I am working on a timeline revolving around the presidency of Benedict Arnold. IOTL Benedict tried to betray his fellow Americans by surrendering West Point to the British. ITTL he won't betray the Americans. The first PoD is that Arnold is not injured in the Battle of Saratoga, instead, General Horatio Gates is killed at the battle. Benedict Arnold leads the Army to victory in capturing John Burgoyne. Arnold is shortly promoted by the continental congress to the rank that Gates was, and he is given command of Gates' former army. He leads a succesful campaign into Canada, capturing Quebec. Arnold is recognized as a hero, and next to Washington, the most popular General of the Revolution.
The next PoD occurs in the treaty of Paris. At the time of the Treaty, the British owned Florida, and because of the first PoD, the Americans Occupied Quebec. In this timeline, the Americans use Quebec as a bargaining Chip to acquire East and West Florida.(P.S. how possible would it have been for the U.S. to exchange Quebec for the Bahamas?)
The years from 1783-1795 occur basically the same as in OTL. In the 1796 election there are four candidates; Benedict Arnold and John Adams running as Federalists, and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison running for the Democratic Republicans. Benedict Arnold, with his war hero status, wins by a landslide for the Federalists. He is innagurated as President and Adams as Vice President. Adams soon resigns, not wanting to be VP for two presidents, but not wanting the position to go to Jefferson. Arnold appoints Charles Cotesworth Pinckney as his vice president.
Under Arnold, the would be a great expansion of Governmental Powers. He would be pro-military, especially the Army. He would begin founding Military academies in 1797, and support a build up of a Standing Army. Being a Federalist, he would lean Pro-British.
I have a few questions for you. I need help with this TL.
1. should the XYZ affair still occur
2. if Arnold won Re-election in 1800, would he buy the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon(assuming the French Revolution occurs the same as in OTL)
3. Would Arnold run for a third Term?
4. Would there be a war of 1812 scenario?