Who should become the first president of new england?


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For Britain it seems likely thy are due to trip on something. They have been rolling quite a few sixes. Even though I appreciate them having to trim back in their colonialism some as shown in New Zealand. Similar for the Habsburg Empire, while i am glad they are doing well, it seems like the opposition has been rolling snake eyes while reformers get sixes; something it seems has to go wrong there.
Well to be fair to the Danubian Empire, the opponents did secede (Venice, Hungary) but they were brought back in by force.
In the case of Britain, an embarrassing defeat is coming, though not in the the 1840s decade sadly.
For Prussia I am rather hoping for a stroke of good fortune. Seems like that player has been getting sidelined a lot. For that matter what is Bavaria doing?
Prussia is quiet until the late 1840s like otl, because well, they're sitting around paying off their napoleonic loans, which were massive for a great power so they're just trying to make their economy stable again.
For Russia and the Ottomans too much is in motion now.
True enough
For Japan I hope this current system of reformed Daimyo and Samurai sticks around for a while more. Combined with a seemingly stronger China I am intrigued how Japan will develop internally and on the world stage ITTL. Though I could see the Shogunate itself ending if the current war goes too badly.
The Hereditary Governorship in the Daimyo lands will continue probably, however if the war goes bad, then the Samurai may also be disbanded, if lost then the Samurai will be regarded as a military force of a bygone era.
For France I am curious how French is developing as a people and culture under this successful restoration. Is Louisiana as a sister/daugher nation impacting the development of France and her people and how they see themselves in the world?
Yup, Louisiana is considered like that of a child nation for France. Much like how modern britain and the former white dominions kinda have a father-son relationship. The same applies here.
Mexico I see growing pains ahead. Bringing the Empire firmly under unity will not be easy and there are lots of matters to deal with; and more will be coming with the Gold Rush. But also i think the Great Power dream will be a major force in Central Mexico, galvanizing the push to bring the Empire together and take the stage as a true Great Power, not only in North America but on the world stage.
Mexico is already under massive pressure from the Mexican Indian Wars going on throughout the country (though mainly against the Comanche) and yes, a gold rush would significantly ruin mexico in the short term, though it would advantageous in the long term.
For BNA Britains growing global Imperial commitment I see as causing their schism. Canada asserting itself more as Britain's focus shifts while the Maritimes cleave to the Empire closer. And Borealia will be kid of the lot being influenced by Canada and the Empire as it takes shape.
A schism regarding the growing Maritime Loyalism is more likely. Borealia would derive its culture mostly from Canadian west coast culture of otl methinks, which is quite unique from normal canadian culture.
 
Chapter 47: 1843 – Peace?
Chapter 47: 1843 – Peace?

***

“Throughout the winter, of 1842 and 43, the British government had persuaded Queen Victoria that she needed to marry someone. The country was at war, which was not popular, and the people needed something to distract themselves with. A marriage of a popular prince to their popular queen would be just that. Queen Victoria herself had been becoming close to a german prince named August Victor Louis of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Interestingly unlike the other Saxe-Coburgs, Prince August was a member of the Hungarian branch of the family. Queen Victoria agreed and proposed Prince August on January 19th, 1843 and asked his hand in marriage to become King Consort of Britain, on the condition that he converted from Roman Catholicism to Anglicanism. Prince August, a very devout man, was hesitant at first, however soon agreed to convert and converted from Catholicism to Anglicanism in a church ceremony in Canterbury on January 24th.

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Prince August

Prince August himself was a popular man within Britain during his frequent visits to Queen Victoria. Prince August had used the freedom given to Catholics after the Catholic Emancipation to construct new catholic cathedrals, and he had sympathized with Irish catholics, and had started a small Irish school in Wexford, which he had personally funded. His lineage was also prestigious, being the younger brother of Ferdinand II of Portugal, who was the King-Consort of Portugal to Queen Maria of Portugal. He was also the nephew of Prince Leopold, the unfortunate husband of Princess Charlotte and as such he was well liked in Britain.

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Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland.

News of the marriage spread like wildfire throughout Britain and the population were indeed diverted from the war and became more and more involved in the upcoming marriage. On February 27th, 1843, Queen Victoria married Prince August in a lavish ceremony held in Britain alongside members of the Saxe-Coburg Gotha dynasty which had arrived to attend the marriage. The British Nobility and the government attended the lavish ceremony as well and after the ceremony was over the new couple went on a carriage tour of London where the common folk came out to see their new King Consort. After the lavish affair, the two withdrew to their new honeymoon which was arranged by the British government to take place in the Isle of Mann, a beautiful place, and far away from the hassles of urbanized Britain for the royal couple. Nine months later a prince would be born.” The Victorian Era: How It Defined Modern Britain, Liverpool Publishing, 1999

“On May 17th, Prince Gorchakov was being reinforced with over 50,000 Russian troops from Ukraine and Belarus swelling his army numbers from 90,000 to 140,000 creating a powerful army force now. As the Ottomans laid siege to Foscani, and their rears were now exposed, Prince Gorchakov decided to take a risk and attack. Nonetheless, he was stopped when he was sacked by Nicholas I for the blunders of 1842 and was replaced by Prince Nikolay Muravyov, who was deemed a younger and more stronger general by Nicholas I and the Russian Ministry of War, who wanted a stronger leader in the Balkan Front, which they deemed the best front to gain a victory in this increasingly unwinnable war.

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Prince Nikolay Muravyov

Prince Muravyov continued with Prince Gorchakov’s plan for a massive offensive and began to plan an attack against the Ottoman forces near Foscani. He decided to march his army from Chisinau all the way to Foscani and vice versa to give the Ottoman Commander, Heyreddin Pasha, a false sense of security against the meager Moldavian forces in and around of the area. As such, Heyreddin Pasha, unfortunately became complacent in fighting against the sieged Moldavians and that was when Muravyov hatched his plan and trap. His army took a sudden turn against the Ottomans and their forces as the Ottoman lines thinned and he moved the Russian army towards the rear at Golesti. Heyreddin Pasha, who was now weakened to only 70,000 men after months of sieging, was forced to give battle on terms that he did not prefer nor like.

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The Battle of Golesti.

The Ottoman troops were stationed on the area near in and around of Golesti whilst the Moldavians and Russians came from the north near Sud and Caerdac with the Milcov river diving the two armies from each other. Heyreddin Pasha could immediately see that his 70,000 strong army was outnumbered by the 100,000 strong Russo-Moldavian army which was taking up positions across the river. Angry at himself and his foolishness, as well as arrogance, Heyreddin Pasha decided that he would retreat and defeat the Russians on his own terms. He formed a rearguard of 20,000 men to screen the actions of his other troops and as the 20,000 troops formed up against the Milcov river, the rest started to slink away in an ordered manner, conducting a retreat till Buzau, where Heyreddin Pasha would make a stand against the invading Russian army.

On May 25th, the Russian columns began to stream across the Milkov river and started to hurl themselves in a massive confused melee against the Ottoman rearguard’s lines and forced the Ottoman rearguard to abandon one section of their defenses which allowed the Russians to capture a beachhead on the other bank. Soon enough more Russian reinforcements as well as Moldavian troops began to pour into the beachhead as the Ottoman rearguard formed up against the beachhead as well. The Ottomans then counterattacked intending to drive the Russians behind the river again, however their counter attack floundered as the Ottoman cavalry amidst the rearguard was in small amount and not able to attack the Russians properly. The Russians capitalized on this ottoman weakness and pushed the Ottoman counterattack away, and made their beachhead even stronger as the disoriented Ottoman troops gave way for more Russian encroachment. The Ottomans then took measures to a more defensive stance and took positions in hastily made redoubts which were unlikely to hold out for more than a day. The Russians decided to bombard the redoubt positions and to take the redoubts easily after that. The bombardment combined with the fact that the Ottoman artillery had largely withdrawn with the rest of the 50,000 troops as well made the Ottomans unable to counter attack properly and by May 26th, Omar Pasha, who led the rearguard action after Heyreddin Pasha withdrew with the bulk of his army decided that it would be prudent to withdraw now. By midday the Ottomans were in headlong retreat and the Russians had come out victorious in the Battle of Golesti which ended the Siege of Foscani in Ottoman defeat as well.

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Omar Pasha.

Prince Muravyov was then promoted to become Field Marshal for his victory at the Battle of Golesti. He would become one of russia’s most youngest marshals and took personal command of the Russian forces in the Balkans and then turned the tide of war within the front.

After the victory at Golesti, he proclaimed on behalf of the Russian government, with the actionable autonomy vested into him by the Russian Ministry of War that Russian would support a united and independent Romania, free of Ottoman rule, with solidarity with the Orthodox Christian faith. He called upon the electors of the Prince of Moldavia to choose a new monarch for ‘Rhumania’ and called for the Rhomani to join up in arms against the Ottoman Moslem Oppressor, even though the latter wasn’t exactly true anymore. The effects of this was profound. A reverse Armenian declaration if you will. Wallachian units rebelled against the ottomans and open insurrection took place in Wallachian towns and villages in support of their perceived Russian ‘orthodox brother’. Ottoman garrisons had to stamp down on the riots and rebellions quickly and efficiently, and in sometimes gory methods, which added fuel to the growing fire.

On June 20th, Prince Muravyov after being reinforced by 9,000 Moldavian troops decided to move against and moved south, forcing his army to march at faster pace than before. On June 31st he arrived at Buzau where Heyreddin Pasha was willing to give battle in what culminated into the Second Battle of Buzau.

The Ottoman troops were concentrated south of the Buzau river, near the citadel of the city whilst the Russians concentrated their forces into two halves, at Maracineni and at Gura Calnaului. The Russians then decided to start a massive carronade to depict their starting of the battle on the morning of the 1st of July which saw the Russians bombard the cross bank Ottoman positions without real mercy at all. The Ottomans reacted with kind with their own cannonade which bombarded the Russian positions. A massive confused melee of artillery fire on both sides added to the growing confusion sowing within the troops and near 10 am the Russians started to cross the Buzau river using plankton bridges. The Russian engineers had worked hastily throughout the previously night to construct the bridges and now the Russians used that to their advantage to cross the Buzau river in rapid succession. The Ottomans got wind of this and attacked, however the frontline Russian Cossacks and elite mountaineer regiments held the lines firmly allowing for more and more Russian troops to cross the river. The Ottomans were steadily pushed back.

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The Battle of Buzau (2nd)

However during the afternoon a freak Russian cannonade struck Heyreddin Pasha and killed the man and commander instantly and struck a hard blow onto the Ottoman morale. Ottoman morale plummeted and the Cossacks managed to penetrate into the Ottoman center and destroyed it, forcing the Ottomans to fall into complete disarray. Disarray which they could not recover properly from. Omar Pasha took up command, however he was still sure that victory could be achieved and ordered the disorganized Ottoman troops to counter attack. The counter attack led by disoriented Ottoman troops was a massive disaster which was not only pushed back, but Muravyov even conducted a pincer movement which encircled around 6,000 Ottoman troops near the Buzau Citadel. The troops were massacred and Omar Pasha recognizing the futility of further attack decided to retreat back towards Ottoman Rumelia, deciding to abandon Wallachia to its fate.

On August the Ottomans retreated wholesale from Wallachia, abandoning it to defend Ottoman Bulgaria instead. Wallachian Prince Gheorghe Bibescu denounced the abandonment and using the pretext of abandonment to annul the vassalage to the Sublime Porte and gave his full support to Rhomanian unification. He switched sides and declared himself for Russia and declared war on the Ottoman Empire. For this action, Abdulmejid I sacked Omar Pasha and replaced him with Cukrulu Pasha and ordered him to conduct the defense of the Ottoman Balkans.

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State of Romania flag

The Russians would try to break into the Ottoman Balkans, however the Ottomans would use the Danube River to defend the peninsula and the Russians would not be able to penetrate into the Ottoman Balkans. However the Ottomans had lost and this was obvious when on September 29th, 1843, the State of Romania was declared from Bucharest.” Ottomans in the Balkans. Belgrade Publishing, 2009.

“Florida under Spanish rule was a place that many called ‘The Decaying Peninsula’. This was not surprising. Under British Rule, Florida had expanded, and the infrastructural strength of the region had grown in such amplitudes that had never been seen before. However the handing over of Florida by Britain to Spain in 1783 led to the old inept Spanish colonial administration coming back, which was met with hesitant ambivalence by the Floridan population. Made up of a mixture of Anglos, Hispanics, Blacks and Native Indians (Seminoles and Creeks in majority), Florida remained on the backburner for many in the Spanish government. The Spanish Reconquista of much of Latin America in the late 1810s and early 1820s left the growing nascent Floridan nationalism seem like a lost cause, and many decided to abandon that in favor of a pro-autonomist approach. This was received with fierce opposition from King Ferdinand VII who threatened military force on Florida more than once during his reign. The dispatching of General Venegas to Florida with 12,000 men during the American Civil War was also an attempt to subtly threaten the Floridan population, and the people knew it. Not wanting to become a new version of the Lima Massacre during the Spanish re-conquest of Peru, the Floridan population slowly started to drop their autonomist demands, reluctantly consigning themselves to live with their lives.

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St. Augustine in the 1830s.

However all was not well in Florida by 1843. Like much of the other Spanish colonies, the death of Ferdinand VII and the loss of his charisma which held the Spanish Empire together, the countryside and colony fell into whispers of rebellion once again. The young and inexperienced boy king Alfonso XII was basically a puppet of the Spanish Prime Ministers, an ironic fact considering that the Spanish prime ministers had previously been puppets of Ferdinand VII. In 1837, under Santiago Hernandez, the Florida Nationalist Movement was established in St. Augustine and was supported by the Black and Anglo population of the peninsula. Hernandez was inspired by the late and tragic figure of Simon Bolivar who had died in the March Across the Andes, and proudly proclaimed himself, privately of course, as the Bolivar of Florida. Despite his proud proclamations, Hernandez was competent and by 1843 he had managed to organize several riots, and protests against the colonial government, raising the slogan ‘No hay regla sin responsabilidad’ which translates roughly into ‘No rule without accountability’.

Unlike the Governors of Charcas, New Granada, Peru, Chile and Cuba during this time, all of whom were moderates and maintained colonial autonomy, unfortunately for many Floridans and Spain as well, the colonial governor of Florida at them time was one Leonardo Lopez. Coming from a proud aristocratic family, and Lopez was basically a hardline unionist with Spain and cracked down on any nationalist movement with tyrannical ruthlessness, and was called by the British and Mexican Press as ‘The Butcher of St. Augustine’ as he converted the once beautiful city into a military camp to stamp down on nationalistic fervor. The free black population of the peninsula were also bristling with rage over the Spanish refusal to aid the blacks of America, who were precariously close to the Floridan border during the insurgency of the Black Army under the Gaines Rebellion and though themselves betrayed by Madrid over this.

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Tomas Zumalacrregui

Prime Minister Tomas Zumalacarregui did not make things better with his ultra conservative views. A masterful battle commander he may have been, however politics would be his undoing. In 1842 he ordered the controversial Import Act which levied heavy tariffs on the Floridan economy in order to stimulate government incomes and revenue from the colony which infuriated the Floridan population. In February 12, 1843, the Floridans came out to the streets to protest against the ruling of Zumalacarregui and began to shout out for responsibility for the government. Lopez thought that they were calling out the accountability slogan sprouted by Hernandez and opened fire at the protestors. Much like the Boston Massacre, it was like lighting a barrel of gunpowder, and the entire Flordian population exploded with anger, with decades of pent up anger and frustration making itself known.

Hernandez was also a fool. Despite his founding of the basis for an independent Florida, he turned towards the United American Union as a means to gain independence. The UAU was certainly not a great power, however it was a regional power, despite its controversies, and hosted a strong 50,000 professional army, which could swamp the paltry 2,000 garrison soldiers in Florida easily. The small naval presence in St. Augustine wasn’t much of a threat either, though the Spanish squadrons in Havana, Caracas and Saint Domingo were definite threats.

In early 1843, President Andrew Jackson received a letter from Hernandez asking for UAU intervention against Spain to secure Floridan independence. Jackson was more than happy to oblige. He was getting old, and in his eyes he needed to sort out the American borders before he died, and he wanted to do this by the end of the decade, after which he believed he would die and leave this plane of existence. He began arming the Floridan nationalists and militias and sent American arms through smuggling and managed to goad the Floridans in their favor. Jackson also showed masterful diplomacy when he managed to unite the squabbling factions of the Floridan Nationalist Congress and managed to make them form a united front against Spain.

Spain which was still undergoing heavy upheavals within its latin American colonies, as well as armed resistance in Charcas, was unable to respond properly to the impending threat. After secretly mobilizing the army under the command of William J. Worth the army of around 12,000 men, consisting of the entire Southern Command was sent to the Florida border.

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American invasion of Florida.

On May 18th, 1843, the United American Union, with aid from the Floridan Nationalist Movement and Floridan Nationalist Congress, invaded Florida, as the American Navy also set up a small blockade of the peninsula. The American Conquest of Florida was soon to follow.” History Pamphlet of the Floridan Nationalist Party before the Florida Independence Referendum of 1979, which established an independent Florida after 2 centuries of struggle.

***
 
Inviting in the Americans. There's no way that could possibly go wrong.

In other news, interesting choice for Queen Victoria's husband ITTL.

Also, the war is not progressing entirely in the Ottomans' favour.
 
I'm pretty sure Louisiana and Mexico will soon jump into the fray as their major trade route is now blocked. And with how unpopular Jackson's regime is, this will be it's final nail in the coffin.
 
On May 18th, 1843, the United American Union, with aid from the Floridan Nationalist Movement and Floridan Nationalist Congress, invaded Florida, as the American Navy also set up a small blockade of the peninsula. The American Conquest of Florida was soon to follow.” History Pamphlet of the Floridan Nationalist Party before the Florida Independence Referendum of 1979, which established an independent Florida after 2 centuries of struggle
I'm guessing they weren't exactly kind to Florida huh.

Oh god, Jackson is ruling over the Seminole...
 
I'm pretty sure Louisiana and Mexico will soon jump into the fray as their major trade route is now blocked. And with how unpopular Jackson's regime is, this will be it's final nail in the coffin.
The major trade route is not blocked exactly. the Cuban-Haitian straits, and the Caribbean is still open completely for trade. The alliance between Mexico and Louisiana is also defensive, aggressive actions would nullify the alliance, as it is new orleans and mexico city do not like each other.
 
any predictions?
Well America's going to win, that's a forgone conclusion. I imagine they'll be an immediate and very brutal crack down on Florida nationalism and basically genocide on the native populations there, a possible underground railroad for escaping to Mishigama and Louisiana.

Romania will probably keep its independence but I imagine that's as far as the Russians will really be able to push into the Balkans.

With the loss of Florida, we will start truly swing the downfall of the Spanish Empire, possible revolution in the future.

Be interesting to see what New England's upto, I could imagine them basically becoming the Switzerland of North America, the Merchants and Bankers of the New Worlds.

Be nice to see some more republics crop up at some point.
 
So the Florida war has come.

I am guessing the pact Hernandez made was for America to get the old border back at least? But I am guessing Jackson will alter the agreement into annexation.

For this war New England and Britain are both preoccupied overseas with their wars. And for the moment the moral outrage is tangled by the fact Jackson is allegedly fighting to liberate a colony that has been misgoverned. Mexico likewise I expect sees little reason to bail Spain out of its own mess; and they have their wars with the native peoples ongoing.

So Louisiana is the only likely one to jump in. That may be where Lee earns his reputation, successfully defeating a Louisianan invasion of the UAU.

For the war I am guessing two phases. One against Spain that ends with both Spain suffering a naval defeat and the Fall of the Peninsula to the rebels and Union. Spain could keep fighting but the PM swallows pride seeing Florida as not worth the cost with the Empire imperiled. The second phase being the Union against their former allies, and likely never trusted them insurgents.

I am guessing Florida will get some carving up too under Jackson. More of the panhandle I expect will get given to Mississippi(-Alabama) ITTL and Georgia may get a slice off, and some Gulf coast. Jackson I expect will be keen to cater favor in Dixie by enlarging those states.

So a win against the "Catholic Crowns" that will gain the Union prestiege but also reignite Anti union sentiment across the continent. And set up the Union to being overconfident down the line dealing with Mexico.

Long Live Romania it seems. I wonder who will get the crown.

I wonder how the Bririh royal faily will develop with a different patriarch? He certainly seems set up to defuse the Reformation divide further.
 
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Well America's going to win, that's a forgone conclusion. I imagine they'll be an immediate and very brutal crack down on Florida nationalism and basically genocide on the native populations there, a possible underground railroad for escaping to Mishigama and Louisiana.
Louisiana is a possibility, it is much nearer, and the climate is relative to florida as well in comparison to mishigama
Romania will probably keep its independence but I imagine that's as far as the Russians will really be able to push into the Balkans.
We will see!
With the loss of Florida, we will start truly swing the downfall of the Spanish Empire, possible revolution in the future.
Florida will simply be the first of many indeed........
Be interesting to see what New England's upto, I could imagine them basically becoming the Switzerland of North America, the Merchants and Bankers of the New Worlds.
New England we will catch up with. Joseph Smith has not be idle. Neither have the mapuches to be honest.
Be nice to see some more republics crop up at some point.
Majority of the Spanish colonies will end up as republics. 1 or 2 will be monarchies, but vast majority will be republics.
 
So the Florida war has come.
indeed
I am guessing the pact Hernandez made was for America to get the old border back at least? But I am guessing Jackson will alter the agreement into annexation.
yes return of the lands that Spain grabbed in the American Civil War ittl.
For this war New England and Britain are both preoccupied overseas with their wars. And for the moment the moral outrage is tangled by the fact Jackson is allegedly fighting to liberate a colony that has been misgoverned. Mexico likewise I expect sees little reason to bail Spain out of its own mess; and they have their wars with the native peoples ongoing.
Mexico as a former Spanish colony will do nothing if another spanish colony is being liberated, even if it is from the hated Americans.
So Louisiana is the only likely one to jump in. That may be where Lee earns his reputation, successfully defeating a Louisianan invasion of the UAU.
Louisiana has too small a population. They know this and won't act first.
For the war I am guessing two phases. One against Spain that ends with both Spain suffering a naval defeat and the Fall of the Peninsula to the rebels and Union. Spain could keep fighting but the PM swallows pride seeing Florida as not worth the cost with the Empire imperiled. The second phase being the Union against their former allies, and likely never trusted them insurgents.

I am guessing Florida will get some carving up too under Jackson. More of the panhandle I expect will get given to Mississippi(-Alabama) ITTL and Georgia may get a slice off, and some Gulf coast. Jackson I expect will be keen to cater favor in Dixie by enlarging those states.
Georgia and Mississippi will get the lions share with a Florida Territory keeping the rest with the victory. The Spanish fleet in the Caribbean still is vastly stronger than the American one, however the regional fleet of America near Florida at Tampa Bay is stronger.
So a win against the "Catholic Crowns" that will gain the Union prestiege but also reignite Anti union sentiment across the continent. And set up the Union to being overconfident down the line dealing with Mexico.
We will see......
Long Live Romania it seems. I wonder who will get the crown.
That will depend on the end of the war
I wonder how the Bririh royal faily will develop with a different patriarch? He certainly seems set up to defuse the Reformation divide further.
As a former catholic yeah more or less.
 
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