(Hello everyone! So, I have no idea if this goes here, or in the place more for stories, or in the Alien Space Bats sub-forum. This is my first attempt at a formal alternate history story/timeline, and I'm not sure how well this stands up to the scrutiny of the community. I've seen and participated in other discussions of alternate history in other parts of the internet, but this is the first time I've tried to write my own, originalish scenario. If this belongs someplace else, I will ask for it to be moved promptly. Any and all feedback is absolutely welcome!)
Introduction
Philadelphia Burning
"No great man lives in vain."
- Anonymous*
It was an open secret that the Constitutional Convention that took place in Philadelphia in May and June of 1787 was an effort to totally remake the Articles of Confederation, not merely "revise them" as some had discussed. This was made abundantly clear after James Madison and the other members of the Virginia Delegation arrived early and prepared their own plan to create a new constitution for the United States of America. This move, however, did not come as a surprise to the delegates in Philadelphia; after all, had not the Annapolis Convention a year before called for a larger-scale constitutional convention?
However, seeking to close themselves off from the influence of the curious public, as well as to prevent prying ears of potential opponents from picking up on what was being discussed, the delegates made the decision close proceedings. They went so far as to nail the windows shut during one of the hottest summers Philadelphia had experienced. Of course, these efforts only went so far; we have snippets of information picked up from various sources- such as businessman Manasseh Cutler, who found himself more than once a dinner guest of various delegates. From what we can glean from Cutler, who wrote down many notes on what he had heard, there were great debates waging in the hall over what this Constitution could potentially look like. Some historians have "reconstructed" models from these of what the document could have ended up looking like, but we shall never know for certain.
Due, of course, to the Pennsylvania State House Fire.
While we do not know all the details, we can throw out the apocryphal story that a cow outside the State House kicked over a lantern because the milker was tired which then started the fire (even though it is a good study over how missing one small detail can lead to disastrous consequences). No, likely the fire was due to something that happened in the interior of the building; a coat that got to close to a candle, perhaps, or some misplaced papers. Whatever the cause, within a few minutes of starting, the fire had consumed the building; efforts to rescue the delegates inside failed; the windows, nailed shut, proved to be a barrier for the distinguished statesmen inside. The fire, which apparently started near the door, soon claimed the lives of all men inside. The fire would eventually spread throughout the city of Philadelphia, claiming many more lives- while tragic, these deaths would not have the effect that the delegates' would have.
This "American Patricide", as it was called in earlier histories (in reference to the oft-discussed mid century idea that these men were the "Father's of American Independence"), some of the best and brightest and boldest minds in American history were lost- including, most tragically, General George Washington, who had led the Continental Army to victory during the Revolutionary War.
In the chaotic years that followed, many Americans of the Revolutionary generation would lament that they lacked the guidance of General Washington to help them; whether he could have charted a different course, or whether the delegates at the Constitutional Convention could have fabricated a stable government, are debates for another time...
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* Really Thomas Carlyle in our universe
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Introduction
Philadelphia Burning
"No great man lives in vain."
- Anonymous*
However, seeking to close themselves off from the influence of the curious public, as well as to prevent prying ears of potential opponents from picking up on what was being discussed, the delegates made the decision close proceedings. They went so far as to nail the windows shut during one of the hottest summers Philadelphia had experienced. Of course, these efforts only went so far; we have snippets of information picked up from various sources- such as businessman Manasseh Cutler, who found himself more than once a dinner guest of various delegates. From what we can glean from Cutler, who wrote down many notes on what he had heard, there were great debates waging in the hall over what this Constitution could potentially look like. Some historians have "reconstructed" models from these of what the document could have ended up looking like, but we shall never know for certain.
Due, of course, to the Pennsylvania State House Fire.
While we do not know all the details, we can throw out the apocryphal story that a cow outside the State House kicked over a lantern because the milker was tired which then started the fire (even though it is a good study over how missing one small detail can lead to disastrous consequences). No, likely the fire was due to something that happened in the interior of the building; a coat that got to close to a candle, perhaps, or some misplaced papers. Whatever the cause, within a few minutes of starting, the fire had consumed the building; efforts to rescue the delegates inside failed; the windows, nailed shut, proved to be a barrier for the distinguished statesmen inside. The fire, which apparently started near the door, soon claimed the lives of all men inside. The fire would eventually spread throughout the city of Philadelphia, claiming many more lives- while tragic, these deaths would not have the effect that the delegates' would have.
This "American Patricide", as it was called in earlier histories (in reference to the oft-discussed mid century idea that these men were the "Father's of American Independence"), some of the best and brightest and boldest minds in American history were lost- including, most tragically, General George Washington, who had led the Continental Army to victory during the Revolutionary War.
In the chaotic years that followed, many Americans of the Revolutionary generation would lament that they lacked the guidance of General Washington to help them; whether he could have charted a different course, or whether the delegates at the Constitutional Convention could have fabricated a stable government, are debates for another time...
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* Really Thomas Carlyle in our universe
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Chapter One: The Nation Mourns, The Statesmen Conspire, And A Storm Rages
Chapter Two: Blood on the Susquehanna
Chapter Three: The Westmoreland Crisis
Chapter Four: Fire on the Green Mountain
Chapter Five: Season of Discontent
Chapter Six: Victory and Defeat
Chapter Seven: Of Constitutions
Chapter Eight: Impasse
Chapter Nine: The Second Battle of Long Island
Addendum One: Map of the Former United States, 1790
Chapter Ten: Mars Turns His Gaze
Chapter Two: Blood on the Susquehanna
Chapter Three: The Westmoreland Crisis
Chapter Four: Fire on the Green Mountain
Chapter Five: Season of Discontent
Chapter Six: Victory and Defeat
Chapter Seven: Of Constitutions
Chapter Eight: Impasse
Chapter Nine: The Second Battle of Long Island
Addendum One: Map of the Former United States, 1790
Chapter Ten: Mars Turns His Gaze
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