More racially just America 1900

As segragated schools were a Northern invention,just keep the carpetbaggers at home.

I think what is being said is that it was possible pre ACW for African Americans to go to school in parts of the North, not a criminal offence and not taking the risk of a legal sadistic beating.
 
saying "Africans" is like saying "Europeans" or "Asians"....it means nothing, while pretending to talk about a vast group that has little to nothing in common.

But white people in this hypothetical US would do the same. They might not even differentiate between the African immigrants and the former slaves.
 
Part III

The Election of 1896

The election of 1896 was one of the most interesting elections in American history. Much like the Election of 1856 before it, it saw three major parties compete against each other and the demise of one. The split between the Democrats and the Populists, initialized in 1892 with large numbers of delegates and voters turning to the Populists, was deepened when Populist William Jennings Bryan was nominated by the Populists in contrasts to Richard Bland by the democrats. Though Sherman and Bingham continued to run for the Republicans it soon became obvious that their days as politicians were numbered as 12 consecutive years of Republican governance had seen Populist sentiments reach a fever pitch.

The resulting campaign saw Sherman and Bryan go at it with the Democrats having lost all sense of themselves as a party. Unwilling to throw themselves behind disgruntled white supremacists in the south, the Democrats soon split between Northern and Southern factions further weakening their position.

The election was indeed hard fought but in the end Bryan came out on top. His superior communication and his nationwide tour of speeches ensured widespread popularity. Moreover his party continued to make gains in all areas while the Republicans and the Northern Democrats scrambled for seats. With the panic of 1893 fresh in everyone’s minds the people of America too looked for a change. In the end Bryan would come out the victor not only with the electoral college but with the popular vote as well although with only a small margin.

The Democratic party’s loss coupled with it’s north/south split was disastrous for the party. Like the Whig party before it, the Democrat party was dead. Though the southern Democrats would continue to win seats in the south for nearly a decade, the chances of a Democrat becoming president were long gone. The Populists were here to stay.

The Presidency of William J. Bryan

At 36, William J. Bryan was the youngest man ever elected to hold the office of President of the United States. Called “The Great Communicator” Bryan is commonly regarded as one of the most popular presidents of all time. 12 years of Republican governance had seen Populist support rise to a fever pitch. The people of the United States felt that it was time for a change.

Bryan began his tenure as president by quickly moving on the Domestic front. By lowering tariffs and adopting a bimetal standard Bryan hoped to solve the monetary problems of his agrarian support base. Needless to say fulfilling these promises did wonders to his popularity, especially amongst his supporters as cash began to pour in and farmers across the country were able to pay off their debts.

Bryan also began to apply pressure to the nation of Liberia in regards to it’s treatment of natives stating that the US “had ended slavery and would not tolerate it in any way shape or form”. Bryan’s administration would see massive reformation of the Liberian political landscape as native Africans began to be slowly incorporated into the political life of their nation. Also by succumbing to Bryan’s pressure Liberia soon became the recipient of large amounts of American aid. In effect Liberia had become a satellite of the United States in all but name.

However the key event in Bryan’s first term as President was the Spanish American War. Repeated US requests to Spain regarding resolution of the Cuban Insurrection came to a dead end and this coupled with a nasty incident involving sailors from the USS Maine in Havana led to a war between the two countries. “Remember Havana!” became a rallying cry for the US military during that period.

In reality the Spanish never had a chance of beating the US, fresh from 12 years of military buildup under the Republican Party. By August 1898 the Spanish had been soundly defeated and were forced to give up Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The war was a total victory for the US and was also the first war in which mixed combat units participated. In fact a number of African American sailors and soldiers won the distinguished Medal of Honor in the conflict.

Following the Treaty of Paris, Bryan would set in place a series of events that would see Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines emerge as independent republics. Guam would be administered as a US territory and would see development as a US military base later in the century. Bryan’s excellent oratory skills succeeded in convincing most if not all Americans of the righteousness of their cause. The remainder of his term would see Bryan focus on maintaining his campaign promises and enforcing bimetallism across the country. While ensuring that the 4 newly created Republics (5 if Liberia is counted) developed into stable states.

The election of 1900 would be a difficult one for the newly formed Populist party who had hopes of dominating the 20th century much like the Republicans had dominated the latter half of the 19th century. Once again Bryan won the nomination for the Populist party and went up against Republican new comer William McKinley who advocated traditional Republican values and a return to the gold standard. The election would be primarily fought over economic matters as the massive inflation caused by Bryan’s bimetal system.

The campaign was one of the hardest fought by either party comparable to that of 1876. However this election would not yield such a clear cut result. Due to a well financed and well run campaign, Bryan by his superior speaking skills managed to win the slimmest of majorities in the Electoral College. However it was William McKinley who won the majority of the popular vote with his no nonsense economic policy. The nation of the US sat precariously as the election was resolved.

After nearly a month of deliberation, Bryan had won the nomination. But not before agreeing to “The Compromise of 1900” in which Bryan had to nominate 1 Republican to his cabinet and more importantly phase out his bimetal system in favor of the gold-standard system.

That being said and done Bryan took to his second term in office with gusto. Living up to his mantle of “The Great Communicator” Bryan eased the nation out of the bi-metal system he had advocated for 4 years previous. By doing so he managed to stem the rapidly growing inflation and appease his populist farmer base. By the time the nation went to the polls again in 1904 the notion of a combined gold and silver standard would be forever etched in the history books.

Bryan’s second term also saw America “step up to the plate” so to speak in terms of it’s place in the world. It would be during his second term that he would authorize a huge naval spending bill with the intention of expanding the US Navy with the purpose being to “Protect the American System”. These vessels along with a handful of others would participate in a world wide tour to showcase America’s naval strength. In addition Bryan would win the Nobel Peace Prize for his arbitration of the Russo-Japanese War.

It would also be during Bryan’s second term that the Populist movement really took hold in the south. His fearless arbitration in favor of African American civil rights enforced the precedent set in the Homer vs. Plessy case of 1896. This combined with a fierce crackdown on the KKK and pushing de-segregation along with policies that benefited the southern states saw the Populist Party take over the mantle once held by the Democrats. Before long Populist governors took their place throughout the south. The Democrat party was finally dead, never to rise again.

1904 would see the nation go to the polls yet again and Bryan was once again offered the candidacy by the Populist Party. Reluctantly, he accepted and was voted in unanimously by the members of the Populist National Convention. As the nation prepared to go to the polls everything seemed set for Bryan to become the first president to serve 3 terms in office.
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Coming up Next: Teddy Roosevelt and Super WWI!
 
Hmm....

Looks like America may have it's own mini-version of the EU orbiting it down the line (Hawaii, Liberia, the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico--i.e. mutual defence treaties, common currency, ect.)

Might the USA start pursuing a "Good Neighbor" policy in Latin America as well?

Can't wait for more.
 
Ugghhh....

This TL's got my attention now and I've been working on it pretty much all day. You see I was wanting to do something different for WWI but I was stumped as to what I wanted to do! Then I remembered a thread on the old board called Louis Armstron 1st Man on the Moon. I was 14 back then, and was fascinated by the idea. I was slightly dissapointed when nothing substantial came from it.

So with a bit of effort I melded the two ideas (Louis Armstrong won't be born in TTL but you get the point) and personally I think I did it quite well. WWI get's super big so don't expect anything super detailed yet. I'd like to set out the groundwork and then fill it in later (with maybe some help from others).

Anyhow I can't resist so...
Part IV

The election of 1904
Though the Populist National Convention had been a clear cut affair, the Republican Convention was anything but. Numerous candidates clamored to replace William McKinley resulting in a dead head between the leaders. That being the case, the need arose for a dark horse candidate to emerge and emerge he did. Theodore Roosevelt, war hero from the Spanish American war and ex-governor of New York, was nominated by the GOP hoping to gain numerous progressive voters.

And gain progressive voters he did, the election of 1904 was a very close fought election and saw both Bryan and Roosevelt pull out all the stops in an attempt to take the highest office in the land. However with the country still recovering from Bryan’s disastrous “5 years of silver”, Roosevelt’s charisma and charm combined with a sound economic policy and an excellent campaign netted him the win over the incumbent Bryan.

Bryan, following his failure to gain a third term in the White House opted for retirement leaving the now well established Populist Party in opposition and assuming the life of a traveling preacher. Meanwhile Roosevelt took the oath of office and was inaugurated in early 1905. Yet across the Pacific Ocean events were shaping up that would shake the entire world to it’s very core.

Buildup to the Great War

Following it’s stunning victory over Russia in what would become known as the Russo-Japanese War, Japan was quietly regarded as one of the world’s emerging powers. Yet despite her victories she felt denied by the unfavorable peace terms laid out by President Bryan at the Treaty of Portland. Indeed many would later state that Japan won the war but lost the peace.

Nevertheless, imperialistic ambition in the Japanese Empire was running high and many were looking for possible avenues of expansion. A diplomatic expedition to the emerging Republic of the Philippines would bring an end to the search. Despite the efforts of President Bryan to see the Philippines transition into a full blown republic, the process was proving to be a long and painful one.

By 1906 the Philippines was in an interesting situation, though it had been nearly 8 years since the Americans had received the archipelago it still remained under American military control though with significant civilian Philippine input. Yet despite this generous arrangement and newly minted President Roosevelt’s promise of a completely independent Republic by 1910 there were numerous Philippine guerilla’s who wished to completely remove American influence.

It would be illicit contact between these guerilla’s and Japanese agents that would see the Japanese Empire look towards the Philippines as a potential avenue of expansion. Soon Japanese arms were beginning to trickle into the Philippines as the Americans increased the numbers of troops on the islands to combat the insurgency. Encouraged by this method of potential expansion, the Japanese begin to look elsewhere in the Pacific.

This search eventually leads to the Japanese aiding Indonesian rebels in what becomes known as the Aceh war against the Dutch. The relative success of the insurgents in both the Philippines and Sumatra in addition to suspicions of Japanese involvement lead to President Roosevelt signing what becomes known as the “Asian Security Pact” or simply “The Pact” with the nation of Holland.

A mutual defense pact in the case of further Japanese aggression, the Pact seeks to safeguard the status quo and protect the fragile nature of the Philippine Republic. Yet the lack of British or French participation and an attempt to enhance the Pact’s image leads Roosevelt to bring the Kingdom of Siam into the alliance. This would later prove to be disastrous as the entry of Siam into the Asian Security Pact would lead to a clash of the Spheres of Influence. Anglo-French attempts to economically dominate Siam creates widespread antagonism in America against said nations. Antagonism ramped up by the out of control American press.

Meanwhile Japan realizing that any expansion in the South Pacific would now mean invariably taking on the Americans decides to prepare for the worst. Due to a vast disparity between Japanese and American naval strengths plans are lain for a surprise attack against American assets in the Philippines much like the attack that gave the Japanese a crucial advantage in the Russo-Japanese War a few years prior.

Little did the Japanese military know that it wouldn’t be long before those plans would be put into action as part of a larger conflict that would simply become known as “The Great War”...

The Presidency of Teddy Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency would be regarded by many as one of the greatest of all times. Indeed due to his superb leadership in office he has grown to be ranked alongside such presidents as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in terms of greatness. Most of this perceived greatness comes from his leadership in “The Great War” yet in his first term in office was nothing to shake a finger at.

From 1904-1908, Theodore Roosevelt governed the country justly and effectively. Still reeling from Bryan’s disastrous economic policies, Roosevelt was seen as the figurehead of economic recovery. Indeed his policies proved to continue the policies set in place in Bryan’s second term. Yet despite these facts Roosevelt is generally credited with bringing about an American economic recovery.

These economic policies coupled with a perceived stronger foreign policy than President Bryan would net him a landslide victory in 1908 against Populist opponent Oscar Underwood a pro-civil rights lawyer from Alabama. In one term, Roosevelt had brought the country out of a severe economic funk only to find it thrown into the crucible in what Roosevelt would term “the longest second term ever...”
 
Ugghhh....

This TL's got my attention now and I've been working on it pretty much all day. You see I was wanting to do something different for WWI but I was stumped as to what I wanted to do! Then I remembered a thread on the old board called Louis Armstron 1st Man on the Moon. I was 14 back then, and was fascinated by the idea. I was slightly dissapointed when nothing substantial came from it.

So with a bit of effort I melded the two ideas (Louis Armstrong won't be born in TTL but you get the point) and personally I think I did it quite well. WWI get's super big so don't expect anything super detailed yet. I'd like to set out the groundwork and then fill it in later (with maybe some help from others).

Anyhow I can't resist so...
Part IV

The election of 1904
Though the Populist National Convention had been a clear cut affair, the Republican Convention was anything but. Numerous candidates clamored to replace William McKinley resulting in a dead head between the leaders. That being the case, the need arose for a dark horse candidate to emerge and emerge he did. Theodore Roosevelt, war hero from the Spanish American war and ex-governor of New York, was nominated by the GOP hoping to gain numerous progressive voters.

And gain progressive voters he did, the election of 1904 was a very close fought election and saw both Bryan and Roosevelt pull out all the stops in an attempt to take the highest office in the land. However with the country still recovering from Bryan’s disastrous “5 years of silver”, Roosevelt’s charisma and charm combined with a sound economic policy and an excellent campaign netted him the win over the incumbent Bryan.

Bryan, following his failure to gain a third term in the White House opted for retirement leaving the now well established Populist Party in opposition and assuming the life of a traveling preacher. Meanwhile Roosevelt took the oath of office and was inaugurated in early 1905. Yet across the Pacific Ocean events were shaping up that would shake the entire world to it’s very core.

Buildup to the Great War

Following it’s stunning victory over Russia in what would become known as the Russo-Japanese War, Japan was quietly regarded as one of the world’s emerging powers. Yet despite her victories she felt denied by the unfavorable peace terms laid out by President Bryan at the Treaty of Portland. Indeed many would later state that Japan won the war but lost the peace.

Nevertheless, imperialistic ambition in the Japanese Empire was running high and many were looking for possible avenues of expansion. A diplomatic expedition to the emerging Republic of the Philippines would bring an end to the search. Despite the efforts of President Bryan to see the Philippines transition into a full blown republic, the process was proving to be a long and painful one.

By 1906 the Philippines was in an interesting situation, though it had been nearly 8 years since the Americans had received the archipelago it still remained under American military control though with significant civilian Philippine input. Yet despite this generous arrangement and newly minted President Roosevelt’s promise of a completely independent Republic by 1910 there were numerous Philippine guerilla’s who wished to completely remove American influence.

It would be illicit contact between these guerilla’s and Japanese agents that would see the Japanese Empire look towards the Philippines as a potential avenue of expansion. Soon Japanese arms were beginning to trickle into the Philippines as the Americans increased the numbers of troops on the islands to combat the insurgency. Encouraged by this method of potential expansion, the Japanese begin to look elsewhere in the Pacific.

This search eventually leads to the Japanese aiding Indonesian rebels in what becomes known as the Aceh war against the Dutch. The relative success of the insurgents in both the Philippines and Sumatra in addition to suspicions of Japanese involvement lead to President Roosevelt signing what becomes known as the “Asian Security Pact” or simply “The Pact” with the nation of Holland.

A mutual defense pact in the case of further Japanese aggression, the Pact seeks to safeguard the status quo and protect the fragile nature of the Philippine Republic. Yet the lack of British or French participation and an attempt to enhance the Pact’s image leads Roosevelt to bring the Kingdom of Siam into the alliance. This would later prove to be disastrous as the entry of Siam into the Asian Security Pact would lead to a clash of the Spheres of Influence. Anglo-French attempts to economically dominate Siam creates widespread antagonism in America against said nations. Antagonism ramped up by the out of control American press.

Meanwhile Japan realizing that any expansion in the South Pacific would now mean invariably taking on the Americans decides to prepare for the worst. Due to a vast disparity between Japanese and American naval strengths plans are lain for a surprise attack against American assets in the Philippines much like the attack that gave the Japanese a crucial advantage in the Russo-Japanese War a few years prior.

Little did the Japanese military know that it wouldn’t be long before those plans would be put into action as part of a larger conflict that would simply become known as “The Great War”...

The Presidency of Teddy Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency would be regarded by many as one of the greatest of all times. Indeed due to his superb leadership in office he has grown to be ranked alongside such presidents as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in terms of greatness. Most of this perceived greatness comes from his leadership in “The Great War” yet in his first term in office was nothing to shake a finger at.

From 1904-1908, Theodore Roosevelt governed the country justly and effectively. Still reeling from Bryan’s disastrous economic policies, Roosevelt was seen as the figurehead of economic recovery. Indeed his policies proved to continue the policies set in place in Bryan’s second term. Yet despite these facts Roosevelt is generally credited with bringing about an American economic recovery.

These economic policies coupled with a perceived stronger foreign policy than President Bryan would net him a landslide victory in 1908 against Populist opponent Oscar Underwood a pro-civil rights lawyer from Alabama. In one term, Roosevelt had brought the country out of a severe economic funk only to find it thrown into the crucible in what Roosevelt would term “the longest second term ever...”

Any chance of this TL being continued?
 
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