d32123
Banned
Aren't you afraid that this will severely limit the creativity of the project, though?
Official "Retrospective History of the United States" Challenge Thread
- Thread starter Nerdlinger
- Start date
Aren't you afraid that this will severely limit the creativity of the project, though?
How so? I'd think the alt-US would have to at least be geographically similar to our own. Like I said, though, you can do what you will with the territories. (Originally, I said the territories had to be the same, but I've relaxed this rule.)
If, however, there is a severe objection to the state rule, I may revise it.
Hey, Nerdlinger, are you OK with me going in the future of the TL? Because I would like to round-up to 50, not have 49...
d32123
Banned
Hmm may I write my own version of this without following your guidelines under the assumption that it won't be up for voting?
Got a little OCD? That's OK, I have a touch of it myself.
The future, at least beyond the 2012 election, is up to you (and beyond the requirements of the challenge, but that's fine with me). You might want to hold off on writing the future sections for a few months in case Obama isn't elected here in 2012.
You may if you like (I can't stop you, of course). However, I hesitate to say that you should put in it this thread, since it will already be quite cluttered with all the qualified TLs. Which rules don't you wish to follow and why?
d32123
Banned
I'm not sure yet. I'd probably just change the borders of the US and the politics of the candidates just to give it an alternate feel and break the mold. I might not even go through with doing it, since I have a plethora of TL's technically going on right now and I'm a lazy noob. I'd post it in ASB initially either way, though, since it will undoubtedly be unrealistic by the post-1900 forum's standards.
Yeah, if you're going to mess with the personal politics of the candidates, that's definitely outside the realm of the challenge. It'd be an interesting TL for me to follow, but I'd ask that you please start your own thread for it.
No chance of that, Obama will win 2012 in AH.com. Or do you mean the real election?
d32123
Banned
You never know he could die or come serious scandal could break out. Or our far-right wing membership could skyrocket in the next few months. Either that or things start trending leftward and the Green Party wins here (yeah right).
Well here we go.
SEO: Redverse.
Prolouge
"A true history of human events would show that a far larger proportion of our acts are the result of sudden impulse and accident than of that reason of which we so much boast."
- Peter Cooper
The relative peace of the United States of America, prior to the Civil War, was not one which was pre-destined. Indeed, war with Britain seemed inevitable during the Napoleonic Wars, drummed up by the more jingoistic members of the American press, in reaction to British measures against American commerce bound for France and the kidnapping of American citizens to serve with the Royal Navy. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, Federalist candidate Charles Pinckney narrowly won the 1808 Presidential election on the basis of 'No Americans in a European War', pointing out the relative weakness of American ground and naval forces against the most powerful nation on earth.
The diplomacy legacy set by Pinckney's meetings with Lord Liverpool would have a bearing on the threatened engagements with various Native American tribes, after the heated debate over the controversial 'Indian Removal Act' in 1830 threatened a genocidal conflict on the Northern American continent. Osceola's visit to the White House would be historic, and although it would cost President Adams any chance of running again, it would develop a system of Native American Autonomy that would act as a peaceful template for years to come.
The Whigs and Libertarians of the forties would exercise a new diplomatic force in their dealings with the Mexicans. Though there were many calls for war by overconfident Democratic congressmen, the power of finance prevailed with Texas, California, New Mexico and Nevada being sold to America for a relatively small sum by the cash stripped Mexican Empire. Territory quickly paid for itself with the discovery of gold in California, the American economy boomed without a single drop of blood.
It is perhaps ironic that the American diplomatic tradition would fail, not with the Europeans, Native Americans or Mexicans, but when looking inward...
SEO: Redverse.
Prolouge
"A true history of human events would show that a far larger proportion of our acts are the result of sudden impulse and accident than of that reason of which we so much boast."
- Peter Cooper
The relative peace of the United States of America, prior to the Civil War, was not one which was pre-destined. Indeed, war with Britain seemed inevitable during the Napoleonic Wars, drummed up by the more jingoistic members of the American press, in reaction to British measures against American commerce bound for France and the kidnapping of American citizens to serve with the Royal Navy. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, Federalist candidate Charles Pinckney narrowly won the 1808 Presidential election on the basis of 'No Americans in a European War', pointing out the relative weakness of American ground and naval forces against the most powerful nation on earth.
The diplomacy legacy set by Pinckney's meetings with Lord Liverpool would have a bearing on the threatened engagements with various Native American tribes, after the heated debate over the controversial 'Indian Removal Act' in 1830 threatened a genocidal conflict on the Northern American continent. Osceola's visit to the White House would be historic, and although it would cost President Adams any chance of running again, it would develop a system of Native American Autonomy that would act as a peaceful template for years to come.
The Whigs and Libertarians of the forties would exercise a new diplomatic force in their dealings with the Mexicans. Though there were many calls for war by overconfident Democratic congressmen, the power of finance prevailed with Texas, California, New Mexico and Nevada being sold to America for a relatively small sum by the cash stripped Mexican Empire. Territory quickly paid for itself with the discovery of gold in California, the American economy boomed without a single drop of blood.
It is perhaps ironic that the American diplomatic tradition would fail, not with the Europeans, Native Americans or Mexicans, but when looking inward...
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Very nice start, Red. I like the foreshadowing and the use of pictures. One thing I can't help pointing out -- it's Pinckney, not Pickney. Keep up the good work. 
Very nice start, Red. I like the foreshadowing and the use of pictures. One thing I can't help pointing out -- it's Pinckney, not Pickney. Keep up the good work.
Jeeez, no need to be so nit-pinckney!
But thanks all the same.
Good intro. I like it.
Being the unconventional person I am, I'm not doing one until the whole thing's typed up and posted. There will be a Mexican-American War in my TL.
Being the unconventional person I am, I'm not doing one until the whole thing's typed up and posted. There will be a Mexican-American War in my TL.
Probably not. I'll probably post like this, and post it, bundled up together in the right order, in a test thread, if I can be bothered, really.
I like this idea...
I'll post mine here sometime next week, after I do a little more planning:
The Slaughter of Butterflies.