PMOA- The History of the American Parliament

A Short Timeline Outline

Ministers of Defense of the General Welfare of the Colonies

1. Benjamin Franklin 1754-1763 (No Party)
2. Benjamin Chew 1763-1766 (Colonist)

Elections in America
1754- 120 Independent, 0 Others (Independent Majority)
1761- 120 Independent, 0 Others (Independent Majority)
1763- 72 Colonist, 33 Unionist, 9 Democrat, 6 Loyalist (Colonist Majority)
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April 1754-
With the outbreak of the French and Indian War delegates from each of the twelve colonies gather together in Albany, NY to discuss some sort of form of common government. Although the initial 'First Albany Plan' is rejected by the crown and the individual colonies, Benjamin Franklin, who headed the congress, convinces his cohorts to engage in negotiations. The negotiations are successful, to a degree. The result is a unicameral body called the "General Congress for the Defense of the United Colonies" who was granted the power to aid in raising and commanding an army of Americans. The new body would see 120 delegates elected, 10 from each colony, on a constituency basis.

July 4, 1754- Based on a voting system of 'universal suffrage' for landowning white males, the first 'General Congress,' as the shortened name became, was elected and, once gathered, they narrowly chose their founder, Benjamin Franklin, as the first 'Minister of Defense of the General Welfare of the Colonies,' the head of the body.

1754-1763- This period of early parliamentary history is dominated by the French and Indian War (results comparable to OTL). 1761 marked the second election in American History and in the end resulted in the continuation of Franklin tenure at the head of the American government. Despite secret attempts by the 'Minister of Defense,' the equivalent of today's PMOA (Prime Minister of America), Franklin failed to convince his colleagues to make any motion to further the power of the body in the post war era.

February 13, 1763- The French and Indian War, along with it's European equivalent, the Seven Years' War, finally ends. Almost immediately a debate takes hold of the 2nd General Congress over what to do with the newly acquired territories. Benjamin Franklin leads the charge to give them representation in the Congress. However the large majority of the colonies oppose this. The 2nd Congress soon collapses and a new election is called.

July 4, 1763- In keeping with the new tradition, July 4th once again marks the date of congressional elections. For the first time the campaign in America sees organized blocs, although not official parties. Unionists, lead by Franklin generally favored strengthening the Congress. Their opponents, calling themselves Colonists, favored less power to the central government and greater autonomy of each colony. Two additional smaller factions also emerged, the Loyalists, who favored greater allegiance to England, sometimes including demands to dissolve Congress, and Democrats, who favored a weak central government but one which included the new territories.

To be continued...
 
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