alternatehistory.com

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the alternate history scene, and I'm certainly not as knowledgeable with history as some people are on this board, so I thought I'd post a skeletal version of my timeline for help. It's a Southern Victory timeline, and even though it's one of the most commonly done timelines, I'm doing it for a friend who loves the Civil War. (worked at Gettysburg and everything) So, if you have any suggestions, notice any grievous errors or know how these events would have affected other parts of the world, please let me know!

1861-Abraham Lincoln does not use guards on the way to his inauguration, and is assassinated in Baltimore. Hannibal Hamlin becomes President. Lincoln never takes office.

Hamlin attempts to follow Lincoln’s hard line against secession, but ultimately it backfires. First, when Fort Sumter is blockaded, Hamlin orders an attack on the Fort, leading to the international appearance of the North instigating the war. Second, Hamlin botches the Trent Affair, which leads to the British and French recognizing the Confederacy and entering on its side.

The War of Secession is ultimately very short. Lee defeats McClellan multiple times, and the British attack Boston, New York, and Baltimore from the sea. Eventually, the U.S. government must flee the capital and the government relocates in Philadelphia. Philadelphia remains the U.S. capital after the war. The French battle the U.S. navy in the Caribbean, and on the premise of assisting the C.S.A., France sends more troops to the Empire of Mexico.

Hamlin does however, successfully push through the 13th Amendment and all slaves are freed. However, the only slave states under U.S. control are Maryland and Delaware, so the effect is minimal.

1862-The U.S. surrenders and recognizes the Confederacy. While Confederate President Davis only wishes for the war to end, he is advised to damage the U.S. as much as possible while he has the chance. The final terms are:

  • The U.S. recognizes the entirety of the Confederacy, which includes Kentucky and Missouri. The U.S. also renounces its claims to West Virginia.
  • The U.S. must cede both the Indian territory and New Mexico territories to the C.S.A. (The New Mexico Territory is not split by the U.S. as the government was fleeing at the time-the Confederate Territory of Arizona consists of both the lower halves of New Mexico and Arizona).
  • Britain gains sovereignty over the Upper Half of Maine.
  • France and Britain will both receive payments from the U.S.
The United States had no option but to accept.

Before entering the war, France had Confederate President Davis promise to support the French Intervention in Mexico, after the war ends Davis sends troops to Mexico.

1864-Seward becomes the next President of the United States, mainly through his anti-Confederate, French and British rhetoric. He does scare the British enough to prevent them from becoming overly bold in America.

1865-Maximilian I consolidates power over the Empire of Mexico. As a result, Maximilian I cedes Northeastern Mexico (Sonora and Chihuahua) to the C.S.A.: becoming eventually the states of Sonora and El Norte. France and Austria grow closer diplomatically.

1866-France joins Austria in the Austro-Prussian War. Prussia was expected to lose regardless and most nations had diplomatic commitments that prevented them from entering the war. The 14th and 15th Amendments are passed in the U.S. at this time.

1867- France and Austria defeat Prussia and Italy in the Austro-Prussian War. Italy fails to gain Venetia. The German Confederation is not dissolved, thus Liechtenstein does not become a country. France successfully purchases Luxembourg. In America, U.S. President Seward loses favor after purchasing Alaska. Austria receives some of Silesia.

*U.S. state names (gradual) Dakota instead of North and South Dakota, Platte instead of Wyoming, Sioux instead of Idaho, the other states remain the same.

1868-With Missouri in Confederate hands, movement out west became much more contested. While Nebraska quickly chose to side with the Union, other regions began to question which nation would be better to join. Illinois grew as a result of the Northern desire to move west while St. Louis and Kansas City in Missouri remained major areas of travel, now for the Confederacy. In order to encourage their influence, the Confederacy’s population requirements were made to be much lower than the United States’. To quietly counter this, the United States allowed Native American populations to also be counted; though many official counts were exaggerated to encourage statehood earlier (this is called the Native Population Act). The Confederate-held Indian Territory was admitted as the state of Sequoyah this year. The Native Americans in Sequoyah were given greater autonomy, and did not mind remaining part of the C.S.A.

1870-Inspired by the success of the Empire of Mexico, France campaigns against Korea again, this time it is victorious. Korea confirms French interests in the region. Japan modernizes even more rapidly. In Spain, Juan Prim is not assassinated (he is not in the same location). France does not assist Austria-Hungary in the Second Austro-Prussian War, which leads to a Prussian/Italian victory. Italy gains Venetia. Prussia gains Austrian-held parts of Silesia.

1871- Amadeus I is chosen to take the Spanish throne.

1872-Japan annexes the Ryukyu Islands.

1873-The Lower California Purchase Dispute: Maximilian, in exchange for money to maintain control over his empire, sells Baja California in secret to the U.S., but publicly to the C.S.-the result is a fiery dispute over the peninsula. Napoleon III also dies, and the Second French Republic takes over. Napoleon’s desire to expand French influence in East Asia continues with the Republic, but little else does.

1876-Juan Prim dies. Amadeus I renounces his claim to the Spanish throne. Spain is declared a republic.

1878-First Spanish Republic collapses. Alfonso XII takes the throne. The Congress of Berlin takes place, with the same results. Montenegro, Serbia, and Romania become independent. Cyprus is given to Britain.

1880-1882- This marks the Race for Deseret. The Mormon population in Utah set out a series of demands for their new state of Deseret, known as Deseret’s Terms for Annexation. These Terms consisted of greater autonomy, along with a state constitution reflecting Mormon ideals, including polygamy. Whatever nation would accept their demands would have the right to annex the state. President Cleveland was unwilling to give the state any special privileges, under the Constitution religion was never supposed to mix with government. Confederate President Howard decided not to risk war unless Deseret openly declared its desire to join the Confederacy. When Deseret leans toward joining the Confederacy, U.S. President Cleveland authorizes the annexation of Deseret by the U.S. military (ignoring Deseret’s Terms for Annexation). Deseret then declares itself a Confederate state. The result sparks the Mormon War. Both France and Britain, though allied with the C.S.A., do not enter the war, wary of the other extending its influence. Britain also fears the liberation of Quebec. The U.S. navy destroys the C.S. navy, and the Mormon Church is broken. While Deseret may be more independent under Confederate control, Mormons are against the continuation of slavery. The result divides and eventually breaks the Church.

1881-Alexander II of Russia is not assassinated, as he is not in the same location. After his public release of the Duma, Russia begins a long progression towards a constitutional monarchy.

1882-The Mormon War ends in a U.S. victory. The treaty results in:
1. The recognition of Deseret and Pacifica (Baja California) as U.S. states. The U.S. also retains the Colorado territory.
2. The state of Allegheny will be formed from Eastern Virginia and ceded to the United States.
3. The freedom (nominal manumission) of all slaves. However, the C.S. follows the British example of pass laws in South Africa, limiting freedom.

The capital of the C.S.A. is also moved to more easily defended Montgomery, Alabama.

1883-France annexes the Kingdom of Hawai’i.

1885-French Indochina is established. The Empire of Mexico collapses, and Maximilian I is executed. Porfirio Díaz is elected President of the new Republic of Mexico. Alfonso XII of Spain dies. He is succeeded by Alfonso XIII.

1886-1895-The dominant Republican Party in the U.S. is split-resulting in Progressive Republicans (more liberal) and Traditionalist Republicans (more conservative). The idea of state’s rights leads to more regionalized parties in the C.S. Texas and the other western Confederate states are now slowly starting to become more irritated with the government’s continual focus on the Eastern states.

1888- Thailand is split between British Burma and French Indochina, rather than remaining an independent buffer state.

1890-The C.S.A. declares war on Spain. The result is an overwhelming Confederate victory, and Cuba and Puerto Rico become Confederate possessions, and eventually states. Portugal ends the Anglo-Portuguese alliance with the Treaty of Windsor and refuses to leave its Pink Map. The Pink Map Standoff begins. Alexander II of Russia dies and is succeeded by Alexander III.

1893-The Japanese defeat the Spanish in the Hispano-Japanese War and gain the Philippines. Franco-Russian alliance is signed.

1894-Alexander III of Russia dies. He is succeeded by Nicholas II. Nicholas’s reign continues his grandfather’s legacy of a constitutional monarchy. This is reinforced after a visit to the House of Commons in Britain.

1896-The War of the Five Powers occurs, Prussia and Italy vs. France/Russia/Austria. France, Austria-Hungary and Russia win. France, in exchange for some land in northeastern Italy (Piedmont), does agree to leave Rome, resulting in near-complete Italian Unification. Russia and Austria take large portions of territory from Prussia. Prussia then forms the North German Confederation (including Liechtenstein).

1896-1906-This marks the beginning of the Confederate attempts to control the Caribbean to counter American influence on the continent. Most notably are the filibustering efforts in the Republic of Yucatan, Panama, Raizal, and the Greater Republic of Central America. Also, riots in Cuba and Puerto Rico become more serious, but are put down. The Greater Republic of Central America was invaded this year, and put under Confederate control. Among those killed in the fighting was Tomás Regalado.

1897-Seeing that a war with Russia is likely, Japan and Britain sign the Anglo-Japanese alliance to counter the Franco-Russian alliance. The Anglo-American war begins over the borders of Alaska. The Confederate Intervention in Yucatan also creates the Republic of Yucatan, and the Confederates begin a campaign of genocide against the rebelling Maya.

1898-The Anglo-American War ends in an American victory. America is ceded the Western half of Canada (later becoming the states of Kosciusko, Lafayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Yukon) and Belize (which becomes a protectorate) in exchange for continued sovereignty over Eastern Canada, including Quebec. It is also returned the Upper Half of Maine.

*Alaska will join the Union as Aleutia



1899-1908-The Fashoda Incident erupts, in combination with border disputes with the French over Indochina and Burma and the Pink Map Standoff with Portugal, due to France supporting Portugal. The result is the Anglo-French War. Like the Napoleonic Wars of a century ago, this war spans multiple continents and has a great effect on the world.

The Anglo-French War was fought between:

France/Orange Free State/Austria-Hungary/Russia
and Britain/North German Confederation/Japan

The Japanese defeat the Russians in Asia and gain Korea, Karafuto (Sakhalin) and much of Manchuria. Japan ignores French interests in Korea, damaging relations. While the loss greatly damages Russian prestige, the blow is softened by blaming both the Duma and Nicholas II. Nothing occurs to lead to the 1905 Russian Revolution.

Japan quickly captures the Siberian coast, and harasses French Indochina. It sues for peace, being unable to progress further into Russia. Russia also exhausted from a two front war, are eager to end the conflict. American Theodore Roosevelt presides over the peace talks. After the war is over, both Russia and Japan claim victory. Britain finds that fighting the Boers and French in Africa proves to be too much, unable to make any progress. The North German Confederation on the other hand defeats Austria-Hungary swiftly (Hungary, already desiring independence and angered by quick Prussian victories make Austria-Hungary collapse both internally and externally) and captures Alsace-Lorraine from France. However, the war quickly drags out. Britain sells the Bahamas to the C.S.A. for money, where they become part of Florida. Nicholas II dies in 1902 in a train crash; he is succeeded by Mikhail II. Eventually, the European Powers agree to a Convention. The results are incredibly mixed:

Britain recognizes the Orange Free State as the independent State of Transvaal and the French claim to Fashoda, as well as Portugal’s Pink Map.

France cedes Alsace-Lorraine to the North German Confederation. Russia cedes a great deal of Eastern Europe to the Confederation as well. Austria-Hungary gives up many of its possessions, including Silesia. France also must cede its Italian gains (Piedmont) from the War of the Five Powers to Italy, resulting in complete Italian Unification.

Other Results: Japan gains much of the Siberian coast. Japan’s control over much of Manchuria is also recognized.

The North German Confederation becomes the nation of Germany. Alsace-Lorraine greatly protests its German owner.

On the other hand, the defeat of Austria-Hungary leads to Hungary becoming independent after the war and the end of the union.

Russia also creates various buffer states (most notably Poland-Lithuania) after the war to shield itself from Prussian/German attacks. The reaction from the Russian populace is somewhat mixed. Russia prides itself on “defeating” Japan, but the new buffer states are contradictory to the pan-Slavic ideals of Russia. However, the nation’s government remains stable. Ultimately, Russia becomes a complete constitutional monarchy after Mikhail II takes the throne.

Another important reaction throughout Europe is a (brief) anti-imperial attitude. France, Britain, and Russia all fought in an incredibly costly war for two remote regions in Africa and, in Russia’s case, Siberia. Nationalism, however, remains high-only it now focuses more inward (for a time).

Japan now controls Formosa, Karafuto, Korea, much of Manchuria, the Philippines, and the Ryukyu Islands.

Financially, Japan and Russia are both very strained after the war.

Like the Napoleonic Wars a century before them, the map of Europe has been redrawn.


1905-1907-The Confederate-American War
Obviously, another Confederate-American War was bound to happen. The Confederate control of Panama and therefore the (still incomplete) Panama Canal proved to be the flashpoint. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt leads the U.S. into a very successful war that succeeds in humiliating the C.S.A. Confederate President Woodrow Wilson resigns from the Presidency after signing the treaty that ends the war. Traditionalist Republican President Roosevelt also passes four amendments: income tax, direct election of senators, limits on child labor, and female suffrage (in order-16th, 17th, 18th, 19th).

The end results:

1. The independence of Cuba and Puerto Rico.
2. The C.S.A. cedes Missouri, which is (re)admitted to the union as Ozarks. The eastern halves of Arizona and Sonora are also ceded, and become the state of New Mexico. (Ozarks, New Mexico and Allegheny mark the start of the tradition of renaming C.S.A. states as they enter the Union.)
3. The state of Sequoyah becomes an independent nation. The increasing amount of white settlers and an uncompromising white-supremacist government anger the Native Americans of the state. Before the war’s end, the state switched sides and aided the U.S. in exchange for independence after the war. The C.S.A. bitterly acknowledges its independence.
4. The Republic of Yucatan is given the option of returning to Mexico or remain independent-the Republic votes to remain independent, while against joining Mexico, the Republic is still fearful of any Confederate/United States influence. Raizal is also given the option, and chooses to return to Columbia.
5. The Greater Republic of Central America was also freed from Confederate control, and renames itself the United States of Central America.
6. Panama becomes an American protectorate.

1906-Manuel Estrada, without the support of the United Fruit Company, is overthrown in Guatemala.

1907-In order to please the western Confederate states, Texas is broken up into three states-Rio, Texas, and Alamo in order to give the Western States more senators. The Eastern-Western division in the Confederacy becomes more serious. Blacks also begin to protest their status, but are harshly put down.

1908-Guatemala joins the United States of Central America.

1910-Costa Rica joins the United States of Central America.

1911- France and Britain, in order to prevent further German expansion, sign the Entente Cordiale. This shocks and angers Germany greatly. British-German relations had begun to spiral downward immediately after the Anglo-French War.

1914- With Finland’s relation souring with Russia, Mikhail allows the nation to become independent. (The increased democracy in Russia prevented Russia from becoming as authoritarian, which allowed the nation to form. Even though Russia was more democratic, attempts to Russify Finland as well as Russian losses in the Anglo-French War alienated its populace enough to call for independence. International pressure also added to the situation.)

1915-1918-The Russo-Japanese War begins in Manchuria. Russia still had some areas of Manchuria under its control, and now desired to take back its losses. In the end, however, Japan quickly and decisively defeats Russia, with Manchu soldiers fighting alongside the Japanese. Manchuria, while still seeing Japan as an occupying power, develops warmer relations with Japan, having assisted it in defeating a European power. Manchuria is recognized by Russia as a Japanese sphere of influence. However, Russia does gain some victory, taking back the Siberian coast-however; this is in exchange for recognition of Japanese control over Karafuto (Sakhalin). Japan is still financially strained.

1917-The Panama Canal is completed.

1918-The Åland Islands peacefully become an independent nation from Finland, mainly due to Finland itself becoming bloodlessly independent four years earlier.
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