and crowns himself king.

Okay, other suggestions then? John Adams? Alexander Hamilton?
 
Okay, other suggestions then? John Adams? Alexander Hamilton?

Not really; those figures don't have the universal popularity/prestige to be offered a crown, the strength to take/forge one, or the inclination to do so. Which is exactly why this is borderline ASB: Washington woulden't and everybody else coulden't, even if we assume the American people would have the inclination to accept it.

I suppose, maybe, if the Continental Congress goes for the "executive committee" model of head-of-government rather than a single executive figure, you might end up with ceremonial head of state to fufill the stuff only a single person can do, but to make that position hereditary? Not likely.
 
Honestly the closest thing to this i can think of is a random proposal by Paine in Common sense where the constitution is ceremonially crowned (a clear statement of the Law is King) and afterwards the crown is broken a dustributed to the crowd.
 
Not really; those figures don't have the universal popularity/prestige to be offered a crown, the strength to take/forge one, or the inclination to do so. Which is exactly why this is borderline ASB: Washington woulden't and everybody else coulden't, even if we assume the American people would have the inclination to accept it.

I suppose, maybe, if the Continental Congress goes for the "executive committee" model of head-of-government rather than a single executive figure, you might end up with ceremonial head of state to fufill the stuff only a single person can do, but to make that position hereditary? Not likely.

So, then perhaps the question should be broader. What would have to change to bring about conditions where the American people would be more inclined to accept a monarchy, and might those conditions convince a reasonably well known and respected figure to persistently pursue the crown?
 
So, then perhaps the question should be broader. What would have to change to bring about conditions where the American people would be more inclined to accept a monarchy, and might those conditions convince a reasonably well known and respected figure to persistently pursue the crown?

Butterfly the Revolution and we stay happy monarchists.
 
One way would be changing how the US revolted in the the first place against British Parliamentary rule. Maybe there's a different king who does intercede and the colonies become separate crowns with their own parliaments. Joining these kingdoms together is harder but not impossible and eventually it's a single crown under the British monarch. Then it just needs a tradition of locals becoming Governor General / Viceroy and voila.
 
Maybe an elected
I'm sure this has been done to death, but your challenge is to have the USA establish a purely ceremonial American monarchy following independence from Britain. The only rule is that the monarchy cannot be established by someone of non-American background, meaning no European (or otherwise) dukes or princes or whatever invited to become King. My preference would be to see George Washington as the inaugural King, but I'm interested in whatever you guys have to offer. What would be necessary to accomplish this? How would the presence of a monarch, who held no real legal power and was purely a cultural fixture, impact the development of the US?
Maybe a Supreme court Justice ist elected as a Pope Like Institution for life ? With numerals
 
Last edited:
National tradition to make a mockery “King for a Day” of some random person on July 3rd.
On July 4th they are ceremonially deposed after being forced to accept the Declaration of Independence.
 
Last edited:
Washington. Would. Not. Become. A. King. It would be completely against his character, beliefs, and everything he stood for as a small "r" republican. The only way that could work is some ASB Assassin's Creed scenario where Washington magically turns evil and crowns himself king.

It's as easy as changing a part of his character, hardly asb.
 
Top