Peccavi: A History of The United States
- Thread starter Crazymachines
- Start date
Nice TL! It seems pretty interesting, also William Crawford is the Napoleon of the US, he became president before he was 25 goddamn.
Crazymachines
Banned
He was born in 1732, so he'd be roughly 60. Are you thinking of William H. Crawford?
Ohhh that makes a lot more sense, thanks for the clarifcation!
Away Down South: North Carolina and The Overmountain War
Crazymachines
Banned
Away Down South:
North Carolina and The Overmountain War
Flag of the Republic of North Carolina, adopted 1795
The first few years of independence in North Carolina were marked by both triumphs and challenges. One of the first orders of business was to establish a new government. The state had already adopted a constitution in 1776, but it was in need of revision to reflect the new reality of independence. A constitutional convention was called, and after months of debate and compromise, a new constitution was ratified in 1793.
Under the new constitution, North Carolina was a republic with a Chancellor as its chief executive, a bicameral legislature, and an independent judiciary. The government was based out of the capital city of Raleigh, which had been incorporated in 1792.
One of the biggest challenges that faced the new republic was economic. North Carolina had long been an agrarian state, and its economy was heavily dependent on exports of tobacco, cotton, and other crops. With independence, the state lost access to the ports of the Mid Atlantic and New England regions of the United States, which had been a major avenue for trade. To compensate, the government focused on building up trade with other nations, particularly Great Britain and France. New ports were established along the coast, and the state began to invest heavily in manufacturing, particularly textiles.
Appalachian Militiamen attempt to fend off North Carolinian forces near Jonesborough, Tennessee
North Carolina and The Overmountain War
Flag of the Republic of North Carolina, adopted 1795
The first few years of independence in North Carolina were marked by both triumphs and challenges. One of the first orders of business was to establish a new government. The state had already adopted a constitution in 1776, but it was in need of revision to reflect the new reality of independence. A constitutional convention was called, and after months of debate and compromise, a new constitution was ratified in 1793.
Under the new constitution, North Carolina was a republic with a Chancellor as its chief executive, a bicameral legislature, and an independent judiciary. The government was based out of the capital city of Raleigh, which had been incorporated in 1792.
One of the biggest challenges that faced the new republic was economic. North Carolina had long been an agrarian state, and its economy was heavily dependent on exports of tobacco, cotton, and other crops. With independence, the state lost access to the ports of the Mid Atlantic and New England regions of the United States, which had been a major avenue for trade. To compensate, the government focused on building up trade with other nations, particularly Great Britain and France. New ports were established along the coast, and the state began to invest heavily in manufacturing, particularly textiles.
Appalachian Militiamen attempt to fend off North Carolinian forces near Jonesborough, Tennessee
In June 1792, the Tennessee region attempted to break away from the new republic, once again proclaiming the establishment of the “Free Republic of Franklin.” The conflict between the two entities, known as the ‘Overmountain War’, would last for over half a year. Appalachian militiamen engaged in a series of skirmishes with the forces of North Carolina, and at one point, even managed to capture the town of Blowing Rock. However, the Free Republic of Franklin was unable to sustain the conflict for long, as the region was sparsely populated, and lacked the resources to fight a prolonged war. In the end, North Carolina was able to reassert its authority over the region, and the Free Republic of Franklin would be dissolved for the second time since 1788.
Despite the victory of the North Carolina government, tensions between the settlers of the Eastern Tennessee region and Raleigh would continue to simmer. The settlers perceived the Raleigh government, perhaps rightly, as not adequately representing their interests, and they continued to demand self determination and autonomy for the area.
In large part due to this sustained Pressure, in 1796 the North Carolina legislature would pass laws establishing the ‘Tennessee District Assembly’ to govern the region. The ‘Tennessee District Assembly’ was granted authority over the administration of justice, the collection of taxes, and the management of public lands in the region. It had its own governor, a court system, and its own legislature. The governor was appointed by the Chancellor of North Carolina, while the members of the legislature were elected by the people of the region. The newly minted governing body would convene itself for the first time in the city of Kingston, on January 17, 1796.
Despite the victory of the North Carolina government, tensions between the settlers of the Eastern Tennessee region and Raleigh would continue to simmer. The settlers perceived the Raleigh government, perhaps rightly, as not adequately representing their interests, and they continued to demand self determination and autonomy for the area.
In large part due to this sustained Pressure, in 1796 the North Carolina legislature would pass laws establishing the ‘Tennessee District Assembly’ to govern the region. The ‘Tennessee District Assembly’ was granted authority over the administration of justice, the collection of taxes, and the management of public lands in the region. It had its own governor, a court system, and its own legislature. The governor was appointed by the Chancellor of North Carolina, while the members of the legislature were elected by the people of the region. The newly minted governing body would convene itself for the first time in the city of Kingston, on January 17, 1796.
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You could swap that state for literally any part of the US/Hamilton's face and it would be very accurate
Crazymachines
Banned
The slavery issue was only part of the reason ITTL why varous states made the decision to secede, it had just as much to do with the incredible centralization and authoritarian tendencies present within the Hamiltonian Constitution. Historically, Georgia was one of the first states to ratify the constitution, in large part due to their small population and difficulty defending itself against native raids.
Crazymachines
Banned
'So far from god, so close to Florida' might be more apt, as we shall soon see!
Ah yes, Seminole'So far from god, so close to Florida' might be more apt, as we shall soon see!
Away Down South: A Reluctant Secession
Crazymachines
Banned
Away Down South:
A Reluctant Secession
Unofficial navel ensign commonly used by Georgian merchants in the late 18th
and early 19th centuries, a modification of the 'Red Duster' used during the colonial era.
Due to its political instability, the Republic of Georgia would never officially adopt a national flag.
One of the most significant events in Georgia's long and sordid history was its secession from the United States in 1791. This event was triggered by the secession of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina the previous year, which left Georgia cut off from the rest of the union. Georgia was one of the original thirteen colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. It played a significant role in the American Revolution, with many Georgians fighting for the Patriot cause. Georgia was also the site of a major battle in the war, the Battle of Savannah, in which the British defeated the Continental Army.
After the war, Georgia became a state within the United States of America under the Articles of Confederation. It was one of the smaller states in terms of population and political influence. However, Georgia's economy grew rapidly in the years following the revolution, thanks in part to the expansion of cotton cultivation. This growth made Georgia one of the wealthiest states in the union by the late 1780's.
The secession of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina in 1790 had a profound impact on Georgia. With these three states gone, Georgia found itself completely cut off from the rest of the union. This made trade and communication with other states inordinately difficult, if not impossible. Moreover, the loss of nearly all of the southern states meant that Georgia's political influence and bargaining position within the union were greatly diminished.
At first, Georgia attempted to remain part of the union, despite its isolation. The state's small population raised questions among many Georgians over just how viable the prospect of independence actually was. However, it soon became clear that the prospect of continued union with Philadelphia was simply no longer a sustainable situation. Without the support and resources of the other slave states, Georgia was unable to maintain its economic and political position. In 1791, therefore, the Georgia General Assembly reluctantly ratified a document declaring the states official secession from the United States of America.
Georgia's secession from the union was a difficult and controversial decision. Many Georgians felt that by doing so the Savannah government was abandoning the ideals of the American Revolution, including the principles of liberty and democracy. However, the secessionists argued, successfully, that Georgia's isolation made continued union with the North impossible.
The newly independent state became known as the Republic of Georgia. It was a small, agrarian society with a population of around 40,000 people. The government of the republic, while in theory relatively centralized, was, in practice, a decentralized mess whose central authority tended towards the flaccid at the best of times. Most of the de facto power rested with the local aristocracy and landowners, who controlled the vast majority of the republic's resources.
Slaves harvest cotton near Darien, Georgia
Georgia's agrarian plantation economy was based almost entirely on cotton cultivation. Cotton was the primary cash crop in the republic, and it accounted for the majority of the state's agricultural output. During the confederation period of the United States, Georgia had been able to sell its cotton to markets in the Mid Atlantic and New England regions, which had provided the state with a reliable, not to mention quite lucrative, source of income.
However, following the secessions of 1790, resulting from the fallout of Hamilton's maneuvering during the constitutional convention, Georgia found itself cut off from these markets. The loss of access to these markets had several negative consequences for the state's agriculture. First, it reduced the demand for Georgia's cotton, which resulted in eye-wateringly low prices for the crop. This made it more difficult for Georgia's farmers to make a living and invest in their plantations.
Second, the loss of access to these markets made it more difficult for Georgia's farmers to acquire the goods and services they needed to maintain their plantations. Many of the supplies and tools used on Georgia's plantations, such as plows, hoes, and fertilizers, had been imported from the north. Without access to these markets, Georgia's farmers had to rely on less reliable sources of these goods, which made it more difficult to maintain their plantations and achieve high yields.
The decline in income for Georgia's farmers would directly cause a steep decline in the standard of living for many Georgians. Farmers were no longer able to afford the same level of goods and services that they had enjoyed in abundance before secession. This had a negative impact on the overall quality of life in the republic. All of this would have a ripple effect throughout the state's economy. As farmers found themselves with less and less money to spend, they became less able to purchase goods and services from other sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing and services, further eviscerating the Georgian economy.
To add economic insult to injury, the lack of a strong and stable government in Savannah made Georgia an utterly unattractive destination for foreign investment. The lack of assured political stability made it extremely difficult for prospective foreign capital to assess the various potential risks of investing in the republic. This, in turn, made it less likely that foreign investors would be willing to provide the capital and liquidity needed to revitalize, diversify, and industrialize Georgia's ailing economy.
In contrast, the Republic of North Carolina and, to a lesser extent, the Commonwealth of Virginia, were able to attract significant foreign investment in the early years of their independence. These states had relatively strong and stable governments that were able to provide a predictable business environment for foreign investors. As a result, these states were able to obtain the capital needed to develop their economies and diversify away from their traditional agrarian bases.
In 1799, James Jackson, Lord Protector of Georgia, would instigate a war with the Muskogee and Cherokee Indian nations. Jackson's decision to declare war was motivated in part by a desire to shore up the eroding public support for his administration following the revelation of its heavy involvement in the 'Yazoo Land Fraud', wherein land speculators had sold plots of land to eager Georgian farmers, totaling more than four times the republic's entire claimed land area up to the Mississippi river.
In an attempt to distract from these controversies, the governor began to agitate for a military conflict with the Cherokee and Muskogee Indian nations. He hoped that by portraying the indigenous fighters as a threat to the security and stability of Georgia, he could rally public support behind his administration and deflect attention from the ongoing scandals.
James Jackson, Lord Protector of the Republic of Georgia
This ill-fated strategy ultimately proved disastrous for Jackson's administration. The conflict with the indigenous nations, which would come to be known as the 'Chickamauga War,' proved far more costly and damaging than anticipated, and was marked by massive casualties on both sides, as well as mass atrocities and crimes against humanity on both sides. The Georgian military, in particular, was known for its brutality towards indigenous peoples, with reports of indiscriminate killings, looting, rapes, and burning of villages. The indigenous peoples of the region were also responsible for committing atrocities against Georgian settlers, including the killing and mutilation of civilians and prisoners of war. The use of such tactics on both sides of the conflict only served to exacerbate tensions and deepen the divide between the two groups.
Georgia Regulars look on at the remains of their less fortunate compatriots
A Reluctant Secession
Unofficial navel ensign commonly used by Georgian merchants in the late 18th
and early 19th centuries, a modification of the 'Red Duster' used during the colonial era.
Due to its political instability, the Republic of Georgia would never officially adopt a national flag.
One of the most significant events in Georgia's long and sordid history was its secession from the United States in 1791. This event was triggered by the secession of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina the previous year, which left Georgia cut off from the rest of the union. Georgia was one of the original thirteen colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. It played a significant role in the American Revolution, with many Georgians fighting for the Patriot cause. Georgia was also the site of a major battle in the war, the Battle of Savannah, in which the British defeated the Continental Army.
After the war, Georgia became a state within the United States of America under the Articles of Confederation. It was one of the smaller states in terms of population and political influence. However, Georgia's economy grew rapidly in the years following the revolution, thanks in part to the expansion of cotton cultivation. This growth made Georgia one of the wealthiest states in the union by the late 1780's.
The secession of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina in 1790 had a profound impact on Georgia. With these three states gone, Georgia found itself completely cut off from the rest of the union. This made trade and communication with other states inordinately difficult, if not impossible. Moreover, the loss of nearly all of the southern states meant that Georgia's political influence and bargaining position within the union were greatly diminished.
At first, Georgia attempted to remain part of the union, despite its isolation. The state's small population raised questions among many Georgians over just how viable the prospect of independence actually was. However, it soon became clear that the prospect of continued union with Philadelphia was simply no longer a sustainable situation. Without the support and resources of the other slave states, Georgia was unable to maintain its economic and political position. In 1791, therefore, the Georgia General Assembly reluctantly ratified a document declaring the states official secession from the United States of America.
Georgia's secession from the union was a difficult and controversial decision. Many Georgians felt that by doing so the Savannah government was abandoning the ideals of the American Revolution, including the principles of liberty and democracy. However, the secessionists argued, successfully, that Georgia's isolation made continued union with the North impossible.
The newly independent state became known as the Republic of Georgia. It was a small, agrarian society with a population of around 40,000 people. The government of the republic, while in theory relatively centralized, was, in practice, a decentralized mess whose central authority tended towards the flaccid at the best of times. Most of the de facto power rested with the local aristocracy and landowners, who controlled the vast majority of the republic's resources.
Slaves harvest cotton near Darien, Georgia
Georgia's agrarian plantation economy was based almost entirely on cotton cultivation. Cotton was the primary cash crop in the republic, and it accounted for the majority of the state's agricultural output. During the confederation period of the United States, Georgia had been able to sell its cotton to markets in the Mid Atlantic and New England regions, which had provided the state with a reliable, not to mention quite lucrative, source of income.
However, following the secessions of 1790, resulting from the fallout of Hamilton's maneuvering during the constitutional convention, Georgia found itself cut off from these markets. The loss of access to these markets had several negative consequences for the state's agriculture. First, it reduced the demand for Georgia's cotton, which resulted in eye-wateringly low prices for the crop. This made it more difficult for Georgia's farmers to make a living and invest in their plantations.
Second, the loss of access to these markets made it more difficult for Georgia's farmers to acquire the goods and services they needed to maintain their plantations. Many of the supplies and tools used on Georgia's plantations, such as plows, hoes, and fertilizers, had been imported from the north. Without access to these markets, Georgia's farmers had to rely on less reliable sources of these goods, which made it more difficult to maintain their plantations and achieve high yields.
The decline in income for Georgia's farmers would directly cause a steep decline in the standard of living for many Georgians. Farmers were no longer able to afford the same level of goods and services that they had enjoyed in abundance before secession. This had a negative impact on the overall quality of life in the republic. All of this would have a ripple effect throughout the state's economy. As farmers found themselves with less and less money to spend, they became less able to purchase goods and services from other sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing and services, further eviscerating the Georgian economy.
To add economic insult to injury, the lack of a strong and stable government in Savannah made Georgia an utterly unattractive destination for foreign investment. The lack of assured political stability made it extremely difficult for prospective foreign capital to assess the various potential risks of investing in the republic. This, in turn, made it less likely that foreign investors would be willing to provide the capital and liquidity needed to revitalize, diversify, and industrialize Georgia's ailing economy.
In contrast, the Republic of North Carolina and, to a lesser extent, the Commonwealth of Virginia, were able to attract significant foreign investment in the early years of their independence. These states had relatively strong and stable governments that were able to provide a predictable business environment for foreign investors. As a result, these states were able to obtain the capital needed to develop their economies and diversify away from their traditional agrarian bases.
In 1799, James Jackson, Lord Protector of Georgia, would instigate a war with the Muskogee and Cherokee Indian nations. Jackson's decision to declare war was motivated in part by a desire to shore up the eroding public support for his administration following the revelation of its heavy involvement in the 'Yazoo Land Fraud', wherein land speculators had sold plots of land to eager Georgian farmers, totaling more than four times the republic's entire claimed land area up to the Mississippi river.
In an attempt to distract from these controversies, the governor began to agitate for a military conflict with the Cherokee and Muskogee Indian nations. He hoped that by portraying the indigenous fighters as a threat to the security and stability of Georgia, he could rally public support behind his administration and deflect attention from the ongoing scandals.
James Jackson, Lord Protector of the Republic of Georgia
This ill-fated strategy ultimately proved disastrous for Jackson's administration. The conflict with the indigenous nations, which would come to be known as the 'Chickamauga War,' proved far more costly and damaging than anticipated, and was marked by massive casualties on both sides, as well as mass atrocities and crimes against humanity on both sides. The Georgian military, in particular, was known for its brutality towards indigenous peoples, with reports of indiscriminate killings, looting, rapes, and burning of villages. The indigenous peoples of the region were also responsible for committing atrocities against Georgian settlers, including the killing and mutilation of civilians and prisoners of war. The use of such tactics on both sides of the conflict only served to exacerbate tensions and deepen the divide between the two groups.
Georgia Regulars look on at the remains of their less fortunate compatriots
Native American forces employed guerrilla tactics that were highly effective against Georgia's ill-prepared and poorly trained militia, leading to significant losses on the Georgian side. The use of guerrilla tactics by the Cherokee and Muskogee Indian nations had a significant psychological impact on the Georgian military. The constant threat of attack and the inability to effectively engage the enemy led to a demoralized and disheartened fighting force, which further weakened Georgia's military capabilities.
The Spanish Empire would play a significant role in the conflict by providing arms and supplies to the indigenous fighters. Spanish administrators in Florida saw the conflict between Georgia and the indigenous nations as an opportunity to undermine the power and influence of the young republic. By providing weapons and supplies to the Cherokee and Muskogee, they hoped to prolong the conflict and establish a buffer zone between themselves and potential expansion from Georgian settlers. West Florida had also long been the subject of a territorial dispute between Georgia and Spain, and the latter saw the conflict in Georgia as a golden opportunity to cement its claims to the region . The Spanish Empire's role in the conflict had a significant impact on the outcome of the war. The arms and supplies provided by the Spanish were instrumental in allowing the Cherokee and Muskogee to continue their fight against Georgian militia groups and military regulars, and helped prolong the conflict by several years. The support of the Spanish also further decimated the morale of the Georgian military, already heavily eroded by the effectiveness of the indigenous fighters' hit and run tactics.
General Mathews of Georgia surrenders to Dragging Canoe of the Cherokee Nation, Mimeograph, 1870
in 1801, the state was forced to sue for peace. The war had a devastating impact on Georgia's economy and population, and further undermined the state's already questionable political stability. In the wake of the conflict, many Georgians began to question the wisdom of secession, and the state's leaders began to explore the possibility of a union with its fellow southron republics...
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