alternatehistory.com

A Wank for all Nations Suppressed by the so-called First World
Why?
Por que Dios es Argentino (y La Virgen Mexicana).
Alright so this is an experiment timeline in which I will try to make several third-world countries of today rise to become world powers. Several events in the early 1800s will take different turns hopefully leading to this goal. Each set of chapters will hopefully reveal a new rising power as time progresses. Without further introduction here are the first two chapters:
North America 1780-1830: New Nations, New Empires

Chapter 1: How the American Union Shattered.

The Unstable Constitution
After achieving their independence the leaders of ex-British colonies set down to draft a constitution. Before the first words are even written down a tug-of-war begins between Federalist and Anti-Federalist factions. It was in particular the New England states the ones who opposed the numerous drafts, as they believed such documents would only endorse the prolongation of slavery. Anti-Federalist factions in the South argued that such matter should be left for the state to decide and rejected New England’s demand for a strong central government, fearing that the idea of a presidency might evolve into a monarchy. Attempts to reach an agreement seem futile.
In November 1787, after months of negotiation and compromise between both sides the document was finally completed. It was established that nine out of the 13 states would have to ratify the document for it to go into effect. It was not surprising that the new constitution proved highly unpopular or that no state had ratified it by the end of the year. Pennsylvania became the first state to ratify in February of the following year, followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts and later by Connecticut in May of that same year.

May 1788
Hoping to find a solution to the crisis before the Independence Day celebrations in July a convention is held in Philadelphia to settle on a compromise. The convention is unfortunately delayed and negotiations do not start until late June. Throughout the states public speakers began to rally the masses to stand up for or against further compromise. In Boston and other New England states pamphlets demonizing the southern slave owners are distributed similarly speakers in the South accuse New England of trying to establish a monarchy.

July 1788
The convention was placed on hold for the 4th of July celebrations. The celebrations however exploded into riots across all thirteen states. The convention hall was crowded with rioters their demands were clear: NO MORE COMPROMISE!!!

The Federalist Ultimatum of 1788
In Rhode Island William West, a popular leader and staunch anti Federalist, marched into Providence with 2,000 armed soldiers on the night of the celebrations. West demanded the Rhode Island government to officially announce its secession from the Union. When news of the riots in Philadelphia reached Rhode Island its government conceded to West’s demands and announced its secession due to “public discontent and a political stalemate with no foreseeable future”. Rhode Island officially seceded the 6th of July 1788.
Rhode Island’s decision was considered rash by most factions particularly other New England states that favored the stronger central government. Nevertheless other states with an anti-Federalist stance began considering the possibility of secession.
As a result New England, led by Massachusetts, placed an ultimatum on seceding states; Rhode Island must sign the constitution or face military intervention. Ironically the extent of the ultimatum’s consequences also caused a schism within the Federalist factions. The New York delegation, led by Alexander Hamilton, placed its decision on hold and asked other states not to make other rash decisions. The delegates from other New England states however pressured their governments to make and example out of Rhode Island, arguing that they cannot have one of their own seceding. The schism in the Federalist factions usurps any chance the constitution had for survival and within a few weeks most Southern states have seceded as well. By the end of the month New England, backed by Pennsylvania, mobilized its troops against Rhode Island. The little state was occupied within days.

August 1788
New England placed Rhode Island under military occupation. This event causes major conflict between all states. Southerner’s label New England’s actions as despotic, while pro-Federalist citizens consider the move necessary to avoid anarchy. Interestingly enough citizens who disagreed with their state’s position began to fall more in favor of backing their state rather than their individual ideologies. In Philadelphia those who has rioted against compromise now volunteered to serve under Pennsylvania’s military to help conserve the union. Similarly pro Federalist Southerner’s volunteered to save their state from the Northern tyranny. Each state began to show hints of an individual national consciousness.
This culminated with Virginia officially declaring war on the aggressors. Although very little fighting, if any, was actually seen; Virginia sent a regiment of volunteers into Pennsylvania but was stopped from even entering Maryland when it favored to back its northern neighbor. However the act officially destroyed the possibility of any union and created a permanent rivalry between Virginia and its northern neighbors.
New York, sandwiched between the aggressors, feared a similar but much more bloody fate due to its size. In a diplomatic victory Alexander Hamilton and his delegation manage to keep the state neutral from the conflict and later volunteer to settle a peace between the rivaling states.

In September 17th a New York pamphlet read:
“Hamilton offers peace, negotiations await Virginia’s reply”

It was well known that the Union had died in the hands of its own Fathers.

October 1788
The Treaty of Albany was signed in October 4th 1788. As a result:
Rhode Island was to remain under occupation by New England and later annexed to Massachusetts.
The diplomatic, military, and economic independence of all
New England (made up of New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts) remained as a federation and signed as a single entity.
New Jersey (a signer of the original constitution) opted to form a new Federation under the Pennsylvanian government. Delaware joined a month afterwards under a different agreement.

New England adopted a new Constitution of Confederation in October 27th three weeks after the treaty. The United States of America was declared the official name of the Federation, though the term New England remains popular. John Adams became the first elected president of the Federation. A popular urban myth states that the name was officially changed a day later.
Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania adopt a very similar constitution of their own a few weeks later. The Federated States of North America was declared the official name though due to its size and importance Pennsylvania is used as a colloquial name internationally. Delaware and New Jersey become terms used mostly by locals.
New York, under the presidency of Alexander Hamilton, recognizes the Iroquois Nation as a sovereign state. Under a treaty settling a border dispute New England Recognizes the Iroquois Nation and New York secedes the province of Vermont.
Most of the Southern States, being heavily anti federalist and fearing a strong executive power, stay as republics with a prime minister of congress. In the case of Virginia military command is placed under a governor-general, George Washington.

The War of 1811
How England Tried to Regain Power Over its Former Colonies.

Less than a year after the dissolution of the American Union, France erupted in revolution. After years of political strife and instability power fell into the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte. By the turn of the century Bonaparte had taken firm control of France and in 1804 crowned himself Emperor and began expanding his control across Europe. By 1807 only the British and Russian empires remained defiant of the French tidal wave. Soon its influence had spread into the Americas. In Spanish America movements for independence began with sporadic riots while the ex-British colonies debated whether to declare neutrality or enter the conflict. Seizing the opportunity to expand westwards and free their Canadian brothers from British rule New England sent its ambassador to negotiate an alliance with Napoleon, who by now had taken control of Western Europe, and exiled the Portuguese monarch. The French Emperor saw imitate benefits with an alliance across the Atlantic, particularly after acquiring large extensions of Spanish North America.

May 1811
The British Crown offered the former colonies to return to the crown. The offer had been placed 20 years before when the Union shattered; however the alliance with Napoleon from New England’s behalf, forced Britain to pressure the subject. In a historical mistake Britain diverted part of its navy to the Americas in hope of making an example out of what it still considered rebel colonies.
Britain placed a blockade in New Englander ports and ordered a small regiment from Nova Scotia into New England. Immediately afterwards New York and Pennsylvania declared their support for the New Englander cause. The advancement from the north was easily averted but the blockade remained. The small and relatively new New-Englander fleet was placed to a test against a much grander foe.

June 1811
Hoping to remain independent if the British managed to overwhelm New England. Virginia declared war upon its Northern neighbor. South Carolina followed the example soon the North American continent found itself in conflict once more.

November 1811
Britain’s colossal advantage over its colonies turned around when Quebec, fuel by the French nationalism in Europe and no longer fearful of the Union’s influence, declares independence. With the aid of Quebec, New England begins an offensive unto Nova Scotia.

February 1812
With the advance of the Napoleonic armies in Europe Britain is unable to continue activities in the west. Britain withdraws its forces from Quebec and New England and sues for peace. A treaty is signed in Quebec City:
Britain was to recognize the independence of Quebec and seceded Nova Scotia, which was then divided between Quebec and New England. Britain, however, was allowed to keep control of the entire Hudson Bay, Upper Canada and the Great Lakes.
New England’s connection to territories claimed west of the Great Lakes is severed, severely affecting any westward expansion.
A border dispute is settled between Virginia and Pennsylvania giving the northern nation a large portion of land to the west and access to the great lakes.
France retained the territories it had previously gained from Spain. After managing to land troops in British soil a year later and settling a peace with Britain, Napoleon stated his plans to make its North American territories the crown piece of his Empire. An offer was presented to Quebec by the French government for its annexation to the New French Empire. The offer was politely refused but the possibility of Quebec becoming a monarchy with someone from the Emperor’s family at its head remained open.


Chapter 2. The Anahuac Empire 1823

Agustin de Iturbide and the Army of the Four Guarantees
The original outbreak of New Spain’s independence movement was crushed before it even saw the light in the late months of 1810. The leaders of the movement were sentenced to death and hanged soon afterwards. Nevertheless the urge for independence increased as Napoleon’s army extended over Europe. The people of New Spain refused to tolerate an overseas rule, much less one under the influence of a foreign rule.

Less than two years later a second insurrection sprang under the leadership after news that a similar movement had sprung in Nueva Granada. This insurrection, however, was highly disorganized and by 1815 the movement had diminished significantly. Nevertheless it kept the revolutionary sprit in the minds of the citizens.


In the summer of 1818 a group of freedom fighters under the leadership of Vicente Guerrero managed to capture Chilpanzingo, a strategic town located between the capital and the pacific port of Acapulco. The movement began to take a much more formal shape; soon Guerrero had recruited an army of significant size and was capable of capturing Acapulco. In the east coast Jose Miguel Fernandez led an equally successful movement expanding from Vera Cruz into Puebla.

Leading the royalist forces against the insurrection was General Agustin de Iturbide. Iturbide fought under the guarantee that the Spanish monarch, Ferdinand VII, would be reinstituted once the Napoleonic occupation was gone. However after Napoleon managed a victory against Portugal in 1812 and the arrival of French troops in British soil in 1814, the possibility of full reinstitution looked slim. Iturbide nevertheless helped the Spanish cause in hopes of helping Spain not loose all its power. Finally in 1820 news arrived to New Spain that Ferdinand had been reinstituted and declared an alliance with the Emperor. This left most of the royal Spanish forces in New Spain with mixed feelings, particularly Agustin who felt Ferdinand had betrayed them. Early the next year Iturbide managed to contact Guerrero and Fernandez a summit was arranged for all three armies to meet.
In March 1921 the leaders of the insurrection movement met with Iturbide and a plan was laid out to join all three armies under a common cause. Although vague it was established that the coalition would guarantee the following:
Transition of power in New Spain from Madrid to Mexico City; ideally a member of the Spanish royal family would be chosen to rule.
Roman Catholicism would be the official religion of the new state.
All persons born in New Spain would be able to live in equality under the law; Peninsulares, those born in Spain but living in the Americas, would be given the opportunity to chose a nationality.
In the absence of a head of state the new coalition would be able to chose the government it found fitting as long as the previous three guarantees were respected.

The last point was added fearing that the new Spanish monarchy under the influence of Napoleon would refuse to transfer power to Mexico City.
With an increased force Agustin led the new army alongside Guerrero and Fernandez into Mexico City on November 21st 1821.

Spain’s Plea to France
With its Empire crumbling in the Americas Ferdinand sent a plea to Napoleon help quell the insurrection. French troops landed in Yucatan in January 1822 and in Caracas a few weeks later.

The independence of New Spain was followed by months of instability since the major leaders of the insurrection continuously quarreled over the form of government after Ferdinand refused the throne in Mexico City. The arrival of French troops forces the leaders to place their differences aside and fight the arriving foe. Guerrero led a full regiment well armed and equipped from Puebla into Yucatan. Experienced in guerilla warfare and knowledge of the terrain gave Guerrero a considerable advantage. Within a year the French commander, Louis Berthier, was forced to surrender and taken to the capital.

Napoleon had originally placed Bertheir as the head of French forces in the Americas as a form of exile, after his defeat in Prussia. Although not the keenest of military commanders Berthier saw the possibility of an alliance with the new nation. He negotiated a peace with Iturbide and promised the leaders of New Spain that France will recognize their independence from Spain in an exchange for an alliance and their guarantee that they will respect their Northern border with the French territories. Bertheir also managed to convince Iturbide, who up to the point solemnly believed in the divine right of kings, that he could indeed take the crown for himself. Iturbide was at first reluctant fearing that such move would bring back the instability the French intervention had solved. However Guerrero’s military victory and his own diplomatic victory gave congress all the justification needed. Emissaries were sent to France and as soon as news of Napoleon’s recognition arrived in March 1823, Iturbide was crowned alongside his wife Ana Maria in the Cathedral in Mexico City. Like Napoleon Agustin opted to take the crown from the archbishop and place it upon his own head. It was decided that the new nation would take the name that the original leaders of the revolution had proposed; The Anahuac Empire stretched from Upper California to Panama a bordering French America at the Brazos River north of Tejas.

Agustin’s coronation did not go without opposition, Fernandez along side a firey young lieutenant named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna planned a coup. Fernandez hoped to have Guerrero’s back so coup would be in charge of the armed forces. It is disputed whether Guerrero was actually loyal to Iturbide or if he simply knew that angering Iturbide meant angering Napoleon whichever the case Guerrero remained loyal to the Emperor and arrested the leaders of the coup. The young lieutenant was sentenced to death while Fernandez; due to his role in the independence movement was merely exiled.



What Happened in South America
The French intervention in Nueva Granada was a much more bloody business than in Anahuac. Simon Bolivar the leader of the movement was promptly killed but the insurrection did not stop it merely became a mob without a leader fracturing the country into many factions. French troops were able to stabilized part of the country alongside the Caribbean coast capturing Caracas and Panama before their defeat in Mexico. However the movement spread southwards into the Viceroyalty of Lima and the Viceroyalty of Argentina.
Franco-Spanish forces landed in the Argentine coast in January 1823 and managed to stop the insurrection there before it exploded. And with the help of Argentine troops they moved into Peru. Spain was still forced to recognize the independence of Quito, Leticia and upper Peru while keeping its hands on most of the Viceroyalties of Lima, Nueva Granada and Argentina. Argentina felt a particular discontent with the situation, it had remained loyal but was yet treated harshly under the new rule with which Spain was intending to keep its colonies. France was able to keep a large chunk of Nueva Granada, which it annexed to its Cayenne colonies to which it had already annexed its Dutch and British neighbors after their defeat in Europe.



Chapter 3. The Border and Native Troubles

The British District of Pacifica
Following its defeat in the Napoleonic wars Britain desperately sought to keep control of its colonies in North America. The settlement of Upper Canada was encouraged and with the help of the Hudson Bay Company it managed to establish a firm base with the settlements all the way to the Pacific in Oregon. The North West Company was merged with the Hudson Company for simpler management of the Hudson-Oregon Express, a brigade that was meant to supply goods to Fort Vancouver. In 1830 the District of Pacifica was created when the management of Fort Vancouver was placed in the hands of the Governor of Victoria in Vancouver Island.

The Five Civilized Tribes of Georgia and the Penn-Virginian Conflict
Since the disintegration of the Union the westward expansion of the ex-British colonies was faced with numerous complications. For one, the nations with direct access to the Appalachians competed against each other for settling the west. Secondly Britain still had claim over the territories although its presence south of the Great Lakes was nonexistent except for some thinly spread outposts. This led to a conflict between Virginia and Pennsylvania in establishing a border to the west. Pennsylvania had opened its borders for immigration a few years after the dissolution of the Union, and with the input of people it needed settlements to the West. However much of the land north of the Ohio River had been claimed by England causing a few settlers to wander south. Virginia however intended to expand westwards to gain access to the Mississippi. In 1827 Virginian forces expelled Pennsylvanian settlers leading to the Penn-Virginia conflict. The Conflict ended quickly with little bloodshed. A treaty was signed settling the border at the Ohio River and giving Pennsylvania access to the Mississippi by a strip of land seceded form Britian, who by this point had ensured its control over the Great Lakes, which would give New England a reason to stop being a nuisance.
Thirdly Native Americans inhabited most of the territories in particular the areas disputed between Georgia and North Carolina. In 1828, the North Carolinian administration under Andrew Jackson introduced the Indian Removal Act. The purpose of the act was to remove the Natives from its northern claims and place them in reservations near the Georgian border. This act however conflicted with Georgia’s own interest in westward expansion, as the reservations would be located within their claimed territories. The Georgian government attempted to negotiate with Jackson and establish a permanent border. The negotiation proved futile and Jackson ordered for the removal of the Natives to begin at once.
The Carolinian army could have easily handled the removal of the Cherokee who inhabited the land closest to the border along with whatever threat Georgia intended to fulfill, but failed to calculate the power of all four tribes plus the Georgian force together. In 1830 Creek leader Selocta of the Muscogee approached the Georgian government with a proposal. They will allow the settling of Georgia in the western territories and the incorporation of tribal lands within the Georgian government if the Georgians provided them with the necessary force to rally all tribes and stop the northern threat. Georgia accepted and within month it had assembled a force to keep the North Carolinians from expanding westwards. What the incorporation of the Natives tribes was originally meant to mean in the treaty of 1830 is still debated; the following are excerpts from a book by George Harkins Jr., a Choctaw leader and intellectual in the years to follow, entitled The Fifth Tribe of Georgia:

“In the times of my father it would have taken considerable diffidence to address the Georgian people, for the feeling of our incompetence would be sensibly known and the white Georgian would not be well entertained by the address of a Choctaw. Yet here I write freely and voluntarily about the strange manner in which our people came to be one.”… “My father would have said ‘We Choctaws rather choose to suffer and be free’. For many years I believed he meant free of white man’s influence. Now I understand that it means free of fear. Fear that our lands would be reduced and our people marginalized even further. Yet such fear drove us to find an unlikely ally within the tribes of the white man. It was this alliance that led us to the strange situation we find ourselves in.”… “The Choctaw boy goes to the white-man’s school so he can learn to be a proper Georgian. There he learns matters of law and trade. But in his school for every white boy present there is at least a representative from two of the other tribes, so the white-boy also learns. He learns to play and laugh like a Choctaw, at times even becoming a fair stickball player.”

The North Carolinians seemed to have a similar interpretation of the treaty after their defeat when the term “white savage” was used to describe a Georgian.

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