Quasi-War II - The sequel (or conclusion, or reboot, whatever)

Chapter 27 - The Bell Rings on Round 2 of the Quasi-war - July 1812

London, House of Lords

Former First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Liverpool, had been surprised at the ease of the Peace. Granted, it was not a true peace treaty, more of an armistice. However, the effect was the same. Only a handful of French (Pondicherry), Dutch (Java) and Spanish (Manila) colonies were to be returned to their care. As best Liverpool could determine, this was done as much to remind France and her allies how easily they could be taken away. The British domination of the sea was total, at least for the moment.

The official peace was being signed but, with the armistice and the resultant resumption of trade, the British economy had rebounded from the shock of losing Ireland.

Unfortunately, that would do poor Henry Addington, Lord Sidmouth, any good. The poor fellow had made the best deal he could and was trying to justify it before the House of Lords. The British electorate demanded that Ireland be reconquered at once. Neither the French nor the Irish intended to allow this to occur. They wouldn't even discuss payments on confiscated property, claiming the English had stolen the land centuries ago, why should Ireland pay when taking it back.

The massive gains made by the British Empire came to nothing compared to this terrible blow. Ireland was a dagger at the heart of Britain. The nation, exhausted, must recover her resources in the peace and then attempt to regain the island under better circumstances. Given the general enthousiasm held by the majority of the Irish populace for this new government, he had no idea how Britain could impose her domination in the future. Too much had changed, the illusian of Irish fealty to the house of Hanover was permanently broken. However, the hordes of Anglicans fleeing Ireland and landing upon English docks demanding to know where the hell the army was could not be silenced.

The nation would continue to demand a reconquest of the Emerald Isle, whether or not that was possible or even in Britain's true long term interests.

In the end, the nation would go where the nation would go. Liverpool continued to sit as poor Addington rambled on. The fellow wouldn't last long. Liverpool would be back in office by the end of the year, he was quite certain.

The Treaty of Amsterdam would be signed, yielding but not yielding Ireland.

But the war was hardly over, no matter the silencing of the guns.

Paris

King Joseph Bonaparte of Portugal, Regent of France, was getting greatly sick of his relatives. First Pauline's constant rants regarding her brother handing her the "pitiful" Duchy of Lucha for a throne. Then the woman refused to take up the throne anyway, preferring Paris and her lovers. Her husband, newly elevated Duke Charles Leclerk of Lucha, was more than happy to leave the bitch behind and get the hell away from her with his children in tow. Joseph could hardly blame the poor man. Nearly a decade in polar exile, then be forced to come back to Pauline. Joseph suspected the man would prefer to go back to Quebec than deal with his wife again.

Lucien had proved no easier to deal with. Arguing with Napoleon over divorcing his wife and accepting one of Napoleon's political marriages, Lucien had fled France years earlier for America, only to be captured by a British ship and settled in some comfortable English village for the duration of the war. Lucien had scandalized his family and would only return to France upon Joseph's word that he would not be asked again to divorce his wife. Joseph didn't give a damn and offered the traitor the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, provided he kept out of the elder brother's hair. This offer was gratefully accepted and Lucien duly returned. Of course, Pauline bitched about her traitor brother being given a bigger Duchy than her. Joseph told her to shut up.

In exchange, Maria the Mad and her inbred family were released from internment and shipped to Britain. Fine, let the Brits deal with her. She can socialize with the Prince of Orange and all the other exiled former European monarchs. Portugal remained under the French and Spanish thumb and would from now on.

The peace with the British was harsh, but, in all reality, France hadn't lost much. Their primary Indian colony of Pondicherry was returned, though Britain could no doubt snatch it again on a moment's notice. The Indian Ocean was effectively a British lake. France managed to maintain a hold on Canada, San Dominigue, Guadeloupe and Martinique, for what those were worth. No much, given the defacto end of slavery. Largely run by mulatto juntas, they didn't produce much in sugar revenues these days but at least offered the opportunity for depositing French (and allied) criminals in an environment that they deserved. There remained thousands of petty criminals, royalists and traitors to deal with. Far better to exile them than to return to Madame Guillotine.

France had given up their rights to Louisiana, Guyana, their African trading stations (worthless without slavery) and some of the smaller Indian stations. The defeat of Spain, which had lost much of its Empire to revolution, and the Dutch Republic, which lost most of its Empire to the British and Americans, hardly mattered to Joseph.

France remained supreme, Joseph's power unassailable in Western Europe. He just hoped he dropped dead before his little half-Austrian bastard nephew reached age to ascend to the throne. He put up with one Napoleon superceding him. He had no desire to witness it again when "Emperor Napoleon II" turned 18.

At least Tallyrand kept the Austrian bitch silent.

Some days it was just hard to be Joseph Bonaparte.

Washington DC - November 1812

Though the returns had not fully been tabulated, it was apparent that President Burr had won reelection on the back of his bold alliance with the Federalists. The "Union Party" had won over two-thirds of Congress, the rest split between the divided remnants of the northern and southern Federalist and Democratic-Republican Parties.

The southerners were already speaking of uniting into one bloc. There remained a handful of "Anti-Slavery" congressmen in the western districts, more intent on battling the long entrenched eastern plantation owners whom had dominated southern politics for generations than any true hatred for slavery. Burr suspected these men would eventually fold back into the southern gentry just as the holdouts in the north would see reason and join the Union Party.

The division of the nation may prove problematic in the long run, though Burr's policy of containment was working. Jackson had broken the handful of Slaveowners in the Floridas, assuring continued "Free" Status. Tennessee had rejected a state constitutional change attempting to reopen the state to slavery. The last of that state's (and Kentucky and Deleware's) slave would be freed by the end of the decade. Louisiana's territorial legislature had grudgingly agreed to free all slaves as a prerequisite to statehood. The date had been set for full manumition by 1814, with the expectation of statehood in 1816. Indiana and Tejas would likely be eligable to join the union at that point as well.

Burr had summoned his Cabinet, including the future ones like Rufus King and John Quincy Adams, to discuss the nation's future and celebrate their impending victory. With America expanding westwards at an astounding rate (more than tripling her territory in a mere two generations), Burr had etched his name along side Washington and Adams as men whom made their nation great.

The gentlemen of America clinked their wine goblets in merry good cheer, unknowing that the nation's problems were only just beginning. Opinions had hardened, sharp divisions formed. Expansion came with new challenges, enemies they could not imagine on that cold winter evening in 1812. Within a generation, America would be faced with conflict on all sides and the future of great nation President Burr envisioned would face her greatest test yet.

The End.


Thanks, all, for your time, attention, compliments and feedback!

I think I may take a few days off and then start up a new TL for Quasi-War III once I figure out what direction I want to take with it. I get so wrapped up in these TL's that I neglect my amateur novels at home. Since really long TL's are tough for new readers to catch up on (Burnished Rows of Steel would take weeks to read!), I will start a seperate thread and add links to Quasi-War I and II.


Have a good weekend.
 
What happened to Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition? Will these two men feature in later chapters? Please let me know. Thank you. :):):)

I think I made a blurb about one or two being among the early explorers of Tejas but didn't delve too deeply into them due to time and space constraints. I was basically following a global war and could only hit on characters like this so deeply. I did explore into Zebulon Pike.
 
Bring those Russians on.

The USA backed by Britain will be able to beat the Russians to the punch of California, Oregon, and OTL British Columbia.

In decades to come, the Americans and British will enlist Japan as well.

The British will contest the Russians in the Middle East and Central Asia

USA will contest the Russians in North America

Japan will enter and contest the Russians in Asia

Without a strong Navy, what will the Russians do. Even inn 1812, what is the size of the Russian Navy compared to that of the USA? As Burr plan is, the USA will set up settlements along the Califonia coast and Sacramento River. Will stretch upwards to Oregon.

Pioneer trails will be blazed to the Southwest, Sante Fe trail to New Mexico and then to California. The Oregon trail will be blazed to the Northwest. Outposts and trading posts will be set up. Civilization will move westward along the Missouri River. St. Louis and Kansas City will spring up ...

And then steam power will take over and further connect the East to the Pacific. The advances in the steam engine that began in England will be shared with the USA. It is funny, the old colonies of the USA have turned into loyal allies of the crown. Sharing steam technology will benefit the USA to expand west sooner and benefit the British Empire by keeping a loyal ally.

Also, before steam in the mid 1820's and since it appears that the Napolianic Wars are over, the rise of the American Clipper ships may happen sooner and have a little longer life. Naturaly San Diego and San Franccisco provide the best natural harbors onn the west coast.

So bring the Russians on ....
 
Bring those Russians on.

The USA backed by Britain will be able to beat the Russians to the punch of California, Oregon, and OTL British Columbia.

In decades to come, the Americans and British will enlist Japan as well.

The British will contest the Russians in the Middle East and Central Asia

USA will contest the Russians in North America

Japan will enter and contest the Russians in Asia

Without a strong Navy, what will the Russians do. Even inn 1812, what is the size of the Russian Navy compared to that of the USA? As Burr plan is, the USA will set up settlements along the Califonia coast and Sacramento River. Will stretch upwards to Oregon.

Pioneer trails will be blazed to the Southwest, Sante Fe trail to New Mexico and then to California. The Oregon trail will be blazed to the Northwest. Outposts and trading posts will be set up. Civilization will move westward along the Missouri River. St. Louis and Kansas City will spring up ...

And then steam power will take over and further connect the East to the Pacific. The advances in the steam engine that began in England will be shared with the USA. It is funny, the old colonies of the USA have turned into loyal allies of the crown. Sharing steam technology will benefit the USA to expand west sooner and benefit the British Empire by keeping a loyal ally.

Also, before steam in the mid 1820's and since it appears that the Napolianic Wars are over, the rise of the American Clipper ships may happen sooner and have a little longer life. Naturaly San Diego and San Franccisco provide the best natural harbors onn the west coast.

So bring the Russians on ....

Yes, there is plenty to discuss regarding an coming war.

The Russians already had small settlements in this timeframe but nothing major. I suspect the quantity if Russian ships in the Pacific would be very, very small. In terms of overall fleet size, I always thought of the Russians as being a secondary power at best. Their gains in the Black Sea would probably prompt a buildup.

I will have Russian political developments as a factor in my next series. I'm thinking of 1825 to 1835 TL. This is a lesser known period of history. Most people don't think it was important and don't know a great deal about the events of 1816 (End of Napoleonic Wars) through 1859 (start of US Civil War and Prussian unification of Germany).

Some key points would be:
1. US expansion westward
2. Resolution of the slavery question
3. The development of Mexico and the other parts of the Spanish Empire.
4. The development of naval technology against the backdrop of France attempting to rebuild their shattered fleet during the peace (along with Russia, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands).
5. The fate of the Ottoman and North Africa.
6. European contacts with China, Indochina and Japan (Opium Wars?)
7. British conquest of India (really mainly completed in 1820 in OTL).
8. The end of Joseph Bonaparte and the rise of Napoleon II (what kind of man would he be).
9. The "Liberal Revolutions" of Europe. Without so many reactionary powers removing the Napoleonic reforms, would these Revolutions be so brutal?
10. The political future of Russia and these new Balkan nations?
11. A Scramble for Africa?
12. General technological changes (first steamships, railroads, cotton gin, etc).
 
Hopefully the Union party will do just that. Focus on the Union and strengthening the ties between the states as well as strengthen ties to the new states of the former Spanish and Portuguese empires.

For internal improvements, what can be done down South? Also, both westerners and southerners would welcome low tariffs.

The greatest test that you come to see, a war on all sides would be USA against
France, Russia, Mexico, and the break away states of the South. Ooh My, cannot wait to see. Realistically, the USA backed by Britain should rule North America against all comers. .......

How many of the Anglos fleeing Ireland wind up in the USA? The USA offers them free land for settlement.
 
Thank you for a great timeline

Thank your for such a great timeline. It is very believable and has great details. I enjoyed everyone of your post and I am looking forward to see the next series.

Regards

Stubear1012.
 
For Quasi-War 3 I see:

- war between Russia and the Anglo-American Alliance over the western portions of North America; could probably see a joint Anglo-American sea-based invasion of Russian Alyeska (i.e. Alaska). In turn, I see the USA establishing complete dominance over OTL Alaska, the OTL Yukon, OTL British Columbia, OTL Oregon, OTL Washington, and OTL California (and perhaps even the entire Baja California Peninsula).

- a much earlier discovery of gold in Alaska, Yukon, and California leads to a much earlier California, Klondike and Alaska Gold Rushes which results in lots of migration of people to the the West for gold, especially from Europe under heavy Napoleonic control.

- a much bigger California state (which hopefully has the entire Baja California Peninsula attached to it) ;););). Also, need to see more of the adventures/misadventures of California military governor Zebulon Pike (in this TTL the first "Governator"). rofl :D:D:D

- a much bigger Arizona state (which has Sonora attached to it - so said state now has nice beachfront property) ;););).

- Would also like to see the alternates histories/lives of a number of famous American figures of the Western frontier such as:

Daniel Boone (with theme song) :D;
Davy Crockett (with theme song) :D or this scene :); [useful documentary info]
Deaf Smith;
Jim Bowie (and this scene :));
Hugh Glass; [useful documentary info, and this info, and movie trailer]
James Beckwourth; [useful documentary info, and this info]
James Fanin; [tidbit info and this little info]
Jedediah Smith; [useful documentary info here]
Jim Bridger (with theme song :));
John Sutter;
Joseph Meek;
the most famous frontiersman of them all - Kit Carson; [useful documentary info here]
General Stephen Watts Kearny;
Henry Karnes;
the most famous American explorer John Charles Fremont aka "Pathfinder"; [useful documentary info]
Sam Houston (and this scene, and this intro) :); [useful info]
Samuel Maverick;
Stephen Fuller Austin;
William B. Travis (and this scene) :); [useful tidbit info]
and of course Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. (useful info and this].

- and, most possibly a very long and hard struggle for Ireland culminating in a British victory followed by a generations-long-term policy of ethnic cleansing of the Irish via forced migration (particularly deportation and population transfer) to other parts of the British Empire or to the USA (who is in need of immigrants to settle the West). :(

- I also see forced migrations and deportations of anyone in Napoleonic-dominated Europe whether in France itself or from France's many allies/client states (such as Prussians, French Royalists, Portuguese rebels, etc.) opposed to the current Napoleonic order/regime - with many going to the USA. :(
 
Alaska is a few decades away for the USA.

Need to establish firm control with states out of California and Oregon with territorial settlement in OTL Washington and BC, Vancouver Island

Having a strong Pacific fleet would net Alaska for the USA.

And there has to be some desire for the USA to want Alaska, or another war where it would be the only outlet for American offensive due to other areas already being taken.
 
Alaska is a few decades away for the USA.

Need to establish firm control with states out of California and Oregon with territorial settlement in OTL Washington and BC, Vancouver Island

Having a strong Pacific fleet would net Alaska for the USA.

And there has to be some desire for the USA to want Alaska, or another war where it would be the only outlet for American offensive due to other areas already being taken.

Agreed. In my OTL, the US hasn't settled Kansas yet. It will still take years to decades before the US can solidify a claim on California, Alaska is even further off.
 
For Quasi-War 3 I see:

- war between Russia and the Anglo-American Alliance over the western portions of North America; could probably see a joint Anglo-American sea-based invasion of Russian Alyeska (i.e. Alaska). In turn, I see the USA establishing complete dominance over OTL Alaska, the OTL Yukon, OTL British Columbia, OTL Oregon, OTL Washington, and OTL California (and perhaps even the entire Baja California Peninsula).

- a much earlier discovery of gold in Alaska, Yukon, and California leads to a much earlier California, Klondike and Alaska Gold Rushes which results in lots of migration of people to the the West for gold, especially from Europe under heavy Napoleonic control.

- a much bigger California state (which hopefully has the entire Baja California Peninsula attached to it) ;););). Also, need to see more of the adventures/misadventures of California military governor Zebulon Pike (in this TTL the first "Governator"). rofl :D:D:D

- a much bigger Arizona state (which has Sonora attached to it - so said state now has nice beachfront property) ;););).

- Would also like to see the alternates histories/lives of a number of famous American figures of the Western frontier such as:

Daniel Boone (with theme song) :D;
Davy Crockett (with theme song) :D or this scene :); [useful documentary info]
Deaf Smith;
Jim Bowie (and this scene :));
Hugh Glass; [useful documentary info, and this info, and movie trailer]
James Beckwourth; [useful documentary info, and this info]
James Fanin; [tidbit info and this little info]
Jedediah Smith; [useful documentary info here]
Jim Bridger (with theme song :));
John Sutter;
Joseph Meek;
the most famous frontiersman of them all - Kit Carson; [useful documentary info here]
General Stephen Watts Kearny;
Henry Karnes;
the most famous American explorer John Charles Fremont aka "Pathfinder"; [useful documentary info]
Sam Houston (and this scene, and this intro) :); [useful info]
Samuel Maverick;
Stephen Fuller Austin;
William B. Travis (and this scene) :); [useful tidbit info]
and of course Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. (useful info and this].

- and, most possibly a very long and hard struggle for Ireland culminating in a British victory followed by a generations-long-term policy of ethnic cleansing of the Irish via forced migration (particularly deportation and population transfer) to other parts of the British Empire or to the USA (who is in need of immigrants to settle the West). :(

- I also see forced migrations and deportations of anyone in Napoleonic-dominated Europe whether in France itself or from France's many allies/client states (such as Prussians, French Royalists, Portuguese rebels, etc.) opposed to the current Napoleonic order/regime - with many going to the USA. :(

Good ideas, I'll be using some of these for sure.

As for Ireland, I don't think mass deportations of 3/4 of the population would be possible.

I have had an idea of an early and more brutally repressed Catholic rebellion in 1770's timeframe, perhaps where the Irish rebels are sent to the West Indies en masse. Habeas Corpus is suspended for years and any vagrants or potential trouble-makers and their families could be summarily transported.
 
Hmmm...The Russian Empire going to war with the U.S. over Russian claims to western North America...

:cool:

This is going to get interesting.

Looking forward to Part 3.
 
Hmmm...The Russian Empire going to war with the U.S. over Russian claims to western North America...

:cool:

This is going to get interesting.

Looking forward to Part 3.

Where have you been? Quasi-War III is finished. Next up is part IV
 
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