POD- The southern plantations privately modernize much of their agriculture, similar to how the Cotton Gin kick started American industrialization. Thus, the south exports enough cotton that Britain is seriously entertaining the notion of recognizing the Confederate States of America.
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Illinois born President Abraham Lincoln was in office for approximately one month when the defining moment of his presidency took place. The Attack on Fort Sumter by secessionists calling themselves the Confederate States of America. The world watched as one of it's first republics in centuries stared down it's southern half.
Two months later, the world cackled as the rural, southern farmers led by General Robert E. Lee destroyed Brigadier General Irvin McDowell at the Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.
Pictured: Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Pictured: Lee's less successful Union counterpart, Brigadier General Irvin McDowell
But one power did more than laugh at the war. The United Kingdom of Great Britain. the great power's interference was... controversial. The commoners were pro-Union, citing the amorality of slavery and the large amounts of Anglo-Saxons in the north compared to the disproportionate amount of Irish in the south from colonial times. The House of Lords and the other gentry, however, leaned on the side of the confederacy. They cared little for any ethnic brotherhood the north had, the Yanks were traitors in living memory-there was only one generation between George the Third and Queen Victoria-, who'd attacked them again in 1812. Further, they pointed out that the south had developed a unique, and acutely European culture, and the fact that it exported more cotton than Egypt, one of the wealthiest Ottoman provinces-though it had become a vassal through revolt, and due to Britannia's influence was practically split between the empires- the debate gridlocked Parliment, and the Queen had to make a choice to get the nation to progress.
By August third, the Queen made her choice. Trade and economics won out. She ordered the following telegram be sent to De Facto and Provisional President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis:
"While I cannot, do not, and will not condone the enslavement of the negro or his mixed brothers, i offer you recognition as a nation and an alliance on the condition that you do not expand slavery for the current decade."
Within days, the world changed stances. The Victorian Whisper, as it came to be called, would've been grand for the confederacy, except Britain, while global hegemon, wasn't without rivals.
Britain's rivals. Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III) and Tsar Alexander II of Russia.
France, like Great Britain, needed the confederacy's cotton, but there were two key differences: firstly, France had a dream of a restored new world empire, ideally in mexico, and Napoleon figured, that while there would be the monroe doctrine to worry about, if he helped hold the British at bay by distracting thier navy and thus their power, America would be willing to let it slide the once. Secondly, Napoleon himself was pro-confederacy, but the people were calling for an alliance with the Union, fueled by, again, nationalism against Britain, and the fact that it was plain to them that this war was about slavery, which France abolished in the first revolution. France joined the war August 12th, 1861.
The Tsar, however, had differing reasons for his pro-America stance. Firstly, however-he was absolute, so it mattered not what the people or Boyars thought, he would guide the nation through this war. He had already ordered the Emancipation of all Serfs within the empire, creating an even larger surplus of manpower than Russia was famous for, and wanted to spread that liberty. He also craved revenge for the Crimean War, and wanted Britain to see what it was like when some of the greatest armies of the day were ganging up on it. Finally, unlike France, who wanted cordiality with the Americans, the Tsar was already on delightful terms with the Americans, though not officially allied. August 10th, 1861.
However, there's one thing about waging war in the European continent that doesn't really apply to most other regions. The Balance of Power. Upon Russian entry to what was now starting to become one of the biggest wars in a generation, Austrian emperor Franz Joseph sighed, sucked in his gut, and honored his obligations as a Great Power of Europe-he offered the confederacy help. He cared little for the entire escapade, he simply realized that it was this or Britain would have their economy be ripped entirely asunder, and what happened last time a great power had that happen to them. August 30th, 1861.
The War For The States had begun.
Hello. I'm a recent joiner after reading Let The Eagle Scream by Murica_1776. This is basically "what if the American civil war turned into ww1," and is my first serious attempt at alternate history, so any feedback would be appreciated. And while i'm of course going to try to deep dive on research, any European military history help would be especially appreciated, as while I have an idea as to how this will go, i'd also completely forgotten about French investment in mexico, so rip.
---------
Illinois born President Abraham Lincoln was in office for approximately one month when the defining moment of his presidency took place. The Attack on Fort Sumter by secessionists calling themselves the Confederate States of America. The world watched as one of it's first republics in centuries stared down it's southern half.
Two months later, the world cackled as the rural, southern farmers led by General Robert E. Lee destroyed Brigadier General Irvin McDowell at the Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.
Pictured: Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Pictured: Lee's less successful Union counterpart, Brigadier General Irvin McDowell
But one power did more than laugh at the war. The United Kingdom of Great Britain. the great power's interference was... controversial. The commoners were pro-Union, citing the amorality of slavery and the large amounts of Anglo-Saxons in the north compared to the disproportionate amount of Irish in the south from colonial times. The House of Lords and the other gentry, however, leaned on the side of the confederacy. They cared little for any ethnic brotherhood the north had, the Yanks were traitors in living memory-there was only one generation between George the Third and Queen Victoria-, who'd attacked them again in 1812. Further, they pointed out that the south had developed a unique, and acutely European culture, and the fact that it exported more cotton than Egypt, one of the wealthiest Ottoman provinces-though it had become a vassal through revolt, and due to Britannia's influence was practically split between the empires- the debate gridlocked Parliment, and the Queen had to make a choice to get the nation to progress.
By August third, the Queen made her choice. Trade and economics won out. She ordered the following telegram be sent to De Facto and Provisional President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis:
"While I cannot, do not, and will not condone the enslavement of the negro or his mixed brothers, i offer you recognition as a nation and an alliance on the condition that you do not expand slavery for the current decade."
Within days, the world changed stances. The Victorian Whisper, as it came to be called, would've been grand for the confederacy, except Britain, while global hegemon, wasn't without rivals.
Britain's rivals. Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III) and Tsar Alexander II of Russia.
France, like Great Britain, needed the confederacy's cotton, but there were two key differences: firstly, France had a dream of a restored new world empire, ideally in mexico, and Napoleon figured, that while there would be the monroe doctrine to worry about, if he helped hold the British at bay by distracting thier navy and thus their power, America would be willing to let it slide the once. Secondly, Napoleon himself was pro-confederacy, but the people were calling for an alliance with the Union, fueled by, again, nationalism against Britain, and the fact that it was plain to them that this war was about slavery, which France abolished in the first revolution. France joined the war August 12th, 1861.
The Tsar, however, had differing reasons for his pro-America stance. Firstly, however-he was absolute, so it mattered not what the people or Boyars thought, he would guide the nation through this war. He had already ordered the Emancipation of all Serfs within the empire, creating an even larger surplus of manpower than Russia was famous for, and wanted to spread that liberty. He also craved revenge for the Crimean War, and wanted Britain to see what it was like when some of the greatest armies of the day were ganging up on it. Finally, unlike France, who wanted cordiality with the Americans, the Tsar was already on delightful terms with the Americans, though not officially allied. August 10th, 1861.
However, there's one thing about waging war in the European continent that doesn't really apply to most other regions. The Balance of Power. Upon Russian entry to what was now starting to become one of the biggest wars in a generation, Austrian emperor Franz Joseph sighed, sucked in his gut, and honored his obligations as a Great Power of Europe-he offered the confederacy help. He cared little for the entire escapade, he simply realized that it was this or Britain would have their economy be ripped entirely asunder, and what happened last time a great power had that happen to them. August 30th, 1861.
The War For The States had begun.
Hello. I'm a recent joiner after reading Let The Eagle Scream by Murica_1776. This is basically "what if the American civil war turned into ww1," and is my first serious attempt at alternate history, so any feedback would be appreciated. And while i'm of course going to try to deep dive on research, any European military history help would be especially appreciated, as while I have an idea as to how this will go, i'd also completely forgotten about French investment in mexico, so rip.