Ain't That a Kick in the Head: The 1850s and beyond

Is this Timeline good so far?

  • Yes, Please continue

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • No, you should do more research

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No, It's a dumb idea

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    1
1853
Franklin Pierce was sitting in his train car, he had told his son, Benny, to sit elsewhere, he had a bad feeling about his son sitting there...so he told his wife and son to sit in the back. This simple action changed American history… Pierce would have heard a noise as the train derailed, he would be crush under the wreckage, his own wife and son seeing his mangled body

Many Americans viewed after the Mexican-American War that their nation was destined for greatness, they had gone from sea to shining sea. But all that changed when President-Elect Franklin Pierce had died in a train crash on the way to his inauguration. His Vice President, William R. King, Would have to rally the American people for a president they did not vote for. He emerged from the Capitol that day, the tragic news had reached the original 13 states at this point. They eagerly awaited his address.


“My Fellow Citizens of the United States of America, President-Elect Pierce was killed in a train crash a few weeks ago now… Leaving me with the office of President, I am far from ready to accept this… Grandiose position, but I shall do my best to keep this union together. God Bless these United States of America!”

Within a few days of the Inauguration, President King would be found bedridden in the White House, ill with tuberculosis. He would pass away on April 18th, 1853. Leaving the American People speechless.
800px-WilliamRDKing.png
 
Last edited:
Speaker of the House and Senate President pro Tempore are still in line as per the succession act of 1792 which alsoprovides for a special election the next November.

EDIT : So up to the inauguration, Fillmore remains in office, and after that point, the president pro Tempore of the Senate takes on.
 
Senate President Pro Tempore David Rice Atchison would rise to be POTUS that april day, taking the oath of office to a group of weary White House Staffers. Many though after the tragedy of 1853 that The Presidency must be cursed, he had no Address, he immediately began working as President, working on assembling a cabinet for his administration. Notable picks would include:

Secretary of State: James Buchanan
Secretary of Treasury: James Guthrie
Secretary of War: Jefferson Davis

President Atchison would preside over an eventful first year, sending James Gadsden to purchase some territory from Mexico along the border, this would become known as the Gadsden Purchase, This would enrage northern abolitionists, calling it an expansion of Slavery. Atchison would instead of deflecting the accusation agree with the statement, declaring his support for slavery to be expanded across the acquired territory of Mexican-American War. Atchison would also set his sights on Cuba, a Spanish Colony at the Time, first opening negotiations to purchase Cuba, before it was rejected by Spain. In response on November 31st, 1853, Atchison would provoke war with Spain via sending Troops to seize a few islands off the coast of Cuba, Many Whigs viewed the action as unconstitutional, as congress had the sole authority to declare war and Atchison was trying to abuse a loophole as Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Spain would be pushed to attack American Troops and then issue a declaration of war to the United States, beginning the Spanish-American War.
 
Top