The Kingdom of Liberty: A History of the United States
- Thread starter Roosevelt
- Start date
Correct, the de jure title is "President of the Congress" but the de facto title is President of the United States.
Perhaps
Correct. A federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, to be exact.
The king can approve or reject legislation passed by Congress, serves as the commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and can dissolve Congress in certain situations (mostly if Congress asks), and granting honors/titles/etc. Pretty much how the British monarchy is.
The most controversial power is dissolution, which is only used when requested by the government.
It would be interesting if the US has a policy of encouraging royal marriages with other countries in the Western Hemisphere (I'm thinking specifically of the Empire of Brazil and the Mexican Empire) to solidify TTL's equivalent of the Monroe doctrince and perhaps even get an alliance structure going, similar to the League of the Three Emperors.
This might even serve to limit anti-Catholic sentiments in the US, with charismatic royals doing much to bridge the gap between Protestants and Catholics.
This might even serve to limit anti-Catholic sentiments in the US, with charismatic royals doing much to bridge the gap between Protestants and Catholics.
@Roosevelt, A very interesting TL. Reminds me of an old one on the Alternate history Wiki that used a similar idea, only with the Prince being a third son of the Jacobite James III. My only complaint is your misunderstanding of the British Crown's power in the eighteenth century. While constitutional, the Sovereign was far from a figurehead. The King played a direct role in forming and dismissing Ministries, influenced the passage of laws, controlled patronage for the armed forces, the Royal Household and Parliament, could veto laws (though that hadn't been done sense Queen Anne), declare war and make peace. So if the American crown is based on the British one, Henry I and his successors should hold a great deal of influence and power.
I am aware of how the monarchy in Britain was once more powerful, but that wouldn’t be very liberal of the United States to have a powerful unelected leader. Hence why more power is given to the head of parliamentary president than the sovereign. Of course, the king is still granted special powers that the president does not have as to maintain equality between branches.
Why would Henry agree to being a powerless figurehead? He is enlightened but he probably also believes in absolute rule of the king. I mean he is from Prussia after all he would try to govern America and not just be the neutral monarch. And the Americans would never accept a king thats meddling too much in their affairs or would they?
As I said, the king is equal to the legislative and judicial branches. I’ll probably post an appendix that has the ATL Constitution in the future, which will define the powers of the king.
Chapter Four
Chapter Four - Let The Eagle Spread Her Wings
“We are a beacon of hope, a beacon of freedom, and an example to the world. The best option, naturally, is to let the eagle spread her wings across this continent.” - President James Madison (March 1808)
Shortly after the conclusion of the French Revolutionary War, the United States lost her first king, Henry the First. The king passed away in his sleep at Woodford, the royal residence in Philadelphia, on August 3, 1802. As the king his wife, Queen Wilhelmina, were passed childbearing years when Henry was coronated, the Adams Government passed the Succession Acts of 1790, designating that Henry’s younger brother, Augustus, would be crowned king.
Augustus I, King of the United States
Just like his brother, King Augustus was coronated at Christ Church in Philadelphia. At the age of 72, he became the first king to reside in the District of Columbia, living in the newly completed Independence Manor. Fortunately for Augustus, his reign would be marked by the United States doubling in size and the birth of Manifest Destiny.
Early depiction of Independence Manor
Madison, who had been serving as President since 1798, was under pressure by the growing number of nationalists and expansionists in his party. There were two targets that were desired, the British-held Canadas to the north and Spanish-held Louisiana to the west. The United States and the Canadas (known as British North America) had once been under the same flag, but the Canadians had refused to join the rebellion with their American neighbors. Its low population made it appear as an easy target, however the Americans would risk an invasion by the formidable British Army and potentially be reduced to a colony again. Spanish Louisiana was desirable for just one city: New Orleans. The Madison Government, namely Foreign Affairs Secretary Thomas Jefferson, had been trying to buy Louisiana from Spain, but the Spanish were stubborn in their negotiations. Three offers were made between 1802 and 1807, which were all declined by the Spanish government. King Augustus endorsed the purchase of Louisiana, but regardless, Spain continued to reject Madison’s and Jefferson’s proposals.
To the south, American settlers had begun to gradually move to Spanish Florida. Its climate was good for farming and southerners began to migrate to Florida. Over time, disagreements began to arise between the American settlers and Spanish authorities. The Spanish attempted to impose a tax on crops grown by Americans living in their colony. This angered the settlers in the area and protests in Saint Augustine broke out in March of 1807. The Spanish military was called in to disperse the protestors, however the confrontation would turn violent. Some of the protesters began to throw rocks and sticks at the soldiers, and whether by purpose or accident, one soldier accidentally fired his rifle. Several other soldiers followed suit and the crowd fled. Four Americans were killed in what was known in the United States as the “Saint Augustine Massacre.” Shortly after, a group of Americans convened in Pensacola and declared their independence as the Republic of West Florida. It was at this moment that President Madison could finally please the hawks in Congress.
Complying with the wishes of West Florida, the Americans annexed the republic, which was not recognized by Spain. Spain demanded that the United States vacate West Florida and relinquish all claims on the land. President Madison refused, and on April 1, 1807, Spain declared war on the United States. The United States Army launched offensives to target Spain’s colonial cities of Saint Augustine and New Orleans. General William Henry Harrison marched south to Saint Augustine and Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand, the son of King Augustus, led troops to New Orleans. The Spanish were easily defeated by Harrison at Saint Augustine and Harrison continued moving his army south to secure the entirety of East Florida. Colonel Andrew Jackson, a rising star in the United States Army, led a successful assault on the Spanish garrison in Pensacola, evicting the Spanish from West Florida by late August. Shortly after, Jackson would be promoted to Brigadier General for his victory.
Colonel Andrew Jackson defeating the Spanish at the Battle of Pensacola
In New Orleans, the Spanish had deployed 15,000 more troops to the city, putting Prince Louis Ferdinand’s men at an unknown disadvantage. As he marched on New Orleans, he was unaware of the reinforcements and was forced to turn back east after it was clear he was seriously outnumbered. The First Battle of New Orleans was a success for Spain as they held the port city and suffered minimal casualties. Jackson’s army moved in from the east to reinforce Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand’s second attempt. Before dawn on September 30, the Crown Prince and General Jackson led a surprise assault on the city. The Spanish commander, Miguel Ricardo de Alava, scrambled to fight off the advancing Americans. By noon, the city was close to falling into American hands. However, disaster would strike for the Americans. At roughly one o’clock, Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand turned on his horse and ordered his men to march forward to the city’s ports. A Spanish sharpshooter, mounted on one of New Orleans’ buildings, fired at the Crown Prince, striking his heart and knocking him to the ground. The man who would succeed his father as King of the United States, was now dead.
Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand (1772-1807)
General Andrew Jackson took command of Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand’s men, rallying them to fight with vengeance and avenge the now-deceased prince. Several accounts recorded that General Jackson referred to the Spainsh as “chickenshits” and believed shooting Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand with his back turned was an act of cowardice. On October 2, New Orleans fell to the Americans, and the Spanish had suffered another humiliating defeat. As word of the fall of New Orleans hit Europe, Spain was willing to negotiate for peace. Convening in New York, Spain and the United States agreed to the Treaty of New York, ceding Louisiana, East Florida, and West Florida to the United States. Unfortunately, the elderly King Augustus would not see the enlarged United States for very long, as on May 2, 1813, King Augustus succumbed the flu. His son, Prince Augustus, ascended to the throne as King Augustus the Second.
King Augustus II of the United States of America
Like his uncle and father, Augustus II was a military man. He served in the United States Army as a Colonel, seeing action against the Spanish in the Floridian panhandle. Augustus II, however, never expected to be king. He was not prepared for the throne in his teen year like his brother was. As roughly six years passed between the death of Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand and King Augustus I, Augustus was somewhat unprepared for his duties as King. For example, he attracted controversy during the 1814 elections for calling President Smith an "insane radical" and calling his opponent, DeWitt Clinton, a "reasonable, sensible man." These comments were denounced by both the press and Congress, as well as by both major parties. This became one of the few times where the monarchy (or any monarchy) had to apologize to the general public. Despite a colorful personality, King Augustus II never married. This did not mean his love life was empty as many allegations of affairs would appear during his reign (which he denied). Despite these flaws, Augustus II would preside over the United States' rise from a secondary power to a great power, and would be one of the main proponents of the incoming Industrial Revolution.
(One thing that should be noted, the Spanish-American War was fairly ironic for the pro-France Madison Government. The war was supported by the United Kingdom and opposed by the French Republic, with the Royal Navy engaging the Spanish Navy in the Atlantic.)
The Spanish-American War, while short and not terribly bloody, would serve as an inspiration in Latin America. The defeat of the Spanish by a minor power in North America gave hope to many Latin Americans that Spain was no longer the powerful empire she once was. Enter Francisco de Miranda: a revolutionary in the mold of Jean Moreau.
Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda, the Liberator of Spanish America
Francisco de Miranda was a man who had served in four militaries and two revolutions. He had served Spain, France, the United States, and Russia. He fought for the Americans in the American Revolution and led troops alongside General Dumouriez in the French Revolution. His tenure in France was cut abruptly when he was arrested and tried by the Committee of Public Safety, only narrowly escaping execution. After nearly being executed, de Miranda’s view of the French Revolution soured, believing it had been hijacked by extremists and autocrats. He was, however, supportive of the Coup of 5 Prailial and praised General Moreau for “saving” the revolution. He returned to his home in Spanish Venezuela and believed he could implement his own revolution in Latin America. He lobbied the British (still bitter about the Franco-Spanish victory) to support an uprising in Spain’s colonies, which was privately agreed to. He had an audience with King Augustus regarding the situation in Spanish America, but not much came from their discussions as the United States attempted to maintain formal neutrality. By 1809, however, Spain had exposed herself as a shadow of her former self.
It was time for revolution.
All of Latin America witnessed Spain losing control of the Floridas and Louisiana, doubling the United States’ size and throwing an egg on the empire’s face. Generalissimo de Miranda began to rally his fellow patriots and nationalists in the autumn of 1809, and led a march on Caracas, overthrowing the Captaincy General and declaring independence from Spain. Spain, of course, decided to move their forces to crush the rebellions in Venezuela and restore order to their empire. News of the rebellion prompted the United Kingdom to recognize the independence of de Miranda’s Venezuelan Republic and sent the Jamaica Station to bombard and blockade Spanish ports.
Depiction of the Royal Navy engaging the Spanish at the Battle of Magarita
Generalissimo de Miranda was more than delighted to have the British go to war with Spain. While he was a great military commander, his men were poorly armed and, despite their numbers, would probably not be able to fight off the Spanish Army on their own. His uprising would encourage rebellions across Spanish America, with self-proclaimed governments declaring independence in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. By 1812, nearly all of Spanish America was in rebellion. Casualties for both sides became staggering as many of the Patriots utilized guerrilla warfare to fight off colonial troops. This was not to say that the Patriots were completely unified. For example, in what was Spanish New Granada and Venezuela, quarreling between Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar led to the latter attempting to break off his own republic to oppose the Generalissimo, only to be captured executed by the former in 1814. It should be noted that similarly to the American Revolution, much of their success was owed to the United Kingdom's entry. The United Kingdom forced Spain to divert troops to fight off British invasions of their empire, namely campaigns in the Caribbean and around the Canary Islands. These diversions caused Spain to overstretch itself and eventually would lead to their defeat. The wars of independence would formally conclude in June of 1818, with the United Kingdom (negotiating for the Patriots) and Spain signing the Treaty of Brighton. Spain would be forced to relinquish their claims over all of Spanish America and would cede Cuba, Puerto Rico (renamed Port Rich), and the Falklands to the British Empire. Shortly after the peace, the Stewart-Adams Treaty was ratified by both the United Kingdom and the United States, forbidding any European power from conquering the nations of the Americas to establish an empire.
The rise of new nations in the New World would signify a divide between supporters of liberalism. The United States and the French Republics were seen as models for an post-Enlightenment society. Generalissimo de Miranda was a profound republican and used France's system as his model for the Constitution of the United States of New Granada, instating himself as "Consul" and having a directly elected National Assembly (his version of the House of Representatives) and Senate. To the north, Mexico would follow the American system. Agustín de Iturbide, who was originally against independence but switched sides in 1816, instated himself as "Emperor of Mexico" and used the United States Constitution as his model for Mexico, reigning as Agustín I. Agustín I would befriend King Augustus II to help him maintain his unsteady reign over Mexico, even signing an alliance between the two countries. As humanity entered 1820, the world had begun to change rapidly.
Map of the world at the beginning of 1820
“We are a beacon of hope, a beacon of freedom, and an example to the world. The best option, naturally, is to let the eagle spread her wings across this continent.” - President James Madison (March 1808)
Shortly after the conclusion of the French Revolutionary War, the United States lost her first king, Henry the First. The king passed away in his sleep at Woodford, the royal residence in Philadelphia, on August 3, 1802. As the king his wife, Queen Wilhelmina, were passed childbearing years when Henry was coronated, the Adams Government passed the Succession Acts of 1790, designating that Henry’s younger brother, Augustus, would be crowned king.
Augustus I, King of the United States
Just like his brother, King Augustus was coronated at Christ Church in Philadelphia. At the age of 72, he became the first king to reside in the District of Columbia, living in the newly completed Independence Manor. Fortunately for Augustus, his reign would be marked by the United States doubling in size and the birth of Manifest Destiny.
Early depiction of Independence Manor
Madison, who had been serving as President since 1798, was under pressure by the growing number of nationalists and expansionists in his party. There were two targets that were desired, the British-held Canadas to the north and Spanish-held Louisiana to the west. The United States and the Canadas (known as British North America) had once been under the same flag, but the Canadians had refused to join the rebellion with their American neighbors. Its low population made it appear as an easy target, however the Americans would risk an invasion by the formidable British Army and potentially be reduced to a colony again. Spanish Louisiana was desirable for just one city: New Orleans. The Madison Government, namely Foreign Affairs Secretary Thomas Jefferson, had been trying to buy Louisiana from Spain, but the Spanish were stubborn in their negotiations. Three offers were made between 1802 and 1807, which were all declined by the Spanish government. King Augustus endorsed the purchase of Louisiana, but regardless, Spain continued to reject Madison’s and Jefferson’s proposals.
To the south, American settlers had begun to gradually move to Spanish Florida. Its climate was good for farming and southerners began to migrate to Florida. Over time, disagreements began to arise between the American settlers and Spanish authorities. The Spanish attempted to impose a tax on crops grown by Americans living in their colony. This angered the settlers in the area and protests in Saint Augustine broke out in March of 1807. The Spanish military was called in to disperse the protestors, however the confrontation would turn violent. Some of the protesters began to throw rocks and sticks at the soldiers, and whether by purpose or accident, one soldier accidentally fired his rifle. Several other soldiers followed suit and the crowd fled. Four Americans were killed in what was known in the United States as the “Saint Augustine Massacre.” Shortly after, a group of Americans convened in Pensacola and declared their independence as the Republic of West Florida. It was at this moment that President Madison could finally please the hawks in Congress.
Complying with the wishes of West Florida, the Americans annexed the republic, which was not recognized by Spain. Spain demanded that the United States vacate West Florida and relinquish all claims on the land. President Madison refused, and on April 1, 1807, Spain declared war on the United States. The United States Army launched offensives to target Spain’s colonial cities of Saint Augustine and New Orleans. General William Henry Harrison marched south to Saint Augustine and Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand, the son of King Augustus, led troops to New Orleans. The Spanish were easily defeated by Harrison at Saint Augustine and Harrison continued moving his army south to secure the entirety of East Florida. Colonel Andrew Jackson, a rising star in the United States Army, led a successful assault on the Spanish garrison in Pensacola, evicting the Spanish from West Florida by late August. Shortly after, Jackson would be promoted to Brigadier General for his victory.
Colonel Andrew Jackson defeating the Spanish at the Battle of Pensacola
In New Orleans, the Spanish had deployed 15,000 more troops to the city, putting Prince Louis Ferdinand’s men at an unknown disadvantage. As he marched on New Orleans, he was unaware of the reinforcements and was forced to turn back east after it was clear he was seriously outnumbered. The First Battle of New Orleans was a success for Spain as they held the port city and suffered minimal casualties. Jackson’s army moved in from the east to reinforce Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand’s second attempt. Before dawn on September 30, the Crown Prince and General Jackson led a surprise assault on the city. The Spanish commander, Miguel Ricardo de Alava, scrambled to fight off the advancing Americans. By noon, the city was close to falling into American hands. However, disaster would strike for the Americans. At roughly one o’clock, Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand turned on his horse and ordered his men to march forward to the city’s ports. A Spanish sharpshooter, mounted on one of New Orleans’ buildings, fired at the Crown Prince, striking his heart and knocking him to the ground. The man who would succeed his father as King of the United States, was now dead.
Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand (1772-1807)
General Andrew Jackson took command of Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand’s men, rallying them to fight with vengeance and avenge the now-deceased prince. Several accounts recorded that General Jackson referred to the Spainsh as “chickenshits” and believed shooting Crown Prince Louis Ferdinand with his back turned was an act of cowardice. On October 2, New Orleans fell to the Americans, and the Spanish had suffered another humiliating defeat. As word of the fall of New Orleans hit Europe, Spain was willing to negotiate for peace. Convening in New York, Spain and the United States agreed to the Treaty of New York, ceding Louisiana, East Florida, and West Florida to the United States. Unfortunately, the elderly King Augustus would not see the enlarged United States for very long, as on May 2, 1813, King Augustus succumbed the flu. His son, Prince Augustus, ascended to the throne as King Augustus the Second.
King Augustus II of the United States of America
(One thing that should be noted, the Spanish-American War was fairly ironic for the pro-France Madison Government. The war was supported by the United Kingdom and opposed by the French Republic, with the Royal Navy engaging the Spanish Navy in the Atlantic.)
The Spanish-American War, while short and not terribly bloody, would serve as an inspiration in Latin America. The defeat of the Spanish by a minor power in North America gave hope to many Latin Americans that Spain was no longer the powerful empire she once was. Enter Francisco de Miranda: a revolutionary in the mold of Jean Moreau.
Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda, the Liberator of Spanish America
Francisco de Miranda was a man who had served in four militaries and two revolutions. He had served Spain, France, the United States, and Russia. He fought for the Americans in the American Revolution and led troops alongside General Dumouriez in the French Revolution. His tenure in France was cut abruptly when he was arrested and tried by the Committee of Public Safety, only narrowly escaping execution. After nearly being executed, de Miranda’s view of the French Revolution soured, believing it had been hijacked by extremists and autocrats. He was, however, supportive of the Coup of 5 Prailial and praised General Moreau for “saving” the revolution. He returned to his home in Spanish Venezuela and believed he could implement his own revolution in Latin America. He lobbied the British (still bitter about the Franco-Spanish victory) to support an uprising in Spain’s colonies, which was privately agreed to. He had an audience with King Augustus regarding the situation in Spanish America, but not much came from their discussions as the United States attempted to maintain formal neutrality. By 1809, however, Spain had exposed herself as a shadow of her former self.
It was time for revolution.
All of Latin America witnessed Spain losing control of the Floridas and Louisiana, doubling the United States’ size and throwing an egg on the empire’s face. Generalissimo de Miranda began to rally his fellow patriots and nationalists in the autumn of 1809, and led a march on Caracas, overthrowing the Captaincy General and declaring independence from Spain. Spain, of course, decided to move their forces to crush the rebellions in Venezuela and restore order to their empire. News of the rebellion prompted the United Kingdom to recognize the independence of de Miranda’s Venezuelan Republic and sent the Jamaica Station to bombard and blockade Spanish ports.
Depiction of the Royal Navy engaging the Spanish at the Battle of Magarita
Generalissimo de Miranda was more than delighted to have the British go to war with Spain. While he was a great military commander, his men were poorly armed and, despite their numbers, would probably not be able to fight off the Spanish Army on their own. His uprising would encourage rebellions across Spanish America, with self-proclaimed governments declaring independence in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. By 1812, nearly all of Spanish America was in rebellion. Casualties for both sides became staggering as many of the Patriots utilized guerrilla warfare to fight off colonial troops. This was not to say that the Patriots were completely unified. For example, in what was Spanish New Granada and Venezuela, quarreling between Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar led to the latter attempting to break off his own republic to oppose the Generalissimo, only to be captured executed by the former in 1814. It should be noted that similarly to the American Revolution, much of their success was owed to the United Kingdom's entry. The United Kingdom forced Spain to divert troops to fight off British invasions of their empire, namely campaigns in the Caribbean and around the Canary Islands. These diversions caused Spain to overstretch itself and eventually would lead to their defeat. The wars of independence would formally conclude in June of 1818, with the United Kingdom (negotiating for the Patriots) and Spain signing the Treaty of Brighton. Spain would be forced to relinquish their claims over all of Spanish America and would cede Cuba, Puerto Rico (renamed Port Rich), and the Falklands to the British Empire. Shortly after the peace, the Stewart-Adams Treaty was ratified by both the United Kingdom and the United States, forbidding any European power from conquering the nations of the Americas to establish an empire.
The rise of new nations in the New World would signify a divide between supporters of liberalism. The United States and the French Republics were seen as models for an post-Enlightenment society. Generalissimo de Miranda was a profound republican and used France's system as his model for the Constitution of the United States of New Granada, instating himself as "Consul" and having a directly elected National Assembly (his version of the House of Representatives) and Senate. To the north, Mexico would follow the American system. Agustín de Iturbide, who was originally against independence but switched sides in 1816, instated himself as "Emperor of Mexico" and used the United States Constitution as his model for Mexico, reigning as Agustín I. Agustín I would befriend King Augustus II to help him maintain his unsteady reign over Mexico, even signing an alliance between the two countries. As humanity entered 1820, the world had begun to change rapidly.
Map of the world at the beginning of 1820
I really would love to live in this kind of United States.
A shame Upper and Lower Canada both turned down the chance to join, but their independence won't last for too long knowing what's going to happen in the next few years.
A shame Upper and Lower Canada both turned down the chance to join, but their independence won't last for too long knowing what's going to happen in the next few years.
Done!
Let The Eagle Spread Her WingsI really would love to live in this kind of United States.
A shame Upper and Lower Canada both turned down the chance to join, but their independence won't last for too long knowing what's going to happen in the next few years.