Hey, I posted some of this timeline a while ago, and I felt like I rushed it and didn't fill in the gaps I should have, so I've tried to flesh it out and add some plausibility. I'd appreciate any critiques you guys have.
Chapter I: The Vermont Crisis
Initial situation of the United States in 1789.
In early 1789 the United States was once again a new country. It had just ratified the constitution and in March of that year its new congress took its seats. By December of the year a few straggler states had sent congressional delegations and the functions of government were underway. Many politicians organized themselves into Pro-Administration and Anti-Administration factions, though these would soon turn into the Federalist and Jeffersonian or Democratic-Republican factions. Also notably, a Western Confederacy of Indians had organized recently and was preparing to resist the US.
Senate Elections of 1789
By December 1789 Rhode Island had still not ratified the Constitution and did not yet have a Senator. Vermont was not a state. The Pro-Administration party dominated the Senate. John Langdon, senator from New Hampshire, is in the political center and while currently Pro-Administration, his policies are moving towards Anti-Administration slowly.
Senate - 24 Seats
Pro-Administration - 18
Anti-Administration - 6
House Elections of 1789
The House was less dominated by Pro-Administration representatives, but they still obtained a majority.
House of Representatives - 65 Seats (includes late elections)
Pro-Administration - 37
Anti-Administration - 28
State Governors
Not yet in every state was the office of Governor yet recognized as a very important office in national politics. Edmund Randolph was a political independent governor of Virginia who largely accomplished nothing. Rhode Island was governed by the independent John Collins, who had just lost much of his popularity by backing the constitution. John Hancock governed New York, though affairs were often handled by the Lieutenant Governor Samuel Adams, a noted Anti-Administration spokesperson. The northern state of New York was also notably governed by the Anti-Administration George Clinton.
State Governors - 14 (including Vermont)
Pro-Administration - 8
Anti-Administration - 2
Non-Partisan - 4
2 December 1789 - Violence breaks out in Westminster between a group of New Yorker landowners and their supporters, and a group of self proclaimed "Green mountain boys" supporting Vermont's independence and opposing New York's claim to jurisdiction over Vermont, and the ownership of much of Vermont's land by New York landowners. 2 New Yorkers are killed, a man and a woman, and outraged New York newspapers deem this event "The Second Westminster Massacre."
13 December 1789 - George Clinton, governor of New York, has not pressed on the issue of New York's right to Vermont in almost 5 years. He is still in contact with powerful New Yorkers in Vermont, and this controversy and their outcries cause him and the legislature to authorize military pacification of Vermont. New York militia units along the border with Vermont begin to move in, ostensibly to pacify rebels and protect New Yorkers living in Vermont. Fighting between New York militamen and the Green Mountain Boys begins, with the New Yorkers obviously having a massive numerical and supply advantage. Vermont governor Moses Robinson and his precedent Thomas Chittenden, as well as Ira Allen, rally the militias of the Republic and offer New York as much resistance as possible.
30 December 1789 - Discussions about the violence in Vermont begins in Congress. The political parties largely have no unified position on the issue. New York Anti-Administration Representatives in the House, led by William Floyd, argued in favor of their invasion, and the Pro-Administration representatives and senators largely stay silent or support the enlargement of their state. Fellow Anti-Administration Northerner Samuel Adams encourages his delegation to support George Clinton's move, and largely they stay silent, with Elbridge Gerry supporting the invasion in the House. New Hampshire governor John Sullivan, representatives Samuel Livermore and Abiel Foster, and senator John Langdon strongly oppose the invasion, due to New Hampshire's old competing claim on Vermont and their desire for New York not to annex the small state. They try to portray the issue as a partisan one, with Anti-Administrationers Clinton and Samuel Adams supporting the war and Pro-Administrationers opposing it. However, the federal administration, being controlled largely by the influence of Adams and Hamilton on President Washington, stays neutral due to Pro-Administration leader Alexander Hamilton, with support from John Adams, warning the president against hasty action in Vermont that could shatter the union. Some speculate he was acting in his home state of New York's interests.
4 January 1790 - The New Hampshire state legislature adopts a bill reaffirming it's claim over the New Hampshire Grants (known as Vermont to most), and condemning New York's invasion and attempt to unlawfully subjugate its peoples. Movement of troops to protect the Grants is authorized. The Pro-Administration faction in New Hampshire is largely abandoned by Pro-Administration partisans nationwide, and reaches out to all of its state politicans to support the war.
15 January 1790 - New York troops reach Westminster to find New Hampshire troops defending the city. Initially thinking them to be Green Mountain Boys, shots are fired and a major engagement between New York and New Hampshire forces takes place.
21 January 1790 - Violence between New York and New Hampshire troops in Vermont spreads, and they are soon at war.
22 January 1790 - Congress takes a vote on the war, with a bill drafted by William Floyd condemning Vermont's violence against New Yorkers and New Hampshire's interference in New York pacifying an area hostile to it. The bill states that the federal government will support New York and that punishments will be levied against the state of New Hampshire, leaving the specifics to be drafted in future legislature. John Adams and Alexander Hamilton pressure Northern Federalists to support the bill, seeing it as an end to the crisis, and strengthening the federal government as they will be seen as the deciders of the crisis. Assuming that the South in general will oppose this expansion of the major northern states' power, they realize that every northern vote will matter. Pennsylvania is split between Pro- and Anti-Administration factions. Some Pennsylvanians have died in the war against the Indian Western Confederacy and complain the federal government not doing enough against the Indians. The Pennsylvania delegation is able to secure a guarantee from the President and the Anti-Administration leaders Hamilton and Adams that Pennsylvania will be compensated with lands taken from Indians when the federal government recovers the territory from the Western Confederacy. President Washington, wanting an end to the war with the union intact, convinces secretary of state Jefferson to gain the support of the Virginia delegation. Jefferson, along with a bipartisan group of other Southerners, uses this opportunity to extract concessions from the administration in the area of Western land claims and obligations owed by those states to the Federal government. In a surprising move, the Pro-Administration delegation of Connecticut also votes against, fearing that this violation of a state's sovereignty sets a bad precedent for big states to bully smaller states like Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut.
Map of the vote in the Senate.
Map of the vote in the House.
3 February 1790 - Massachusetts forces are sent into New Hampshire by Lieutenant Governor Adams. This is viewed as a military action authorized by the bill passed by Congress. Adams calls New Hampshire a "rogue state", and condemns their militiamen as rebels and insurrectionists against the federal government and their fellow states. New Hampshire begins to be rapidly occupied from both sides by New York and Massachusetts.
15 February 1790 - New York forces complete their occupation of Vermont. Under New York law it is considered a part of New York state from this point on.
3 March 1790 - Rather than have any more bloodshed, John Sullivan, governor of New Hampshire and commander of their militia, surrenders and the fighting ends. New Hampshire is effectively subsumed into Massachusetts, connecting them to their holding of Maine and propelling them into an even larger dominance of New England.
15 March 1790 - Benjamin Franklin dies, and is mourned throughout the union, especially in Pennsylvania. His replacement as president of Pennsylvania, the first governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Mifflin, gives a speech commemorating the great American statesman.
30 March 1790 - Congress finishes working out the details of the Land Ownership Bill of 1790. The bill gives claims on New Hampshire (newly unclaimed land due to the majority's view that New Hampshire's statehood had been revoked upon entering war with a federally supported force) to Massachusetts, certifies New York's claim to Vermont, and grants much of Ohio Country to Pennsylvania. Some say that Pennsylvanian legislators took advantage of the mourning for the recently dead Franklin. Pennsylvania also purchases the small spike of territory that Virginia owns between them and Ohio Country for a price that is profitable to Virginia. Connecticut's claims in the Northwest are also granted to Pennsylvania due to the absurdity of Connecticut ever exploiting land it can't even reach. The western claims of Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia are certified by the federal government, and many of those states' debts are forgiven (North Carolina especially was previously expected to have to cede its Western territory due to obligations to the federal government).
In the wake of the Land Ownership Bill the balance between regions shifts slightly. North and South are not yet synonymous with Free and Slave, as New York and New Jersey retained slavery, and Massachusetts was the only northern state to have completely abolished it, with others taking gradual approaches. Slavery's territory is expanded slightly due to it now being legal in New York's Vermont territory, despite a partial ban in the Vermont constitution. It's power has also shrunk due to all slaves in New Hampshire (which was undergoing gradual abolition) being freed by the annexing government of Massachusetts. The change in number of states however equalizes the North-South split in numbers of states. There are 6 traditionally northern states and 6 southern states. Either sectionalist faction is able to block a bill in the senate by themselves, and this protection, as well as the times being far too early for talk of national abolition, keeps the sides at relative peace.
Chapter I: The Vermont Crisis
Initial situation of the United States in 1789.
In early 1789 the United States was once again a new country. It had just ratified the constitution and in March of that year its new congress took its seats. By December of the year a few straggler states had sent congressional delegations and the functions of government were underway. Many politicians organized themselves into Pro-Administration and Anti-Administration factions, though these would soon turn into the Federalist and Jeffersonian or Democratic-Republican factions. Also notably, a Western Confederacy of Indians had organized recently and was preparing to resist the US.
Senate Elections of 1789
By December 1789 Rhode Island had still not ratified the Constitution and did not yet have a Senator. Vermont was not a state. The Pro-Administration party dominated the Senate. John Langdon, senator from New Hampshire, is in the political center and while currently Pro-Administration, his policies are moving towards Anti-Administration slowly.
Senate - 24 Seats
Pro-Administration - 18
Anti-Administration - 6
House Elections of 1789
The House was less dominated by Pro-Administration representatives, but they still obtained a majority.
House of Representatives - 65 Seats (includes late elections)
Pro-Administration - 37
Anti-Administration - 28
State Governors
Not yet in every state was the office of Governor yet recognized as a very important office in national politics. Edmund Randolph was a political independent governor of Virginia who largely accomplished nothing. Rhode Island was governed by the independent John Collins, who had just lost much of his popularity by backing the constitution. John Hancock governed New York, though affairs were often handled by the Lieutenant Governor Samuel Adams, a noted Anti-Administration spokesperson. The northern state of New York was also notably governed by the Anti-Administration George Clinton.
State Governors - 14 (including Vermont)
Pro-Administration - 8
Anti-Administration - 2
Non-Partisan - 4
2 December 1789 - Violence breaks out in Westminster between a group of New Yorker landowners and their supporters, and a group of self proclaimed "Green mountain boys" supporting Vermont's independence and opposing New York's claim to jurisdiction over Vermont, and the ownership of much of Vermont's land by New York landowners. 2 New Yorkers are killed, a man and a woman, and outraged New York newspapers deem this event "The Second Westminster Massacre."
13 December 1789 - George Clinton, governor of New York, has not pressed on the issue of New York's right to Vermont in almost 5 years. He is still in contact with powerful New Yorkers in Vermont, and this controversy and their outcries cause him and the legislature to authorize military pacification of Vermont. New York militia units along the border with Vermont begin to move in, ostensibly to pacify rebels and protect New Yorkers living in Vermont. Fighting between New York militamen and the Green Mountain Boys begins, with the New Yorkers obviously having a massive numerical and supply advantage. Vermont governor Moses Robinson and his precedent Thomas Chittenden, as well as Ira Allen, rally the militias of the Republic and offer New York as much resistance as possible.
30 December 1789 - Discussions about the violence in Vermont begins in Congress. The political parties largely have no unified position on the issue. New York Anti-Administration Representatives in the House, led by William Floyd, argued in favor of their invasion, and the Pro-Administration representatives and senators largely stay silent or support the enlargement of their state. Fellow Anti-Administration Northerner Samuel Adams encourages his delegation to support George Clinton's move, and largely they stay silent, with Elbridge Gerry supporting the invasion in the House. New Hampshire governor John Sullivan, representatives Samuel Livermore and Abiel Foster, and senator John Langdon strongly oppose the invasion, due to New Hampshire's old competing claim on Vermont and their desire for New York not to annex the small state. They try to portray the issue as a partisan one, with Anti-Administrationers Clinton and Samuel Adams supporting the war and Pro-Administrationers opposing it. However, the federal administration, being controlled largely by the influence of Adams and Hamilton on President Washington, stays neutral due to Pro-Administration leader Alexander Hamilton, with support from John Adams, warning the president against hasty action in Vermont that could shatter the union. Some speculate he was acting in his home state of New York's interests.
4 January 1790 - The New Hampshire state legislature adopts a bill reaffirming it's claim over the New Hampshire Grants (known as Vermont to most), and condemning New York's invasion and attempt to unlawfully subjugate its peoples. Movement of troops to protect the Grants is authorized. The Pro-Administration faction in New Hampshire is largely abandoned by Pro-Administration partisans nationwide, and reaches out to all of its state politicans to support the war.
15 January 1790 - New York troops reach Westminster to find New Hampshire troops defending the city. Initially thinking them to be Green Mountain Boys, shots are fired and a major engagement between New York and New Hampshire forces takes place.
21 January 1790 - Violence between New York and New Hampshire troops in Vermont spreads, and they are soon at war.
22 January 1790 - Congress takes a vote on the war, with a bill drafted by William Floyd condemning Vermont's violence against New Yorkers and New Hampshire's interference in New York pacifying an area hostile to it. The bill states that the federal government will support New York and that punishments will be levied against the state of New Hampshire, leaving the specifics to be drafted in future legislature. John Adams and Alexander Hamilton pressure Northern Federalists to support the bill, seeing it as an end to the crisis, and strengthening the federal government as they will be seen as the deciders of the crisis. Assuming that the South in general will oppose this expansion of the major northern states' power, they realize that every northern vote will matter. Pennsylvania is split between Pro- and Anti-Administration factions. Some Pennsylvanians have died in the war against the Indian Western Confederacy and complain the federal government not doing enough against the Indians. The Pennsylvania delegation is able to secure a guarantee from the President and the Anti-Administration leaders Hamilton and Adams that Pennsylvania will be compensated with lands taken from Indians when the federal government recovers the territory from the Western Confederacy. President Washington, wanting an end to the war with the union intact, convinces secretary of state Jefferson to gain the support of the Virginia delegation. Jefferson, along with a bipartisan group of other Southerners, uses this opportunity to extract concessions from the administration in the area of Western land claims and obligations owed by those states to the Federal government. In a surprising move, the Pro-Administration delegation of Connecticut also votes against, fearing that this violation of a state's sovereignty sets a bad precedent for big states to bully smaller states like Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut.
Map of the vote in the Senate.
Map of the vote in the House.
3 February 1790 - Massachusetts forces are sent into New Hampshire by Lieutenant Governor Adams. This is viewed as a military action authorized by the bill passed by Congress. Adams calls New Hampshire a "rogue state", and condemns their militiamen as rebels and insurrectionists against the federal government and their fellow states. New Hampshire begins to be rapidly occupied from both sides by New York and Massachusetts.
15 February 1790 - New York forces complete their occupation of Vermont. Under New York law it is considered a part of New York state from this point on.
3 March 1790 - Rather than have any more bloodshed, John Sullivan, governor of New Hampshire and commander of their militia, surrenders and the fighting ends. New Hampshire is effectively subsumed into Massachusetts, connecting them to their holding of Maine and propelling them into an even larger dominance of New England.
15 March 1790 - Benjamin Franklin dies, and is mourned throughout the union, especially in Pennsylvania. His replacement as president of Pennsylvania, the first governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Mifflin, gives a speech commemorating the great American statesman.
30 March 1790 - Congress finishes working out the details of the Land Ownership Bill of 1790. The bill gives claims on New Hampshire (newly unclaimed land due to the majority's view that New Hampshire's statehood had been revoked upon entering war with a federally supported force) to Massachusetts, certifies New York's claim to Vermont, and grants much of Ohio Country to Pennsylvania. Some say that Pennsylvanian legislators took advantage of the mourning for the recently dead Franklin. Pennsylvania also purchases the small spike of territory that Virginia owns between them and Ohio Country for a price that is profitable to Virginia. Connecticut's claims in the Northwest are also granted to Pennsylvania due to the absurdity of Connecticut ever exploiting land it can't even reach. The western claims of Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia are certified by the federal government, and many of those states' debts are forgiven (North Carolina especially was previously expected to have to cede its Western territory due to obligations to the federal government).
In the wake of the Land Ownership Bill the balance between regions shifts slightly. North and South are not yet synonymous with Free and Slave, as New York and New Jersey retained slavery, and Massachusetts was the only northern state to have completely abolished it, with others taking gradual approaches. Slavery's territory is expanded slightly due to it now being legal in New York's Vermont territory, despite a partial ban in the Vermont constitution. It's power has also shrunk due to all slaves in New Hampshire (which was undergoing gradual abolition) being freed by the annexing government of Massachusetts. The change in number of states however equalizes the North-South split in numbers of states. There are 6 traditionally northern states and 6 southern states. Either sectionalist faction is able to block a bill in the senate by themselves, and this protection, as well as the times being far too early for talk of national abolition, keeps the sides at relative peace.
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