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Lafayette's Choice: The Story of the Federal Kingdom of America

Fireworks Over Ivory Palace.jpg

Fireworks over the Ivory Palace during a 4th of July festival in Philadelphia.

Prologue

It had only been 242 years since the day 56 men, determined to stick a finger in the eye of British colonialism, signed a series of documents that would set in motion the events leading up to the creation of the United States. What started out as a confederation of thirteen former British colonies soon became a large and prosperous empire spanning the entirety of North America, parts of Central and South America, several islands in the Caribbean, parts of Africa and Asia, and the Philippines. Although it had experienced its fair share of highs and lows throughout the years, the Kingdom of America earned its rightful place in the global stage as a superpower, a beacon of liberty and democracy to whom all others look up to as a source of inspiration.

But of course, all this would never have been possible were it not for the actions of one man: Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, better known to historians as Gilbert I.

It's hard to believe that the French aristocrat and military officer responsible for assisting rebels in the Revolutionary War would end up becoming the newly minted nation's first monarch. At a time when most people in the colonies were deathly against the idea of having a monarchy, he stood firm and worked alongside the Founding Fathers to create the foundation for a stable government, leaving behind a legacy to be touched upon by his descendants. To say that he was the greatest leader who ever lived would be an understatement; he did what everyone thought would be impossible, blending elements of a European political institution with the American concept of democracy--the best of both worlds. A constitutional monarchy that is purely American by nature...and it actually worked!

Simply put, if Lafayette hadn't made the decision to permanently reside in America, the nation wouldn't have become what it is today. It would have had a far more different destiny as a global superpower...then again, that's one issue alternate history forums on the internet continue to rabble on about. The strong bond between the Americans and the French is what made it possible for the Lafayette Dynasty to flourish from one generation to the next, year after year, though it still wasn't without a few scandals every now and then.

From the moment he packed his belongings and moved himself and his family across the ocean, to a land he had come to love like it was his own, the fate of the newborn nation has already been sealed. Life in the Thirteen Colonies would never be the same afterwards...

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A/N: Welcome to my first non-ISOT North American TL! It's been in the planning stages for far too long, so I might as well get the prologue out of the way while I still have time.

I'm certain you know what this is all about: the POD here is that, instead of staying in France and later getting involved in the French Revolution IOTL, the Marquis de Lafayette returns to America and brings his whole family with him, wherein the events leading up to him becoming the first monarch of the United States start to kick off. A minor POD is a much stronger Franco-American friendship that makes the ascension of the Lafayette Dynasty possible.

For once I'm REALLY hoping this project goes well, seeing that I've never done an actual alt-history TL before. :coldsweat: Don't you know how nervous I am right now?

Anyway, I would like to dedicate this project to the following people who gave me the inspiration and support for the new TL:

Lord Grattan - For his The Course of Human Events TL that's still on hiatus, which made me fall in love with the idea of an American monarchy in the first place.

Schnozzberry - Author of Death of a Republic and one of the coolest people on this site, really.

TheMerovingian, Jim Smitty, and pieman97405 - Three more users to whom I give credit for the ideas I'm about to put into practice for this TL. Here's to you, fellas!

The next part will be up eventually, so have some patience...and enjoy the show. :)
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