It all started with a Sherman...


"A Modern History of the Republic of Korea: From 1870's and Onwards"
Written by Daniel Kim, a history professor at Seoul University.

Chapter 1: Intervention in Asia


There is dispute over what happened next. Apparently, the ship's crew seized Adjutant-General Yi and his two deputies, who were attempting to pursue a small boat launched from General Sherman with six men attempting to reach shore. According to Governor Park's report, another government official, Shin Tae-jung, tried to persuade the crew to release Yi Hyon-ik and his men but failed. Instead, the General Sherman moved upstream, firing cannons and eventually anchored at Hwang-gang-jung (House of Yellow River). Governor Park later reported that the ship had fired her guns into the crowd, killing seven and wounding five. Then, five men launched a boat and navigating north of Pyongyang to determine the river's depth. The citizens of Pyongyang gathered on the riverbank, shouting for the release of Yi Hyon-ik. A man in the boat (probably Robert J. Thomas, the only one who spoke Korean) replied they would give the answer if they were allowed inside Pyongyang city. The crowd started throwing stones at the small boat. Korean soldiers shot arrows and guns at the launch, which retreated back to the ship. The Koreans sent a rescue party and managed to free Yi, but his deputies (Yoo Soon-won and Park Chi-young) were killed. The ship eventually turned back and sailed down until she ran aground into Yang-Gak island, an island across from Pyongyang.

Fighting continued for the four days, after which the Koreans resorted to fire boats, filled with wood, sulphur and saltpeter. The first two failed to inflict any damage, but the third set General Sherman afire. Unable to stem the flames, the crew jumped into the water.

According to the Korean Official historical record, "Kojong-silrok" (Vol.3), there were two survivors from the initial attack, Robert Thomas and Cho Neung-bong. However, they too were beaten to death.

In January 1867 the USS Wachusett (1861) (under Captain Robert W. Schufeldt) attempted to investigate the demise of the General Sherman and successfully arrived in Joseon, demanding information. The Joseon government, afraid of the Americans, admitted that they had destroyed the boat. [1]. However, the Joseon government refused to take responsibility for their actions and demanded America to repay Joseon for "intruding in Joseon's rightful territory and attempting to invade." Outraged, the American captain turned back towards the United States and reported everything to the U.S. government. By 1869, the United States was outraged at the Joseon government for committing an "act" of war and asked the assistance of the French for intervention against the Korean government. France, having multiple missionaries and such die in Joseon due to persecution, agrees to help America take down the isolated and hostile country. Both countries used the attack on their ships and people as an act of war, though both didn't formally declare war and called it a "war of liberation."

On June 1st of 1870, the American and French government sent about 2,000 marines along with a fleet of 50 ships to Joseon's capital of Hanyang. As a result, a firefight ensued between the obsolete Joseon Army and the allied forces of America and France. Due to the backwards army doctrine and weapons of the Joseon Military, the allied forces scored a huge victory, killing nearly 40,000 Joseon soldiers at the cost of 200 allied marines. Only 1 ship, the USS Shenandoah [2], was sunk while Joseon's nearly nonexistent navy (of 14 small wooden ships) and coastal batteries (numbering at around 300-500) were all destroyed within hours. As a result, the Joseon government capitulated after the rapid fall of Hanyang and surrendered to the allies on June 10th of 1870. Regent Heungseon Daewongun and his loyalists fled to China, where they vowed to return and re-establish the monarchy. However the First Republic of Korea was established the day after the Hanyang Treaty was signed. This new republic was administered by the Americans and French and elections would soon follow later that year.

At first, the American people are quite against the idea of "annexing" territory. However, President Grant assured the nation that the America was "freeing the Korean people from a backwards and mindless government." It was revealed to the populace later that Korea would NOT become a territory, but in fact a republic. When the populace learned of this, it acted favorably towards the government and supported the establishment of a democratic ally in Asia. America's economy would soon benefit shorthand with the newly opened trade with Korea. Because of the trade with Korea, America would ignore Japan (except a few trade agreements) and focus on expanding their markets in the friendly Korea.

Of course, China objected to the "violent occupation of the Korean people." Influenced by the monarchy loyalists, the Chinese government claimed that America and France was attempting to annex the Korean people and oppress them. However, the intentions and goals of France and America was clear after merchants flocked to the Korean Peninsula for trade and such, revealing a relatively modernizing nation with a fairly happy people. Thus, the outrages and screams of "colonialism" from China was vastly ignored by other powers. Instead, the other major powers began to compete in the Korean markets to sell goods and such in exchange for raw resources which Korea apparently had plenty of.

Within Korea, many Korean people were unsure of how to react. The oppressive monarchy was removed from power and the Korean people were now benefiting from world trade and French-American support. However, the Korean people weren't entirely free and despite the new republic, heavily dependet on France and America. Despite the ambivalent thoughts, the Korean people reacted well to the American-French dominated Korea and became a stable democracy. The country would remain on friendly terms with France and US for many years to come and expand their economy to become a major economy and contender in international affairs.

Though unknown at the time, Korea would later play a huge role in international affairs... Changing the flow of history...

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[1]: The PoD of this timeline is when the USS Wachusett actually arrives on time. In OTL, the ship turns back due to a bad storm and another ship comes to inquire Joseon of the USS Sherman. However, by then, the ship's sinking is old news and doesn't get too much attention. Here, the public is aware that a backwards nation attempted to destroy a U.S. vessel, leading to a bigger reaction than the 1871 expedition to Joseon.
[2]: Ironically, this was the vessel that was sent to investigate the Sherman sinking after the first ship in OTL.

*Note: It is plausible that America would work with France in this situation. While not exactly friends, the French was pissed that Korea kept on executing it's missionaries and even attack Korea in 1867. On the flip side, America also attacked Korea in 1871 in order to take a shot at gunboat diplomacy (which would fail). Although unlikely, the two countries working together to remove the hostile Korea government is not all that implausible. As France was entering 1870, it was facing multiple problems with the populace. As a result, Emperor Napoleon could have worked with the Americans in order to a) put himself in a favorable light to the world and the populace and b) profit by opening trade with the Koreans. America, on the other hand, was looking to expand it's influence upon Asia and Korea would fit ITL. Based off of this, I allowed America and France to work together to take over the Joseon government, which was weak and ineffective at the time.
 
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TFSmith121

Banned
Interesting, but a couple of things...

Interesting, but a couple of things...

1) very unlikely the US would want an overseas protectorate in the 1870s; even purchasing Alaska in 1867 had opposition, and territory in the Western Pacific at a time when Asian emigration to the US West Coast was a major domestic political issue makes this very problematic.

2) The US Marine Corps didn't reach 10,000 personel until 1914; even at the height of the Civil War, there were less than 4,000, and typical strength in the 1870s was 2,000.

3) General Sherman was a merchant ship, and so would have been an "SS" not a "USS" which is (and was) reserved as a designation for commissioned ships of the USN.

Best,
 
Interesting, but a couple of things...

1) very unlikely the US would want an overseas protectorate in the 1870s; even purchasing Alaska in 1867 had opposition, and territory in the Western Pacific at a time when Asian emigration to the US West Coast was a major domestic political issue makes this very problematic.

2) The US Marine Corps didn't reach 10,000 personel until 1914; even at the height of the Civil War, there were less than 4,000, and typical strength in the 1870s was 2,000.

3) General Sherman was a merchant ship, and so would have been an "SS" not a "USS" which is (and was) reserved as a designation for commissioned ships of the USN.

Best,

Thanks will edit.

I imagine the opposition would be a little less due to the fact that it's not an upright annexation and it's mainly a joint territory withe the French.

Other then those points, I got it. Though, even 2,000 marines can invade into Korea and still win due to their superior weapons and tactics.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
The realm of possibility would be "friendly" relations

The realm of possibility would be "friendly" relations (at the point of a gun, essentially) with sort of independent Korean state; any sort of territorial claim/dependency status under treaty would not happen, largely because of internal US politics.

The US would be even more reluctant to get into any sort of condominium type relationship with a European power, for similar reasons.

Best,
 
How would 2,000 marines manage to annex a country?

You would be surprised. At this time, Korea was severely weakened due to it's surrounding neighbors.

I would like to point out that Hawaii was annexed by 200 marines. Although Korea isn't THAT weak, it still relied on mathlock rifles and arrows. This was the same even in the 1900's.
 
The realm of possibility would be "friendly" relations (at the point of a gun, essentially) with sort of independent Korean state; any sort of territorial claim/dependency status under treaty would not happen, largely because of internal US politics.

The US would be even more reluctant to get into any sort of condominium type relationship with a European power, for similar reasons.

Best,

Understood. I'll edit those parts a bit, maybe a friendly Korean republic with American/French oversight.
 
I would like to point out that Hawaii was annexed by 200 marines. Although Korea isn't THAT weak, it still relied on mathlock rifles and arrows. This was the same even in the 1900's.

I think there are quite a few differences between US involvement in a coup in an island nation run by an American mercantile elite and annexing a nation with which the US has no ties. For starters, there were several hundred Americans in Hawaii who also took up arms.

Here's a question: how many men did it take the Japanese to conquer and occupy Korea? The numbers and length of time ti took suggest this is not as easy as you imply.
 
I think there are quite a few differences between US involvement in a coup in an island nation run by an American mercantile elite and annexing a nation with which the US has no ties. For starters, there were several hundred Americans in Hawaii who also took up arms.

Here's a question: how many men did it take the Japanese to conquer and occupy Korea? The numbers and length of time ti took suggest this is not as easy as you imply.

Actually. The Japanese government was able to take Korea with a single treaty. No shots fired at the Koreans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan–Korea_Treaty_of_1910

Literally. No shots fired.

Additionally, at this time, the Korean army and navy is obsolete beyond obsolete. In fact, it made China look advanced.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_expedition_to_Korea

A nearly 80:1 casualty rate. The Koreans still used obsolete matchlocks and ARROWS. Plus, they had NO navy to speak of. In fact, around 1890, the Navy was "dispersed" due to lack of funding and will. If America attacked even with around 20 ships, odds were that they would've beaten the Korean navy and shore defenses.

And about Hawaii:

"Advised about these supposed threats to non-combatant American lives and property[55] by the Committee of Safety, obliged their request and summoned a company of uniformed U.S. Marines from the USS Boston and two companies of U.S. sailors to land on the Kingdom and take up positions at the U.S. Legation, Consulate, and Arion Hall on the afternoon of January 16, 1893. 162 sailors and Marines aboard the USS Boston in Honolulu Harbor came ashore well-armed but under orders of neutrality. The sailors and Marines did not enter the Palace grounds or take over any buildings, and never fired a shot, but their presence served effectively in intimidating royalist defenders. Historian William Russ states, "the injunction to prevent fighting of any kind made it impossible for the monarchy to protect itself."[56] Due to the Queen's desire "to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life" for her subjects and after some deliberation, at the urging of advisers and friends, the Queen ordered her forces to surrender. The Honolulu Rifles took over government buildings, disarmed the Royal Guard, and declared a provisional government."

So no. The Hawaiians in reality surrendered at the sight of American forces. Korea, isolationist and weak at the time, can understandably surrender and give away power to America.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
That seems in the realm of possibility; interested in

Understood. I'll edit those parts a bit, maybe a friendly Korean republic with American/French oversight.

That seems in the realm of possibility; interested in where you're going with this...

Be an interesting precedent for US relations with the Philippines and the rest of "independent" Asia (Japan, China, Thailand/Siam) presuming eastern Asia's history more or less follows a similar track as in reality.

Best,
 
Chapter 2: A Republic in Asia

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-The official Republic of Korea flag. The Joseon flag was displaced mainly to signify a new era of Korea.

The Republic of Korea became the first republic in Asia and the first "modernized" nation in Asia. When Korea was established as a republic in 1870, Japan was still ruled by the military and China was still split into pieces with monarchies and dictators vying for control. Other nations, such as Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) and Thailand-, were either colonies of European nations or buffer zones between European powers.

Korea was unlike the other Asian countries. It was a democratic republic administered by France and America. Unlike many countries at the time, it had almost full rein of it's own government and society, except the economy (which was dependent on America and France). During the rest of 1870, the Americans, French, and Koreans would butt heads with each other in order to form the Korean Constitution. After furious debates, some angry gestures, and plenty of scratching out papers, the three groups compromised on a constitution. The Korean Constitution, much like the American counterpart, called for elections every 4 years for presidents. However, the members of the National Assembly (the Korean Congress) were voted for every 4 years also. Additionally, due to their strong place in the Korean culture, Korean women were allowed to vote, becoming the first nation to allow women suffrage. Another interesting difference was that the Korean government also had the position of prime minister. The Prime Minister would technically be 3rd in line for the presidency and carry significant weight in the government. Finally, another interesting factor was that Korea had NO political parties. Although there were loose alliances and such in the National Assembly and elections, political parties were severely limited due to the fear of the Korean people of having a single party seizing power once again. Supposedly, they feared that Japan would attempt to win the elections legally and take over Korea. [1] As a result, most candidates carried their own ideas and motivations, allowing Korea to send a diverse pool of representatives and leaders for the following decades.

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-Pusan Representative Soo Bin Choe of the First National Assembly of the People. Representative Choe was one of the first woman voted into the National Assembly.

The first elections were set in December 1st of 1871, with the people voting for the president, vice president, prime minister (at France's insistence), and the Korean National Assembly. The populace was rather tired of the monarchy and royal elites ruling and trampling the poor and middle class under their boots, therefore, the election turnout rate was a whooping 81% of eligible voters. This was, by far, one of the highest turnout rate for an election ever recorded in any republics or democracies. The people, despite the relatively hostility towards the monarchy, decided to vote for Prince Imperial Heung (Yi Jae-myon), son of Heungseon Daewongun, for Prime Minister due to his political "experience" and because he was rarely associated with the corruption and abuse during his father's reign. The National Assembly , with 9 provinces, was assembled much like the American Congress, with a National Assembly of the People (House of Representatives) and a National Assembly for the Provinces (Senate).

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-The Nine Provinces of Korea. Each province was allowed to send 3 representatives.

For the position of presidency, the Korean people voted for a common man, much like Andrew Jackson of the United States. The man voted for the title of presidency was a common man by the name of Dae In Kim, a fairly successful merchant in Hanyang (Seoul). Merchant Kim was especially famous for moving up the social ladder by himself, raised as an orphan and working hard to become a merchant. As a result, the people greatly sympathized with the young, charismatic, poor to reach story merchant. As a result, the 32 year old Dae In Kim received 67% of the total votes (age limit for any government position was set to 30 years old). His vice president, hand picked by the president, was a commoner with ideas for peasant reforms named Yungho Park. Despite uncertainty coming from America and France on these choices, the Korean government would prove them wrong.

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-First President of the Republic of Korea: Dae In Kim

In his first speech to the Korean people, newly-elected President Dae In Kim promised that "...even though I have no political experience, I will do my absolute best to lead Korea out of poverty and isolationism into a world recognized power like the United States and France." He and his government moved to Seoul (renamed after the military takeover) and begin construction on the National Assembly Building along with the "Blue" House [2]. He would be the only president to not spend his entire presidency in the Blue House (it would finish during his 3rd term). During the construction of the buildings, the Kim administration went straight to work to advance the backwards nation into the modern world.

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-Korean Workers working on the railroad from Seoul to Pyongyang.

The first bill that was introduced was the brain child of Vice President Park. It was dubbed the "Infrastructure Act of 1871." It was a huge bill that would not only build railroads across the entirety of Korea, but also build paved roads to ease trade and transportation. This was not only to increase the trade between regions and help with transporting goods more rapidly, but also to provide jobs to hundreds of thousands of jobless Koreans across the peninsula. The National Assembly voted on the bill and it was the first bill passed in Korean history. The bill would develop roads and rails to every major Korean city and provide jobs for hundreds of thousands of workers for nearly 3-5 years. This bill would be the start of an administration that would work for economic equality and a powerful economy. [3]

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-Prime Minister Yi Jae-myon talking about the recently passed Infrastructure Bill

That year alone would see the National Assembly pass around a dozen different bills, ranging from the economy to the military. Economic bills to expand the Korean industry, increase trade with America and France, and even open up trade with the isolated Japanese (despite the reluctance of Japan) would jump start the rather poor economy of Korea. Military bills were also introduced to form the first Republic of Korea Army and Navy, with funds to support the modernization of a standing army and a modern navy. As a result, this saw a great increase in Korea's military capabilities, especially in areas of manufacturing and shipbuilding. In fact, by the 20th century, Korea's shipyards would be the 5th biggest in the world behind the United States, Great Britain, France, and Prussia (Germany).

As a result of these various bills being passed, the Korean economy began to grow rapidly. Trade became an essential artery to the Korean economy, as Korea opened up it's borders for foreign nations. This led to an economic growth that not even America and France could've predicted. The Koreans worked especially hard to improve their nations, as the normal commoners were no longer oppressed by their government. The Korean economy would grow and the national inequality of wealth would shrink. By the election year of 1875, the Korean economy was well on it's way of rocketing forward and Korea itself working it's way towards the international stage. Due to the strong performance by President Kim and his Vice President Park, the duo was re-elected to a second term and continued to pass bills and reforms to further levy the Korean economy forward. During their second term, the Kim administration would also pass the Education Reform Act of 876 that would open primary and secondary schooling to all students. Additionally, the president also proposed a Gender Equality Bill that allowed women to run for political office and have equal rights as men. There was relatively little opposition as women played an important role in the lives of most Koreans, so the bill passed in 1877. These bills would see the growth of Korea into a modern society, a very Western society nonetheless. Constant trade with the Western nations gradually changed the ways of Korean thinking and society, as they began to adapt more and more of American culture. By 1900's and 1910's, suits, trousers, hats, revolvers, tobacco, and others were quite popular in Korea.

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-A Korean businessman casually smoking a "stick of tobacco" in a bar.

After watching the success of Korea, America [4] attempted to open up Japan and reform it like Korea. However, after watching the "foreign influences corrupting the Koreans," the Japanese closed themselves off indefinitely. They were forced to sign a treaty in 1880 to open their ports in Nagasaki for foreign trade, but it remained completely isolated from the foreign world. It was not until World War 1 of 1914 that opened up the Japanese society and led to the Tokyo Revolution. Until then, Japan watched Korea nervously as Korea began to outgrow anyone else around Asia.

China, still hosting the Korean monarchy in exile, retained their stance of an anti-Korean and anti-American/French policy. As a result, China's development was even more severely hindered and would prove to be fatal in their brief war in the future.

Meanwhile, the Russians looked to Korea as a potential partner in Asia. Because Russia's relations with China was cold at best and Japan was a backwards country, the rapidly growing Koreans proved to be attractive to the courts of Russia. The Russian Empire began to cooperate with Korea more and would become the 3rd biggest trading partner after America and France with Korea. Unintentionally, this would prove to be a benefit for the Russians in the future.

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-Tsar Alexander II greatly liked the Koreans.

In the year 1879, the election year, President Kim, due to the pleas of many citizens and government officials, ran for a third term and won easily around 65% of the votes. His third term was just a continuation of the other two terms. He would keep the laissez faire policy in place to stimulate the Korean economy and increase the power of Korea. Korea's shipbuilding companies began to expand rapidly in Kim's third term, as merchant ships became crucial to transport goods to other countries. Learning from America and European countries, Korea began their own designs of ships and produced them at a rapid rate. As a result, the Korean economy grew even faster due to the variety of trade coming into Korea, the expansion of thousands of jobs, and the balance between the rich and the poor. The last bill he would pass was in 1883, which he stated that the president was limited to two terms in the presidency. The reason why President Dae In Kim would do this in his last act in office remains a mystery even today. Some stated that he wanted Korea to remain a "clean democracy" while others argue that he just wanted to be remembered as the only president to win 3 terms. However, no matter the reason, he was always remembered as the great president that lead Korea into the modern age. [5]

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-"The Great Architect" Dae In Kim would pass away in 1912 at 73 years old due to a heart attack. This his grave in the Seoul National Cemetery.

Of course, the election of 1883 would remain controversial. It was an election to see if power could truly be transferred from one person to another peacefully. This one election would see if Korea's republic would stand or collapse. And to many countries that resented the Koreans, they hoped the answer was obvious.

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[1]: Of course, Japan would never act against 2 Western powers. However, the fear of absolutism and another royal "family" being established over the people was quite real. Unsurprisingly, Korea would become a model democracy in the coming decades with their diverse types of Assembly Members, Presidents, and Prime Ministers.

[2]: The color of the Presidential house was hotly debated by the members of government. President Kim advocated for a blue color because white was already taken by America and he wanted the people to feel soothed by the president's house. Therefore, the color blue was elected over red, yellow, and, yes even, purple.

[3]: Of course, the project was funded by private corporations. Similar to that of America, Korea decided to offer tracts of land to private companies to lay out the tracks. As a result, several companies, such as Central Pacific, agreed to lay out the tracks. This was met with great success and due to Central Pacific's experience in laying out railroads, the railroads finished months ahead of schedule.

[4]: During this time, Emperor Napoleon III was overthrown after a failed war against the Prussians in 1872. During this time of chaos, the French government was rather quiet in the political world.

[5]: In fact, a statue of him now stands in front of the Blue House gates, welcoming guests and government workers into the "House that Dae In built."
 
"No shots fired at Koreans" was pretty deft on your part, given that the Russo-Japanese War was caused by fishing in a Russian sphere of interest. :D

Well technically it was true. The Japanese and Russians fought for putting Korea in their sphere of influence, but the Koreans themselves didn't fight for their own independence and sovereignty.
 
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