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Potential Timeline Summary of 'Tis Time To Part

POD: 15 November 1777
While meeting in York, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress fails to pass the Articles of Confederation. While efforts are made over the course of the war to pass such a document, no agreement is ever reached in a unifying government over the colonies.

1783: Treaty of Paris signed, granting independence to the United Colonies from the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The treaty results in thirteen independent nations along the Eastern Seaboard. Cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, and Charleston become the leading centers of markets and politics.

1784: Treaty of Paris ratified by the Continental Congress on 14 January, officially ending the war and creating the new nations mentioned above. Over time, delegates to the Congress begin to leave Philadelphia permanently to conduct affairs back home. Over several weeks the Congress gradually dwindles to the point that it decides to disband itself, effective at the end of session on Good Friday, 9 April. Most of the remaining representatives depart from Philadelphia to their respective nations, but the members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland remain behind for discussions. Maryland, and to a smaller extent Delaware, are wondering about the chances of a confederation or type of union with Pennsylvania and New Jersey in which they have some say, stating that Virginia, who withdrew their delegation in late February, has subtly made known that any state may join them, although representation in any combined government will be based on population, effectively maintaining power for Virginia. Not wanting to be swallowed by Virginia, Maryland and Delaware look northward instead. After holding talks almost every day for months, the United States of America are declared one nation on July 4th, the same day as the Declaration of Independence is celebrated. Operating under what is called the New Albany Plan, named after Benjamin Franklin’s earlier attempt at unified government, the new nation selects Philadelphia to be the seat of government. There are hopes that others will join them, but these plans are at least dashed for now by their southern and northern neighbors, Virginia and New York. In the case of New York, the legislature in Albany is quite happy to remain its own nation, as trade in and out of New York City contributes greatly to her treasury. To the south, both North and South Carolina find themselves banding together in the interest of trade and finding markets for their goods in Europe. Georgia, meanwhile, has decided that instead of looking north to the Carolinas, it will instead cast a glance to the South, at both West and East Florida. Plans are underway to at least gain West Florida, if not East Florida – that can come later if need be. As for New England, by the end of the year Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire agree to a partial free trade zone, to ease the burden of war debts amongst them. Rhode Island, reluctantly, begins to ask how they can take part as well. All the while, the Vermont Republic continues to operate as it has done so since 1777.

1785: The United States has a mostly stable year, as residence continue to flood over the former Proclamation Line and settle in the west. However, there are some concerns over how the government operates and how effective it is. Meanwhile, New York is doing well economically, but talks in Albany begin about her future. Any type of expansion would almost certainly involve an invasion of Canada, which would place New York and Great Britain at war. Soon the debate offers solutions such as joining the United States or possible annexation of Vermont, which New York had claimed before the Revolution. Word of such plans soon leak out of Albany and make their way to Windsor, Vermont; word also arrives in Boston and Exeter, as both Massachusetts and New Hampshire have claims to the region as well. As a side effect of this scare, ships sailing out of New England ports, including Rhode Island, fly the old New England Ensign as well as their own flags. Slowly, the economic agreements lead way to political agreements as well. It is also during this time that Virginia, senescing that no other states would join her, becomes the Commonwealth of Virginia on 22 February. They officially make their claims to the Ohio Valley, and send settlers out from Virginia and Kentucky to settle the region. After some debate, the capital is moved back from Richmond to Williamsburg, to try and separate business from government. Thomas Jefferson is elected to a five-year term following George Washington’s refusal of such an office. Farther south, the short-lived Georgian War takes place, resulting in a Georgian defeat to the Spanish. As a result, all claims to West and East Florida are dropped, and Spain fixes the border along the line of 32°28’N. Finding themselves off worse than they were prior, they agree to enter into a very loose confederation with the Carolinas, and talks soon begin as to whether or not to create a political entity, like the United States, or to cooperate much like New England is.

1786: What would eventually be called the Northern War takes place. As winter gives way to spring, troops from New York make their way to positions along the western shore of Lake Champlain and along the border of Vermont. Vermont prepares as best it can, but the war goes New York’s way early. Bennington falls early in the conflict, and Burlington is taken as well. New York claims the land as theirs, and simply retaking land rightfully belonging to them. Massachusetts and New Hampshire troops move in as well, since they have claims as well. The surprise comes from Connecticut, who also sends troops as well since they have no claims to the area. Combined, they slowly begin to push New York back, whose forces were never able to reach the Vermont capital at Windsor. Slowly, the New York forces are driven over the Hudson by the end of July, where the combined militias stop on the eastern bank. The war ends on 12 August with New York giving up claims to Vermont. Following such a defeat, a delegation is sent to Philadelphia to learn of conditions to join the United States. The war also results in Vermont joining the economic union that has taken hold of New England, and soon talks begin for a stronger union in the interest of defense. Any doubts of the benefits of such a union are crushed following Shay’s Rebellion, which is put down by the joint militias of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Farther south, a border dispute between the United States and Virginia over the area around Fort Pitt, known as the Yohogania-Westmoreland Dispute, almost leads to war. However, the dispute is solved by the agreement of a survey to take place and divide the land. This comes as a blessing in disguise for America, as it is referred to in shorthand, as they gain the majority of the disputed land, and concerns about how such a war would be waged leads to a closer look at the New Albany Plan and how effective it really is. Meanwhile, the Carolinas are getting used to have Georgia as a member as peace takes hold of the southern portion of the Atlantic seaboard.

1787: Talks begin in Charleston, South Carolina between representatives from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia about a possible union between the three nations. However, talks stall when the issue of western land claims comes up. Georgia demands that is be allowed to keep its western claims, while South Carolina, with no claims, calls for the lands to be turned over and eventually made into new states. North Carolina is placed in a lose-lose situation: They too have western lands, the so-called State of Franklin, that they do not want to give up, but they have stronger ties to South Carolina then they do to Georgia. The talks stall out, but are not called off. Virginia continues to make strides in settling the Ohio Valley, coming in conflict with New Englanders already in Connecticut’s Western Reserve. This does not concern Virginia, as they continue their advance northwesterly. The New England nations, meanwhile, have successful agreed to union following talks in both Boston and Hartford, Connecticut. On 19 April, the New England flag, flown during the Revolution, waves above the Massachusetts State House in the capital city of Boston. The Republic of New England consists of all of the New England nations except Rhode Island, which is still debating whether or not to join such a union. John Hancock is selected to serve the first term of President, the term lasting for three years. Vermont is a member of the Republic, joining mainly over concerns of another New York invasion. These fears, however, soon become dated, as New York officially joins the United States on 4 July, during which time a new flag is displayed over Independence Hall, consisting of five stars and five stripes. There is a problem with New York’s joining though, as fears of domination by New York and Pennsylvania over the other three states almost prevent New York’s joining. Instead, a convention is scheduled to take place in Annapolis, Maryland to come up with a solution to the problem. At first, this meeting is to only come up with solutions to flaws in the New Albany Plan; however, over time the focus shifts towards rewriting the document or creating a new one. However, these plans do not leave the Convention, as some may brand their actions as treason to the government.

1788: A peaceful year east of the Mississippi River, for the most part. Despite attacks from both Native Americans in the Ohio Valley and settlers from New England that arrived before them, the Virginians continue their program of vast settlement to help cement their claims to the region. They received little interference from Americans, who were more concerned at the time with internal integrity. Those efforts were not put to waste, as on 21 June the Constitution is ratified and adopted into law. Among other things, it creates the office of the President of the United States, to be elected to four year terms. John Dickinson was selected to the Presidency of the United States, to start immediately. Meanwhile, talks continue in the South as to the possible union of the Carolinas and Georgia, and New England continues to function well, though the need for talks over the border between Maine and Canada need to be addressed.

1789: Rhode Island finally approves acceptance into the Republic of New England, the last of the original thirteen colonies that will do so. Elsewhere, America and Virginia are at peace and functioning well, and talks in the south are almost over, with a successful outcome to happen. The final sticking points are, among other things, the name of the nation, and capital of the nation, and the future of the western lands.

1790: This proves to be the Year of Settlement, as the three remaining rebellious colonies combine to form the Columbian Confederation, with its capital located in Charleston, South Carolina. However, the state legislature, as part of the agreements, must move to another location. John Rutledge of South Carolina becomes the head executive and begins serving a modified four-year term. Virginia, America, and New England send ambassadors when word reaches them of Columbia’s creation, with word usually arriving with the arrival of Columbia’s ambassador. The experiment in democracy has created four test subjects for the world to see.

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