So lately I’ve been reading some Civil War timelines, mainly TastySpam’s Dixieland: The Country of Tomorrow, Everyday and thekingsguard’s To Live and Die in Dixie (just started this one) and have become fascinated by the idea of a alt-American Civil War and the butterflies that would cause.
So before I explain some more about the timeline (see below) could an American Civil War have erupted in the 1810s?
The premise to the scenario mentioned is this:
Washington dies in the early weeks of the 1787 Constitutional Convention due to spoiled meat in a soup (lame PoD that needs changing I’m sure) and as a result of the two sides (Federalists and Anti-Federalists) dividing many, the Convention selects Patrick Henry to become the Second President of the Convention. This is done because at this time Henry abstaining from the Convention has many see him as a neutral third party though it was later revealed he had Anti-Federalist sympathies while Washington had Federalist leanings.
Nonetheless with Henry at the helm the Convention takes much longer, is more divisive, and peaks with Hamilton and Burr having their infamous duel years earlier than OTL with Hamilton still dying.
Eventually the U.S. Constitution is created and sent to the states for ratification but it is a slightly different beast than OTL. The Executive is known as the Premier (Head of State) with a First Secretary to lead the Cabinet (Head of Government) and a Deputy Premier to direct the unicameral Senate. (Each state receives 3 votes aka 3 Senators).
Congress has extended powers though I don’t know to what degree yet.
Judicial is relatively unchanged.
The United States’ federal government is less powerful than OTL but something was needed that was more effective than the Articles of Confederation. Since many delegates went to the Convention to amend the Articles I feel like a desire for a less powerful central government would be desirable, especially with a Anti-Federalist/Articles sympathizer at the helm.
I have it right now that Patrick Henry becomes Premier (popular vote) and he has a single seven year term beginning in 1790 with Jefferson following as second premier.
The Civil War breaks out in 1812 and lasts until 1817. The South does secede for many of the same reasons as OTL.
A Union politician comes to power with the intent of centralizing and strengthening federal power which terrifies the South. They see their state rights and slavery as being threatened and go to war.
Idk who would be the initial Confederate President but I’d like for Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun be two of the future Confederate Presidents.
Anyway the South and the North fight each other to a draw, the Southern armies led by Andrew Jackson who goes from Colonel to Lieutenant General throughout the War.
Also due to a weaker central government and a different head of state at the time, the Louisiana Purchase is not purchased as the U.S. does not have the money, not the desire or political unity to do so. Instead the territory breaks away from Spain in 1821 and forms its own government that are rivals to Mexico and the U.S.
The Unorganized Territories do become states but the U.S. does not advance past their pre-1804 OTL borders.
Anyway the American Civil War is very bloody and the South survives and is able to bring the North to the peace table due to the war having no end in sight.
Ironically enough the South creates a strong central government despite that being a major reason why the war happened.
Various other things happen across the world, such as Germany never unifying but being divided into North Germany (the Prussian Empire) and South Germany (Bavarian Empire).
Prussia creates a fairly substantial colonial empire. Prussia and Russia become allies. Austria and Bavaria dislike Prussia but Bavaria allies with France and Britain. Austria remains neutral ITTL version of the Great War as it is a ethnic and political mess and is undergoing massive reforms to even exist.
How does this sound overall? It’s all very bare bones and I am not well-informed on Post-Revolutionary War/Antebellum USA. But is it at least interesting?
The links to the aforementioned timelines. Both are incredible, check them out!
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...w-everyday-yet-another-confederate-tl.461747/
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...e-in-dixie-a-communist-confederacy-tl.471027/
