Alexander Hamillton's Plan of Government is Chosen

In 1787,at the Constitution Convertion...Delegate Alexander Hamilton proposed a plan to reorganize the Articles of Confederation to a more Constitutional Monarchy rather than a rigid Republic. Unfortunaley the planhttp://www.footnote.com/page/146 , he created came upon deaf ears and the Republic we have today was chosen as our Governmental system.

But What If...Alexander Hamilton was able to inspire his fellow delegates to institute his plan, with minor changes? Would George Washington still be elected to rule as POTUS-for-Life? How does Jefferson's Career pan out, with Hamilton having much more power and Influence in TTL? And most importantly would the system possibly work better than a Republic?
 
It is a good thing that it didn't happen. Politicians should never be elected for life. That is the quikest way to a one man dictattorship.
 
I think Washington would have to be POTUS 4 Life, he was the best candidate due mainly to Franklin's age and ill health. Jefferson would have a role most likely as Foreign Minister because he would still insist on the Bill of Rights and Hamilton would be in the finance or war dept. Slavery is the big wild card. But if Hamilton manages to convince the convention of his plan, this would give him incredible amounts of influence and he was not a fan of slavery. Lets suppose the plan would sell pretty well in the South because it ensures that they at least will enjoy equal representation in the Senate for a long time. all the way up to the Mid Atlantic would love it but I think it would be difficult to sell to New England, because they were really concerned about Southern dominance and abolitionism was beginning to be disscussed as I seem to remeber OTL New York abolishes slavery by 1815 and New England does it soon. As for long term viability it depends upon follows washington in office. Hamilton I say civil war circa 1820 if its some else Jefferson? Adams? John Jay maybe? or possibly someone lesser known like a Lee or a Virginia Randolph all of those men wouldn't be as wildly against slavery as Hamilton was and would compromise.
 
Would this be the same plan that Alexander showed up, proposed, and then left immediately after? The one that had virtually no support (even from Alexander) when compared to the other compromise plans?

Seamammal comes to mind.
 
I did my senior thesis on the Hamilton's influence on american politics. His biggest fear was not the establishment but oddly enough he was worried that the common people were just too gulible to be trusted with voting. While this point may have merit (think George W. Bush, Reagan) the plans real sticking point if I remember correctly is that people just didn't like Hamilton's cocksure attitude. Maybe if Hamilton comes out of his childhood with less concern about his reputation than this plan has a shot. Part of the problem is that Hamilton called his presidential position the "Monarch" and calling that a loaded word is an understatement. basically its not as far fetched as you would think. the founders were scared to death of the common people (meaning not plantation/land owners or not anyone in the monied class) and the electoral college system actually comes from this plan as do the two houses of Congress
 
The big issue that would prevent Hamilton's plan from ever being accepted is that it gives far more power to the central government than the states would ever accept, with things like state governors being appointed by the national government and having an absolute veto over laws passed by the legislature. Even if the convention were to accept such a plan, there is no way the states would ratify a constitution that would reduce from semi-autonomous units to administrative districts.
 
Would this be the same plan that Alexander showed up, proposed, and then left immediately after? The one that had virtually no support (even from Alexander) when compared to the other compromise plans? Seamammal comes to mind.

If it is, there is evidence Hamilton even when putting out didn't want it as written. I suspect he put it one to do three (3) things; 1, start debate, 2, estbish a extreme conservative (and I use conservative in the 1780 meaning) position from which to compromise closer to his real goal, and to get the idea on a strong executive (the biggest fear on most Americans at the time) out on the table.

Several of the delegates did this with their pet ideas.

Now, life tenture is interesting, noting a later Hamilton pondering (pondering because while discussed there's no evidence he ever formally propose it) requiring an ex-President to leave the country after his term(s). Hamilton was worry even a former President in quiet retire would be at less a nuiance to the sitting President.
 
WI the old royal colonial postmaster, Ben Franklin, aged diplomat enmored with a young ego, reestablished a network of postal delivery in 1786 allowing Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay to write and distribute the Federalist Papers on a much wider scale than previously possible.


granted POD has to be before the 1787 convention I'd say if Henry Laurens doesn't go out on that last patrol before the end of the war and lives through the war giving Hamilton a southern ally and defusing the threat from Jefferson later
 
I don't think that Hamilton was bargaining for the Constitution that he got. I don't think he wanted the allowances for slavery that were granted (3/4ths, 1808 end of slave trade, etc) more or less on the priniciple that competition is best and you shouldn't prop up something that isn't effecient. I seem to remember that he wanted a 6 year presidential term really badly.
 
I don't think that Hamilton was bargaining for the Constitution that he got. I don't think he wanted the allowances for slavery that were granted (3/4ths, 1808 end of slave trade, etc) more or less on the priniciple that competition is best and you shouldn't prop up something that isn't effecient. I seem to remember that he wanted a 6 year presidential term really badly.

Agree, on the slavery compromises. In some of his writings, I get the impress he did not share the then current consensus (at least among the leaders north and south) that slavery was a "dying" institution.

And yes, he felt 4 years wasn't long enough, and would have agree to single term limit (I believe all the state governors with single term) to get 6 years.
 
Cool...I totally wasn't expecting such a large yet Intriguing discussion being brought up over the topic at hand...I do agree with BigFan79 that we do need a solid POD...I was thinking, about possibly a Bloodier Shay's Rebellion...Have Shay's men finally recieve the reinforcements for Luke Day's mob before they raid the artillery and actually defeat the Springfield Militia. After garnering more support the rebels actually march on Philadelphia before being defeated by the American Forces.

So would a sense of fear of Mob Rule/Rebellion cause his plan to be enacted? Would the plan be taken as is or would minor changes to Hamilton's Constitution be implemented...Such as the office of VP, could it take more of an Prime Minister like role where they are elected every six years, and upon the death/resignation of the POTUS-for-Life?What are some other changes which might take place?
 
(snipped) After garnering more support the rebels actually march on Philadelphia before being defeated by the American Forces. So would a sense of fear of Mob Rule/Rebellion cause his plan to be enacted? Would the plan be taken as is or would minor changes to Hamilton's Constitution be implemented...

Maybe, it would take a lot to scare majorities in all the States. And yes, all the States, while 3/4 passed OTL's Constitution it would have been a mess if more than Rhode Island had refused.

Such as the office of VP, could it take more of an Prime Minister like role where they are elected every six years, and upon the death/resignation of the POTUS-for-Life?What are some other changes which might take place?

Well assuming you have a "Chief Executive" for Life you would need a "power" /visible elected number 2, I suspect we'd follow the path of our English relatives, with the Speaker being more of a First (but less than the Prime) Minister and the House would definitely need to be more powerful, as a trade off. Maybe the Senate becomes a Veto only body (which was discussed with both the big and Small state plans in OTL).
 
Shays rebellion was a reaction to Hamilton's Excise Taxes that he shoved through congress in 1792. The Tax was caused by the Report on Public Credit being met with such a great reception in Congress. I think an earlier POD is needed. I think that some people need to die in order for this to work out.
 
Shays rebellion was a reaction to Hamilton's Excise Taxes that he shoved through congress in 1792. The Tax was caused by the Report on Public Credit being met with such a great reception in Congress. I think an earlier POD is needed. I think that some people need to die in order for this to work out.

I believe your are getting the armed conflict of Shay's Rebellion confused whith the Whiskey Rebellion of OTL 1791. So the POD, that you suggested would be a lil late seeing as OTL Constitution had already been chosen by that time...

Would a Daniel Shay's sponsor a massive Slave Revolt in the south to attempt to trully reform the nation? Would a a combined effort on Slaves and ex-militiamen/farmers cause the necessary amount of Bloodsheed and Destruction for Hamiltion dream of a centralized US to come true?

Let's say that Washington does accept the position of POTUS-for-Life and keeping true to his Cinncinatus-like Personality decides to retires in 1797. If Adams in this ATL, becomes the elected monarch How would the US fare during his reign streching from 1797 till his death in 1826?
 
Yea I did Shay's rebellion, shays rebellion was about pay. I'd say Adams further centralizes the government and definitly buys CUBA in 1824 assuming most everything goes like OTL. I'd say strong armed forces and definite western expansion and a negotiated end to slavery with Adams as intermediary. With that being said I don't know what do with Jefferson.
 
Wow..Seems as if the debate still raging...I would love to start a TL for this but I just do not have the time right now...Annyone else wants to try to see if they can pull it off? I'd be willing lend a hand:D
 
I've never written a TL before but I'd like to try and Hamilton was the basis for my senior thesis so i'd appreciate the help and any tips, if the offers for real I'll take since i don't really know where to start
 
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