Chapter One
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my very first timeline! I thought it might be fitting for the 4th of July to start on my first timeline: an American one.
The format for this TL will be a mixture of dryer, more textbook-like pieces to move the story along and smaller, more personal narrative bits, called "interludes" to add character.
"Why is it 'semi-dystopic?'" you might ask. Well, dystopias are horribly depressing. While this world will end up pretty crapsack, it won't be as bad as WMIS or Decades of Darkness even at its worst, and it will always have at least one plucky nation or group of good guys to cheer on! Come one, come all, and enjoy Not Quite a Monarch!
(As always, critiques and comments are more then welcome! I always love to learn more about history, and this is a great chance to brush up on the American stuff. )
Washington didn’t think much of the farmers. But, that a paltry force of four thousand civilians and militia came so close to threatening a government that, theoretically, controlled a land more than twice the size of Britain scared him. It was with such a distracted mind that Washington hurried down his stairs away from his bedchamber, as best he could, in order to reach the study and begin writing to his friends and enemies at the Congress. And, in such a hurry, he tripped. The general who had led the famous Continental Army in defeating the most powerful nation on Earth tumbled down his stairs. At the end of the flight, he lay still. [1]
Martha found him still unconscious. In the next few weeks, she called for doctors, surgeons, and friends. Washington spent the weeks drifting in and out of consciousness. He was lucky to have made a recovery, the doctors told him. Most men his age would have died after a fall like that, the doctors told him. He only wished they would leave him alone. He liked the silence.
Washington would go on to make a full recovery from his fall, save for what he described as “occasional and piercing headaches” in his letter to the Congress. But, those who knew him closely swore he was like a different person. Shortly after his visiting Mount Vernon, Madison would describe Washington as “more complacent… less personable, and all-together less complete a man.” Washington’s behavior post-fall was different in all aspects of his life. He became even more trusting of his friends and less of those he perceived as his enemies. He became prone to temper at times, though in most of his life he was even mellower; friends were worried that he didn’t care about anything at all from time to time.
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One man, however, was very happy about Washington’s new “condition”: Alexander Hamilton. When the Congress assembled to discuss a replacement to the Articles of Confederation at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia later that year, Hamilton pushed hard for a radically more centralized government. Not only did he call for the federal government to have more power, he called for a centralized figure, stronger than the Presidents of the past. The “Senatorial Princeps,” or simply “Princeps,” that Hamilton proposed would draw strongly from the old Roman Republic and even Empire in its inspiration. One man, he argued, would have to hold strong power in order for a republic to function correctly; the masses must not be given total, unchecked power, or chaos would reign. On his side was Rufus King, George Washington, and, with Washington, a reluctant James Madison.
Their system was the Federal System. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were the main opposition, declaring that the general public should have more of a say and that such a strong leader as Hamilton suggested was like accepting another king. Jefferson and Franklin suggested a much weaker President that was still stronger than the current figurehead and a stronger— but still weak— federal government than the Articles provided— the Confederate System. John Adams maintained a resolve to compromise, but he was shut down early in the debates.
Hamilton, in the end, got his way. The federal government would hold all the powers of OTL’s, but the real different was the Princeps. Washington was elected as Princeps with around 65% of the vote, while around 35% went to Benjamin Franklin and his coalition. It was thought by many Confederates that his lack of sons and general upstanding behavior would keep the position from becoming the role of king.
The new Princeps Washington’s powers were nebulous. What was specifically laid out was that he shared control of the army with its Director (with final say belonging to the Princeps), he could sign or veto legislation, he could propose legislation, he could settle international treaties, he could meet with ambassadors, he could have his own optional cabinet of advisors, he could grant reprieves and pardons, he could convene or adjourn Congress, and he could nominate his choices for the new Supreme Court of the United States. The Princeps did not have a position like Vice President, instead having two Auxiliary Directors, forming a sort of triumvirate, who were to advise the Principes and fill the positions of Director of the Treasury and Director of War.
Future Principes were to be nominated by the old Princeps or the Congress for a term of eight years, and a currently presiding Princeps could re-run for the office an unlimited number of times or appoint anyone they wish to rule in their place. The Princeps could not remove his Auxiliary Directors from their positions until he ran again, in which case he could run for re-election with different Auxiliary Directors. The Princeps could be impeached for “unrespectable or malicious behavior.” The most controversial part of the new position was this appointing of successors. The Constitution allowed an aging Princeps to nominate anyone as a successor, including his son or a friend, and, as long as that nominee gained the majority of the vote, keep his dynasty going indefinitely. In essence, at least in Jefferson and Franklin’s view, the position was that of a king.
However, in the case that a Princeps would die along with his successor or without a successor chosen, the power would not fall to the next of kin, but rather the Auxiliary Director of War, a small consolation. If he were to die at the same time, the position was to go to the Auxiliary Director of the Treasury, and then to the President of the Congress, and then to the Speaking President of the Senate, and then to a successor decided on by a vote in the Legislature.
But, the people were glad for the freedom to vote for their Congressmen, who in turn were to be trusted to vote in the “peoples’ choice” for Princeps every eight years. The popular view was mostly that of a race for power between Washington and Franklin, and, as they much preferred the victor, Washington, there was relatively little unrest.
The rest of the Constitution was crafted much as Madison wanted, with assistance from Hamilton and a few compromises with Jefferson. The Bill of Rights was passed through with some complaint from Hamilton, but compromises with Jefferson’s coalition needed to be made. The final document included eight amendments to the constitution:
The governor of Virginia, and its delegate, and former aide-de-camp of General Washington, he claimed he represented both North and South, Federal and Confederate, aristocrat and layman. His compromise was a reluctant one, born out of a need to maintain the union, and termed the Virginia Compromise (or The Great Compromise of the Constitutional Convention.) The Virginia Compromise barely passed, but it did, and it became a part of the Constitution. It had four main parts:
And so, with the rest of the new Constitution drafted, and with Princeps Washington elected by the Congress, the Constitutional Congress adjourned. Every state would accept the new Constitution, even though it would meet with popular resistance in the South, and George Washington soon formally took power with Alexander Hamilton as his Director of the Treasury and Henry Knox as his Director of War for his Auxiliary Directors.
The day was September 17, 1787. A new age had emerged in America. An age she may not be ready for.
[1] Our PoD!
[2] The Congress of Representatives is often shortened to just "Congress," while the Popular Senate is often referred to as "the Senate." Collectively, they are referred to as the Legislature.
The format for this TL will be a mixture of dryer, more textbook-like pieces to move the story along and smaller, more personal narrative bits, called "interludes" to add character.
"Why is it 'semi-dystopic?'" you might ask. Well, dystopias are horribly depressing. While this world will end up pretty crapsack, it won't be as bad as WMIS or Decades of Darkness even at its worst, and it will always have at least one plucky nation or group of good guys to cheer on! Come one, come all, and enjoy Not Quite a Monarch!
(As always, critiques and comments are more then welcome! I always love to learn more about history, and this is a great chance to brush up on the American stuff. )
CHAPTER ONE: STUMBLING BLOCK
George Washington, First Princeps of the United States of America
The year was 1787. George Washington, the quintessential American figure, had been drawn out of his life of seclusion and relaxation and back into the spotlight. A rabble-rousing group of rebels led by none other than Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck, his own former soldiers, had hardened the other Founding Fathers’ resolves to change, alter, or maybe even completely replace the so-called “Articles of Confederation.”George Washington, First Princeps of the United States of America
Washington didn’t think much of the farmers. But, that a paltry force of four thousand civilians and militia came so close to threatening a government that, theoretically, controlled a land more than twice the size of Britain scared him. It was with such a distracted mind that Washington hurried down his stairs away from his bedchamber, as best he could, in order to reach the study and begin writing to his friends and enemies at the Congress. And, in such a hurry, he tripped. The general who had led the famous Continental Army in defeating the most powerful nation on Earth tumbled down his stairs. At the end of the flight, he lay still. [1]
Martha found him still unconscious. In the next few weeks, she called for doctors, surgeons, and friends. Washington spent the weeks drifting in and out of consciousness. He was lucky to have made a recovery, the doctors told him. Most men his age would have died after a fall like that, the doctors told him. He only wished they would leave him alone. He liked the silence.
Washington would go on to make a full recovery from his fall, save for what he described as “occasional and piercing headaches” in his letter to the Congress. But, those who knew him closely swore he was like a different person. Shortly after his visiting Mount Vernon, Madison would describe Washington as “more complacent… less personable, and all-together less complete a man.” Washington’s behavior post-fall was different in all aspects of his life. He became even more trusting of his friends and less of those he perceived as his enemies. He became prone to temper at times, though in most of his life he was even mellower; friends were worried that he didn’t care about anything at all from time to time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One man, however, was very happy about Washington’s new “condition”: Alexander Hamilton. When the Congress assembled to discuss a replacement to the Articles of Confederation at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia later that year, Hamilton pushed hard for a radically more centralized government. Not only did he call for the federal government to have more power, he called for a centralized figure, stronger than the Presidents of the past. The “Senatorial Princeps,” or simply “Princeps,” that Hamilton proposed would draw strongly from the old Roman Republic and even Empire in its inspiration. One man, he argued, would have to hold strong power in order for a republic to function correctly; the masses must not be given total, unchecked power, or chaos would reign. On his side was Rufus King, George Washington, and, with Washington, a reluctant James Madison.
Their system was the Federal System. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were the main opposition, declaring that the general public should have more of a say and that such a strong leader as Hamilton suggested was like accepting another king. Jefferson and Franklin suggested a much weaker President that was still stronger than the current figurehead and a stronger— but still weak— federal government than the Articles provided— the Confederate System. John Adams maintained a resolve to compromise, but he was shut down early in the debates.
Hamilton, in the end, got his way. The federal government would hold all the powers of OTL’s, but the real different was the Princeps. Washington was elected as Princeps with around 65% of the vote, while around 35% went to Benjamin Franklin and his coalition. It was thought by many Confederates that his lack of sons and general upstanding behavior would keep the position from becoming the role of king.
The new Princeps Washington’s powers were nebulous. What was specifically laid out was that he shared control of the army with its Director (with final say belonging to the Princeps), he could sign or veto legislation, he could propose legislation, he could settle international treaties, he could meet with ambassadors, he could have his own optional cabinet of advisors, he could grant reprieves and pardons, he could convene or adjourn Congress, and he could nominate his choices for the new Supreme Court of the United States. The Princeps did not have a position like Vice President, instead having two Auxiliary Directors, forming a sort of triumvirate, who were to advise the Principes and fill the positions of Director of the Treasury and Director of War.
Future Principes were to be nominated by the old Princeps or the Congress for a term of eight years, and a currently presiding Princeps could re-run for the office an unlimited number of times or appoint anyone they wish to rule in their place. The Princeps could not remove his Auxiliary Directors from their positions until he ran again, in which case he could run for re-election with different Auxiliary Directors. The Princeps could be impeached for “unrespectable or malicious behavior.” The most controversial part of the new position was this appointing of successors. The Constitution allowed an aging Princeps to nominate anyone as a successor, including his son or a friend, and, as long as that nominee gained the majority of the vote, keep his dynasty going indefinitely. In essence, at least in Jefferson and Franklin’s view, the position was that of a king.
However, in the case that a Princeps would die along with his successor or without a successor chosen, the power would not fall to the next of kin, but rather the Auxiliary Director of War, a small consolation. If he were to die at the same time, the position was to go to the Auxiliary Director of the Treasury, and then to the President of the Congress, and then to the Speaking President of the Senate, and then to a successor decided on by a vote in the Legislature.
But, the people were glad for the freedom to vote for their Congressmen, who in turn were to be trusted to vote in the “peoples’ choice” for Princeps every eight years. The popular view was mostly that of a race for power between Washington and Franklin, and, as they much preferred the victor, Washington, there was relatively little unrest.
The rest of the Constitution was crafted much as Madison wanted, with assistance from Hamilton and a few compromises with Jefferson. The Bill of Rights was passed through with some complaint from Hamilton, but compromises with Jefferson’s coalition needed to be made. The final document included eight amendments to the constitution:
- Freedom of religion, assembly, press, speech, and petition.
- Right for each state to maintain its own military in addition to the federal military.
- The right to deny quartering of soldiers in one’s home.
- Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
- Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, and the prevention of double jeopardy.
- Rights of accused people (fair and speedy trial, trial by jury in civil cases, etc.)
- Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment.
- Other rights not explicitly mentioned are reserved to the individual states.
The governor of Virginia, and its delegate, and former aide-de-camp of General Washington, he claimed he represented both North and South, Federal and Confederate, aristocrat and layman. His compromise was a reluctant one, born out of a need to maintain the union, and termed the Virginia Compromise (or The Great Compromise of the Constitutional Convention.) The Virginia Compromise barely passed, but it did, and it became a part of the Constitution. It had four main parts:
- A Congress of Representatives would be assembled with two representatives for each state, voted on by the people of their state.
- A Popular Senate would also be assembled with the amount of Senators a state would receive directly based on that state’s population, based on a census held every ten years. [2]
- Slaves would count as 4/5 a person, which Jefferson had advocated for in his Popular Plan.
- The Federal Government would receive a centralized treasury in an attempt to compromise with Hamilton’s Federalists, because this argument was also a major point of contention.
And so, with the rest of the new Constitution drafted, and with Princeps Washington elected by the Congress, the Constitutional Congress adjourned. Every state would accept the new Constitution, even though it would meet with popular resistance in the South, and George Washington soon formally took power with Alexander Hamilton as his Director of the Treasury and Henry Knox as his Director of War for his Auxiliary Directors.
The day was September 17, 1787. A new age had emerged in America. An age she may not be ready for.
[1] Our PoD!
[2] The Congress of Representatives is often shortened to just "Congress," while the Popular Senate is often referred to as "the Senate." Collectively, they are referred to as the Legislature.
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