alternatehistory.com

This is the third incarnation of a timeline that I have been working on. Please leave constructive criticism. Where do you think I should make some adjustments, and possible ideas of where to take it next.

The Foundations of Conflict, 1787-1788:
In 1787, delegates from the thirteen colonies congregate in Philadelphia. The purpose of this meeting is to create and adopt a new constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. However, events don't go as planned. Thomas Jefferson died during the war on a commute from Virginia to Philadelphia. Without his support of creating a united Republic. Other factors also take into account. Washington does not come to the convention, but Benedict Arnold, another hero of the revolution, does (unlike OTL when he betrays the colonies). Virginia, dominated by Anti-Federalists, votes no on the constitution saying it puts too much power into the central government. They would not accept the New Jersey plan or the Connecticut compromise, because of Virginia's ambition, the constitution would not be adopted. By 1788 the Articles of Confederation were disbanded and so were all ties of unity between the colonies. In hopes of keeping the dreams of the Revolution alive, some states form new alliances. In the North, the states of: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts form the New England Confederation. New Hampshire and New York were asked to join but they declined. In the south the states of North Carolina and South Carolina reunited to form a single Carolina. Territorial issues will soon lead to conflicts between the states.
The New Hampshire War, 1789-1797:
Since the failure of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the former colonies have had violent negotiations. None more so then that of New Hampshire and New York. New York claims that the land in western New Hampshire belongs to them, while New Hampshire denies that claim. New York threatens war in order to obtain what it desires. In 1792, NH accepts the invitation to join the New England Confederation. The New England Confederation was not much stronger then the Articles of confederation. There are 4 primary differences. First is the common currency of all members. Second is a simple majority legislature. Third is the jointly recognized treaties. The fourth is the Commen Defense army. The common defense is the most appealing feature of the Confederation. If any state in the alliance is attacked by a foreign power(European or otherwise) then the other states will help deffened that states. However, if that state attacked that foreign power first and the FP strikes back, then the others states are not obgligated to assist. In 1795, after failed negotiations, New York invades western NH(Vermont). They gain ground quickly until the NEC mobilizes and begins to push back. By February 1796, NY is out of NH. The NEC and NY meet in Providence Rhode Island to sign a treaty. This effectively ended the war between NY and the NEC in 1796. However NH was not satisfied with this treaty, they received little to nothing from it but an agreement from Ny not to attack them again. So they refused to recognize the treaty. With that they invade Eastern New York. Being heavily outmatched, New York quickly defeats NH by 1797. The NEC was not obligated to assist. In this new treaty, NY gained the disputed land. Was paid rheperations, and was aloud the militarily occupy NH. NH also could not have a paid army, nor could they draft until 1805. This will set the stage for a future conflict.
The Southern Conflicts, 1790-1793:
In the southern states there are other conflicts then that of the north. North Carolina and South Carolina had reunited in 1789 to become the Democratic Republic of Carolina (DRC). Virginia adopted a Parlimentry style of government, but instead of a Prime Minister, Monarch, or President as the head, they elect a Consul. After this government change they adopt the full name The Virginia Common Wealth (VCW). Georgia retains the same government style from before the revolution, though not a colony of Britain. The head of state refers to himself as the Lord Govenor. The State of Georgia reopens ties with Britain, and though not part of the empire, remain friendly to them. The Lord Govenor of Georgia invites the mass numbers of exodussing Loyalists from the other colonies, creating an even stronger tie to Great Britain. Like the conflicts in the north these were also territorial, however the violence was considerably lower. The VCW and the DRC settled their immidiate border conflicts peacefully, accepting the boundries that had been placed during the revolution. However the disputed territory in the west was a different story. Like in the North Negotiations broke down and led to conflict. They both manuevered their armies(what was left of them)and prepared for immidiate war. From May 1790 to June 1791 their forces were prepared to strike, but it never occured. There was one small battle fought in the western disputed area. There was no decisive victor, though Virginia took less casualties. This conflict simmered quite quickly, by February 1793, the 'War' was over. They reached a peaceful agreement Dividing the land south of the Ohio river and East of the Mississippi river between the two of them, without consideration of any other states. Georgia was the most belittled by this conflict, not even being invited to settlements. Georgia assemble what forces it could and invaded Southern Carolina, it was quickly repelled in less then a month. Virginia and Carolina out of Sympathy redrew the lines, giving Georgia 1/4 of the land, and giving Carolina and Virginia 3/8 each.
The Ohio Wars, 1800-1807:
In the late 17 hundreds many claims were made on the Ohio territory, but only 4 powers had any physical holdings; Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Great Britain. War is never officially declared, but a consistent stream of conflict occurs with frontier warfare. This continued until late 1799, when Great Britain and New York formed an alliance to push Virginia and Pennsylvania out. In response to this, Pennsylvania and Virginia made an alliance. Pennsylvania wanted to expand its borders, so they formed a military alliance with New Jersey in order to invade New York. This combined attack was put into motion in early April, 1800. NewJersey forces invade southeastern NewYork, while Pennsylvania invaded southwestern NewYork. Invasion of NewYork state leads to pulling troops out of the Ohio country to fight the invading forces. In order to successfully perform invasion and keep borders secure, Pennsylvania had to withdraw troops from the Ohio as well. These troop movements left Great Britain and Virginia alone in the Ohio to wage war one on one. The southwestern area of NewYork was a very rural area, leaving little between the Pennsylvania army and the land it claimed. New York forces were just able to keep Pennsylvania from pushing past the disputed area. In the east however this was a little different. The NewYork forces were able to not just hold back NewJersey but push into NewJersey state, capturing land in the North. In the Ohio, Virginia frontiersmen kept the British redcoats at bay. This conflict continued for almost a decade. The war in NewYork finally ended with the Treaty of Providence 1807. This treaty gave the disputed land in South-western NewYork to Pennsylvania. NewYork also obtained land from Northern NewJersey in exchange for a small monetary compensation. NewYorks holdings in the Ohio were given to Pennsylvania. This angered the Virginia government. Pennsylvania did little to action in the Ohio, and it received land from it. This would lead to a future conflict between the VCW and Pennsylvania.
Napoleonic America 1803-1809
History stayed course in Europe. The French Revolution began in 1789, and Napoleon took power and crowned himself emporer in 1803. Napoleon placed his brother on the throne of Spain in 1803. He used this position to obtain the Louisiana territory from Spain. This land did little good for Napoleon. Realizing he couldn't deffend it, and having no one he wanted to sell it to that could afford such a purchase, he secceded it from France. He reorganized it into the Louisiana Empire in 1804. He placed his younger brother, Lucien on the Throne and proclaimed him Emporer Lucien. Now the Empire could support it self and no resources were to be sent there. He coerced his brother Joseph into doing the same thing with New Spain in north America. He did so, and Napoleons Step-Son, Eugene de Beauharnais was made Emporer of Mexico in 1805. Joseph kept the other Spanish territories, but it would not last long. In 1807, a rebellion errupted in spanish Florida. This rebellion was led by Jose Garcia, a collonel in the colonial millitary. There was little resistance to this action. By 1808, Florida declared its independance from Spain, and Temporarily operated under a Democratic government until 1809. In 1809, western Florida was invaded by the Louisiana Empire. There was not a large military force behind this invasion, but the Floridan militia was too small to resist. Jose Garcia, whom after the rebellion was made Consul of Florida, drafted all males 18 to 30 years old able to march. This was unpopular but this forced action pulled enough forces together for the Floridans to resist the Louisianans, who were acting upon orders from Napoleon. This made Jose Garcia very popular, so much so that the Floridan people overthrew their own government, and Proclaimed Garcia to be king. He did not resist this and he accepted the position and title. He became Jose the first of the Garcia dynasty Of the Kingdom of Florida.
The New York Conflict 1807-1815
After losses in the Ohio Wars, NewYork was crippled militarily and economically. The Oligarchy, run by industrialists and business owners, became very unpopular with the people. Riots broke out in major cities all over NewYork. The worst of these occurred in Albany and NewYork city. Rioters in Albany broke into the capitol and arrested the oligarchal council. The rioters chose middle class lawers to be the New Government. They wrote a new constitution and relocated the capitol to NewYork city. Still under economic hardship, the new government applied for membership into the NEC in 1812. They were denied entrance by a 2/2 vote(Conneticut and Massecheutsuss voting in favor, Rhode Island and NewHampshire voting no). Seeing the chaos in NewYork, New Jersey invaded in early september, 1812. The new government in NewYork called a draft in order to build up a deffensive army. This worked initially, the people's pride in their new government was strong, but by December the people's patience was wearing thin. The war was bogged down in southeastern NewYork. Riots broke out in the capitol. Rationing had been called since september, supplies for civillians were stretched and running out. Eventually this would over throw the government. On January 20th, the capitol building was stormed by rioting crowds. First the building caught fire. The fire soon spread through, neighboring buildings went up in a blaze. On February 12,1813, the rioting ended with the NewJersey Army entering Albany and NewYork city. The capitol is occupied, and a provisional government is placed. The NEC also gets involved with occupation. They occupy NewYork untill a new constitution and a new permanent government is created. The goverment is styled into a Republican style government with democratically elected representatives. In 1815 NewYork re-applied to join the NewEngland Confederation, this time being accepted by a 3 to 1 vote(all but NewHampshire voting yes). NewYork is made the 5th member of the NEC. Conflict is not over in the NEC, war will be brought again, at greater level.
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