Attempt at a TL: The Greatest Generation

POD - The Venezuela Crisis leads to greater Tensions between America and Europe.

"The Global War was probably the first time that every inhabited continent had been affected. What made it last the 20 years it did was because there were three factions in this conflict than the usual two in most wars" - Christopher Johnson, The History of the Global War, 2002, 9th edition, Oxford Pubishers

"The Roots for the Global War can be found in the Venezuela Crisis of 1902, when the United States faced the first real test as a great power of the 20th century" Hanz Pritz, Red with Blood: the Global War's Impact on the world, Canadian Publishing Company

1902, Washington DC

President Roosevelt was in the white house, thinking. Britain and Germany were great powers and could easily defeat the United States in any war. However, the US could not let Venezuela be crushed by German Imperialism. And if the British were willing to let the Americas become the playground for European Empires, then the Americans would have to look for new allies. This was going to be a very tense year. There was talk of a declaration of war in congress about "You can have Caracas over our carcass".

Eventually, the British and the Germans backed down. There was a collective sigh of relief across all countries as war was averted. However, Roosevelt knew he needed allies to counter any further threats. But where was he going to get them?
 
"The Global War was probably the first time that every inhabited continent had been affected. What made it last the 20 years it did was because there were three factions in this conflict than the usual two in most wars" - Christopher Johnson, The History of the Global War, 2002, 9th edition, Oxford Pubishers
Wait, did you just mention a 20 years war:eek::eek:

somewhere in the early 20th century

OUCH!


President Roosevelt was in the white house, thinking. Britain and Germany were great powers and could easily defeat the United States in any war. However, the US could not let Venezuela be crushed by German Imperialism. And if the British were willing to let the Americas become the playground for European Empires, then the Americans would have to look for new allies. This was going to be a very tense year. There was talk of a declaration of war in congress about "You can have Caracas over our carcass".
German Imperialism in Venezuela with the British not opposing them or even supporting them? That will need quite some explanation.
 
well, the British have a bit of a Realpolitik moment and think it's be best to keep the US in Check.

Of course, it will have a tremendous impact later on.
 
More updates soon.

A Glimpse of the Future:

"The conference was bustling with rumours. No-one knew what was going to happen next after two ships were sunk in 3 days. CAs Controversy swelled, the options were becoming clearer and the picture murkier."
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
I suspect a POD before 1900, one that has changed the Balancer of Power in Europe so Britain and Germany are very close, interresting. Looks promising.
 
Well, the POD is Britain cosying up to Germany in 1900, with the allainces not solidifying themselves at that time as well as America's annexation of Cuba. Eventually, the British and the Americans have a standoff at the venezuelan crisis. But Geopolitik is about to get a lot more complicated.

Roosevelt decided that America had to consolidate its position, to build an army of its own. So the National Guard act was passed, replacing the State militias. The Arms industries were given more influence as the United States began to become a Great power in its own right.

However, TR was wise not to try and upset the british as they would lose in any war. So he tried to simultaneously play the peacemaker, as was shown with his Mediation of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. This earned Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize the following year, the first sitting US President to win the award (Just like OTL).

During this time, the Herero Scandal (the annihilation of the Herero and Nama OTL) leads to a rift in Anglo-German relations. Britain and France form the Entente as a military alliance to counter the seemingly monstrous Germans. The Germans responded with an alliance with Austria-Hungary, the Ottomans and the Bulgarians called the Central Powers. The Shah of Persia refused to join either faction, leading to threats of occupation.

It was at Portsmouth President learned that he could gain a useful ally in the Russians. Over time, the Americans would begin economic partnership with the Russians beginning at Wrangel Island in 1907, where the US would give Economic and Industrial aid to the Russian Empire. By 1908, Russia had strong-armed Persia into their Sphere of Influence after a brief Standoff with Britain, nearly leading to war.

In Latin America, The USA, Nicaragua, Chile, El Salvador, Panama, Honduras, Venezuela Colombia and Argentina concluded a treaty of Mutual Economic Assistance of March 1908, while Brazil and Peru came under the Entente's Sphere of Influence and Ecuador/Mexico/Costa Rica/Bolivia/Uruguay become Central Powers. This led to the region becoming even more developed, their GDPs increasing by 75% across 6 years and a population boom. As part of the treaties, their industrial output increased by 61% in 8 years

By 1911 in the Far East, Japan had joined the Central powers, with its eyes leering on Manchuria. The overthrow of Puyi by Sun-Yat-Sen did not help the chinese in their predicament. With Britain to the South, Japan to the East and Russia to the North, they chose Russia as they felt they would be the best nation to ally with for protection. Since Russia didn't impose as many unequal treaties as the other powers, China could feel they would gain a lot more.

There were all sorts of Minor Conflicts, with the Balkan Wars leading to Serbia carving chunks out of the Ottoman Empire, the Central Powers consolidated into a military alliance. There was a border war between Costa Rica and Nicaragua leading to a ceasefire until the Global War began.

And it would begin, on 23 June 1923, when the Great Powers would begin to clash, and empires would fall.
 
The War's origins would begin in the Yellow sea, when two chinese ships were sunk by a Japanese Submarine. All hands were lost as the ships went to the bottom of the ocean. This provoked a furious reaction in Nanjing, when the Chinese government demanded reparations for this attack. The Japanese refused, leading to the China crisis. All the other nations readied their armies for war as they learned of this news. President Harding convened a Congress in Bogota to discuss the situation. The Council buzzed with rumours of a delcaration of war. Debate began to flare up as to whether the Alliance should go to war with the Central Powers. Russia advocated it, while the Americans urged caution. It was ultimately decided that the next attack by any nation would lead to war.

The Entente were hoping to remain neutral, seeing as the fortifications in Canada were almost complete. It was natural for the British, as they wanted to make sure that they wre unprepared for this conflict. London began conscription in India, Burma, Malaya and other colonial territories. France did likewise, while coercing Siam into the entente camp. However, this led to angry protests, especially in Ireland and India. Gandhi began a campaign of non-violence in protest against this, seeing that Britain is not offering anything in exchange for loyalty. However, his movement is small, and does not gian much ground, for now.

All three factions were preparing to go to war. The Question was: Which one will strike first?
 
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