President Robert Gould Shaw
- Thread starter Kaptin Kurk
- Start date
The big thing, of course, would be to survive the Civil War.
Shaw was born in 1837; he wouldn't become eligable for the Presidency until he was thirty-five years old (1872) per Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution.
Atop that, he would have had to gain considerable support in the Republical party. As he was an abolitionist, he would win the support of the so-called "Radical" wing of the GOP at the time, but he would also need mainstream support. Thus, he would have had to do more than just command one regiment of African-American troops at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner.
If such happened, I personally wouldn't see him elected until at least the 1876 elections.
Shaw was born in 1837; he wouldn't become eligable for the Presidency until he was thirty-five years old (1872) per Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution.
Atop that, he would have had to gain considerable support in the Republical party. As he was an abolitionist, he would win the support of the so-called "Radical" wing of the GOP at the time, but he would also need mainstream support. Thus, he would have had to do more than just command one regiment of African-American troops at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner.
If such happened, I personally wouldn't see him elected until at least the 1876 elections.
Try a more brutal civil war where he survives at the head of the 54th or perhaps a brigade of negros. Post war he picks up the family mantel as a leading radical in the state leading to Congress. This is a TL where the disenfranchisement of southern rebels occurs. Radical Republicanism therefore prospers for longer. Eventually, now senator, Robert Gould Shaw is chosen as the standard bearer of Radical Republicanism from its stronghold in New England...perhaps against the National Unionist and Democrat candidates...now where would I find a timeline like that...
Try a more brutal civil war where he survives at the head of the 54th or perhaps a brigade of negros. Post war he picks up the family mantel as a leading radical in the state leading to Congress. This is a TL where the disenfranchisement of southern rebels occurs. Radical Republicanism therefore prospers for longer. Eventually, now senator, Robert Gould Shaw is chosen as the standard bearer of Radical Republicanism from its stronghold in New England...perhaps against the National Unionist and Democrat candidates...now where would I find a timeline like that...
Better yet, Shaw, with impeccable radical bona fides, emerges as a voice of national reconciliation, on an 'only Nixon can go to China' basis.