alternatehistory.com

Hello. I've been a member since August 2nd, 2007 but apparently have never posted a single word here, so why not start with an overview and a thread for an alternate North American history I am working on. Well, honestly, it will be an alternate World history eventually, but for now my focus is on North America.

What I am working on is not wildly divergent from history as written. That is, until 1863 during the American Civil War. The key changing point in this history (which is also being used as a backdrop for a few short stories) is that during the American Civil War Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August Graf von Zeppelin visits the U.S. to observe the Union army fight Confederate forces (this much is true), however, during his visit schematics for his Airship are stolen by Confederate spies. The Confederate Army makes the schematics a reality, creating the first working Airship in 1864, the C.A.S. Jefferson Davis. With such a powerful weapon on the side of the Confederates, the American Civil War continues for two years longer. In this time the Confederates commission two more working Airships, the Union four of their own. The American Civil War ends with the signing of an Armistice at Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9th, 1867 (two years to the day after our history's American Civil War ended). But this new technology is quick to spread throughout other civilized nations.

After the Civil War ends in an Armistice, the political map of the United States (obviously) changes. After the dust clears, the Republic of California declares itself an independent nation. During the continued fighting from 1865-67 Oregon is incorporated into British Cascadia (Consisting of our Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia). The United States also never purchases Alaska from the Russian Empire. Cuba, which has petitioned several time to join the United States, becomes a Confederate State, as does Oklahoma. However, much of the American West is still disputed, as The Unionists, Confederates, Californians and the British all work toward dividing and conquering the land.

When the map of North America is finished, I will post it.
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