Fenians, Brits, Mexicans, Canucks and Frenchies....OH, MY! An alternate American Civil War
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Chapter 282
January, 1898
Kyoto
The Ministry would be reshuffled a bit after the somewhat mixed results of the recent war. In hindsight, Japan did not come out too badly. The embarrassments in Sakhalin and Vladivostok were difficult to endure but the seizure of Malaya would more than make up for this. Unlike the other territories, Malaya had both proven resources and a local population to exploit.
Still, there were disagreements. A higher level Finance Ministry official had penned a paper "proving" that the expense of conquering and holding these colonies (even if victory was always assumed in war) exceeded the alternative of engaging in global trade.
Naturally, that man was removed from office.
In the meantime, the arduous task of rebuilding the Navy had begun. None of the European or American nations had any inclination to sell further military vessels to Japan. Perhaps that was for the best, really. It would ensure that the Japanese industrial complex must evolve and improve.
The Ministers of the Army and Navy would, naturally, be at one another's throats, each blaming the other for the failures of the previous war.
Again, Japan didn't seem to come out too badly.
Russia's power in the pacific had been broken. Without a decent naval base, the Russians would have to exist along a 10,000 mile supply line to attack Japan. Good luck on that.
Great Britain had been severely diminished. Without India to feed off of, it was doubtful that the Royal Navy would ever possess the same power in the region again. Even Britain's colony of Australia seemed to hold Britain in open contempt. Australia also happened to possess many of the resources Japan coveted.
China and Russia?
The army demanded "revenge", "retribution", "honor"....and the like. However, the army had proven that land wars in Asia tended to be more expensive and difficult than usually projected.
The navy, naturally, would press for more southern expansion....which would naturally rely more upon the navy than army to seize.
This push and pull would naturally be fought throughout Kyoto as the Army and Navy Ministers wrestled for power and influence with the Emperor and the government.
Manhattan
Though the government of New York had put together a plan to unite the assorted cities of Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens into a single polity, the internal division of both the Republicans and Democrats (Machine versus Reformers) within the New York Parties would doom the effort. There would be no "one great city" but a series of smaller ones expected to cooperate on transportation. Bridges were proliferating and the great snow of 1888 had pressed the region to experiment on subterranean transportation (Manhattan's was already under construction while Brooklyn would soon be approved for commence digging).
Indeed, the city of Brooklyn, at the western shore of Long Island, was so offended by this high-handedness that a non-binding vote was held on requesting separation into a new state (the word "secession" was still not in vogue in America).
Beijing
Pleased that the British had largely destroyed their own power base in Asia and the Russians had proven far less dangerous than previously believed, the Qing Imperial Court was feeling confident. However, the Admirals would point out the Chinese victory at sea was only possible because most of the Japanese Imperial Navy had already been lost or was mired in Singapore. The path to the west was also now controlled by Japan.
Looking at a map, China was now hemmed in on two sides by Japan and by Russia to the North.
It was time to forge alliances. Chinese Ambassadors would seek closer ties to America and Anglo-Australia, two regions for which China had no real interest, as a counterbalance to the Japanese aggression. In response, several military contracts would be agreed with American and British-Australian shipbuilders as well as hiring foreign advisors to upgrade the Chinese shipyards which had yet to produce the same quality product as the west or Japan.
Kyoto
The Ministry would be reshuffled a bit after the somewhat mixed results of the recent war. In hindsight, Japan did not come out too badly. The embarrassments in Sakhalin and Vladivostok were difficult to endure but the seizure of Malaya would more than make up for this. Unlike the other territories, Malaya had both proven resources and a local population to exploit.
Still, there were disagreements. A higher level Finance Ministry official had penned a paper "proving" that the expense of conquering and holding these colonies (even if victory was always assumed in war) exceeded the alternative of engaging in global trade.
Naturally, that man was removed from office.
In the meantime, the arduous task of rebuilding the Navy had begun. None of the European or American nations had any inclination to sell further military vessels to Japan. Perhaps that was for the best, really. It would ensure that the Japanese industrial complex must evolve and improve.
The Ministers of the Army and Navy would, naturally, be at one another's throats, each blaming the other for the failures of the previous war.
Again, Japan didn't seem to come out too badly.
Russia's power in the pacific had been broken. Without a decent naval base, the Russians would have to exist along a 10,000 mile supply line to attack Japan. Good luck on that.
Great Britain had been severely diminished. Without India to feed off of, it was doubtful that the Royal Navy would ever possess the same power in the region again. Even Britain's colony of Australia seemed to hold Britain in open contempt. Australia also happened to possess many of the resources Japan coveted.
China and Russia?
The army demanded "revenge", "retribution", "honor"....and the like. However, the army had proven that land wars in Asia tended to be more expensive and difficult than usually projected.
The navy, naturally, would press for more southern expansion....which would naturally rely more upon the navy than army to seize.
This push and pull would naturally be fought throughout Kyoto as the Army and Navy Ministers wrestled for power and influence with the Emperor and the government.
Manhattan
Though the government of New York had put together a plan to unite the assorted cities of Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens into a single polity, the internal division of both the Republicans and Democrats (Machine versus Reformers) within the New York Parties would doom the effort. There would be no "one great city" but a series of smaller ones expected to cooperate on transportation. Bridges were proliferating and the great snow of 1888 had pressed the region to experiment on subterranean transportation (Manhattan's was already under construction while Brooklyn would soon be approved for commence digging).
Indeed, the city of Brooklyn, at the western shore of Long Island, was so offended by this high-handedness that a non-binding vote was held on requesting separation into a new state (the word "secession" was still not in vogue in America).
Beijing
Pleased that the British had largely destroyed their own power base in Asia and the Russians had proven far less dangerous than previously believed, the Qing Imperial Court was feeling confident. However, the Admirals would point out the Chinese victory at sea was only possible because most of the Japanese Imperial Navy had already been lost or was mired in Singapore. The path to the west was also now controlled by Japan.
Looking at a map, China was now hemmed in on two sides by Japan and by Russia to the North.
It was time to forge alliances. Chinese Ambassadors would seek closer ties to America and Anglo-Australia, two regions for which China had no real interest, as a counterbalance to the Japanese aggression. In response, several military contracts would be agreed with American and British-Australian shipbuilders as well as hiring foreign advisors to upgrade the Chinese shipyards which had yet to produce the same quality product as the west or Japan.
Chapter 283
March, 1898
German Confederation
Though "victorious" in the previous war, the victory would lead to a new internal challenge as the natural result of soldiers from the breadth of Germany fighting as one. This unity would lead to a renewed sense of nationalism which not only assured support in a war against foreigners (France) but also against the assorted potentates which ruled the various states of Germany.
Despite have close economic ties, the assorted Kingdoms would vary greatly in government. Some of the crowned heads remained as autocratic as their ancestors a century prior. With over a million Germans having served in uniform in the previous year, a new powerful group would arise demanding political reform to match economic integration.
For once, large sections of the army and political reformers began to side together against the monarchies of Germany. Protests, riots and other disorders would follow over the coming years.
Northern India
The bulk of northern India would be in chaos as the Hindu Socialist Army would massacre dozens of princely families and assume direct control over the majority of northern India (or "Hindustan" as they were already calling it).
The former direct British-ruled regions (where they had long since overthrown the native princes) were even easier to control. However, the HSA was not interested only in assuming power. They wanted to completely redesign Indian society to eliminate landholders, certain higher caste privileges and, of course, non-Hindus.
The Muslim, Christian, Sikh and other religious minorities would be brutally suppressed and often massacred. Illiterate Hindu country peasants would be required to listen to political speeches they could barely comprehend. The only they DID understand was that foreigners, Muslims and land-owners were bad. The latter, in particular, found a following and the number of attacks on Muslims by Hindu neighbors with whom they'd lived in peace for centuries would escalate rapidly.
By 1898, the death toll of Indians from the start of the 3rd Indian Mutiny (or Indian Revolution as the natives called it) would number in the millions and continue to climb.
German Confederation
Though "victorious" in the previous war, the victory would lead to a new internal challenge as the natural result of soldiers from the breadth of Germany fighting as one. This unity would lead to a renewed sense of nationalism which not only assured support in a war against foreigners (France) but also against the assorted potentates which ruled the various states of Germany.
Despite have close economic ties, the assorted Kingdoms would vary greatly in government. Some of the crowned heads remained as autocratic as their ancestors a century prior. With over a million Germans having served in uniform in the previous year, a new powerful group would arise demanding political reform to match economic integration.
For once, large sections of the army and political reformers began to side together against the monarchies of Germany. Protests, riots and other disorders would follow over the coming years.
Northern India
The bulk of northern India would be in chaos as the Hindu Socialist Army would massacre dozens of princely families and assume direct control over the majority of northern India (or "Hindustan" as they were already calling it).
The former direct British-ruled regions (where they had long since overthrown the native princes) were even easier to control. However, the HSA was not interested only in assuming power. They wanted to completely redesign Indian society to eliminate landholders, certain higher caste privileges and, of course, non-Hindus.
The Muslim, Christian, Sikh and other religious minorities would be brutally suppressed and often massacred. Illiterate Hindu country peasants would be required to listen to political speeches they could barely comprehend. The only they DID understand was that foreigners, Muslims and land-owners were bad. The latter, in particular, found a following and the number of attacks on Muslims by Hindu neighbors with whom they'd lived in peace for centuries would escalate rapidly.
By 1898, the death toll of Indians from the start of the 3rd Indian Mutiny (or Indian Revolution as the natives called it) would number in the millions and continue to climb.
Hindu Socialists: We are free, *sees the millions of dead Indians.* but at what cost?
Chapter 284
June, 1898
New York
While Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill's relationship had been damaged by the shocking discovery of the elder being found in the bed of the younger's mother....it had been repaired by 1898. Winston was back in Columbia University along with, somewhat as a surprise, his younger brother Jack who had agreed to attend university in America with his brother instead of attending Sandhurst.
Neither had much of a relationship with their father and Jennie Jerome seemed content to remain in New York for a few years with her sons (and lovers).
Jennie, a handsome woman in her mid-forties, would soon find another lover (she preferred younger men) in a 28 year old Captain in the US Navy who absolutely doted upon her.
Dominion of the Cape
Several of the Irish Regiments which had been accused of half-hearted service in India would be stationed at the periphery of the Empire. They would be found in Australia, Hawaii, the West Indies and the Cape.
In the latter, the 2nd Dublin Volunteers would mutiny after learning that their Regiment would not be returned home but their station in the Cape extended indefinitely. Having been accused of effective treason was too humiliating and the rumors (assumptions, really, and largely correct) that they would not be allowed to go home because they were not trustworthy would prove a self-perpetuating prophesy.
Having served honorably in their minds, both Catholic and Protestants in the Regiment would refuse to go out on patrol. While the incident itself was resolved quickly enough (the threat of withholding their salary as well as implying that this mutiny would extend their stay in the Cape, not shorten it), it would only drive home the sense of untrustworthiness of the Irish among the British classes.
Dublin
Already, hundreds of prominent Fenians and "Home Rule" supporters had been arrested by Chief Secretary of Ireland Randolph Churchill. Those who attempted to organize boycotts of British goods were similarly arrested for disrupting the peace. Instead of letting off steam, Churchill would tighten the screws ever further.
The result was predictable. Riots, violence and finally bombings became commonplace.
Borneo
As with the Lesser Sunda Islands, the island of Borneo would seen ever more migrants from India, mostly Christian but with a mix of Parsi, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim as well.
The drive by the Dominion of Australia to bring in immigrants was threefold:
1. The developing mines, oil fields and other industries required laborers for which the native Dayaks were not particularly intent on providing. Like in former British Malaya, the Chinese, Indians, Europeans and other migrants had done much of the hard work.
2. With Japan plainly eyeing the region for expansion, the Australians needed a population capable of defending the area.
3. The migrants would ensure that there would be a counter-balance to the natives should the Dayak and other Malay peoples of the Island were to revolt.
With Briton's poor performance in the Indian Mutiny when Malaya was effectively abandoned as Briton fought a losing battle on the subcontinent, Australia was largely left to its own devices.
So be it. Australia would act in its own best interests.
Columbian Canal
The Canal, expected to be opened by 1896 in the original plans, was years behind schedule and now even a 1899 formal opening was questionable. However, new construction technology and the severe reduction of malaria and yellow fever cases would ensure that the day was swiftly coming that the near-complete canal would open.
San Diego
The first capital ship built on the Pacific Ocean would be launched in 1898 from the San Diego Dockyards. The USS California would be the first of her class of heavy cruisers, the most modern in the American arsenal. The keels had already been laid for three more (one in San Diego and two in Norfolk).
Based on the outcome of naval battles in the past war, it was obvious that keeping obsolete vessels in service was pointless against anything but nations without real navies. Thus, the Naval Department would retire out dozens of ships over the next few years as the naval arms race would expand ever further.
New York
While Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill's relationship had been damaged by the shocking discovery of the elder being found in the bed of the younger's mother....it had been repaired by 1898. Winston was back in Columbia University along with, somewhat as a surprise, his younger brother Jack who had agreed to attend university in America with his brother instead of attending Sandhurst.
Neither had much of a relationship with their father and Jennie Jerome seemed content to remain in New York for a few years with her sons (and lovers).
Jennie, a handsome woman in her mid-forties, would soon find another lover (she preferred younger men) in a 28 year old Captain in the US Navy who absolutely doted upon her.
Dominion of the Cape
Several of the Irish Regiments which had been accused of half-hearted service in India would be stationed at the periphery of the Empire. They would be found in Australia, Hawaii, the West Indies and the Cape.
In the latter, the 2nd Dublin Volunteers would mutiny after learning that their Regiment would not be returned home but their station in the Cape extended indefinitely. Having been accused of effective treason was too humiliating and the rumors (assumptions, really, and largely correct) that they would not be allowed to go home because they were not trustworthy would prove a self-perpetuating prophesy.
Having served honorably in their minds, both Catholic and Protestants in the Regiment would refuse to go out on patrol. While the incident itself was resolved quickly enough (the threat of withholding their salary as well as implying that this mutiny would extend their stay in the Cape, not shorten it), it would only drive home the sense of untrustworthiness of the Irish among the British classes.
Dublin
Already, hundreds of prominent Fenians and "Home Rule" supporters had been arrested by Chief Secretary of Ireland Randolph Churchill. Those who attempted to organize boycotts of British goods were similarly arrested for disrupting the peace. Instead of letting off steam, Churchill would tighten the screws ever further.
The result was predictable. Riots, violence and finally bombings became commonplace.
Borneo
As with the Lesser Sunda Islands, the island of Borneo would seen ever more migrants from India, mostly Christian but with a mix of Parsi, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim as well.
The drive by the Dominion of Australia to bring in immigrants was threefold:
1. The developing mines, oil fields and other industries required laborers for which the native Dayaks were not particularly intent on providing. Like in former British Malaya, the Chinese, Indians, Europeans and other migrants had done much of the hard work.
2. With Japan plainly eyeing the region for expansion, the Australians needed a population capable of defending the area.
3. The migrants would ensure that there would be a counter-balance to the natives should the Dayak and other Malay peoples of the Island were to revolt.
With Briton's poor performance in the Indian Mutiny when Malaya was effectively abandoned as Briton fought a losing battle on the subcontinent, Australia was largely left to its own devices.
So be it. Australia would act in its own best interests.
Columbian Canal
The Canal, expected to be opened by 1896 in the original plans, was years behind schedule and now even a 1899 formal opening was questionable. However, new construction technology and the severe reduction of malaria and yellow fever cases would ensure that the day was swiftly coming that the near-complete canal would open.
San Diego
The first capital ship built on the Pacific Ocean would be launched in 1898 from the San Diego Dockyards. The USS California would be the first of her class of heavy cruisers, the most modern in the American arsenal. The keels had already been laid for three more (one in San Diego and two in Norfolk).
Based on the outcome of naval battles in the past war, it was obvious that keeping obsolete vessels in service was pointless against anything but nations without real navies. Thus, the Naval Department would retire out dozens of ships over the next few years as the naval arms race would expand ever further.
Chapter 285
November, 1898
Washington
The Congressional elections of 1898 would go.....badly.....for President Boies as the recession of 1897 had swiftly turned into the depression of 1898. Bimetallism would become a watchword in American politics despite most Americans not appreciating the subtlety of national financial theory.
Voters simply knew that things were not going well and therefore it was Boies' fault.
The Republican Party, shaken by losing the Presidency for only the second time in 40 years, would seek to broaden their base by attempting to reclaim some of the black votes defecting to the Republicans, captures some of the Catholic votes which had never been Republican, regain some of the working class votes by supporting the protections of Union workers and, of course, blame the financial crisis on the Democrats.
As westerners, both Boies and Bland had tailored their campaign towards western interests: "Free Silver", low tariffs, etc. This was acceptable to the former Confederate Democrats as they mainly wanted a return to normalcy.
The northern Democrats were able to carry just enough large northern states to win the election. However, the Republican attempts to "move to the center" on issues like Unions, trust-busting, etc would win a level of support among the working class. Worse, the Reformers and "Machine" of New York's Tammany Hall would soon be at war with one another again, giving the New York State Republicans an advantage which would see the Republicans regain the Governor's office and both houses of the State Legislature.
The Republicans would gain 20 seats on the House and an astonishing 12 in the Senate (winning back that body) due to the sweep of a number of State Legislatures which still appointed Senators. The Democrats were largely happy to only lose that much.
In frustration, the President would instead buckle down and begin printing MORE "silverbacks" backed by silver purchased from out west.
The ironic thing was that the rapid increase in gold supply (due to use of arsenic in production and new strikes in the Klondike and Southern Africa) would make the "Free Silver" movement unnecessary. Later economic scholars would point out that "bimetallism" was not inherently doomed to fail but it was impossible to force the two currencies (some backed by silver and some by gold) to trade at a given rate. Either the "stronger" money would be hoarded or it would be exported.
The only policy victory that the Republicans would have over the monetary matters of the Boies administration (which certainly helped their election) was the successful blocking of legislation which would have allowed silver-backed currency to be traded in....for gold. When gold's value increased above face value of the American "silver dollars", then any idiot knew to turn in their silver immediately. By best estimates, this would have cost the nation millions in real money in which they were handing out more gold for a known lesser value of silver. It also would have swiftly seen the US gold reserves withdrawn and probably exported.
Among the new Senators dispatched to Washington by the Republican State Legislatures was a blue-blood New Yorker named Theodore Roosevelt.
Guyana Plateau
Though there had been the odd small gold strike, Guyana remained very lightly populated. Most of the old French, British and Dutch sugar plantations had long since closed down, their former enslaved labor forces have emigrated, moved to the towns or were operating small subsistence farms.
A young writer named Jack London would determine to explore the still unknown region and capture the lives of the denizens of the Guyana Plateau and Amazon Basin
Washington
The Congressional elections of 1898 would go.....badly.....for President Boies as the recession of 1897 had swiftly turned into the depression of 1898. Bimetallism would become a watchword in American politics despite most Americans not appreciating the subtlety of national financial theory.
Voters simply knew that things were not going well and therefore it was Boies' fault.
The Republican Party, shaken by losing the Presidency for only the second time in 40 years, would seek to broaden their base by attempting to reclaim some of the black votes defecting to the Republicans, captures some of the Catholic votes which had never been Republican, regain some of the working class votes by supporting the protections of Union workers and, of course, blame the financial crisis on the Democrats.
As westerners, both Boies and Bland had tailored their campaign towards western interests: "Free Silver", low tariffs, etc. This was acceptable to the former Confederate Democrats as they mainly wanted a return to normalcy.
The northern Democrats were able to carry just enough large northern states to win the election. However, the Republican attempts to "move to the center" on issues like Unions, trust-busting, etc would win a level of support among the working class. Worse, the Reformers and "Machine" of New York's Tammany Hall would soon be at war with one another again, giving the New York State Republicans an advantage which would see the Republicans regain the Governor's office and both houses of the State Legislature.
The Republicans would gain 20 seats on the House and an astonishing 12 in the Senate (winning back that body) due to the sweep of a number of State Legislatures which still appointed Senators. The Democrats were largely happy to only lose that much.
In frustration, the President would instead buckle down and begin printing MORE "silverbacks" backed by silver purchased from out west.
The ironic thing was that the rapid increase in gold supply (due to use of arsenic in production and new strikes in the Klondike and Southern Africa) would make the "Free Silver" movement unnecessary. Later economic scholars would point out that "bimetallism" was not inherently doomed to fail but it was impossible to force the two currencies (some backed by silver and some by gold) to trade at a given rate. Either the "stronger" money would be hoarded or it would be exported.
The only policy victory that the Republicans would have over the monetary matters of the Boies administration (which certainly helped their election) was the successful blocking of legislation which would have allowed silver-backed currency to be traded in....for gold. When gold's value increased above face value of the American "silver dollars", then any idiot knew to turn in their silver immediately. By best estimates, this would have cost the nation millions in real money in which they were handing out more gold for a known lesser value of silver. It also would have swiftly seen the US gold reserves withdrawn and probably exported.
Among the new Senators dispatched to Washington by the Republican State Legislatures was a blue-blood New Yorker named Theodore Roosevelt.
Guyana Plateau
Though there had been the odd small gold strike, Guyana remained very lightly populated. Most of the old French, British and Dutch sugar plantations had long since closed down, their former enslaved labor forces have emigrated, moved to the towns or were operating small subsistence farms.
A young writer named Jack London would determine to explore the still unknown region and capture the lives of the denizens of the Guyana Plateau and Amazon Basin
Chapter 286
March, 1899
English Channel
Guglielmo Marconi would transmit the first radio signal across the English Channel in 1899. However, as French and Italian relations were worsening, Marconi would shortly depart for home.
Ireland
The Fenian Society would soon turn from a political organization into a rebel one. Bearing arms "procured" from France, the Irish would begin stockpiling weapons for the future.
Germany
In an obscure corner of the German Confederation called Mecklenburg, the native line of crowned heads were notoriously backwards and autocratic, even by German standards.
When a rebellion arose by the peasants, the King of Mecklenburg would not realize that the armies of Germany still resented the monarchies for their poor preparation of the previous war.
Sydney
Lord Curzon, a Conservative with an impeccable pedigree, would be made Viceroy to Australia, perhaps the most prestigious colonial posting left in the British Empire.
With the recession in the Home Isles, the rate of emigration to Australia (subsidized by Australia) had quintupled in the past 2 years. For the first time, the majority of British emigrants had ceased going to the United States.
Borneo
Several Dayak villages near the sea were to raise up in rebellion after seeing over 125,000 Indians arriving over the past few years. The Australians would dispatch forces to put them down.
Ankara
The Sublime Porte was soon known as something of a playboy. Like the previous Khedive, he would ape European culture in hopes of matching European industrial might. The past 40 years had been catastrophic for the Ottoman Empire. No longer anxious to challenge Russia or the European powers with military force, instead the Ottoman would attempt to modernize via education and industrialization.
Asian Steppe/Siberia
The Trans-Siberian Railroad would continue to expand further and further, finally passing Lake Baikal.
The Chinese Bannermen would scout along the vast length of the railroad. This would be the Russian lifeline to the far east. The Chinese wanted to know how to slice that jugular when necessary.
English Channel
Guglielmo Marconi would transmit the first radio signal across the English Channel in 1899. However, as French and Italian relations were worsening, Marconi would shortly depart for home.
Ireland
The Fenian Society would soon turn from a political organization into a rebel one. Bearing arms "procured" from France, the Irish would begin stockpiling weapons for the future.
Germany
In an obscure corner of the German Confederation called Mecklenburg, the native line of crowned heads were notoriously backwards and autocratic, even by German standards.
When a rebellion arose by the peasants, the King of Mecklenburg would not realize that the armies of Germany still resented the monarchies for their poor preparation of the previous war.
Sydney
Lord Curzon, a Conservative with an impeccable pedigree, would be made Viceroy to Australia, perhaps the most prestigious colonial posting left in the British Empire.
With the recession in the Home Isles, the rate of emigration to Australia (subsidized by Australia) had quintupled in the past 2 years. For the first time, the majority of British emigrants had ceased going to the United States.
Borneo
Several Dayak villages near the sea were to raise up in rebellion after seeing over 125,000 Indians arriving over the past few years. The Australians would dispatch forces to put them down.
Ankara
The Sublime Porte was soon known as something of a playboy. Like the previous Khedive, he would ape European culture in hopes of matching European industrial might. The past 40 years had been catastrophic for the Ottoman Empire. No longer anxious to challenge Russia or the European powers with military force, instead the Ottoman would attempt to modernize via education and industrialization.
Asian Steppe/Siberia
The Trans-Siberian Railroad would continue to expand further and further, finally passing Lake Baikal.
The Chinese Bannermen would scout along the vast length of the railroad. This would be the Russian lifeline to the far east. The Chinese wanted to know how to slice that jugular when necessary.
Chapter 287
June, 1899
America
The economic collapse of 1898 had been slightly mitigated but still was proving to be a terrible hardship upon the country. Trade was already difficult to come by (the general theory over the next century would be that sudden shutdowns of trade would have a catastrophic effect on the economy) but the problems with the American currency by the switch to bimetallism only made things worse.
President Boies would be vilified for the problems though even his enemies whispered he was hardly solely to blame. The Republicans were also salivating over their chances in 1900's Presidential election.
Boies would attempt to distract the nation via foreign policy. This included a rare visit by a sitting President abroad to Canada, Quebec and the Maritimes where he was received politely. He then travelled across the Atlantic on the new USS Nevada to meeting with Her Majesty and the British Government under Arthur Balfour.
The President also sought to repair relations with Brazil and Chile, though both of these attempts would be brushed off.
Monrovia, Western Anglo-American Co-Protectorate
By agreement with Great Britain in 1898, the Anglo-American Co-Protectorate would undergo more structural changes which would localize the regions into six distinct Councils. American diplomats had pushed for greater local (i.e. tribal) participation. As the Co-Protectorate extended its authority inland where the "tribals" would dominate entirely, it seemed that there should be representation on the highest councils.
However, the British government, still stinging from the loss of India, would refuse any such concession.
As it was the bulk of the Co-Protectorate Councils in 1899 was African in origin....but mostly born in the Americas.
Britain
The British government would devolve into a number of petty squabbles as they attempted to recover from the economic crisis of losing India. The deposits of many banks were held by owners of stock and property in India. When these disappeared, both the banks and the depositors suffered. The central bank would struggle to maintain order.
Perhaps more alarmingly, the discovery of ever more French arms in Ireland (and the linked rise of violence) would severely dampen relations between Britain and France to a dangerous level. Worse, the Franco-Russian Treaty of 1899 (soon to include Italy) would leave no doubt in British minds that their ancient enemy was intent on destroying what was left of the Empire.
Had it not been for France and Italy's blockades in the Mediterranean, it would have been unlikely that the British would have lost their Crown Jewel.
Now, if Russia, the next most powerful navy in Europe were to join in coalition against the British......
Given that Great Britain sole "ally" on the seas was America, which had offered virtually no help in the last war in the Mediterranean, this could conceivable spell the end of the British Empire.
Even Spain had been approached by the Franco-Italian alliance again.
As it was, even greater events were to unfold in Central Europe over the next year.
Berlin
Having dispatched troops to Mecklenburg the previous spring to help the King maintain power, the Prussian King would swiftly regret the expedience as the Prussian troops not only mutinied but marched back upon Berlin, forcing the King of Prussia to flee.
A similar event would occur in both Saxony and Bavaria in the summer of 1899. The larger eastern German states, largely behind the western states in political modernization, would face the wrath of their population backed by military force.
Autocratic German states had long used the army to maintain order. Now, the Army was the driving force for change.
Demands for a new Constitution would be bellowed from the capitals of most of the larger states of Germany which increased representation or "effective" representation of the people, the German Confederation must evolve into a true German nation.
The sight of a people rising up in arms against their monarch would horrify some nation-states of Europe but inspire others.
Japan
The Emperor himself would attend the commissioning of two new warships launched from the Kobe naval yards. The keels had been laid during the previous war but had not been successfully completed for lack of key materials.
The Japanese Imperial Navy had not suffered a defeat until the final year of the war but attrition proved deadly to the rising nation.
While confident of defeating Russia, China, America and what was left of Britain individually, it became obvious that a coalition of any or all of the above would prove disastrous to the Emperor's forces.
For the first time, the Japanese Government was willing to seek out allies elsewhere.
Poland
Having lost most of their ancestral rights when the Czar dissolved the Polish Diet and proclaimed Poland nothing more than a province of Russia, the unrest would continue to spiral ever higher. Inspired by the Germans, the Poles would agitate for a return of these rights (including using Polish as an official language of Poland) with mass marches, protests and the occasional riot.
The Czarina would show a measure of patience. For now.
But the Czarina's problems were similarly proliferating as the Finns would take exception to the recent degree that Finnish Government Acts could/would be cancelled by Russia "should it conflict with Russian interests".
The late Czar had offered great independence to the Finnish Parliament but this ill-worded and considered new Russian proclamation would lead to fears that the Czarina intended to turn Finland into a mere province of Russia akin to Poland. Powerless and dependent.
America
The economic collapse of 1898 had been slightly mitigated but still was proving to be a terrible hardship upon the country. Trade was already difficult to come by (the general theory over the next century would be that sudden shutdowns of trade would have a catastrophic effect on the economy) but the problems with the American currency by the switch to bimetallism only made things worse.
President Boies would be vilified for the problems though even his enemies whispered he was hardly solely to blame. The Republicans were also salivating over their chances in 1900's Presidential election.
Boies would attempt to distract the nation via foreign policy. This included a rare visit by a sitting President abroad to Canada, Quebec and the Maritimes where he was received politely. He then travelled across the Atlantic on the new USS Nevada to meeting with Her Majesty and the British Government under Arthur Balfour.
The President also sought to repair relations with Brazil and Chile, though both of these attempts would be brushed off.
Monrovia, Western Anglo-American Co-Protectorate
By agreement with Great Britain in 1898, the Anglo-American Co-Protectorate would undergo more structural changes which would localize the regions into six distinct Councils. American diplomats had pushed for greater local (i.e. tribal) participation. As the Co-Protectorate extended its authority inland where the "tribals" would dominate entirely, it seemed that there should be representation on the highest councils.
However, the British government, still stinging from the loss of India, would refuse any such concession.
As it was the bulk of the Co-Protectorate Councils in 1899 was African in origin....but mostly born in the Americas.
Britain
The British government would devolve into a number of petty squabbles as they attempted to recover from the economic crisis of losing India. The deposits of many banks were held by owners of stock and property in India. When these disappeared, both the banks and the depositors suffered. The central bank would struggle to maintain order.
Perhaps more alarmingly, the discovery of ever more French arms in Ireland (and the linked rise of violence) would severely dampen relations between Britain and France to a dangerous level. Worse, the Franco-Russian Treaty of 1899 (soon to include Italy) would leave no doubt in British minds that their ancient enemy was intent on destroying what was left of the Empire.
Had it not been for France and Italy's blockades in the Mediterranean, it would have been unlikely that the British would have lost their Crown Jewel.
Now, if Russia, the next most powerful navy in Europe were to join in coalition against the British......
Given that Great Britain sole "ally" on the seas was America, which had offered virtually no help in the last war in the Mediterranean, this could conceivable spell the end of the British Empire.
Even Spain had been approached by the Franco-Italian alliance again.
As it was, even greater events were to unfold in Central Europe over the next year.
Berlin
Having dispatched troops to Mecklenburg the previous spring to help the King maintain power, the Prussian King would swiftly regret the expedience as the Prussian troops not only mutinied but marched back upon Berlin, forcing the King of Prussia to flee.
A similar event would occur in both Saxony and Bavaria in the summer of 1899. The larger eastern German states, largely behind the western states in political modernization, would face the wrath of their population backed by military force.
Autocratic German states had long used the army to maintain order. Now, the Army was the driving force for change.
Demands for a new Constitution would be bellowed from the capitals of most of the larger states of Germany which increased representation or "effective" representation of the people, the German Confederation must evolve into a true German nation.
The sight of a people rising up in arms against their monarch would horrify some nation-states of Europe but inspire others.
Japan
The Emperor himself would attend the commissioning of two new warships launched from the Kobe naval yards. The keels had been laid during the previous war but had not been successfully completed for lack of key materials.
The Japanese Imperial Navy had not suffered a defeat until the final year of the war but attrition proved deadly to the rising nation.
While confident of defeating Russia, China, America and what was left of Britain individually, it became obvious that a coalition of any or all of the above would prove disastrous to the Emperor's forces.
For the first time, the Japanese Government was willing to seek out allies elsewhere.
Poland
Having lost most of their ancestral rights when the Czar dissolved the Polish Diet and proclaimed Poland nothing more than a province of Russia, the unrest would continue to spiral ever higher. Inspired by the Germans, the Poles would agitate for a return of these rights (including using Polish as an official language of Poland) with mass marches, protests and the occasional riot.
The Czarina would show a measure of patience. For now.
But the Czarina's problems were similarly proliferating as the Finns would take exception to the recent degree that Finnish Government Acts could/would be cancelled by Russia "should it conflict with Russian interests".
The late Czar had offered great independence to the Finnish Parliament but this ill-worded and considered new Russian proclamation would lead to fears that the Czarina intended to turn Finland into a mere province of Russia akin to Poland. Powerless and dependent.
Chapter 288
September, 1899
Mosquito Coast
Having been granted their "independence" by the Mexican army from Nicaragua, the new nation was somewhat adrift. Bearing a low population of Indians and Mulattos (mainly along the coast), setting up an actual government was proving difficult.
Some "Moskitos" would recommend returning to British care as a self-governing protectorate. Others wanted to join Mexico, Costa Rica or even rejoin Nicaragua.
Santiago, Chile
Having led their armies to defeat in Bolivia and Peru but victory in Patagonia, the Army of Chile would rise up and overthrow their government, seeing that it provided little benefit to the country.
A committee of Generals would assume control.
Santiago, Cuba
The Cuban Revolutionaries would meet in Santiago and write a new Constitution in the face of the Royal Governor in Havana's threats.
The Cubans would dispatch the Constitution to Madrid, asking the Queen Mother-Regent to approve on behalf of her minority son, the future Alphonso XIII (now 13).
Lower Burma
The last significant British possession the Asia mainland would be Lower Burma. The British Army would managed to retain control but no effort was to be made by the British to regain the hinterlands (Burma had yet to prove to be a moneymaker anyway).
Beijing
A new trade agreement was reached between China and two foreign nations: Great Britain and America. Relations with Britain had greatly improved in recent years (after that little Opium issue) and the Mandarin's Ministers would believe that China needed positive trade relations with key nations to offset the Russian and Japanese proximity to the Middle Kingdom .
As Britain and America were no longer a threat to China....but they could be to Russia and, more importantly, Japan.....a closer diplomatic and economic relationship was in China's best interests.
Mosquito Coast
Having been granted their "independence" by the Mexican army from Nicaragua, the new nation was somewhat adrift. Bearing a low population of Indians and Mulattos (mainly along the coast), setting up an actual government was proving difficult.
Some "Moskitos" would recommend returning to British care as a self-governing protectorate. Others wanted to join Mexico, Costa Rica or even rejoin Nicaragua.
Santiago, Chile
Having led their armies to defeat in Bolivia and Peru but victory in Patagonia, the Army of Chile would rise up and overthrow their government, seeing that it provided little benefit to the country.
A committee of Generals would assume control.
Santiago, Cuba
The Cuban Revolutionaries would meet in Santiago and write a new Constitution in the face of the Royal Governor in Havana's threats.
The Cubans would dispatch the Constitution to Madrid, asking the Queen Mother-Regent to approve on behalf of her minority son, the future Alphonso XIII (now 13).
Lower Burma
The last significant British possession the Asia mainland would be Lower Burma. The British Army would managed to retain control but no effort was to be made by the British to regain the hinterlands (Burma had yet to prove to be a moneymaker anyway).
Beijing
A new trade agreement was reached between China and two foreign nations: Great Britain and America. Relations with Britain had greatly improved in recent years (after that little Opium issue) and the Mandarin's Ministers would believe that China needed positive trade relations with key nations to offset the Russian and Japanese proximity to the Middle Kingdom .
As Britain and America were no longer a threat to China....but they could be to Russia and, more importantly, Japan.....a closer diplomatic and economic relationship was in China's best interests.
Chapter 289
January, 1900
Southern Africa, Luanda
The massive Luanda to Maputo Railroad across southern Africa had been slowed by the war but not stopped. Track and workers (mainly part of the West Indian exodus) would continue to flow into Africa to build the railroads, work in the towns and serve in the government.
In Jamaica, an 18 year old youth may look forward to working his father's petty farm most of the year while sharecropping coffee on someone else's coffee plantation during harvest season. In Africa, he may be commanding a gang of laborers on the railway or working a desk job for the bureaucracy.
The Co-Protectorate would actually start to pull so many West Indians from the region that the Columbian Canal would start to struggle with workers. Against all odds, Africa would become the promised land for West Indian and, to a lesser extent, American blacks. Here they were the educated, the connected, the powerful....the ruling class.
Among these was a self-educated Jamaican stonemason named Malchus Garvey who would accept a management position upon the Luanda Railroad. He would take with him his 13 year old son, Marcus, who would soon need to apprentice to a tradesman (in order to avoid working in someone else's fields in Jamaica). As an enticement, the Co-Protectorate would offer free higher education to the children of employees (include a novel pension program for widows of men lost on the construction).
Thus, Marcus was able to continue to attend school in Luanda while his father would run a gang of laborers building stone bridges over small creeks and rivers to facilitate the expansion of the railroad.
This migration was part of a massive wave which was steadily depopulating the smaller islands of the Caribbean. No longer particularly profitable in sugar production (or other products) in global competition, the most ambitious would take their families abroad, mainly to Africa. Given that few of the natives of Africa had been educated....and a general prejudice in favor of those who had been educated by the west....the bureaucracy would swiftly become dominated by "returnees". The drain of manpower in the Caribbean would become a self-fulfilling prophesy as the loss of workers would make it even more difficult for island products to be profitable. This would close down plantations and factories, thus driving ever more West Indians abroad to Africa, Columbia and America.
Similar infrastructure projects from railroads to dams to bridges were under construction the breadth of Africa, funded by the Co-Protectorate taxes. British businessmen were the most common investors but American and other European or South American investment was quite common as well.
Having been cut off from rubber production in Brazil and Malaya in the last war (mostly, this had not reached pre-war levels), the Co-Protectorate was eager to create a new source of product and the massive plantations of the Congo were rapidly expanding. Some land had been "purchased" by the Co-Protectorate while others were worked by native tribes or as individual landowners.
Pepper, gold, ivory, coffee and, most recently, cocoa, was being traded along the coasts of western Africa. Other products like groundnuts, hemp, sisel, etc were already being grown in some areas. Mining was still in its infancy in Africa but Angola in particular was seeing the early extraction of iron ore. As few tribal Africans could be enticed into laboring in mines, the black populations of America and, as always, the West Indies, were offered lucrative positions.
Unions were already cropping up and the Co-Protectorate, mirroring the political issues of Britain and America, were forced to concede on this point and prevent "strike-breaking", slave-labor wages, etc. While white immigration to Co-Protectorate lands was moderately common, it tended to be relegated to investors rather than workers in most areas. Angola would be the first area in which miners from Europe and America were invited to settle. These, naturally, would be among those demanding strong Unions. Indeed, the African Miners Union would incorporate in 1900 by a collection of African America, Jamaican, Silesian and Welsh miners imported to work the iron ore mines. They would communicate in organization with the great American Union organizer and lawyer Mohandas Gandhi.
Southern Africa, Luanda
The massive Luanda to Maputo Railroad across southern Africa had been slowed by the war but not stopped. Track and workers (mainly part of the West Indian exodus) would continue to flow into Africa to build the railroads, work in the towns and serve in the government.
In Jamaica, an 18 year old youth may look forward to working his father's petty farm most of the year while sharecropping coffee on someone else's coffee plantation during harvest season. In Africa, he may be commanding a gang of laborers on the railway or working a desk job for the bureaucracy.
The Co-Protectorate would actually start to pull so many West Indians from the region that the Columbian Canal would start to struggle with workers. Against all odds, Africa would become the promised land for West Indian and, to a lesser extent, American blacks. Here they were the educated, the connected, the powerful....the ruling class.
Among these was a self-educated Jamaican stonemason named Malchus Garvey who would accept a management position upon the Luanda Railroad. He would take with him his 13 year old son, Marcus, who would soon need to apprentice to a tradesman (in order to avoid working in someone else's fields in Jamaica). As an enticement, the Co-Protectorate would offer free higher education to the children of employees (include a novel pension program for widows of men lost on the construction).
Thus, Marcus was able to continue to attend school in Luanda while his father would run a gang of laborers building stone bridges over small creeks and rivers to facilitate the expansion of the railroad.
This migration was part of a massive wave which was steadily depopulating the smaller islands of the Caribbean. No longer particularly profitable in sugar production (or other products) in global competition, the most ambitious would take their families abroad, mainly to Africa. Given that few of the natives of Africa had been educated....and a general prejudice in favor of those who had been educated by the west....the bureaucracy would swiftly become dominated by "returnees". The drain of manpower in the Caribbean would become a self-fulfilling prophesy as the loss of workers would make it even more difficult for island products to be profitable. This would close down plantations and factories, thus driving ever more West Indians abroad to Africa, Columbia and America.
Similar infrastructure projects from railroads to dams to bridges were under construction the breadth of Africa, funded by the Co-Protectorate taxes. British businessmen were the most common investors but American and other European or South American investment was quite common as well.
Having been cut off from rubber production in Brazil and Malaya in the last war (mostly, this had not reached pre-war levels), the Co-Protectorate was eager to create a new source of product and the massive plantations of the Congo were rapidly expanding. Some land had been "purchased" by the Co-Protectorate while others were worked by native tribes or as individual landowners.
Pepper, gold, ivory, coffee and, most recently, cocoa, was being traded along the coasts of western Africa. Other products like groundnuts, hemp, sisel, etc were already being grown in some areas. Mining was still in its infancy in Africa but Angola in particular was seeing the early extraction of iron ore. As few tribal Africans could be enticed into laboring in mines, the black populations of America and, as always, the West Indies, were offered lucrative positions.
Unions were already cropping up and the Co-Protectorate, mirroring the political issues of Britain and America, were forced to concede on this point and prevent "strike-breaking", slave-labor wages, etc. While white immigration to Co-Protectorate lands was moderately common, it tended to be relegated to investors rather than workers in most areas. Angola would be the first area in which miners from Europe and America were invited to settle. These, naturally, would be among those demanding strong Unions. Indeed, the African Miners Union would incorporate in 1900 by a collection of African America, Jamaican, Silesian and Welsh miners imported to work the iron ore mines. They would communicate in organization with the great American Union organizer and lawyer Mohandas Gandhi.
Nice chapter, I expect the Africa ITTL to be richer and more stable than OTL with all countries having a more economic approach when it comes to Africa than simply using Africa for imperialism.
Chapter 290
April, 1900
Boston
The Republican Convention would seek to take advantage of the Democratic weakness by unifying behind a candidate quickly. Former Vice-Presidential candidate William McKinley of Ohio would be selected as the Presidential Candidate. Known as the arch-benefactor of Tariffs and Industry in Congress, McKinley had a built-in electorate in the northeast.
Seeking to balance the ticket, the Republicans would look for a Vice-Presidential Candidate to balance the ticket. In the end, they settled upon Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine, the Speaker of the House. However, Reed would suffer a heart attack during the Convention and the Republicans instead opted for Senator Matthew Quay of Pennsylvania (the Republican "Boss" of his state).
Having both their candidates from key battleground states, the Republicans were not going to take anything for granted in 1900.
The Democrats in Columbus would debate replacing Boies and Bland on the ticket though unseating a President in his own Party Convention was rare to the point of being unheard of. Besides, many of the ambitious young Democrats would read the writing on the wall and would not want their name attached to an election that no Democrat was likely to win.
Moscow
Czarina Anna would issue her most withering gaze upon her Transportation Minister as she demanded to know why a bridge collapsed and two trains derailed, all in separate incidents, along the Trans-Siberian Railway just in the past month.
By 1900, the cheap foundation for the railroad through the eastern permafrost and various shortcuts in construction would leave the railroad to the Pacific (only 500 miles from the Amur) frequently shut down for months. Regiments would sit in Central Asian cities waiting for someone to fix the railroad. It was becoming quite clear that the railroad could not be counted upon to supply the east in a pinch.
Gujarat
Among the more stable regions of India and one of the few to attempt a real democracy (shockingly, the Hindu Socialist Army would NOT allow competing parties to contest) was the new "Republic of Gujarat". A relatively prosperous and peaceful corner of the Subterranean continent, the new nation would seek peace with her neighbors. However, the HSA's domination of Northern India would lead to an alliance with the Muslim-dominated Baluchistan and Sind and renewed Sikh Empire (Punjab and Kashmir) to the north.
Rajasthan
The HSA hierarchy would take to murdering every single relation of the old Rajput Princes, much as they did in Oudh and other former provinces of the Raj.
Landowners, factory owners, nobility, Muslims, Christians, etc were severely oppressed if not openly slaughtered.
Madrid
The Queen-Regent would take the advice of her Ministers and reject the Cuban Constitution. Instead, arrest warrants were issued for the signees.
Boston
The Republican Convention would seek to take advantage of the Democratic weakness by unifying behind a candidate quickly. Former Vice-Presidential candidate William McKinley of Ohio would be selected as the Presidential Candidate. Known as the arch-benefactor of Tariffs and Industry in Congress, McKinley had a built-in electorate in the northeast.
Seeking to balance the ticket, the Republicans would look for a Vice-Presidential Candidate to balance the ticket. In the end, they settled upon Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine, the Speaker of the House. However, Reed would suffer a heart attack during the Convention and the Republicans instead opted for Senator Matthew Quay of Pennsylvania (the Republican "Boss" of his state).
Having both their candidates from key battleground states, the Republicans were not going to take anything for granted in 1900.
The Democrats in Columbus would debate replacing Boies and Bland on the ticket though unseating a President in his own Party Convention was rare to the point of being unheard of. Besides, many of the ambitious young Democrats would read the writing on the wall and would not want their name attached to an election that no Democrat was likely to win.
Moscow
Czarina Anna would issue her most withering gaze upon her Transportation Minister as she demanded to know why a bridge collapsed and two trains derailed, all in separate incidents, along the Trans-Siberian Railway just in the past month.
By 1900, the cheap foundation for the railroad through the eastern permafrost and various shortcuts in construction would leave the railroad to the Pacific (only 500 miles from the Amur) frequently shut down for months. Regiments would sit in Central Asian cities waiting for someone to fix the railroad. It was becoming quite clear that the railroad could not be counted upon to supply the east in a pinch.
Gujarat
Among the more stable regions of India and one of the few to attempt a real democracy (shockingly, the Hindu Socialist Army would NOT allow competing parties to contest) was the new "Republic of Gujarat". A relatively prosperous and peaceful corner of the Subterranean continent, the new nation would seek peace with her neighbors. However, the HSA's domination of Northern India would lead to an alliance with the Muslim-dominated Baluchistan and Sind and renewed Sikh Empire (Punjab and Kashmir) to the north.
Rajasthan
The HSA hierarchy would take to murdering every single relation of the old Rajput Princes, much as they did in Oudh and other former provinces of the Raj.
Landowners, factory owners, nobility, Muslims, Christians, etc were severely oppressed if not openly slaughtered.
Madrid
The Queen-Regent would take the advice of her Ministers and reject the Cuban Constitution. Instead, arrest warrants were issued for the signees.
Chapter 291
June, 1900
Bolivia
As they had for the past 60 years, the latest Bolivian government would collapse in a coup d'etat. No one in the region was surprised as Bolivia had become the "sickman" of South America.
And that was saying something.
Colombia
Finally, the completion of the Colombia Canal was in sight. For a generation, the British and American funds had carved a man-made valley between two continents.
By most estimates, the Canal would be completed in a year.
Buenos Aires
The Republic of Buenos Aires, seeing the military coup in Chile, would attempt to regain much of Patagonia.
This attempt would fail miserably as the Chilean forces had not been reduced in Patagonia. Worse, several incompetent Portino generals marched their raw forces into an ambush by the Chileans.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico would follow Cuba in its "request" for major reform beyond mere local issues. They wanted a say in the overall governance of the colonial islands. Trade policy, tariffs, removal of Spanish troops (to be replaced by locals), etc.
Europe
A series of alliances continued to cast about as each nation sought a beneficial agreement.
Various schools of thought were discussed behind closed doors. The key to any alliance was figuring out how it benefited you...and to the extent one risked being drawn into a conflict which did not concern you.
Great Britain would have loved to form an alliance with France and Russia. Seen as the two nations most likely to threaten their now much-reduced Empire, an alliance would have done more than any other to protect it. In some quarters of London, this was seen as a good reason to ally with America. The former colony was growing enormous (75,000,000 citizens in 1900 versus 3 million 125 years ago at independence). It was also growing in confidence and naval might. By 1900, America and Great Britain gazed across an ocean at one another, neither likely to strike a death blow, leaving any conflict to end in a stalemate. Having no real manner to defeat the other, an alliance was preferred.
However this would not be possible with France. France, and the newly ascendant Italy, were intent on colonial expansion. Both probably fancied themselves seizing huge parts of Africa, maybe even India. While Russia was long looked upon with trepidation in Britain as a threat to India, some political figures were beginning to suspect the Russian threat had always been exaggerated.
The ideal alliance for Britain may have been with Germany and Russia. With Russia's aid, the French and Italians wouldn't DARE cast another eye upon Germany. This would ensure the balance of power on the Continent. The Royal Navy, backed by America and possibly Russia, would be required only to keep the Latin Alliance off of African soil. That was a reasonable ask for what was still the most powerful navy on earth.
But Russia seemed to have little interest in such an alliance. The Czarina was more concerned with the growing power of the Germans, the only conceivable threat to Russia. Czarina Anna was also experiencing her own problems with Poland and her other client states. From the Russian perspective, an alliance with France made more sense as Napoleon IV served as a potential counter to Germany. While "enemy of my enemy" was perhaps not the best foundation of an alliance, this is the one the Czarina was willing to approve.
The fact that Britain and America had grown closer to China in the past years was also something of a sore spot in Moscow.
France and Italy's open coveting of overseas colonies seemed to leave no middle ground. Great Britain had not fought for centuries to ascend as the only significant colonial power in the world. Letting European nations to get back into that game was not an option.
Even if Great Britain and Russia had few reasons to quarrel, the complex series of alliances forming was pushing the two nations further and further apart by proxy.
Bolivia
As they had for the past 60 years, the latest Bolivian government would collapse in a coup d'etat. No one in the region was surprised as Bolivia had become the "sickman" of South America.
And that was saying something.
Colombia
Finally, the completion of the Colombia Canal was in sight. For a generation, the British and American funds had carved a man-made valley between two continents.
By most estimates, the Canal would be completed in a year.
Buenos Aires
The Republic of Buenos Aires, seeing the military coup in Chile, would attempt to regain much of Patagonia.
This attempt would fail miserably as the Chilean forces had not been reduced in Patagonia. Worse, several incompetent Portino generals marched their raw forces into an ambush by the Chileans.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico would follow Cuba in its "request" for major reform beyond mere local issues. They wanted a say in the overall governance of the colonial islands. Trade policy, tariffs, removal of Spanish troops (to be replaced by locals), etc.
Europe
A series of alliances continued to cast about as each nation sought a beneficial agreement.
Various schools of thought were discussed behind closed doors. The key to any alliance was figuring out how it benefited you...and to the extent one risked being drawn into a conflict which did not concern you.
Great Britain would have loved to form an alliance with France and Russia. Seen as the two nations most likely to threaten their now much-reduced Empire, an alliance would have done more than any other to protect it. In some quarters of London, this was seen as a good reason to ally with America. The former colony was growing enormous (75,000,000 citizens in 1900 versus 3 million 125 years ago at independence). It was also growing in confidence and naval might. By 1900, America and Great Britain gazed across an ocean at one another, neither likely to strike a death blow, leaving any conflict to end in a stalemate. Having no real manner to defeat the other, an alliance was preferred.
However this would not be possible with France. France, and the newly ascendant Italy, were intent on colonial expansion. Both probably fancied themselves seizing huge parts of Africa, maybe even India. While Russia was long looked upon with trepidation in Britain as a threat to India, some political figures were beginning to suspect the Russian threat had always been exaggerated.
The ideal alliance for Britain may have been with Germany and Russia. With Russia's aid, the French and Italians wouldn't DARE cast another eye upon Germany. This would ensure the balance of power on the Continent. The Royal Navy, backed by America and possibly Russia, would be required only to keep the Latin Alliance off of African soil. That was a reasonable ask for what was still the most powerful navy on earth.
But Russia seemed to have little interest in such an alliance. The Czarina was more concerned with the growing power of the Germans, the only conceivable threat to Russia. Czarina Anna was also experiencing her own problems with Poland and her other client states. From the Russian perspective, an alliance with France made more sense as Napoleon IV served as a potential counter to Germany. While "enemy of my enemy" was perhaps not the best foundation of an alliance, this is the one the Czarina was willing to approve.
The fact that Britain and America had grown closer to China in the past years was also something of a sore spot in Moscow.
France and Italy's open coveting of overseas colonies seemed to leave no middle ground. Great Britain had not fought for centuries to ascend as the only significant colonial power in the world. Letting European nations to get back into that game was not an option.
Even if Great Britain and Russia had few reasons to quarrel, the complex series of alliances forming was pushing the two nations further and further apart by proxy.
Chapter 292
November, 1900
Washington
As expected, the Republicans would sweep the 1900 election. Gaining another 14 seats in the House and 6 in the Senate. President McKinley would assume office and make his first order of business to putting the nation back on the gold standard and raising the tariff from 10% to 30%.
As it was, the economy was starting to recover from the depression under Boies already (too late to save his presidency) and McKinley would gain unearned credit.
Australia
Fredrick Von Otter was a Swedish sailor who, frustrated in his youth at the slow promotions in the Swedish Navy, had opted to serve (with permission) in the British Royal Navy. Having served honorably in the South China Sea and against America in the "American War of 1861), Von Otter was promoted twice in quick succession in the 1860's and continued his service with the British. Eventually, he was transferred to the Indian Navy and, by the 1890's, been placed in command of that body which included a mixture of British, Muslim Indians, Topasses (half-breed Christians) and others.
When India fell, the existence of the Indian Navy seemed superfluous (the subcontinent paid for it anyway) and the assorted personnel were relived or transferred to other service. Von Otter was placed for several years in command of an armada of vessels evacuating the British and British loyalists away of the subcontinent. The British would be evacuated to Australia, the Cape and Britain while the Indians (mostly Christian but with a number of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, etc) were largely dispatched to Borneo, Timor and other Lesser Sunda Islands.
In a remarkable period of time, over 100,00 Britons (excluding the army and navy) and nearly 200,000 denizens of the subcontinent were evacuated.
For this accomplishment, Von Otter was raised to Viscount and "recommended" to be placed in command of the Royal Australian Navy. Von Otter's work would be cut out for him. As the British economy convulsed and the Indian taxpayer could not be counted upon to fund a separate Indian Navy in the Queen's service.
The Royal Australian Navy was largely on its own. Though subsidized a bit by Britain, most of the cost of the RAN would be bourn by the Australians.
London
The first delegation from Mysore and Hyderabad would arrive in 1900 seeking regularized relations with Britain. Still rather sore on the subject, which would see huge quantities of British-owned property confiscated, the British refused to make formal peace until British citizens were reimbursed. The Indians rejoined that Britain had yet to pay for the money extorted from India over the centuries, either.
In the end, the armistice was kept in place but normalized relations was not yet acceptable.
This would prove disappointing to the southern Indians as they were getting increasingly nervous about the Hindu Socialist Army's actions in the north of India.
Washington
As expected, the Republicans would sweep the 1900 election. Gaining another 14 seats in the House and 6 in the Senate. President McKinley would assume office and make his first order of business to putting the nation back on the gold standard and raising the tariff from 10% to 30%.
As it was, the economy was starting to recover from the depression under Boies already (too late to save his presidency) and McKinley would gain unearned credit.
Australia
Fredrick Von Otter was a Swedish sailor who, frustrated in his youth at the slow promotions in the Swedish Navy, had opted to serve (with permission) in the British Royal Navy. Having served honorably in the South China Sea and against America in the "American War of 1861), Von Otter was promoted twice in quick succession in the 1860's and continued his service with the British. Eventually, he was transferred to the Indian Navy and, by the 1890's, been placed in command of that body which included a mixture of British, Muslim Indians, Topasses (half-breed Christians) and others.
When India fell, the existence of the Indian Navy seemed superfluous (the subcontinent paid for it anyway) and the assorted personnel were relived or transferred to other service. Von Otter was placed for several years in command of an armada of vessels evacuating the British and British loyalists away of the subcontinent. The British would be evacuated to Australia, the Cape and Britain while the Indians (mostly Christian but with a number of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, etc) were largely dispatched to Borneo, Timor and other Lesser Sunda Islands.
In a remarkable period of time, over 100,00 Britons (excluding the army and navy) and nearly 200,000 denizens of the subcontinent were evacuated.
For this accomplishment, Von Otter was raised to Viscount and "recommended" to be placed in command of the Royal Australian Navy. Von Otter's work would be cut out for him. As the British economy convulsed and the Indian taxpayer could not be counted upon to fund a separate Indian Navy in the Queen's service.
The Royal Australian Navy was largely on its own. Though subsidized a bit by Britain, most of the cost of the RAN would be bourn by the Australians.
London
The first delegation from Mysore and Hyderabad would arrive in 1900 seeking regularized relations with Britain. Still rather sore on the subject, which would see huge quantities of British-owned property confiscated, the British refused to make formal peace until British citizens were reimbursed. The Indians rejoined that Britain had yet to pay for the money extorted from India over the centuries, either.
In the end, the armistice was kept in place but normalized relations was not yet acceptable.
This would prove disappointing to the southern Indians as they were getting increasingly nervous about the Hindu Socialist Army's actions in the north of India.
Chapter 293
March 1901
Washington
Barely days after his swearing in, President McKinley would enact a series of tariffs as well as the "Specie Act of 1901" to put the nation back on the gold standard. The recession was, to be fair to ex-President Boies, already recovering but not remotely swift enough to rescue his chances in 1900.
McKinley would happily take credit for the economic recover in 1901.
To the surprise of many, McKinley would not hesitate to renew his alliance with Great Britain regarding the Anglo-American Co-Protectorate. Given the mining (Bauxite in Guinea, Iron in Angola, Copper in the Zambezi), rubber (the Congo), etc, the trade opportunities would remain high. There were also a not so small number of the American electorate which was happy to see 300,000 Black Americans migrate to Africa (as had been the purpose of Liberia a century earlier) and quietly desired the rest to go back as well. Of course, this represented only a tiny portion of the overall black population and had no demographic effect.
Georgia
To the abject shock of many Georgia residents, President Boies had never forced that state's admission back into the Union on behalf of the Democrats. By 1900, it had become an established fact that the 10% of the American population that was black was voting with little to no difficulty throughout most of the nation. Even most of the former Confederate states had come to accept this. To do anything to counteract this (and allowing Georgia to return to the Union without formal acceptance of the new states of affairs) would ensure that 10% of the nation's voters....and every politician who cared about retaining their votes.....would make this their number 1 priority.
Eventually, Georgian voters would tire of the drama and the first free and fair vote would occur in 1901. Oddly, the greatest trouble by this point was not accepting black suffrage but the integration of schools. This was an ongoing process and segregation was being challenges in those states where it was still practiced. However, the status of Georgia as non-quite-a-state would allow the appointed government to enforce integration years before.
Thus, large numbers of white children had been deprived of school for a generation. Unlike most of the nation, the state of Georgia's population had actually dropped over the past decades. This was almost entirely due to the political upheaval and the economic problems that naturally followed. When the sharecroppers and migrant workers would organize into defacto unions and boycotts work on the plantation of any landowner who opposed black suffrage and integration. Thousands of former leading Georgia families, the old ruling class, were bankrupted and often had to sell their land. The Freedman's Bureau had been extremely active in aiding in land sales to Freedmen and Georgia had among the highest rates of black farm ownership in the country.
Exhausted by two generations of strife, the state's division would finally agree to tolerate one another in hopes of getting the state back to some semblance of normalcy.
Oddly, it was the election of William McKinley that finally gave the Georgia Democrats the final clue that things were not going to change in the direction they wanted. The highest representatives in the party actively changed their platform to publicly affirm the doctrine of Black Suffrage and announced that the party would not accept any candidates that opposed. Integration was another matter but no one wanted to address that at the time.
Dublin
A Fenian riot in Belfast would lead to an uprising in Dublin. However, so many British regulars had been posted to Ireland that the armed resistance of 2000 Fenians was easily enough crushed.
Unsurprisingly, Randolph Churchill, Chief Secretary of Ireland, would only tighten the British grip. Marshall Law became a fact of life and the cities became armed camps.
Washington
Barely days after his swearing in, President McKinley would enact a series of tariffs as well as the "Specie Act of 1901" to put the nation back on the gold standard. The recession was, to be fair to ex-President Boies, already recovering but not remotely swift enough to rescue his chances in 1900.
McKinley would happily take credit for the economic recover in 1901.
To the surprise of many, McKinley would not hesitate to renew his alliance with Great Britain regarding the Anglo-American Co-Protectorate. Given the mining (Bauxite in Guinea, Iron in Angola, Copper in the Zambezi), rubber (the Congo), etc, the trade opportunities would remain high. There were also a not so small number of the American electorate which was happy to see 300,000 Black Americans migrate to Africa (as had been the purpose of Liberia a century earlier) and quietly desired the rest to go back as well. Of course, this represented only a tiny portion of the overall black population and had no demographic effect.
Georgia
To the abject shock of many Georgia residents, President Boies had never forced that state's admission back into the Union on behalf of the Democrats. By 1900, it had become an established fact that the 10% of the American population that was black was voting with little to no difficulty throughout most of the nation. Even most of the former Confederate states had come to accept this. To do anything to counteract this (and allowing Georgia to return to the Union without formal acceptance of the new states of affairs) would ensure that 10% of the nation's voters....and every politician who cared about retaining their votes.....would make this their number 1 priority.
Eventually, Georgian voters would tire of the drama and the first free and fair vote would occur in 1901. Oddly, the greatest trouble by this point was not accepting black suffrage but the integration of schools. This was an ongoing process and segregation was being challenges in those states where it was still practiced. However, the status of Georgia as non-quite-a-state would allow the appointed government to enforce integration years before.
Thus, large numbers of white children had been deprived of school for a generation. Unlike most of the nation, the state of Georgia's population had actually dropped over the past decades. This was almost entirely due to the political upheaval and the economic problems that naturally followed. When the sharecroppers and migrant workers would organize into defacto unions and boycotts work on the plantation of any landowner who opposed black suffrage and integration. Thousands of former leading Georgia families, the old ruling class, were bankrupted and often had to sell their land. The Freedman's Bureau had been extremely active in aiding in land sales to Freedmen and Georgia had among the highest rates of black farm ownership in the country.
Exhausted by two generations of strife, the state's division would finally agree to tolerate one another in hopes of getting the state back to some semblance of normalcy.
Oddly, it was the election of William McKinley that finally gave the Georgia Democrats the final clue that things were not going to change in the direction they wanted. The highest representatives in the party actively changed their platform to publicly affirm the doctrine of Black Suffrage and announced that the party would not accept any candidates that opposed. Integration was another matter but no one wanted to address that at the time.
Dublin
A Fenian riot in Belfast would lead to an uprising in Dublin. However, so many British regulars had been posted to Ireland that the armed resistance of 2000 Fenians was easily enough crushed.
Unsurprisingly, Randolph Churchill, Chief Secretary of Ireland, would only tighten the British grip. Marshall Law became a fact of life and the cities became armed camps.