Lyon Comes East or One War at a Time

Another excellent update, hzpnk. :) As always, please keep up the good work. Also, is there any chance of you making map of the USA as it is now (according to the latest update) as well as a global map? Please let me know. Thanks again. :)
 
Another excellent update, hzpnk. :) As always, please keep up the good work. Also, is there any chance of you making map of the USA as it is now (according to the latest update) as well as a global map? Please let me know. Thanks again. :)

Map skills I do not have. But here is a summary of changes. The western state borders are mostly changed.

Dakota is OTL No Dak and So Dak and the eastern part of Montana and the NE part of Wyoming.

Nebraska is OTL Nebraska and SE part of Wyoming.

Manitoba is OTL southern Manitoba and all of OTL Saskatchewan

Deseret is OTL Utah plus western Wyoming, western Montana, and eastern Idaho. Basically, take the current East and West borders of Utah and go North to the boundary of Canada and that is Deseret.

Nevada is OTL Nevada plus OTL SW Idaho

Oregon is OTL Oregon plus the central part of OTL Idaho

Washington is OTL Washington plus the nothern part of Idaho and a little part of Montana.

Columbia is OTL Columbia plus what is SE Alaska, but not all of SE Alaska. The border is the Lynn Canal, basically Juneau is in Columbia and Skagway, Sitka and that bump of OTL NW BC is in Alaska.

Alaska also includes OTL Yukon and most of OTL NW Territories. It is huge.

Minnesota is OTL borders plus a strip from the Northern tip of Lake of the Woods to just south of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior.

Ontario is all the rest of what would be the old Upper Canada minus a few islands in Lake Huron that are given to Michigan.

Maine gained territory to the St. John's River.

Nova Scotia is OTL Nova Scotia, PEI, the SE portion of NB including Moncton, and the island of Newfoundland.

All the rest is Canada which is pretty much a protectorate of the USA. This is OTL Quebec, northern Ontario, Ninuvut, Labrodor, and the Nothern part of NB.

For the world, pretty much OTL except for Africa. The US victory over Britain did not effect the rise of Germany too much. British reaction was to have more of Africa. Both Liberia and Ethiopia are British protectorates.

Other effects that have not played out yet is a greater US presence in the Pacific and Asia. The US has a stricter open door policy for China, and Korea, and Japan. Japan is industrialising as OTL and is eyeing to expand. Philipines is 100% independent, still with USA capital investing into the country though.
 
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I like this TL. I made this map based on your description — is it about right?

map for hzn5pk.png
 
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That map is pretty much how the USA is. Thank you.

To the USA,

Ontario, which is now a big part of the USA with its industry is basically the rest of Upper Canada. It borders Quebec by the Ottawa river and then follows the Hudson Bay watershed to the border of Minnesota. Everything that is North of the Hudson Bay watershed is in Canada, all that is South is in Ontario, USA.

The border between Acadia, Canada and Nova Scotia, USA is a little more to the South. It runs from the Shediac Bay West to the St. Johns River. This puts the border between USA and Canda just a little north of Moncton, gives a little more to the Canadian province, Acadia.

Thank you once again
 
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I've adjusted it above. Should be pretty close to accurate now.

Thank you very much, looks good.

Thanks for picking up on the fact that there is no West Virginia in this timeline. As Virginia was overrun in the fall of 1861, the statehood movement of West Virginia was not needed.
 
Election of 1888 – Cleveland 23rd POTUS

John Sherman was a popular president for the time that he served. His popularity was based on the Sherman Fair Competition Act. He was able to use this popularity to increase the navy in the Pacific.

Sherman’s popularity was unable to translate into a Republican victory in the election of 1888. The Democratic candidate of Grover Cleveland of New York was able to defeat the Republican candidate of Benjamin Harrison of Indiana.

Cleveland won the crucial NE states of New York and Connecticut, but the states that won the election for the Democrats were Missouri and Iowa which came over to the Democratic side. The Democrats were able to win a majority of the farm vote in these two crucial states.

The Republicans, with Harrison a former veteran of the War of Southern Secession, failed in their campaign waiving the bloody shirt against the Southern Democrats.

The Democrats also held control of the House while the Republicans controlled the Senate.

Domestic policy of Cleveland

Cleveland was pro immigration from both European and Asian countries. He was a proponent of the merit system for political appointments and therefore kept many of the Blaine/Logan/Sherman appointments who were good administrators. Unlike the Blaine/Logan/Sherman veteran friendly measures, Cleveland was anti veteran pension for the War of Southern Secession and the War of Cuban-Philippine Independence.

In foreign policy, Cleveland curtailed the build up of the modern navy in the Pacific. He still upheld US interests for free trade in the world, but did not want to finance the navy to back it up.

The Nicaragua canal saw its completion in 1892.

Election of 1892 – James Weaver, 24th POTUS

To counter the Democratic victory of 1888, the Republicans supported a reformer in James B. Weaver in 1892. Weaver had previously been with the Republicans and then had broke to become a Populist. He now brought his reformer plank and was nominated by the Republicans in 1892.

Weaver was able to win the swing state of Iowa. The Republicans under Weaver were also able to win the House, and keep the Senate.

The reforms that Weaver supported were:
1.) Popular election of Senators
2.) Civil service reform (same as Cleveland)
3.) Female suffrage
4.) Supported silver/gold standard, coinage
5.) National income tax

Domestic Affairs under Weaver
Columbia and Arizona become the 45th and 46th states

With the Republican resurgence, the 16th, 17th and 18th amendments were passed in Congress and submitted to the states to ratify. These are called the Populist Amendments. They are:
16th – Senators elected by popular vote instead of by state legislatures.
17th – National income tax, this was also combined with the National Government to run on a balanced budget in peace time. Only a 75% vote of the House can pass legislation to unbalance the national budget in times of peace.
18th – Female voting rights

The amendments that were passed by the states under the Weaver administration were the 16th and 17th. The 18th was not passed as an amendment, but several western and mid-western states passed bills that allowed for female voting rights.

In Foreign affairs,

Japan fights a war against the Chinese and Koreans. In the war, the Japanese were able to crush both Chinese and Korean armies and navies. In the peace that followed, Japan was awarded Taiwan and the Pescadores. Korea which was dominated by China is still independent, but dominated by Japan. China renounced its claims on Korea as part of the peace treaty.

Under Weaver, the US response was that of open door to all three nations, China, Japan, and Korea, but did not back it up. The Japanese knew this and wanted to stretch their military power. The US stance did ensure that the Japanese did not take any concessions on the Chinese mainland and also prohibited the European Empires from advancing in China. Only Portugal and Great Britain had Chinese colonies.

Weaver also supports the building of the Panama canal in 1895

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My USA responce to the Sino-Japanese War is more active than OTL but less than the strict Open Door, non-intervention of balance in the northern Pacific that was under Presidents Lyon and the Blaine/Logan/Sherman administrations.
 
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Liked treading this new chapter of yours. Since we know about the ATL state borders of Columbia, then could you please tell us what are state borders/boundaries like for your ATL Arizona state? Please let me know. As always, please keep up the good work. Thanks again. :)
 
Liked treading this new chapter of yours. Since we know about the ATL state borders of Columbia, then could you please tell us what are state borders/boundaries like for your ATL Arizona state? Please let me know. As always, please keep up the good work. Thanks again. :)

The border of Arizona is same as OTL
 
To the end of the 19th Century

Election of 1896

James B. Weaver did not select to run again for office in 1896. In his place, the Republicans nominate William McKinley (Ohio) and his running mate Gary Hobart (New Jersey) against William Jennings Bryan (Nebraska) and Arthur Sewall (Maine). Bryan took the Populist torch from Weaver and applied a Democratic tint to it.

McKinley stated that he would uphold the Amendments that were passed under Weaver along with low tariffs. He is also for greater industrialization and tax breaks for corporations.

Bryan favored farmers and with this alienated some of labor. This was ever so important in the battleground states of the Mid West especially the Great Lake States. Bryan conceded the Northeast to McKinley and McKinley conceded the South and West to Bryan. It was the Mid West where the campaigns battled. Bryan alienated labor in his support of farmers. These were the key states that won McKinley the election.

William McKinley – 25th POTUS

McKinley did support the reforms that Weaver began.

The US economy under McKinley continued to grow. It became the largest in the world, overtaking that of Britain with no limit in sight.

The Klondike gold rush boomed from 1896 to 1899.

In foreign affairs:

McKinley stood for a larger and modernized navy and military. The result of this increased spending was to strengthen the US position in the Pacific again. McKinley strengthened naval forces, naval bases, and coastal defenses in Guam, Wake, and Oahu.

The second Boer War erupted in British South Africa. The US response under McKinley was that of support to Britain. The US reaction was contradictory to its position on global colonization by the European empires. The USA policy of self determination of foreign nations and peoples as seen in its handling of Cuba, Philippines, and Puerto Rico and the Open Door Policy for Japan, Korea, and China to be open was in contrast to its support of the British Empire against the Boer Republic. The USA sent military aid, consisting of a marine division and volunteer units in 1898. Part of the reason for the involvement is to ensure that military forces are trained and prepared for other involvement.

Theodore Roosevelt raised a volunteer light infantry and calvary brigade from Dakota, Manitoba, and Montana to fight with the British. This is in contradiction to his Dutch ancestry. He dubbed his unit, the Rough Riders. They gained fame and fought with distinction with the British. Roosevelt himself became a hero in the American press that followed the unit in action.

Along with the Boer war, the USA sends a second Marine force, the Marines in the Pacific to Beijing to battle the Chinese in the Boxer Rebellion to keep China open to the West.

In Latin America, McKinley continued to support a stable Mexico. In fact he gave permission to Mexico to end an uprising in Guatemala. Mexican forces went in and Guatemala was annexed by Mexico in 1899.

The European powers are at peace. Germany and France are still at odds as well as the Austrian-Hungary Empire and that of Russia. Russia supports a Pan Slavic movement in the Balkans which is in contract to the interests of Austria-Hungary. Peace is still prevailing as all countries are cordial with diplomats. Current strong alliances are that of the Serbs and Russia and that of Germany and Austria. Weaker alliances are that of France and Russia and France and Great Britain. The relationship of the USA and Britian is stromg as they are more partners than copetitors. The USA remains at a distance though from Europe as the USA generally does not support dividing and conquering of the world that the Europeans have done. Instead the USA stands for the right of all people to determine how they will be ruled as well as the USA stands for free trade and equall acess to all ports for all nations. To this end, the USA has a strong Navy and low tariffs.

In the Middle East and Persia, there is a three way power struggle with the Russians, the Ottomans, and the British.

In Asia, other than the tension in China against openness, the Japanese and Russians are competing in the northern Pacific. This is another main reason as to why the USA is strengthening its Pacific fleet. The US policy is to ensure that China and Japan remain open and the Korea retains its independence and open to trading.

Also in Europe and somewhat in the United States, Socialists, Communists, and Anarchists begin to demonstrate against the current social and wealth structures. They are dissatisfied with the distribution of wealth and the governments that support the wealthy over the poor workers. Activity and unrest is greater in Europe as is the responce of governments cracking down. The climate in the USA is less intense as freedom and political expression are allowed and the voice of the people is heard with the Populists under Weaver and Bryan.
 
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A new century dawns

Election of 1900

William McKinley and Levi Morton of New York won the 1900 election by a greater margin than in 1896 over William Jennings Bryan. The main reason being the strong US economy and economic growth under McKinley. With the economic success of the previous four years, most of the western states switch to Republican.

McKinley was favored to win the election in 1900. The previous VP, Garret Hobart had passed away. The choice of the running mate for McKinley was to be a safe choice. McKinley wanted someone from New York to aid with the eastern support. His choices were the ever popular Theodore Roosevelt and Levi Morton. McKinley choose the safer, less controversial, less of a rival, Levi Morton.

McKinley’s second term was short as he was assassinated in Buffalo, NY during a visit to the Pan American Fair by an anarchist. His only act in Congress was to sign the law to make Montana the 47th state in the Union. Only Nevada remained a territory surrounded by the other western states. Alaska and the Pacific possessions of the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, and Samoa are other American possessions.

McKinley and Morton continued to support the populist reforms as the economy is booming. These include free trade, silver coinage, low tariffs. Morton was also for bilateral trade agreements that would bolster American industrial sectors. The Democrats were for even greater efforts to support labor and agriculture whereas the Republicans wanted fairness and knew that reforms had to be supported , but would only go so far to support labor.

In foreign policy, the Republicans were for a staunch open door policy with China, Korea, and Japan backed up by a strong navy. The Democrats supported free trade in the Pacific but did not want to maintain a strong navy. The Republicans were also more friendlier toward Britain as can be seen by McKinley’s support of Britain during the second Boar War. The Democrats were more neutral and were against all European empires and their colonization of other nations.

The Boxer Rebellion opened China to foreign intervention. McKinley responded to keep all of China open to all nations to trade. The Russians and Japanese view their involvement as a way to gain a greater position in Manchuria and Korea. To this, the USA was deeply concerned and sent strong warnings after the Boxer Rebellion that China was to remain open and no new capture of ports or regions of China and Korea by foreign powers was going to be allowed. The British also echoed this. However the British also selected to ally with the Japanese to keep the Russians in check.

Tensions between Russia and Japan break out in 1904 with the attack of the Russian fleet at Vladivostok. This lead to further Japanese capture of Russian Sakhalin and Kuril Islands. The Russians respond by assigning their Baltic Fleet to sail to the Pacific. This ended in the defeat of the Russian Baltic Fleet in the battle of Tsushima Strait. The Japanese are victorious and therefore are able to uphold their holdings of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.

The American response under the Republicans to the Russo-Japenese War was to ensure protection of Korea and Manchuria. To this, US navy and marines are sent to Korea and Manchuria. The USA states to both Korea and Russia not to land troops in either of the two areas. The USA would protect Japanese interests in Korea and Russian interests and the trans-Siberian railway terminus and Russian port activity in Dalain. The American response was to keep China open and to ensure that the war did not enlarge.

In Europe, the alliances and rivalries still dominated the landscape but peace was prevailing. Rivalries were over:

Balkans: Russians wanted to gain a warm water port and viewed themselves as protector of Orthodoxy. Their main rivals in the Balkans were the Austrians and Ottomans. They were aligned with Serbia and supported other Slavs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Ottomans were rivaled in interests against the Greeks.

France – Germany after the Franco-Prussian war and Germany’s holding of Alsace-Lorain region. The next area of competition were the Low Countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg.

In the Middle East, The Ottomans, British and Russians were competing. The French were as well to a lesser extent.

The main rivalries in Africa were the British, French, and German.

The French and Russians were growing closer together against the common enemy of Germany.

The British sided with the French against the German expansion in Europe and abroad. The British staunchly defended Belgium and the Netherlands.

A treaty of friendship still existed between Germany and Russia.

Italy remained neutral, but wanted gains in the Balkans, Africa, Savoy, and Corsica.

The battle for wealth among workers and the aristocracy dominated the political climate in Europe as well as a new wave of nationalism for country and ethnicity within the multi-ethnic empires of Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the Ottomans.
 
Liked reading these two new chapters of yours, hzpk5. :) As always, please keep up the good work. Also, will Theodore Roosevelt eventually become US President in the foreseeable future? I would really like it if he did. Also, will there be an ATL version of World War One in some time in your ATL? What about WW2, and later Cold War? Please let me know. Thank you. :)
 
Liked reading these two new chapters of yours, hzpk5. :) As always, please keep up the good work. Also, will Theodore Roosevelt eventually become US President in the foreseeable future? I would really like it if he did. Also, will there be an ATL version of World War One in some time in your ATL? What about WW2, and later Cold War? Please let me know. Thank you. :)

Here is a question, who would be the 4th President on Mt. Rushmore?

Washington and Lincoln are locks. Jefferson is also in due to Louisiana Purchase. Who would 4th be? IOTL, it is Teddy due to his popularity and support of the national parks. He might not make it this time around, it might be Sumner or Lyon as the 4th POTUS on Mt. Rushmore. Or maybe even Weaver as he repsresented the first of the progressives, the Populists? We shall see in the next 20 years, who it will be. Who is your vote?
 
Well then might be on Lyon, though I still hold out for Theodore Roosevelt. I don't know about the other posters though.
 
Election of 1904 – Third Time is a charm

The third time is a charm for Democrat, William Jennings Bryan in his quest for the presidency. William Jennings Bryan and Alton B. Parker defeat Levi Morton and Charles Fairbanks. The Democrats pick up key agricultural states of Nebraska, Dakota, Manitoba, Montana, Iowa and the labor state of New Jersey as they win a tight race over the Republicans.

The Republicans still hold New England, the Great Lakes, and key states of New York and Pennsylvania. The Republicans also keep control of the Pacific Coast and split the west with the Democrats.

The first item on the Bryan administration agenda is to end the conflict between Japan and Russia. To this end, Bryan hosts a conference with both Japanese and Russian representatives in San Francisco, CA. The San Francisco Conference brings an end to the conflict. Reason was the main driving point towards peace. The Japanese had a more dominant navy as the Russians has the more dominant army. The accords give Japan all of Sakhalin Island and the Kurils. Japan pays Russia a sum of money for the islands. Russians retain fishing rights around the effected islands.

For his efforts in 1905, Bryan is awarded the Nobel Prize.

The domestic measures taken by the Democrats resemble those taken during the Hancock administration. They were pro labor. Bryan also lowered tariffs to the point to cover the inspection of imported goods. The final action of Bryan was to support measures by leading Republican Theodore Roosevelt to create a National Parks system. Yellowstone was the first followed by others.

The situation in Europe:

The formal alliance grid consists of:
Germany and Austria-Hungary
Russia and Serbia
France and Russia
Britain and France

In 1907, Britain and Russia came to agreement over Afghanistan, Persia, and Tibet. With signing of a peace treaty and alliance, Russia placed all of these areas solely in the British sphere in exchange for favorable trade and mutual defense. Both wanted to curb the imperial designs of Germany. Russia was now at peace in Asia with Japan and with Britain. This would propel Russia to support Slavs more and result in Slavs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire being more aggressive with independence movements. Serbia also saw this and also stepped up a pan-slavism movement against the Austro-Hungary Empire.

In response to the Franco, Russian, British alliance, Germany and Sweden join together in a trade and defense pact. It is a limited pact, as both nations agree to come to the aid of the other in case of a conflict with Russia. The Swedes place in the caveat that they will not in any way engage the British or French, so that they will not come to Germany’s aid if a European conflict arises between the empires. Sweden will team with Germany in a localized conflict with Russia only. Sweden also states that it will support any effort of the peoples of the Baltic who choose to rise up against the Russians.

Germany and Austria are also able to reach this anti-Russian agreement with the Ottoman Empire as well. Like Sweden though, the Ottomans are weary of British naval power.

Neither alliance structure is able to bring the Italians to their side as Italy wants territory from both sides.

The Germans and Austrians are able to integrate their war plans. The Germans are able to convince the Austro-Hungarians that a future conflict in Europe will most likely devolve in a multiple front war. In order to be victorious, the Germans propose to combine forces for offensive activity against the strongest front first and to remain on the defensive on other fronts. When the strongest front is neutralized, forces will then be concentrated on the next strongest front and so forth until all enemies are crushed.

The Germans studied the American war closely and adapted those lessons to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The main lesson was to be prepared. Another was to use a rail systems to your advantage to move troops and supplies around. A third was to through all of your force at the vital front first to knock it out.

The next war increasingly appeared that it would be the Germans and Austrians against the French, Russians, and British. The master plan of the Germans was to knock the French and British out of the war first and then concentrate on the Russians. The Schlieffen Plan or grand right wing would be used. Austria-Hungary troops would be used in defense against Russia and in Alsace-Lorain. This would free up more German troops for the sweep through Belgium to Parris and to trap French forces.

In exchange for knocking out France first, Germany agreed to enhance the railroad network in Austria-Hungary to get troops to the fronts faster. This would aid when a front was won and transport to the next front was needed. Along with the rail network in Austria-Hungary and to integrate the North-South rail system with Germany, the Germans and Austrians bolstered defenses in East Prussia, Slovakia, Galicia, and the border with Serbia. They did not fortify Alsace-Lorain as much as they wanted the French to come in that way to make the encirclement behind them easier as the Germans sweep around to scoop up Paris and the French armies advancing to the Rhine.

The Germans do not plan to fight the British on the seas. They did not attempt to build up a navy to rival the British. They instead built up the transportation network and static defenses. The German plan is to steam through France and knock them out. They think that if France is out of the war, Britain will be as well. To counter British naval plans, the Germans sign favorable trade agreements with the Americans for food stuffs and certain industrial supplies. The Germans also do with this with the Italians.

To support the Schlieffen Plan, Germany began scouting Belgium and France in depth. German logistics officers guised as tourists on family vacations scouted both the part of Belgium and France to support the Schlieffen Plan. The German plan was to use seven armies in the West. Two to protect the frontier region of Alsace-Lorain, the three of the Left Wing were to be highly mobile. Speed was of the essence as the Germans wanted to knock the French out in 42 days. To increase the speed of the Left Wing, the Germans started to increasingly use gasoline and diesel powered vehicles. Larger engineer outfits were also assigned to the left wing.

In a united front, both the Germans and the A-H practice mobalisation exercises. The Germans saw that the speed to mobalise the reserves, get them trained and get them to the effected fronts would be key. The Germans would use their most expreienced, dependable troops in order as the Left Wing to sweep into France, to be the center in the West, and then to defend in East Prussia. With the more experienced troops of the active Army being to the West and the active reserve also being assigned to the center, the raw recruits would need to be assigned to the East. For A-H, their primary allocation of their best troops was for Galicia and the less experienced and raw recruits would be assigned to defend against Serbia.

The British also were taught lessons from the last major war in the 1860’s, it was to not over commit troops to the continent that cannot be readily pulled out. In the war planning with the French, the British are assigned to protect the channel coast, or the French left flank. The British plan is to build up in force on the coast of France and then to transport in mass to support the French where needed.
 
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What is the german plans of defence of their african colonies?

None,

The Germans realise that they cannot build a superior army, logististics system, industrial base, and navy. All of that cannot be done. In the face of a potential two front war, the first three must be present for a quick victory. If a quick victory over France and Britain is achieved then a prolonged war with the West will not occur. The colonies should be safe then. The colonies will be protected by a quick, decisive victory in France.

By not building up a navy, they are keeping the British tamed some as well. Also, the Germans do not appear threatening to the Americans as well. It is the Americans that they want to keep strong trading ties with as no other nation wants to tangle with the USA, not even the powerful Royal Navy.
 
Enter the Teddy Bear

Part of the legacy of William Jennings Bryan was working with Progressive Republicans such as Teddy Roosevelt on a number of items including establishing a national parks system and forcing college football to adopt rules changes making the forward pass easier and therefore reducing chance of injury that the sport was becoming known for.

Bryan followed in the path of Weaver. He did not follow strict Democrat party rules. He forged alliances with Republicans. He formed what would be called progressives. They were for measures to send America into the next century. They were for the regulation of big business so that competition would exist to keep prices lower. They were for measures to protect workers from harsh conditions. They were for women’s rights and preserving parks in America for all to enjoy.

Sensing that his work was done and complete, Bryan did not run again for president in 1908. In fact, he quit politics all together. He traveled the world as a speaker and preacher. He spoke about the causes and themes that he supported. For the election of 1908, he supported his progressive colleague, Theodore Roosevelt.

1908 Election

Theodore Roosevelt was a natural choice. He was from New York, spent time as a rancher in Dakota, was a hero from the Boer War, was a proponent of progressive measures, and was a world traveler and adventurer. He was hugely popular.

Against Roosevelt, the Democrats had little hope. Their candidate Charles A. Towne was also from New York with ties to Minnesota. Towne only won the solid South. The result of the Electoral College was a crushing victory for Roosevelt, 338 to 138.

Roosevelt continued the progressive measures of Bryan. He was slightly more in favor of big business. Under Roosevelt, the US economy boomed as trade increased especially with Germany and China. To support this trade, Roosevelt developed a Navy that was on the level of the British. In 1910, the 18th amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote in all states. In 1911, Nevada was admitted into the Union as the 48th state.

In foreign affairs, Roosevelt cooperated with the British in such a way that even though the USA increased its naval strength, the British did not feel threatened or that a competition was underway. Roosevelt respected the British empire and its spheres of influence that were established. Roosevelt was however for free trade, protected trade, and against European Imperialism.

In Europe, the alliances of the empires become more polarized. The greatest rift is occurring among the Franco-Russian alliance against the Austro-German alliance. The Russians are ever supporting the Slavs in the Balkans against both the Austro-Germans and the Ottomans. There was mutual respect as the Russians supported Austro-Hungarian takeover of Bosnia and the Austro-Hungarians supported Russian control of the Bosporus.

With the background of mutual protection against both the Ottomans and the Austro-Hungarians, the Balkan League forms as an alliance of Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Greece. Pitted against the Balkan League was the Ottoman Empire. The first flashpoint was the independence movement in Albania 1911. The Balkan League used the Albanian independence movement as a backdrop to enter a war with the Ottoman empire for European territory in Thrace and Macedonia. The war was known as the First Balkan War erupted in the fall of 1812.

Second Term for Roosevelt

In the election of 1912, Roosevelt wins a second term against Woodrow Wilson from Virginia. The Democrats pick up Missouri, Franklin and Delaware to create a more solid South. Roosevelt picks up Nevada.

Roosevelt continues the progressive measures of finance and economy that has allowed the US to succeed but not at the expense of its workers.

But his time is spent more on foreign affairs.

He teams with the Britain to host the London Peace Conference in 1913. The result is the London Treaty between the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan League to bring to an end the Balkan War. The Ottomans gave up most of their processions in Europe and recognized the independence of Albania. Prior to this, the Ottomans had lost territory in Libya to the Italians. The peace in the Balkans was brief in that the victors of the Balkan war squabbled over the territory gained amongst themselves. Primarily, it was between Bulgaria and Serbia and Greece.

This second conflict broke out a month after the US-UK brokered peace in May 1913. It lasted the summer of 1913. Romania and the Ottomans joined in with Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece against the Bulgarians. The Bulgarians were simply overwhelmed as Romania and the Ottomans joined in. The resulting peace treaty revised the territory gained from the first Balkan War. It also brought Bulgaria into the alliance of the Germans and Austro-Hungarians and entrenched Serbia and Montenegro into the Russian sphere.

The British and Americans were opposed to the squabbling of the Balkan nations after the London Treaty. To this end, President Roosevelt convinces the British to join in joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean. They collect in the spring of 1914 and demonstrate in the summer of 1914.

With this greater fleet, the US presence in the Pacific is weakened some, but through the Roosevelt build up, the US Navy has the strongest presence in the Pacific with large bases located on Guam, Hawaii, and San Diego. Smaller bases are along the Pacific coast, Samoa, and the Philippines.

The tensions did not ease with peace in the Balkans. Austria-Hungary asserted its claims in Bosnia which put it against the Serbs. The Bulgarians were disgruntled with the Serbs as well. The Russians fully supported the Serbs against Austro-Hungarian encroachment. The French supported the Russians and the Germans supported the Austrians.

It was the Germans however, who fully prepared for any possible engagement. The Germans updated their war plans with the Austrians to include Serbia. The French front and the Schlieffen Plan were given top priority for offensive movement to remove the French from the war. After the French were removed from a massive and speedy offensive that would overwhelm the French army, the Russians would be the second theatre of war for action. Plans were made for what the offensive against the Russians would be. Finally, after the Russians were subdued, overwhelming force would be brought upon the Serbs.

For the possibility of a three front war, the Germans invested in Austria-Hungary to update the East-West railroad and North-South railroad networks to be able to transfer troops rapidly to the multiple fronts. Prussian and North German (Hanover, Saxony, Holstein, and Hessian) troops would comprise the armies on the Right and Center army groups. Bavarian and Austrian troops would be used on the left. Prussian troops would hold a defensive position in East Prussia against the Russians. Hungarian troops were positioned in Galicia and against the Serbs.

The Allies of France and Russia did not have any joint plans. The Russian plan would go on the offensive to secure its Polish and Lithuanian possessions as well as to capture Galicia. The French also planned to go on the offensive into the Alsace-Lorain region of Germany that was ceded after the 1870 Franco-Prussian War. The German defensive plans were to actually give way in Alsace-Lorain to lure the French forward as the Right Wing armies swept across to encircle first Paris and then the French army in Alsace-Lorain. The Germans made strong defensive positions Prussia and in Galicia.

The Germans also continue to strengthen their trading with the USA and keep good relations with the British not challenging them on the open seas.
 
Liked the update. Will Teddy Roosevelt go on for a third term, especially when a possible world war is on the horizon? At what point will this ATL of yours end? Please let me know. Thanks. :)
 
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