If not George Washington, then who?

If George Washington died before the American Revolution, then who gets his spot in history? Of course then you have to ask, will the Revolution be successful? If it is, who then becomes the first President? I believe there may be an opportunity for Benedict Arnold to have the military command that he earned. Your thoughts, please.
 
That is Hard but if he have the chance(read Gates die of a diesase), Benedict Arnold will have this chance to Shine.

In politics arena.. John Adams is still a safe bet as OTL?
 
Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson are usually the most popular choises for first president on this board.
 
Washington was certainly the most famous of the continential soldiers and had support from many politicians. The latter was important for it kept the army fed (it a certain extent) and together, I am not sure that another general would have been able to hold things at Valley Forge.

Politically Franklin was surely to old to take the role of the Presidency, John Adams would be my choice (but then I don't like Jefferson) although the victorious general who took Washington's role would be a strong contender as well.
 
If Washington died before the Revolution, than the Revolutiou would be a short affair. Of the generals, Arnold seems to be the only one who has that leadership quality other men will follow. He was also a very capable general (which was what made his betrayal so traumatic). However, like every other general who wasn't the Big Guy, Arnold was a glory hound. Would any of the other generals have the strength to resist such temptations as to make themselves king, or even just plain dictator?
 
If Washington died before the Revolution, than the Revolutiou would be a short affair. Of the generals, Arnold seems to be the only one who has that leadership quality other men will follow. He was also a very capable general (which was what made his betrayal so traumatic). However, like every other general who wasn't the Big Guy, Arnold was a glory hound. Would any of the other generals have the strength to resist such temptations as to make themselves king, or even just plain dictator?

You pose an interesting question. Would another General be able to resist the offer that Washington received from his officers to march to Philadelphia?
 
That is Hard but if he have the chance(read Gates die of a diesase), Benedict Arnold will have this chance to Shine.

In politics arena.. John Adams is still a safe bet as OTL?

Even if Gates got the command he so desperately wanted, his incompetence would show itself. Hopefully that would happen before he destroyed the Army and the cause.............
 
Nathaniel Greene might be able to lead the revolution successfully. Arnold might as well. After the war Greene might resist the chance to take the crown, but I doubt it and Arnold will almost certainly take it.

However, I don't think either of them would be able to find out since unfortunately if Washington isn't there to become the Commander it might well go to Hancock. If he gets it then the colonies are likely doomed.
 
Looks at the ranks under generals first - history was not made only by generals, but lower ranks too, like certain colonels from Austria and Egypt....
 
But morons like Gates could certainly screw up any hope for victory. I doubt Greene would have taken over if he had led, but I also doubt he would have been given supreme command as well due to continental army politiking. The thing is though that Washington was chosen because he was a southerner with military experince. the Congress realized they needed a southern commander to bring the south into what was the New Englander's war. As Virginia was the leading southern colony I'd expect the congress to go looking for a Virginian with military experince to lead the Continental Army.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
Politically, Adams is still the best bet as Franklin is too old. I also have difficulty seeing Jefferson managing to nab the spot seeing as how he wasn't even nominated in the first election.
 
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I suppose that raises the questions of whether the nation would accept a new Constitutional monarchy, whether that state could survive, and how that would affect the future of republics.
 
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