CHALLENGE: Three Way Capital of the USA

Okay.. US loses Civil War. Day to day operations moved to Philadelphia. So two government capitols.

Second War with the South, second loss. Massive economic downfall because of this along with territorial losses.

Communist Party out of Chicago gains power through the election. Turns the US into a one party state.

Party HQ in Chicago
Government in Philly
Offical capitol in Washington.
 
Failed Philadelphia Convetion

Have the 1787 convention breakdown over something...slavery is the most likely.

When everybody returns for round two in 1788 or 1789, have the division of government be part of the compromise package, with each section getting something and a small state in each section gets a piece as a bribe/making sure that one of the three large states don't get too powerful.

For something on Slavery, Mary land gets the seat of the executive.
The Middle states, New Jersey, gets the legislature and
New England, maybe Connecticut or Rhode Island for giggles, gets the judicary, because nobody thinks it's all that important.

David
 
A USA that had states constantly bickering with each other and people who completely refused to accept an expanded federal government like in OTL in 1781 would probably turn into a confederation, if they managed to stay together. I would say that the legislative, judicial, and executive capitals could be separate thanks to states fighting each other for the right to host the national capital and three contenders settling for a compromise, but that would just increase travel distance for government officials too much to be practical...

Plus, the Constitution makes it so that the national capital is not part of any state, so you'll also need something to get rid of any similar clauses in ATL if you want to go the above route...
 
Obstructionism

Perhaps splitting the capital could be done to add another roadblock to an overly strong central government. If the President's in Boston--and bills have to be signed and vetoed there--and Congress in Richmond, and constitutionally required to meet there--then no laws can be passed quickly. The, put the Supreme Court where ever works to bring another state or two on board.

Even better---Senate and House in different cities, so compromise between different versions of a bill takes time--THEN send it to the President wher ever HE'd located.

Remember, an overly powerful central government was a big worry...that might work as a way to get it done.
 

Thande

Donor
For some reason the deal by Maryland and Virginia to cede the land for DC gets messed up at the last moment?

In the interim "as a temporary measure" the capital rotates between northern and southern states, e.g. New York, Philadelphia and Williamsburg

Then, like many 'temporary' measures, it never gets fixed afterwards.
 
Well, technically it's more of post-1900, but considerations for distance might cause something like that.

If, say, the US got in on the carve up of Africa and eventually made a number of states, then a regional capital to handle affairs that Washington is too far to properly see might occur. (Then again, maybe not, especially after television starts and allows better communication.)

If the US ever gets into inter-planetary colonization (Mars and beyond), a sub-capital for planets might be needed to make up for light-speed delay.
 
The Constitutional Convention in 1781 goes badly. Keep Congress in Philidelphia, keep the President in New York (or maybe Boston), and move the Supreme Court to Richmond or Atlanta.
 
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