An alternate 1900

Dr. Strangelove

Banned

After months of lurking, I decided to post some creative work by me. It's not very much, but I hope you enjoy it. It's based on a wargame I wrote in otl.com a couple of months ago


The Workers' Times, London, ​
January 2nd, 1900​
THE NATION RECEIVES A NEW CENTURY WITH HOPE

​
Yesterday's celebrations in London to mark the start of the 20th century will remain in the British memory as one of the most brilliant moments in our city since the establishment of the Republic.At midnight, a great crowd gathered at Revolution Circus to celebrate together this special New Year's day. Some of them, as Owena Bourke, a young worker at an ammunition factory, had come from places as far as Inverness or Glasgow: "It's been a long and expensive trip, but, however, being in the national capital, sharing this special day with so many people has been worth it". The english workers kept celebrating in the streets well until the morning.
After the great party, in an unusually bright and sunny day, millions of Londoners and britons reunited in fraternity, assisted to the birth of a new century which will hopefully be brighter and more peaceful than the dying 1800's.
Citizen Wells and the rest of members of the Executive Council of the Republic presided a great military parade at the Mall. People cheered the soldiers of the Revolutionary Guard and stared surprised at the new steamers of the First Armored Brigade of the Republic's Army. Meanwhile, the airships of the High Skies Fleet hovered eerily above the city for amazement of the thousands of kids present.
In his speech in behalf of the entire Executive Council, the Citizen Wells stated his will to keep "the path of progress and equality that we have developed in the last decades, and that have made Britain the richest and most prosperous state on Europe". He also had some words in remembrance for the martyrs of the Revolution. A very emotive moment arrived when he read a special congratulation message for the british peacekeeping forces in the Harz Demilitarized Zone. (The entire Citizen Wells' speech can be read on page 6).
Among the many international personalities present were French Vicechancellor Jacques Dupuy, the South German vicepresident Schikelgruber (who read a short congratulation telegram to the british people in behalf of Bundespresident Wittelsbach); and the ambassadors of many other Alliance member nations: the Italian Social Republic, the Free State of Sydney, the Republic of America and Travancore. As usual, the Axis powers did not send any official representative. [article keeps on in page 2]

NATIONAL HEADLINES
  • Great New Century celebrations at Liverpool, Owenburgh, Dublin, Newcastle.
  • Steel production skyrocketed in 1899, Production Chairman Shaw declared.
  • Private telephones available to the public in June 1900.
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
  • Mughali officials deny use of poison gas against sikh resistance.
  • New Tartarian Constitution approved by 87% of the vote.
  • Skandia to build 10 new submarines by 1903 (see our opinion column on page 9)
  • Liberian government denies any involvement with the negro terrorists in CSA.
  • Sydney and Victoria to start peace meetings at Trivandrum, 5 years after armistice.
 

Dr. Strangelove

Banned
Max Sinister said:
What's Travancore, and where's Trivandrum?
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Travancore was a small state in the southern tip of India, and Trivandrum its capital. In TTL, they're *way* bigger and more powerful than in OTL.
 

Dr. Strangelove

Banned
Leej said:
Cool, a 19th century communist coup.... :cool:
True marxist doctrine in practice
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Well, actually, the POD is in 1805, and Marx was butterflied away. In TTL, Marx' scientific socialism never arose and utopian socialism from the 1830's was more succesful (well, the entire POD is more complex). This British Republic, although communist in economics is not a totalitarian state, but rather a benevolent socialist paternalist state. A hint: search for famous 19th century britons named Owen. ;)

There are some other puns with names in the text. I know it's against the laws of decent alternate history, but I can't help it. :eek:
 
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HueyLong

Banned
You mean 18th......

Should be interesting. Does the English Republic mix religion in with socialism? Sort of liberation theology?
 

Dr. Strangelove

Banned
HueyLong said:
You mean 18th......

Should be interesting. Does the English Republic mix religion in with socialism? Sort of liberation theology?
Click to expand...

Yes, it was a typo on my part. :eek:

Nope, religion is tolerated as a purely personal issue, but it has no official reconaissance.
 

Dr. Strangelove

Banned
The workers' Times , June 29th 1900
SHOULD THE ALLIANCE INTERVENE IN MUGHALISTAN?​
Foreign ministers of the Alliance powers start today an emergence meeting in London to discuss the difficult situation in northwest India, at the request of Travancore. In the three years past since Mughalistan invaded and annexed in a quick campaign the Kingdom of the Sikhs, the situation has only gone worse: the desperate and harsh sikh resistance has only met terrible punishments. Although mughali authorities deny it, foreign observers have reported about mass murders, summary executions and entire villages razed to the ground. Thousands of refugees have stormed the persian and travancorian borders, leading to a near-collapse of the most basic services in the region.
Facing this, the travancorian ambassador to the Alliance, His Excellence Paarathimai Adigal, requested an emergence session of the Alliance to discuss if the Mughali crimes should be investigated in depth, and, if those proven, which punitive measures should be adopted.
"We do not plan to go to war with Mughalistan", british Foreign Secretary Citizen James Rawls declared, "however, if the mughalis are trying to exterminate the sikhs, they will not pass unpunished".
Facing the question of which consequences such intervention would have in the european affairs, Citizen Rawls stated that "Mughalistan is none of the Axis' interest". We remind our readers of the strong trade ties between Mughalistan and the North German Federation.
The conference shall continue for a week. Other issues like the peace treaty between the two australian powers, the growing tension in Central Africa(see below) or the Bohemian constitutional crisis shall also be adressed. ​


BRAZILIAN SOLDIERS STORM ZUID-AFRIKAN OUTPOST-Pretoria warns about war​
Although the reports are confusing and contradictory, the Zuid-Afrikan government confirmed yesterday that the Kruger Fort, a small outpost located in the Katanga region in central Africa, was assaulted and captured by brazilian troops.
The brazilian government does not deny the accusation, but states that the brazilian soldiers attacked the fort as a punishment for a boer raid in a border village where, always according to the Brazilian version, many civilians were killed or kidnapped.
This is only the last of the many border skirmishes that the Brazilian Empire and the Zuid-Afrikaan Republic have had in the last years in the remote and uncharted regions of the Congo.
As a last hour report, our correspondant at Rio de Janeiro tells us that two Brazilian battleships have left the harbor, their destiny probably being Nova Rio in the Congo River.​


FIRST TELEPHONE LINES FOR PRIVATE USE START OPERATING​

23 year-old Liberty Jameson, waitress at a restaurant in Luton declares at our newspaper: "It is just amazing. I can now talk to my friends or relatives as if they were in the same room. Finally, I'm done with those annoying telegrams." She is one of the thousands of London Area inhabitants that now enjoy their own private telephone at home. The service is only available for the South East now, but it is expected that the entire nation is covered with a net of telephone lines for private use by March 1902. The Communications Council is studying the possibility of opening a second submarine wire so private calls to the continent can be possible before 1905. Remember that you can send your suggestions or proposal to your local Council. ​
 
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Dr. Strangelove

Banned
The Toronto Star, April 20th, 1900
"CALIFORNIA CAN COUNT WITH US", PRESIDENT LAURIER STATES​
In the first of his 3-day official visit to Toronto, californian president Wilson received a warm welcome from his american counterpart. President Laurier made very clear that the Confederate claims on Utah and eastern Nevada have no legal or historical basis, and that California can count with "full american support" in case of a Confederate agression.

​
KING GEORGE INAUGURATES FIRST TRANSPACIFIC AIRSHIP LINE​
In a brilliant ceremony at the new Vancouver airdock, King George II of Columbia baptized the new airship HMS House of Hanover , which will cover the Vancouver-Tokyo line from now.
There will be a transpacific flight to Tokyo every two weeks for those who can affor it, mainly the good society of Vancouver and Prince William.


Well, today I'm suffering a certain writers' block, so this is all I could come up with.

If someone is wondering why these 1900 diplomatics and politicians are acting like OTL 1999 diplomatics and politicians (humanitary intervention?, public diplomacy? WTF?), it is not a mistake. It is intentional, and I'll explain when I post the (rough) timeline that led to this alternate 1900.

Feedback would be appreciated. :)
​
 

Othniel

If I'm correct wasn't Laurier a Canadian Prime Minster in OTL, (I believe one of the first PMs from Quebec...)
 

Dr. Strangelove

Banned
He was indeed. Somehow I liked the idea of a canadian-dominated America. :D

Wells---> H. G. Wells,which in OTL was a fabian socialist.

Wittelsbach---> Ludwig von Wittelsbach, the crazy bavarian king (not that crazy in TTL)

Schikelgruber--->mwahahahah! :D
 

stevep

Dr. Strangelove said:
He was indeed. Somehow I liked the idea of a canadian-dominated America. :D

Wells---> H. G. Wells,which in OTL was a fabian socialist.
Click to expand...

I presumed so

Wittelsbach---> Ludwig von Wittelsbach, the crazy bavarian king (not that crazy in TTL)

Schikelgruber--->mwahahahah! :D
Click to expand...

I think its a bit early for him as he's only about 11? But then those butterflies might well have brought the relevant people together a bit earlier - or an elder brother say.

Interesting as it sounds like there's at least 4 major powers in N America, Canada/New England plus others perhaps, a CSA type state, an enlarged California and an Hanoverian dynasty which sounds like its based around our BC/Oregon? Plus a more dominate Brazil to the south clashing with the Boers in Africa.

With a pod in 1805 the obvious ones are one of the two big battles goes the other way. Not so sure about Trafalgar as despite Nelson's tactics its difficult to see the Franco-Spanish forces winning. They simply lacked the training and organisation. Also a victory there, plus defeat of the channel fleet following this and Napoleonic invasion would be more likely to led to a dominant France and more conservative world. Not to mention it would very likely by a US dominated Canada!

Therefore I'm wondering if the Austrians and Russians managed to pull off a big upset at Austerwitz and ended Boney's rule a decade earlier. [Possibly he managed to run into an unpleasant germ and died throwing his empire into chaos]. That would probably mean a more conservative Europe, in the early stages, possibly leading to revolution later as workers conditions worsen in the industrial slums. It also means that in an 1812 re-run Britain is a lot freer to contribute forces to defeating the US heavily. This could give the basis for the US republic you mention and also the monarchy in the NW. Possibly with a civil war leading to the founding of the CSA while Britain and British America is having its own rebellion?

Initial guesses anyway, going by the dates. Interested to see what your timeline actually is.

Steve
 

Dr. Strangelove

Banned
Here's the map for Europe: (sorry for that dull look :( )



I came with the idea for this alternate world past march while studying Robert Owen's utopist theories for my architecture studies. I wondered how a world where utopian socialism prevailed upon marxism and anarchism would look like. Combining this with several other random influences like Miguel Strogoff, the PC game Victoria, and an old idea of mine about a steampunk cold war between a liberal and an absolutist bloc, I came up with this scenario. Unfortunately, I had to devise a decent Timeline and POD to make it believable. This is what I got, for a background:

In some moment before October 21st 1805: Admiral Nelson dies or is incapacitated or withdrawn from command or whatever keeps him from commanding the british fleet.

October, 21st 1805: The british fleet is utterly defeated at Trafalgar.

1805-07: France and his allied Spain manage to defeat the Austrians and Russians. Invasion of Britain in 1806 is a complete success. The British Royals flee the island to Canada in late 1806, to never set foot on it again.

1807: Napoleon appoints his brother Joseph as puppet ruler of Britain. Resistance is harshly repressed, although Nappy is smart enough to keep most of british liberties. Spain allied with France, Prussia and Austria defeated, only Russia and the Ottomans can be a serious threat for France.

1807-1830: Peace in the Empire, fast industrialization, prosperity. With the British Empire beheaded, most of the british colonies are lost, become independent or disappear.

1830's: The age of Revolutions

Napoleon dies of Cancer in 1830. This marks the beginning of the end for his Empire. During the past generation, the accelerated industrialization has led to even harsher than in OTL life conditions for the workers. Socialist theoricians such as Owen, Fourier, Saint-Simon or Cabet have become immensely popular with their theories about communal palaces for the workers, the disappearance of the State and equality for all. Some other theoricians claim for a return of the democratic spirit of the 1789 revolution that they perceive betrayed by Napoleon.

Almost immediately after Bonaparte's death, it is clear that his young son is unsuited for the task, and the Empire starts falling apart. By 1835, Britain is under rebellion, and France is on the verge of Civil War. Spain is too busy trying to fight the independence movements in America.

In North America, tensions between North and South are bigger than in OTL, and the british-in-exile support to the southerners only makes things worse. Finally, in 1836, the USA invade Canada and defeat it. The Royal Family is allowed to exile to the west coast, and Eastern and Central Canada are annexed to the USA. Ironically, this cannot prevent the independence of the south, which the USA will recognize after a long and bloody war, where the CSA gain Maryland, Kentucky, and parts of Ohio and Pennsylvannia.

The triumph of the fourierian revolutionaries in the French Civil War in 1840 marks the end of the Age of Revolutions and the beginning of the Great War Age (1840-1880)


(To be continued)
 
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Dr. Strangelove

Banned
1840-1880: The Era of Great Wars.

Honestly, this is the part I have less developed. I'd like to try to bring more detail on it, but feedback and suggestions are very welcome.

Basically, with the fall of Napoleon's Empire, there are two predominant trends in the Old World: Those who believe the entire history after 1789 has been an utter mistake and that good old absolutism should make a comeback, and those who believe that, with the Empire down, there is the great opportunity to make the revolutionary ideals become true, allied to the utopians who want to create a new society from scratch.

So during the next 40 years, all of Europe is ravaged by war and revolutions at an scale that makes 1789-1807 look puny.

In France, Fourier goes nuts (he was rather nutty already in OTL) and starts forced collectivization. Cities are abandoned and falanstéres start appearing through the countryside. Hundreds of thousands die. Only his murder by his own men prevent France from completely falling apart when the North Germans (more on this later) invade it.

In Britain, the Revolution has cut the last ties with France and established a Republic. Although isolated from the continent, the new british government, initially led by Owen, will intervene many times in the constant wars.

In Germany, two main players arise after the dissolution of the Austrian Empire: The North German Federation, led by Prussia, that becomes the leader of the Absolutist field, and the South German Federation, led by Bavaria, that will become a democracy and defeat the NGF in several wars thanks to British and French help.

In America, the CSA become a radical slavocracy, similar to DoD's America. After almost defeating the USA in another war, the US government is relocated to Toronto simply b/c it's the safest place.

All this state of chaos has interesting consequences in the rest of the world:
-Millions of immigrants have left Europe fleeing from chaos. As America is not the relatively quiet and safe place it was in OTL, many will look for a new life in South America, Africa, Asia or Australia.
- No colonial race: the european powers are too busy keeping revolutionaries and other powers at bay.

this means that Asian, Southamerican and African countries are far more advanced than in OTL. Actually, by 1900, Asian nations like Travancore, Mughalistan or Japan are as advanced as the european nations, at least in industrial or military stuff. (kinda like Japan in OTL). Same for Africa, and Latin America.

This means that by 1900, the european and north american nations treat those exotic nations as equal.

Finally, after a bloodier and longer than usual war, in 1880 both sides reach an agreement. During the years, two main blocs had been formed: the Alliance, led by Britain, France and the SGF, and the Axis, led by the NGF, Russia and Rome. From now on, each bloc will not interfere in the other bloc's spheres of influence. The Alliance and the Axis each work like a combination of NATO and UN: they're a millitary defense pact, but also an international forum... only valid for members.

Since 1880, the world is in a Cold War: each bloc hates and mistrusts the other, as their views of world and society are radically opposite. As in OTL Cold War, although only a few nations are members of each bloc, every nation in the world has a certain leaning towards the Alliance or the Axis. Proxy wars are frecuent in small or exotic countries.


Well, here it is so far. It's very rough, and perhaps unrealistic or implausible, but I'd like to develop it more and correct its flaws... I hope you liked it. :)
 
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