Fenians, Brits, Mexicans, Canucks and Frenchies....OH, MY! An alternate American Civil War
- Thread starter Alt History Buff
- Start date
@Alt History Buff , might you consider adding an “and beyond” to the thread title, given that about two-thirds of it takes place after the ACW?
Chapter 345
July, 1909
Dublin
For the past several years, the British government had viciously clamped down on Home Rule sentiment in Ireland. With the arrival of the Liberals, there was hope that the resistance would slow enough for the government to negotiate a deal with the Irish to retain the Isle under the House of Saxe-Coburg.
However, the repression and violence would effectively destroy the old, moderate Home Rule Movement. When Ireland was allowed to vote in the 1908 elections, the Fenian Party would sweep the election for all non-Protestant regions. The Fenians were adamant for complete Independence.
The British government would have to decide if they should allow the Fenians to sit....or ban them from Parliament as traitors.
New York
For the first time, French migrants would begin to arrive in America in large numbers. Over 1,000,000 monarchists and other undesirables would depart France by 1909 (many others would follow). Over 200,000 would arrive in eventually arrive in America. The rest would be split mainly between Spain (and Hispaniola), Italy, Germany, Belgium, Brazil and Quebec.
While not exactly the most popular people in America given the recent war (though the US and France seldom crossed swords in that conflict), there was relatively little opposition to the migration.
As with most migrant groups, many would settle in New York. Others would land in Charleston, New Orleans and California.
Eventually, the labor force reduction and "brain drain" would be so fierce that France would stop issuing passports. This only led to people fleeing across the borders at night. Presently, the Socialists would discuss measures such as increasing funding to the internal security service to root out potential "traitors" who wanted to emigrate and even building a guarded fence along the borders.
Paris
The Commune would formally recommend abolishing private property in perhaps the most far-reaching political reform in human history. Given that a large percentage of the French public actually OWNED property relative to many other nations, this was moderated to allow for ownership of private homes below a certain value and between 40-80 acres of farmland depending upon productivity of the land. Therefore, most property owners were not immediately harmed.
In the meantime, the French Marxist-Socialist Government would throw enormous resources into building the navy as well as weapons research. Of course, since many of the best engineers and tradesmen in France had fled the nation (having served the former government), the French would have to begin anew.
However, the French Navy WOULD create a revolutionary new weapon. Over the past years, it had become apparent that the submersible and the torpedo had radically altered warfare. A brilliant French inventor would design the first efficient depth charge in history (granted, there had never been a need before). The lighter French ships would soon be armed with them. Of course, the Americans, British and others were experimenting as well and would design similar features.
In time, the submersibles would be made more deadly by reducing engine noise, increasing the time allowed underwater, increasing the depth of the dive and allowing for vastly greater distances the vehicles could cover.
The surface ships would be given sonar to compensate. Thus, a new arms race was born to compare to the capital ships of the past six decades.
Central Asia
The Russian "reconquest" of the central steppes would soon convert into a mass slaughter of the Muslim tribal groups of Central Asia. After millions were killed by Russian nationalists from 1907 to 1914, many more would flee to the borders. Some would be accepted in Persia but others would largely be blocked from the lands of the Afghans (which held tribal rivalries) and Chinese Xinjiang (the Chinese did not want MORE Turkic Muslims and had only recently completed a pogrom kicking tens of thousands OUT).
The result were the Kazaks, Turkmens, Kirgiz, Uzbeks and others were largely left to die on the Steppe as the Russians ruthlessly moved further and further south.
The Amazon River Mouth
Unlike prior to the war, the Americans would no longer allow Brazilian shipping along the Amazon. Given that most of the remaining Brazilian territories along the Amazon were along tributaries of the Amazon, that meant hundreds of thousands of square miles were virtually lost to the Brazilians. This had not been the intent of President Frye's peace with Brazil but new President Roosevelt was disinclined to be merciful to a nation that effectively launched what he considered to be a cowardly sneak attack upon America.
That this would ensure animosity with Brazil was nothing short of obvious.
Atacama
Seeking workers, the American government would, for the first time, allow Chinese to migrate to Atacama. They would be followed by, of all peoples, Japanese. While most of these workers were male (over 95%) and the heavy majority would eventually go home, they would nevertheless create a new demographic in South America.
Dublin
For the past several years, the British government had viciously clamped down on Home Rule sentiment in Ireland. With the arrival of the Liberals, there was hope that the resistance would slow enough for the government to negotiate a deal with the Irish to retain the Isle under the House of Saxe-Coburg.
However, the repression and violence would effectively destroy the old, moderate Home Rule Movement. When Ireland was allowed to vote in the 1908 elections, the Fenian Party would sweep the election for all non-Protestant regions. The Fenians were adamant for complete Independence.
The British government would have to decide if they should allow the Fenians to sit....or ban them from Parliament as traitors.
New York
For the first time, French migrants would begin to arrive in America in large numbers. Over 1,000,000 monarchists and other undesirables would depart France by 1909 (many others would follow). Over 200,000 would arrive in eventually arrive in America. The rest would be split mainly between Spain (and Hispaniola), Italy, Germany, Belgium, Brazil and Quebec.
While not exactly the most popular people in America given the recent war (though the US and France seldom crossed swords in that conflict), there was relatively little opposition to the migration.
As with most migrant groups, many would settle in New York. Others would land in Charleston, New Orleans and California.
Eventually, the labor force reduction and "brain drain" would be so fierce that France would stop issuing passports. This only led to people fleeing across the borders at night. Presently, the Socialists would discuss measures such as increasing funding to the internal security service to root out potential "traitors" who wanted to emigrate and even building a guarded fence along the borders.
Paris
The Commune would formally recommend abolishing private property in perhaps the most far-reaching political reform in human history. Given that a large percentage of the French public actually OWNED property relative to many other nations, this was moderated to allow for ownership of private homes below a certain value and between 40-80 acres of farmland depending upon productivity of the land. Therefore, most property owners were not immediately harmed.
In the meantime, the French Marxist-Socialist Government would throw enormous resources into building the navy as well as weapons research. Of course, since many of the best engineers and tradesmen in France had fled the nation (having served the former government), the French would have to begin anew.
However, the French Navy WOULD create a revolutionary new weapon. Over the past years, it had become apparent that the submersible and the torpedo had radically altered warfare. A brilliant French inventor would design the first efficient depth charge in history (granted, there had never been a need before). The lighter French ships would soon be armed with them. Of course, the Americans, British and others were experimenting as well and would design similar features.
In time, the submersibles would be made more deadly by reducing engine noise, increasing the time allowed underwater, increasing the depth of the dive and allowing for vastly greater distances the vehicles could cover.
The surface ships would be given sonar to compensate. Thus, a new arms race was born to compare to the capital ships of the past six decades.
Central Asia
The Russian "reconquest" of the central steppes would soon convert into a mass slaughter of the Muslim tribal groups of Central Asia. After millions were killed by Russian nationalists from 1907 to 1914, many more would flee to the borders. Some would be accepted in Persia but others would largely be blocked from the lands of the Afghans (which held tribal rivalries) and Chinese Xinjiang (the Chinese did not want MORE Turkic Muslims and had only recently completed a pogrom kicking tens of thousands OUT).
The result were the Kazaks, Turkmens, Kirgiz, Uzbeks and others were largely left to die on the Steppe as the Russians ruthlessly moved further and further south.
The Amazon River Mouth
Unlike prior to the war, the Americans would no longer allow Brazilian shipping along the Amazon. Given that most of the remaining Brazilian territories along the Amazon were along tributaries of the Amazon, that meant hundreds of thousands of square miles were virtually lost to the Brazilians. This had not been the intent of President Frye's peace with Brazil but new President Roosevelt was disinclined to be merciful to a nation that effectively launched what he considered to be a cowardly sneak attack upon America.
That this would ensure animosity with Brazil was nothing short of obvious.
Atacama
Seeking workers, the American government would, for the first time, allow Chinese to migrate to Atacama. They would be followed by, of all peoples, Japanese. While most of these workers were male (over 95%) and the heavy majority would eventually go home, they would nevertheless create a new demographic in South America.
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Chapter 346
October, 1909
Washington
President Roosevelt would be studying some of the latest proposed legislation in Congress with displeasure. His pension system had not gone far enough. Worse, the Unions were complained about repression in the coal mining industry. He would launch an investigation into this. The last thing the Republicans needed was more Union votes going to the Democrats.
His Chief of Staff, Winston Churchill, would knock on his office door and usher in a message.
"Mr. President," Churchill began, noting that the man's accent had changed much in over a decade in America, "President Aguinaldo is here."
The Filipino had arrived the previous day and Roosevelt welcomed him to America. After the expected ceremony, Aguinaldo would be ushered to a local townhome on the Presidential grounds reserved for visiting dignitaries to refresh himself and get a night of sleep.
Aguinaldo would enter the Roosevelt's office and the American would stand to greet him. The two men would sit by the fire (it was a cool Autumn in Washington) and speak of a dozen issues. Aguinaldo would thank Roosevelt for the aid in overthrowing Japan and the American financial contribution to make the Philippines solvent for the first year or two of its existence as an independent nation.
Eventually, a more serious topic would arise.
"Mr. President," Aguinaldo began, "About Mindanao".....
Roosevelt was disappointed to have to tell his new friend that the United States would NOT assist in any way forcibly integrate partially Muslim Mindanao into the Philippines. The Southern Island had nominated its own President via a "great coalition" of both Christian and Muslim peoples which would protect all Mindanaons.
Dayton
The Wright Brothers would beam with pleasure as the first military-order of an airplane would be completed, ready to ship to the United States Army.
Rio de Janeiro
The Brazilian government of the past years had fallen and new coalitions arose. In the end, the Emperor didn't care much. If there was one thing which unified Brazil, it was the outrage over not only the loss of the territories north of the main Amazon River.....but now the loss of even using the artery itself.
Well, technically, Roosevelt only prevented access to the Amazon at River Mouth. If the Brazilians could reach it any other way, they were welcome to do so.
This would, of course, be a disaster as only a few railroads could reach the area at all, much less efficiently. Swiftly, most economic activity along the south bank of the river would collapse. Worse, the loss of easy river access would end the practice of "recruiting" Indians for the rubber plantations. Production dropped terribly as the Indians forced to work the plantations began to flee now that there was a place to flee TO.
Rubber remained a powerful part of the Brazilian economy and the Brazilians were intent on regaining easy access to the product.
Fortunately for the Brazilians, the Amazon River was but one of two avenues of transportation from the Andean Mountain foothills where rubber was grown.
UNFORTUNATELY for the Brazilians, the other was through Peru and Bolivia, both of which were problematic in their own ways. Peru had fallen into civil war and split into 4 nations (at the moment, there could be more or less at any given time) while Bolivia was now dependent upon America for access to the sea.
Brazil was plainly intent on regaining its territories in the north which meant access to the west.
Bitter and resentful, the Brazilians were already planning for the next war.
Orinoco Territory
With a 63% margin, the Territory of Orinoco would vote to seek statehood in the United States. It would be up to Congress to accept or refuse.
Washington
President Roosevelt would be studying some of the latest proposed legislation in Congress with displeasure. His pension system had not gone far enough. Worse, the Unions were complained about repression in the coal mining industry. He would launch an investigation into this. The last thing the Republicans needed was more Union votes going to the Democrats.
His Chief of Staff, Winston Churchill, would knock on his office door and usher in a message.
"Mr. President," Churchill began, noting that the man's accent had changed much in over a decade in America, "President Aguinaldo is here."
The Filipino had arrived the previous day and Roosevelt welcomed him to America. After the expected ceremony, Aguinaldo would be ushered to a local townhome on the Presidential grounds reserved for visiting dignitaries to refresh himself and get a night of sleep.
Aguinaldo would enter the Roosevelt's office and the American would stand to greet him. The two men would sit by the fire (it was a cool Autumn in Washington) and speak of a dozen issues. Aguinaldo would thank Roosevelt for the aid in overthrowing Japan and the American financial contribution to make the Philippines solvent for the first year or two of its existence as an independent nation.
Eventually, a more serious topic would arise.
"Mr. President," Aguinaldo began, "About Mindanao".....
Roosevelt was disappointed to have to tell his new friend that the United States would NOT assist in any way forcibly integrate partially Muslim Mindanao into the Philippines. The Southern Island had nominated its own President via a "great coalition" of both Christian and Muslim peoples which would protect all Mindanaons.
Dayton
The Wright Brothers would beam with pleasure as the first military-order of an airplane would be completed, ready to ship to the United States Army.
Rio de Janeiro
The Brazilian government of the past years had fallen and new coalitions arose. In the end, the Emperor didn't care much. If there was one thing which unified Brazil, it was the outrage over not only the loss of the territories north of the main Amazon River.....but now the loss of even using the artery itself.
Well, technically, Roosevelt only prevented access to the Amazon at River Mouth. If the Brazilians could reach it any other way, they were welcome to do so.
This would, of course, be a disaster as only a few railroads could reach the area at all, much less efficiently. Swiftly, most economic activity along the south bank of the river would collapse. Worse, the loss of easy river access would end the practice of "recruiting" Indians for the rubber plantations. Production dropped terribly as the Indians forced to work the plantations began to flee now that there was a place to flee TO.
Rubber remained a powerful part of the Brazilian economy and the Brazilians were intent on regaining easy access to the product.
Fortunately for the Brazilians, the Amazon River was but one of two avenues of transportation from the Andean Mountain foothills where rubber was grown.
UNFORTUNATELY for the Brazilians, the other was through Peru and Bolivia, both of which were problematic in their own ways. Peru had fallen into civil war and split into 4 nations (at the moment, there could be more or less at any given time) while Bolivia was now dependent upon America for access to the sea.
Brazil was plainly intent on regaining its territories in the north which meant access to the west.
Bitter and resentful, the Brazilians were already planning for the next war.
Orinoco Territory
With a 63% margin, the Territory of Orinoco would vote to seek statehood in the United States. It would be up to Congress to accept or refuse.
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Chapter 347
November, 1909
New York
Russian immigrant Sergei Lebedev had been serving as a professor of Chemistry in the University of Krakow when the Poles revolted. He was fortunately able to flee with his family and skin intact. However, the horrifying events occurring in Russia would force the Russian to flee from St. Petersburg to the Baltic. The family then sailed on to New York.
Among his many accomplishments was development of what was considered the first synthetic rubber. Unable to speak English for several years, Lebedev would instead seek to support his family through business. He dusted off his old formulae and looked for a partner to produce the product.
Rubber prices were again booming as Southeast Asia producers were down terribly after the previous war. Now Brazil was also largely cut off.
He would offer the product and formulae to Coleman Dupont the Dupont Company for an upfront fee of $10,000 and a percentage of future sales.
London
With heavy heart, Prime Minister Asquith would determined NOT to seat the Pro-Independence Fenian MP's of Ireland. While he legitimately was willing to accept Home Rule of Ireland (a separation of Ireland and Britain under the same crown) but that was no longer good enough for the Irish Catholics.
Asquith was certain that nothing could ever bring the Irish back into the fold...at least willingly. But offering Ireland independence was virtually impossible to accept by the British population. Not only would the Liberals probably lose the next election in a landslide, there may even be a Civil War.
Instead, Asquith was certain that he'd only ensured a longtime insurgency which would sap Britain's strength in perpetuity.
Belgrade
The King of Serbia would sign a series of treaties binding his nation to Germany, Poland, the Ukraine and other Central and Eastern European countries. The King saw this as necessary as Russia's power seemed to be waning.
Fortunately, the King had several daughters of marriage ago and he would marry them off to the heir to Byelorussia, the King of the Ukraine and the second son of the King of Romania.
By 1909, only Bulgaria and Greece remained clients of Russia and even here the fealty did not extend as far as previously expected by the Czarina.
Arabia
Over the course of the past decades, tribes of Arabs would formalize their claims to lands on the Peninsula. Indeed, beyond the historical reasons, there were rumors that oil had been found in numerous places throughout the desert.
Among these were the Emirate of Ha'il in the north, Al'Hasa in the east and Emirate of Riyadh to the south.
New York
Russian immigrant Sergei Lebedev had been serving as a professor of Chemistry in the University of Krakow when the Poles revolted. He was fortunately able to flee with his family and skin intact. However, the horrifying events occurring in Russia would force the Russian to flee from St. Petersburg to the Baltic. The family then sailed on to New York.
Among his many accomplishments was development of what was considered the first synthetic rubber. Unable to speak English for several years, Lebedev would instead seek to support his family through business. He dusted off his old formulae and looked for a partner to produce the product.
Rubber prices were again booming as Southeast Asia producers were down terribly after the previous war. Now Brazil was also largely cut off.
He would offer the product and formulae to Coleman Dupont the Dupont Company for an upfront fee of $10,000 and a percentage of future sales.
London
With heavy heart, Prime Minister Asquith would determined NOT to seat the Pro-Independence Fenian MP's of Ireland. While he legitimately was willing to accept Home Rule of Ireland (a separation of Ireland and Britain under the same crown) but that was no longer good enough for the Irish Catholics.
Asquith was certain that nothing could ever bring the Irish back into the fold...at least willingly. But offering Ireland independence was virtually impossible to accept by the British population. Not only would the Liberals probably lose the next election in a landslide, there may even be a Civil War.
Instead, Asquith was certain that he'd only ensured a longtime insurgency which would sap Britain's strength in perpetuity.
Belgrade
The King of Serbia would sign a series of treaties binding his nation to Germany, Poland, the Ukraine and other Central and Eastern European countries. The King saw this as necessary as Russia's power seemed to be waning.
Fortunately, the King had several daughters of marriage ago and he would marry them off to the heir to Byelorussia, the King of the Ukraine and the second son of the King of Romania.
By 1909, only Bulgaria and Greece remained clients of Russia and even here the fealty did not extend as far as previously expected by the Czarina.
Arabia
Over the course of the past decades, tribes of Arabs would formalize their claims to lands on the Peninsula. Indeed, beyond the historical reasons, there were rumors that oil had been found in numerous places throughout the desert.
Among these were the Emirate of Ha'il in the north, Al'Hasa in the east and Emirate of Riyadh to the south.
Chapter 348
December, 1909
Santo Domingo, Hispaniola
The colony of Hispaniola had, in 1908, politely demanded "Home Rule" over local affairs from Spain. Initially, Spain utterly refused....until they recalled that Cuba and Puerto Rico had been refused as well and were now independent Republics.
Alphonso XIII would quietly speak to his Ministers and inquire just how Spain could force the issue. None could reply. The Spanish Navy had proven desperately inadequate in the past war and the nation no longer had France, Italy, Russia, Brazil and Chile allied with them. America or Britain could dispatch a rowboat to blockade the island and there'd be nothing Spain could do about the matter.
Instead, Alphonso XIII would opt to make the best out of the situation and personally sail to Santo Domingo to "oversee the drafting of a new government". Nominally, Hispaniola remained a colony but, in truth, it was defacto independent. Even maintaining control over Hispaniola's foreign relations only mattered so much if Spain could not compel Hispaniola. Great Britain's sovereign was nominally in command of the Dominion of Nova Scotia's foreign policy but not a single regiment would sail from Nova Scotian shores in the past war. So what was that Foreign Policy worth?
Having been evicted by force from Cuba and Puerto Rico, the King was uncertain of his welcome but would be gratified by the warm response from Hispaniola's elites. Like Spain, the new local Corte would be somewhat conservative but was still a significant step forward in political participation and the only territory left in the Americas which held obedience to a European King not of Great Britain.
January, 1910
Dublin
The Undersecretary of Ireland would depart his Gentlemen's club only to be shot down by local Fenians.
They then entered the club and promptly killed as many of the Upper Class patrons as they could reach. In less than 2 minutes 21 men were killed or wounded, many serving in the British government.
This would be but one of the atrocities of January.
Orange Order Protestants would hunt down and beat Catholics in the streets regardless of actual political position. The government would round up suspected Fenians into Dublin Castle....and they would never be seen again. Bombs exploded in Protestant pubs. Catholic churches were burned.
The "Disorder" would spread throughout the island and eventually to Britain itself.
February, 1910
Paris
While the Commune had espoused much of the Marxist rhetoric and theories, the Church remained largely left alone. Over a century ago, the French Revolution had nearly crushed the Catholic Church in France. Later reforms would legalize the Church provided that the French government manage the finances entirely (priests and nuns were on government salary) and Bishops and the like were nominated by France.
But the Church was considered the "opiate of the masses" by the Marxists and their arch-prophet, the Russian-born Jew, Vladimir Lenin and his hundreds of Russian, German and other Marxist allies who busily translated doctrine into a dozen languages and smuggled them across borders hoping to inspire an international workers revolution.
Lenin would continue to press the French Commune to abolish the Church. However, the Commune was already dealing with massive structural changes to the economy and to society. The last thing they needed was a holy war. The Churchmen were allowed to practice their faith....provided they declined to speak against the government. Any priests or nuns which failed to at least give lip service to the Commune were.....fired.....and many arrested or exiled. Presently, most of the French church would agree to remain silent for the sake of their parishioners. The French needed the word of God more now than ever before.
Santo Domingo, Hispaniola
The colony of Hispaniola had, in 1908, politely demanded "Home Rule" over local affairs from Spain. Initially, Spain utterly refused....until they recalled that Cuba and Puerto Rico had been refused as well and were now independent Republics.
Alphonso XIII would quietly speak to his Ministers and inquire just how Spain could force the issue. None could reply. The Spanish Navy had proven desperately inadequate in the past war and the nation no longer had France, Italy, Russia, Brazil and Chile allied with them. America or Britain could dispatch a rowboat to blockade the island and there'd be nothing Spain could do about the matter.
Instead, Alphonso XIII would opt to make the best out of the situation and personally sail to Santo Domingo to "oversee the drafting of a new government". Nominally, Hispaniola remained a colony but, in truth, it was defacto independent. Even maintaining control over Hispaniola's foreign relations only mattered so much if Spain could not compel Hispaniola. Great Britain's sovereign was nominally in command of the Dominion of Nova Scotia's foreign policy but not a single regiment would sail from Nova Scotian shores in the past war. So what was that Foreign Policy worth?
Having been evicted by force from Cuba and Puerto Rico, the King was uncertain of his welcome but would be gratified by the warm response from Hispaniola's elites. Like Spain, the new local Corte would be somewhat conservative but was still a significant step forward in political participation and the only territory left in the Americas which held obedience to a European King not of Great Britain.
January, 1910
Dublin
The Undersecretary of Ireland would depart his Gentlemen's club only to be shot down by local Fenians.
They then entered the club and promptly killed as many of the Upper Class patrons as they could reach. In less than 2 minutes 21 men were killed or wounded, many serving in the British government.
This would be but one of the atrocities of January.
Orange Order Protestants would hunt down and beat Catholics in the streets regardless of actual political position. The government would round up suspected Fenians into Dublin Castle....and they would never be seen again. Bombs exploded in Protestant pubs. Catholic churches were burned.
The "Disorder" would spread throughout the island and eventually to Britain itself.
February, 1910
Paris
While the Commune had espoused much of the Marxist rhetoric and theories, the Church remained largely left alone. Over a century ago, the French Revolution had nearly crushed the Catholic Church in France. Later reforms would legalize the Church provided that the French government manage the finances entirely (priests and nuns were on government salary) and Bishops and the like were nominated by France.
But the Church was considered the "opiate of the masses" by the Marxists and their arch-prophet, the Russian-born Jew, Vladimir Lenin and his hundreds of Russian, German and other Marxist allies who busily translated doctrine into a dozen languages and smuggled them across borders hoping to inspire an international workers revolution.
Lenin would continue to press the French Commune to abolish the Church. However, the Commune was already dealing with massive structural changes to the economy and to society. The last thing they needed was a holy war. The Churchmen were allowed to practice their faith....provided they declined to speak against the government. Any priests or nuns which failed to at least give lip service to the Commune were.....fired.....and many arrested or exiled. Presently, most of the French church would agree to remain silent for the sake of their parishioners. The French needed the word of God more now than ever before.
Chapter 349
April, 1910
Cairo
Boutros Ghali would be the first Coptic Christian to serve as Prime Minister of Egypt. The Khedive had been sincere in ensuring the Christians and other minorities would be respected under his rule both in Egypt and the Levant. While appointing a Copt to such an august post would prompt some mutterings among the Muslim establishment, it also signaled the Khedive's continued good intentions.
Fez
The King of Morocco had, by 1910, managed to subdue most of the unruly interior tribesmen. The aggression of the French and Italians would unify much of the nation with a common cause. What was more, the Moroccans had spent the past fifty years slowly moving back to Berber as the language of education, government and daily life after a thousand years of Arab domination.
It had been a strategic decision and a controversial one. However, it succeeded in the primary purpose of unifying Morocco in its unique cultural traits. Never again would the Maghreb be an outpost of the Arabs, the Ottoman and certainly not the Europeans. One people united by language. Yes, the faith remained but religion was not the same thing as heritage.
The past 50 years had seen a rebirth of the Berber people, stronger than ever before. From petty pirate states came a strong, wealthy and unified nation which was little frightened of the outside world.
London
Unlike the previous administration, Asquith was willing to grant additional seats in the regional Co-Protectorate Councils to the natives. Large cities and large tribes would each be allocated a seat.
Once again, the Cape Dominion and Boer Republic would be refused seats on these councils akin to the other major African nations (Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Madagascar). The Cape was rejected due to her relationship with Great Britain and the Boer Republic as it had never been forgiven by political Africans for the ejection of native peoples from their territory a generation prior. What was more, even in Great Britain, this intent of the Co-Protectorate was "Africa for the Africans" and the white settlements along the south would simply not facilitate this theory.
British and American diplomats would debate for months before approving the details of the reform. By 1912, over a third of the councils would be reserved for natives (though not necessarily directly voted in the case of the tribes). The actual quantity of natives in the Councils would rapidly increase over the coming years as tribal peoples migrated to the cities and were directly elected.
Hindu Socialist Republic
The most devastating purge of the past decade would commence in 1910 as huge numbers of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other undesirables would be victimized and sent fleeing across the borders by the million. Having been independent for a generation, the other powers of the Subcontinent (Hindu West Bengal, Mysore and Hyderabad, the Sikh Empire, the Muslim states of the west) would meeting in secret in Goa and negotiate an alliance.
Years of fear were being replaced by a dreadful determination to not only aid the desperate people of the HSR but eliminate the threat to the rest of the Subcontinent.
Beijing
Yet another treaty was signed between America and China allowing for additional military cooperation. With Japan unlikely to appreciate America and China's role in the destruction of their Empire, it behooved both giants to cooperate. Trade and technology would flow both ways. America would increase the number of Chinese student visas to the education institutions (to this day in 1910, the anti-Chinese immigration legislation remained on the books and unique in American history).
Borneo and the Lesser Sunda Islands
The next flood of Indian refugees would arrive in the "Anglo-Australia East Indies" of Borneo, Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Borneo remained the focus for Australian authorities for they required a labor force to exploit the island's resources. Tens of thousands of refugees, preferably Christians but, in all reality, Australia didn't care if Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Sikhs or other happened to find their way to Borneo.
Even more, large numbers of Chinese and other non-indigenous non-Muslims had been evacuated from the Muslim states of Malaya, Java and Sumatra. Many of the Chinese would go back to their ancestral homelands (which many if not most had never seen) but a good number would also make their way to Borneo and the other islands. Further, Filipinos, now free from Japanese rule, would be enticed south and, within half a decade, would see as many migrants on an annual basis as Indians reach the islands.
Of course, Australia's other domains (Australia itself, Tasmania, the Zealand islands, Hawaii, etc) would continue to ban Asian immigration. But British immigration would renew with fervor and nearly 100,000 Britons and Irish per year would sail to the South Pacific.
Washington
Thought Roosevelt had no particular personal animosity towards Japanese or most other Asians, he did agree to sign the Immigration Act of 1910 after the Act founder, Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, agreed to include legislation banning accepting Marxists, Anarchists (and other political undesirables), the insane, the diseased, etc.
The Senator was very much a leader of the "Nativist" faction of the Republican Party and sought to keep out those he deemed "unworthy". This include most Asians (only students and businessmen were granted visas which did not necessarily offer citizenships). Lodge would also attempt to ban southern Europeans (he had an oddly vicious loathing of Italians) which, as best Roosevelt could tell, was not anti-Catholic but simply a function of his belief in the people's inferiority. Roosevelt, still hoping to regain some Irish and other Catholic support lost in the past decade, would threaten to veto if this was not removed from the Act.
The President was not worried about how this would reflect upon the new agreements with China. The Emperor's servants, namely his heir and Viceroy, would not take offense. They didn't want foreigners in THEIR country either except for educational reasons.
Plus, the anti-Asia legislation of America and Australia would encourage the smaller Eastern Asian countries to bind themselves more closely politically to China.
Cairo
Boutros Ghali would be the first Coptic Christian to serve as Prime Minister of Egypt. The Khedive had been sincere in ensuring the Christians and other minorities would be respected under his rule both in Egypt and the Levant. While appointing a Copt to such an august post would prompt some mutterings among the Muslim establishment, it also signaled the Khedive's continued good intentions.
Fez
The King of Morocco had, by 1910, managed to subdue most of the unruly interior tribesmen. The aggression of the French and Italians would unify much of the nation with a common cause. What was more, the Moroccans had spent the past fifty years slowly moving back to Berber as the language of education, government and daily life after a thousand years of Arab domination.
It had been a strategic decision and a controversial one. However, it succeeded in the primary purpose of unifying Morocco in its unique cultural traits. Never again would the Maghreb be an outpost of the Arabs, the Ottoman and certainly not the Europeans. One people united by language. Yes, the faith remained but religion was not the same thing as heritage.
The past 50 years had seen a rebirth of the Berber people, stronger than ever before. From petty pirate states came a strong, wealthy and unified nation which was little frightened of the outside world.
London
Unlike the previous administration, Asquith was willing to grant additional seats in the regional Co-Protectorate Councils to the natives. Large cities and large tribes would each be allocated a seat.
Once again, the Cape Dominion and Boer Republic would be refused seats on these councils akin to the other major African nations (Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Madagascar). The Cape was rejected due to her relationship with Great Britain and the Boer Republic as it had never been forgiven by political Africans for the ejection of native peoples from their territory a generation prior. What was more, even in Great Britain, this intent of the Co-Protectorate was "Africa for the Africans" and the white settlements along the south would simply not facilitate this theory.
British and American diplomats would debate for months before approving the details of the reform. By 1912, over a third of the councils would be reserved for natives (though not necessarily directly voted in the case of the tribes). The actual quantity of natives in the Councils would rapidly increase over the coming years as tribal peoples migrated to the cities and were directly elected.
Hindu Socialist Republic
The most devastating purge of the past decade would commence in 1910 as huge numbers of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other undesirables would be victimized and sent fleeing across the borders by the million. Having been independent for a generation, the other powers of the Subcontinent (Hindu West Bengal, Mysore and Hyderabad, the Sikh Empire, the Muslim states of the west) would meeting in secret in Goa and negotiate an alliance.
Years of fear were being replaced by a dreadful determination to not only aid the desperate people of the HSR but eliminate the threat to the rest of the Subcontinent.
Beijing
Yet another treaty was signed between America and China allowing for additional military cooperation. With Japan unlikely to appreciate America and China's role in the destruction of their Empire, it behooved both giants to cooperate. Trade and technology would flow both ways. America would increase the number of Chinese student visas to the education institutions (to this day in 1910, the anti-Chinese immigration legislation remained on the books and unique in American history).
Borneo and the Lesser Sunda Islands
The next flood of Indian refugees would arrive in the "Anglo-Australia East Indies" of Borneo, Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Borneo remained the focus for Australian authorities for they required a labor force to exploit the island's resources. Tens of thousands of refugees, preferably Christians but, in all reality, Australia didn't care if Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Sikhs or other happened to find their way to Borneo.
Even more, large numbers of Chinese and other non-indigenous non-Muslims had been evacuated from the Muslim states of Malaya, Java and Sumatra. Many of the Chinese would go back to their ancestral homelands (which many if not most had never seen) but a good number would also make their way to Borneo and the other islands. Further, Filipinos, now free from Japanese rule, would be enticed south and, within half a decade, would see as many migrants on an annual basis as Indians reach the islands.
Of course, Australia's other domains (Australia itself, Tasmania, the Zealand islands, Hawaii, etc) would continue to ban Asian immigration. But British immigration would renew with fervor and nearly 100,000 Britons and Irish per year would sail to the South Pacific.
Washington
Thought Roosevelt had no particular personal animosity towards Japanese or most other Asians, he did agree to sign the Immigration Act of 1910 after the Act founder, Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, agreed to include legislation banning accepting Marxists, Anarchists (and other political undesirables), the insane, the diseased, etc.
The Senator was very much a leader of the "Nativist" faction of the Republican Party and sought to keep out those he deemed "unworthy". This include most Asians (only students and businessmen were granted visas which did not necessarily offer citizenships). Lodge would also attempt to ban southern Europeans (he had an oddly vicious loathing of Italians) which, as best Roosevelt could tell, was not anti-Catholic but simply a function of his belief in the people's inferiority. Roosevelt, still hoping to regain some Irish and other Catholic support lost in the past decade, would threaten to veto if this was not removed from the Act.
The President was not worried about how this would reflect upon the new agreements with China. The Emperor's servants, namely his heir and Viceroy, would not take offense. They didn't want foreigners in THEIR country either except for educational reasons.
Plus, the anti-Asia legislation of America and Australia would encourage the smaller Eastern Asian countries to bind themselves more closely politically to China.
Chapter 350
November, 1910
Georgetown University
Sun Yat-sen had spent much of his youth participating in rabble-rousing politics in China until it became clear he would soon end up in jail. Fortunately, his elder brother Sun Mei had been a wealthy landowner in Australian Hawaii in the 1890's (one of the few Chinese allowed on the islands due to his status as a trader as well) and arranged for Sun Yat-sen to study at Honolulu College where he learned English and eventually became an honor student.
However, Sun Yat-sen would soon begin to grow too closely to the Mormon missionaries and Sun Mei would order his brother to the American mainland where he would enter Medical School at Georgetown. While Sun would eventually gain his degree in Medicine, he would nevertheless convert to the Mormon Church (albeit the North American mainland version, not the breakaway Hawaiian branch).
For years, Sun would serve on the staff at Georgetown before finally deeming it time to return to China. Sun was two decades removed from his riotous youth and no one would remember his rabblerousing. However, he WAS the rare Chinese with a degree in western medicine and was eagerly welcomed to teach at the University of Shanghai.
What was more, the Doctor would be the first native Mormon Missionary in China and use his position as a platform for his faith.
London
Despite winning the previous election, the Liberal Party was splintering with much of the membership departing for the Labor Party. A minority government already, H.H. Asquith would spend more time fighting internally than getting his social programs passed. The Conservatives and Liberal Unionists combined for nearly half the votes while the Fenians hadn't even been seated. Meanwhile, Asquith was forced to make common cause with Labor Party, the very group sapping Liberal Strength.
The Troubles in Ireland simply escalated by the week. By 1910, the British were forced to maintain nearly 80,000 troops in Ireland while gun-running from France continued apace.
Worse, Britain's relationship with America was slowly fading over arguments regarding governance in Africa and public proclamations of numerous American officials in support of Irish Home Rule....or even outright independence. While this was plainly a sop to the large Irish-American voting population, the fact remained that Britain's alliance with America tended to be "stay out of the other's way" without a great deal of actual cooperation or even necessarily common interest.
Great Britain had numerous potential enemies across the Channel on the European mainland (not to mention the subcontinent and Japan), simply having not another enemy was something of a blessing.
But Asquith was not a "foreign policy" Prime Minister nor was he particularly skilled at Parliamentary management. By 1910, even elements of his own Party were dissatisfied with him. There was talk of replacing him with one of his compatriots with more management talent.
Like most Liberals, there had long been support for Home Rule in Ireland, though this would always prove impractical. Now that the Irish Catholics had turned almost entirely to the outlawed Fenian Party, they had effectively removed themselves from government. The only Irish MP's in Parliament were Unionists allied to the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists.
The nation had moved on from anger at the Conservative-Liberal Unionist coalition for the war. Instead, the slow economic recovery and prospect of severance from Ireland would rapidly move the population against the Liberals. Ever more reliant upon Labor, the Liberals could only wait for the day when a public issue would force a vote the government could not win (splitting the Liberal Party internally or from Labor).
Bizarrely, it was Women's Suffrage which would cause the split. A Private Members' Bill (a Bill introduced by someone not of the Government) was discussed as a solution to the complex issue which would allow for a vote on the subject without threatening the government. However, Asquith had been lukewarm at best on the subject and quietly sabotaged the Bill. Neither Asquith's own Party Leaders nor Labor were happy as they knew damned well that Asquith was against this.
This time, the Cabinet met and voted three to one to present their own government's Bill to the same effect. This was a repudiation of Asquith's position and he knew it. He was offered the option of changing his vote and publicly support the Bill or step down. Asquith refused. He would do neither. He would vote his conscience in a rather radical response which stunned his peers.
The Bill was presented the following week. While Asquith did not publicly oppose the Bill, the entire nation knew he was against it. This was enough for a number of Asquith's Liberal allies to vote against it or abstain. The Bill failed and the government, now dysfunctional, would be compelled to resign.
A new election was called.
France
Alarmed to see over 1,000,000 French citizens flee the country in the past few years (probably less than a 10th that had fled France during the entire Revolutionary/Napoleonic war years), many bearing badly needed skills and often carrying off valuables (the former Emperor had looted several museums, the Crown Jewels and many other treasures as he fled), the French Commune would commence construction on the "French Fence", a guarded series of fortifications encircling the nation. Visas were also refused without direct Commune approval (this had been the status for two years anyway but had done little to actually stop people from leaving).
Like their Revolutionary ancestors of the 1790's, the French Commune would create a repressive dictatorship based upon fear.
Soon, all wages would be capped/subsidized while food distribution would be rationed after a series of poor harvests and the French government's monopoly over trade (and lack of foreign currency to trade).
School teachers would soon be forced to burn old textbooks and accept new ones effectively spouting Marxist rhetoric.
More and more portions of the economy were "privatized". The French stock exchange would effectively cease to exist as such measures were "anti-Marxist".
Eventually, the more Moderate Socialists of the Commune would be marginalized or declared traitors and arrested. Soon, only the Radicals made decisions.
Georgetown University
Sun Yat-sen had spent much of his youth participating in rabble-rousing politics in China until it became clear he would soon end up in jail. Fortunately, his elder brother Sun Mei had been a wealthy landowner in Australian Hawaii in the 1890's (one of the few Chinese allowed on the islands due to his status as a trader as well) and arranged for Sun Yat-sen to study at Honolulu College where he learned English and eventually became an honor student.
However, Sun Yat-sen would soon begin to grow too closely to the Mormon missionaries and Sun Mei would order his brother to the American mainland where he would enter Medical School at Georgetown. While Sun would eventually gain his degree in Medicine, he would nevertheless convert to the Mormon Church (albeit the North American mainland version, not the breakaway Hawaiian branch).
For years, Sun would serve on the staff at Georgetown before finally deeming it time to return to China. Sun was two decades removed from his riotous youth and no one would remember his rabblerousing. However, he WAS the rare Chinese with a degree in western medicine and was eagerly welcomed to teach at the University of Shanghai.
What was more, the Doctor would be the first native Mormon Missionary in China and use his position as a platform for his faith.
London
Despite winning the previous election, the Liberal Party was splintering with much of the membership departing for the Labor Party. A minority government already, H.H. Asquith would spend more time fighting internally than getting his social programs passed. The Conservatives and Liberal Unionists combined for nearly half the votes while the Fenians hadn't even been seated. Meanwhile, Asquith was forced to make common cause with Labor Party, the very group sapping Liberal Strength.
The Troubles in Ireland simply escalated by the week. By 1910, the British were forced to maintain nearly 80,000 troops in Ireland while gun-running from France continued apace.
Worse, Britain's relationship with America was slowly fading over arguments regarding governance in Africa and public proclamations of numerous American officials in support of Irish Home Rule....or even outright independence. While this was plainly a sop to the large Irish-American voting population, the fact remained that Britain's alliance with America tended to be "stay out of the other's way" without a great deal of actual cooperation or even necessarily common interest.
Great Britain had numerous potential enemies across the Channel on the European mainland (not to mention the subcontinent and Japan), simply having not another enemy was something of a blessing.
But Asquith was not a "foreign policy" Prime Minister nor was he particularly skilled at Parliamentary management. By 1910, even elements of his own Party were dissatisfied with him. There was talk of replacing him with one of his compatriots with more management talent.
Like most Liberals, there had long been support for Home Rule in Ireland, though this would always prove impractical. Now that the Irish Catholics had turned almost entirely to the outlawed Fenian Party, they had effectively removed themselves from government. The only Irish MP's in Parliament were Unionists allied to the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists.
The nation had moved on from anger at the Conservative-Liberal Unionist coalition for the war. Instead, the slow economic recovery and prospect of severance from Ireland would rapidly move the population against the Liberals. Ever more reliant upon Labor, the Liberals could only wait for the day when a public issue would force a vote the government could not win (splitting the Liberal Party internally or from Labor).
Bizarrely, it was Women's Suffrage which would cause the split. A Private Members' Bill (a Bill introduced by someone not of the Government) was discussed as a solution to the complex issue which would allow for a vote on the subject without threatening the government. However, Asquith had been lukewarm at best on the subject and quietly sabotaged the Bill. Neither Asquith's own Party Leaders nor Labor were happy as they knew damned well that Asquith was against this.
This time, the Cabinet met and voted three to one to present their own government's Bill to the same effect. This was a repudiation of Asquith's position and he knew it. He was offered the option of changing his vote and publicly support the Bill or step down. Asquith refused. He would do neither. He would vote his conscience in a rather radical response which stunned his peers.
The Bill was presented the following week. While Asquith did not publicly oppose the Bill, the entire nation knew he was against it. This was enough for a number of Asquith's Liberal allies to vote against it or abstain. The Bill failed and the government, now dysfunctional, would be compelled to resign.
A new election was called.
France
Alarmed to see over 1,000,000 French citizens flee the country in the past few years (probably less than a 10th that had fled France during the entire Revolutionary/Napoleonic war years), many bearing badly needed skills and often carrying off valuables (the former Emperor had looted several museums, the Crown Jewels and many other treasures as he fled), the French Commune would commence construction on the "French Fence", a guarded series of fortifications encircling the nation. Visas were also refused without direct Commune approval (this had been the status for two years anyway but had done little to actually stop people from leaving).
Like their Revolutionary ancestors of the 1790's, the French Commune would create a repressive dictatorship based upon fear.
Soon, all wages would be capped/subsidized while food distribution would be rationed after a series of poor harvests and the French government's monopoly over trade (and lack of foreign currency to trade).
School teachers would soon be forced to burn old textbooks and accept new ones effectively spouting Marxist rhetoric.
More and more portions of the economy were "privatized". The French stock exchange would effectively cease to exist as such measures were "anti-Marxist".
Eventually, the more Moderate Socialists of the Commune would be marginalized or declared traitors and arrested. Soon, only the Radicals made decisions.
Chapter 351
February, 1911
The Levant
Over the past decades, the Levant, a tribute state to Egypt, would see massive and diverse immigration including Egyptians (both Muslim and Christian), Jews, Greeks, Bektashi and Alevi Turks, Armenians, Georgians, Russians, etc, etc.
The Arabs, the original inhabitants of the regions, would find the influx of settlers....unsettling....to say the least. By 1911, the Arabs were no longer in the majority of the Levant. And even the Arabs themselves were divided by race, tribe, religion, etc.
Nearly half the migrants were Christian (of a dizzying degree of denominations) or Jews. The rather spectacular diversity of the Levant would make it easy for the Khedive to retain his supremacy by playing one group against the other. None possessed the power to challenge the others, much less Egypt. Thus, the Khedive was soon seen as the stabilizing force of the region.
However, keeping the Levant Happy also meant stamping down on Sunni Egyptian supporters of oppressing the Christian Minority (or Jews, Shi'a, etc). Also seeing the Khedive as their protector, the Copts would give almost unqualified support to the regime that actually allowed a Christian the highest of offices.
Hindu Socialist Republic
After years of internal consolidation, the HSR would commence sending agents into neighboring regions to stir up Ethnic, Religious and Class struggle. Soon, all of the subcontinent would fall under the control over the Hindu Socialist Republic.
Chile
After years of civil war, a popular revolution would finally see the overthrow of the military dictatorship. Civilian government had returned and there was even talk of abolishing the Army.
It was not an auspicious action but at least Chile was no longer threatening to collapse into petty fiefdoms like Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.
Rio de Janeiro
With an influx of labor, particularly Italian (but also including French, Welsh, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Ukrainian and others), Brazil's industries were prospering along with agricultural and mining exports. The nation had swiftly found its footing but societal friction was escalating.
Brazil's nationalism bitterly resented American encroachment to the north (starting two wars) and were made worse by Roosevelt's humiliating "Big Stick" diplomacy which effectively cut off nearly half the remaining land area of Brazil from reasonable control.
Despite opposition, the Emperor prodded his government to act. The railways again were snaking their way northwards to the southern shore of the Amazon, this time carrying river gunboats and other military supplies.
Manaus
After falling in the previous war, the Americans had belatedly made Manaus a military strongpoint......as much as any flat riverside plain could be expected to be a strongpoint. There were no mountains, no natural fortifications to the Riverside town. Still very much a military town, Manaus would also serve as an entrepot for regional commerce, though this remained modest. Timber was the most obvious available commodity but it was not practical to transport softwoods a thousand miles to the sea.
But here and there, commerce occurred.
More importantly, the northern Amazon was viewed by President Roosevelt as vital to the protection of Guyana and Orinoco....which he supposed protected the American West Indies.....which protected Florida????
Even Roosevelt's aides could not fully comprehend Roosevelt's intentions or his rampant jingoism.
The Levant
Over the past decades, the Levant, a tribute state to Egypt, would see massive and diverse immigration including Egyptians (both Muslim and Christian), Jews, Greeks, Bektashi and Alevi Turks, Armenians, Georgians, Russians, etc, etc.
The Arabs, the original inhabitants of the regions, would find the influx of settlers....unsettling....to say the least. By 1911, the Arabs were no longer in the majority of the Levant. And even the Arabs themselves were divided by race, tribe, religion, etc.
Nearly half the migrants were Christian (of a dizzying degree of denominations) or Jews. The rather spectacular diversity of the Levant would make it easy for the Khedive to retain his supremacy by playing one group against the other. None possessed the power to challenge the others, much less Egypt. Thus, the Khedive was soon seen as the stabilizing force of the region.
However, keeping the Levant Happy also meant stamping down on Sunni Egyptian supporters of oppressing the Christian Minority (or Jews, Shi'a, etc). Also seeing the Khedive as their protector, the Copts would give almost unqualified support to the regime that actually allowed a Christian the highest of offices.
Hindu Socialist Republic
After years of internal consolidation, the HSR would commence sending agents into neighboring regions to stir up Ethnic, Religious and Class struggle. Soon, all of the subcontinent would fall under the control over the Hindu Socialist Republic.
Chile
After years of civil war, a popular revolution would finally see the overthrow of the military dictatorship. Civilian government had returned and there was even talk of abolishing the Army.
It was not an auspicious action but at least Chile was no longer threatening to collapse into petty fiefdoms like Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.
Rio de Janeiro
With an influx of labor, particularly Italian (but also including French, Welsh, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Ukrainian and others), Brazil's industries were prospering along with agricultural and mining exports. The nation had swiftly found its footing but societal friction was escalating.
Brazil's nationalism bitterly resented American encroachment to the north (starting two wars) and were made worse by Roosevelt's humiliating "Big Stick" diplomacy which effectively cut off nearly half the remaining land area of Brazil from reasonable control.
Despite opposition, the Emperor prodded his government to act. The railways again were snaking their way northwards to the southern shore of the Amazon, this time carrying river gunboats and other military supplies.
Manaus
After falling in the previous war, the Americans had belatedly made Manaus a military strongpoint......as much as any flat riverside plain could be expected to be a strongpoint. There were no mountains, no natural fortifications to the Riverside town. Still very much a military town, Manaus would also serve as an entrepot for regional commerce, though this remained modest. Timber was the most obvious available commodity but it was not practical to transport softwoods a thousand miles to the sea.
But here and there, commerce occurred.
More importantly, the northern Amazon was viewed by President Roosevelt as vital to the protection of Guyana and Orinoco....which he supposed protected the American West Indies.....which protected Florida????
Even Roosevelt's aides could not fully comprehend Roosevelt's intentions or his rampant jingoism.
Chapter 352
March, 1911
London
The 1911 Election would go even worse for the Liberals than they thought possible, dropping them from 38% to 18% of Parliament in a few months. Most of the votes would go to the Labor Party, now up to 20%. The Coalition of Conservatives 39% and Liberal Unionists 15% between them would have a majority with the Irish Parliamentary (Home Rule) gaining 1% and the Fenians 7%. The latter, of course, were not seated.
Of course, this would not resolve any of the practical issues before that vexed the previous administration: Ireland's continued rebellion, the Co-Protectorate demands for ever greater representation, Dominion resistance to any political demands of the Home Islands, the slow economy, female suffrage, the fear of the radical government in France.....
Bonar Law, the new Prime Minister, was a level-headed politician with a pragmatic streak. While his party was a committed foe of Irish Home Rule, he was willing to find some sort of compromise.
The delegation of additional authority to local Africans had already been decided and implemented. There was nothing more to be done by that but he would not encourage further.
Suffragettes....it was best to just avoid the issue.
The economy was already slightly improving and Law was happy to take credit.
France.....god, what was there to do with France?
April, 1911
Washington
With some reservations, Congress would belatedly approve Orinoco's request for statehood. It was a very sensitive issue. Did America REALLY want to permanently settle in South America, permanently surrounded by the petty remnants of Venezuela and the bitter and disillusioned Brazil?
But Roosevelt would correctly point out that these people had, of their own accord, REQUESTED to be made Americans. Did not that entitle them to a measure of respect?
With the reorganization of the region into nine territories, there was even talk that Guyana, the long coastal region, would someday seek statehood. Para may follow, then maybe even Trinidad. All had already long since reached the necessary population levels (though capacity for self-government was questionable).
America was apparently in South America to stay. Nothing could have horrified Brazil more.
May, 1911
Frankfurt
The German Confederation would see the rise of French and Russian political extremism with more than moderate interest.
The alliances with Poland and the other new nations would solidify in the past two years. It was apparent that neither France nor Russia planned on leaving well enough alone. As the new nations struggled to form functional governments, the Russian influence was forcibly ejected across the border as refugees entered via the leaky borders.
June, 1911
Central Asia
The mass slaughter of the Turkic tribes continued. While hundreds of thousand would belatedly cross into Persia and even Afghanistan, most were effectively trapped on the Steppe as the Russian army's modern weapons would massacre the tribal forces. Eventually, civilians would be.....consolidated.....into huge city-sized camps where food, water and shelter were more than lacking. More would die of disease than battle.
London
The 1911 Election would go even worse for the Liberals than they thought possible, dropping them from 38% to 18% of Parliament in a few months. Most of the votes would go to the Labor Party, now up to 20%. The Coalition of Conservatives 39% and Liberal Unionists 15% between them would have a majority with the Irish Parliamentary (Home Rule) gaining 1% and the Fenians 7%. The latter, of course, were not seated.
Of course, this would not resolve any of the practical issues before that vexed the previous administration: Ireland's continued rebellion, the Co-Protectorate demands for ever greater representation, Dominion resistance to any political demands of the Home Islands, the slow economy, female suffrage, the fear of the radical government in France.....
Bonar Law, the new Prime Minister, was a level-headed politician with a pragmatic streak. While his party was a committed foe of Irish Home Rule, he was willing to find some sort of compromise.
The delegation of additional authority to local Africans had already been decided and implemented. There was nothing more to be done by that but he would not encourage further.
Suffragettes....it was best to just avoid the issue.
The economy was already slightly improving and Law was happy to take credit.
France.....god, what was there to do with France?
April, 1911
Washington
With some reservations, Congress would belatedly approve Orinoco's request for statehood. It was a very sensitive issue. Did America REALLY want to permanently settle in South America, permanently surrounded by the petty remnants of Venezuela and the bitter and disillusioned Brazil?
But Roosevelt would correctly point out that these people had, of their own accord, REQUESTED to be made Americans. Did not that entitle them to a measure of respect?
With the reorganization of the region into nine territories, there was even talk that Guyana, the long coastal region, would someday seek statehood. Para may follow, then maybe even Trinidad. All had already long since reached the necessary population levels (though capacity for self-government was questionable).
America was apparently in South America to stay. Nothing could have horrified Brazil more.
May, 1911
Frankfurt
The German Confederation would see the rise of French and Russian political extremism with more than moderate interest.
The alliances with Poland and the other new nations would solidify in the past two years. It was apparent that neither France nor Russia planned on leaving well enough alone. As the new nations struggled to form functional governments, the Russian influence was forcibly ejected across the border as refugees entered via the leaky borders.
June, 1911
Central Asia
The mass slaughter of the Turkic tribes continued. While hundreds of thousand would belatedly cross into Persia and even Afghanistan, most were effectively trapped on the Steppe as the Russian army's modern weapons would massacre the tribal forces. Eventually, civilians would be.....consolidated.....into huge city-sized camps where food, water and shelter were more than lacking. More would die of disease than battle.
America is about to suffer serious indigestion by making these faraway places states. They've all but guaranteed that South America is always going to hate and resent the United States. Roosevelt can say whatever he wants about the 'self-determination' of the people of these areas, he's kidding himself if he thinks that this will promote long term stability.
Also, the US can say everything it wants about Africa and promoting self determination for the natives, but its hypocrisy considering what they are doing in South America, and also in East Asia.
After 2 rounds of trying to fight the US through conventional warfare and failing, Brazil will probably take a different track in terms of confrontation. They might instead try a Vietnam style insurgency, by smuggling weapons across the amazon, sponsoring anti-US guerillas and forcing the US to spend gobs and gobs of money to try and defend and wear them down.
Also, the US can say everything it wants about Africa and promoting self determination for the natives, but its hypocrisy considering what they are doing in South America, and also in East Asia.
After 2 rounds of trying to fight the US through conventional warfare and failing, Brazil will probably take a different track in terms of confrontation. They might instead try a Vietnam style insurgency, by smuggling weapons across the amazon, sponsoring anti-US guerillas and forcing the US to spend gobs and gobs of money to try and defend and wear them down.
Except I'm not entirely sure that the US will take the bait. If a local insurgency got organized, particularly in someplace like Manaus or Japura, the US might immediately offer to negotiate for independence.
Maybe. But that would presumably lead to Brazil regaining control, through invasion if need be.
Would the US accept that or would it be s humiliation?
Depends on the mood of both the American people and the administration.
Looking at the South American map.
You've got Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile and Brazil that feel like the US took part of their countries away. Argentina, Peru , Ecuador and Venezuela that are in more pieces than OTL. Paraguay is smaller than OTL, (Though I'm not sure if a Chaco war would occur this way) Was there the equivalent of the War of the Triple Alliance?
(The only TL that I've seen with the US putting its foot into South America more than this one is Decades of Darkness.)
You've got Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile and Brazil that feel like the US took part of their countries away. Argentina, Peru , Ecuador and Venezuela that are in more pieces than OTL. Paraguay is smaller than OTL, (Though I'm not sure if a Chaco war would occur this way) Was there the equivalent of the War of the Triple Alliance?
(The only TL that I've seen with the US putting its foot into South America more than this one is Decades of Darkness.)
Yeah, that is the route I'm taking with this TL. US gets involved in South America only to end up pissing off the whole continent.
I don't think Roosevelt is capable of giving up a square inch of territory.