We've all heard the constant claims that America is similar in some way (whether in detail or in breadth, of substance of superficiality) to the Roman Republic/Empire. But what I'm interested in (as a bit of a fun game with the members of this board) is to try to reshape America so that it mimics Roman history in terms of order of events, while still keeping unique American characteristics, institutions, geography, etc. (although these can be modified to create closer parallels in Rome).
Anyone interested in developing this project with me through to completion? It's not meant to be very serious, just something semi-silly to do on the side.
I'm not great with American or Roman history, but I'll give it a shot:
1776: The American Protectorate is formed as a Autocratic Dictatorship, with power in the hands of the "Captain-General", functionally a King, but not called such due to the recent war with England. He has a cabinet of advisers made up of wealthy landowners, a senate. His successor is elected by the senate,and his home and seat of power is a building in the city of New York known informally as the White Palace.
1776-1798: The Senators power increases steadily.
1814: The 7th Captain-General, Louis Tarrin Stuart, is driven out of New York by his senators, after his son Samuel Tarrin rapes and murders Lucy Courtenay, daughter of a wealthy Boston landowner. After this incident, Louis' nephew, also called Louis, instigated a revolt against the already hated Stuart.
1815: The American Republic is formed, much of the power formerly invested in the General is now divided between two "Presidents", who share the White Palace as a home, now renamed the White House. The Presidents receive one 4 year term, and must wait 10 years to run for the office again. The rest of the Power is invested in the senate.
1827: Men from the lower class, who had previously been unable to hold Presidential office, revolt until that right is given to them.
1830: A Law is passed requiring one of the Presidents to be from a lower class family.
1850: The Republic Clashes with the Kingdom of Canada, in a War for dominance of the North Atlantic trade.
1858: The American Republic defeats Canada in what becomes known as the first Canadian war.
1862: The Second Canadian war begins, this one is far more costly and damaging, America is invaded by the Canadian General Hanford.
1868: The American Republic defeats Canada once more.
1870:The Third and final Canadian war begins, it is a short and simple affair, America razes the Canadian capital to the ground and kills most of it's citizens, in an action condemned by the international community as a war crime.
1904: American General James Caska conquers much western territory, becoming hugely popular in New York.
1908: Caska is given the title of Lord Protector, and has supreme command over the American Government.
1914: Caska is shot in New York on March 15th by a group of senators.
I Left out a whole lot of events and oversimplified it to hell (Pretty much everything Caesar did), but whatever, just an experiment.