Not quite (despite Hispanophones comprising the majority of Texas' population), but since they broke off from the Spanish Empire they can be considered as such. Also, in the small amount of time between this one and the last map there has been some changes in one of those countries.
Ventis Ferrum: Dupleix's Success and Beyond
- Thread starter Drex
- Start date
Chapter 40: Across the Appalachians
~ Chapter 40: Across the Appalachians ~
The year 1798 started full of hopes for the Union of Atlantic States, having been governed by a solid constitutional frame for eight years, the latter four spent under the presidency of George Clinton, who was about to be reelected in August in a mostly undisputed election in which his Republican Party [1] won every state riding a wave of popularity surging from the early victories of the Union against the British, their former colonial masters and usurpers of the Great Lakes. Many young men flocked to the state militias that soon formed proper armies of mixed composition, as the constitution established that all military forces of the Union were to be commanded by the President, no matter the rights of their home states. While this system of military command was not as efficient as that of the single-state nations of the South, it was definitely an improvement over the independent armies of the 1780’s that had caused a war within the still-existing United States and that had almost toppled the government back in 1783.
War optimism was brief as the British proved superior in most engagements, to the point that by 1803 Philadelphia was burnt by the British and all Atlantic influence west of the Maumee vanished, the land now being controlled by a British-aligned loose Indian Confederation. In a desperate manoeuvre to uphold his prestige, Clinton blamed the army, accusing the commanders of incompetency and corruption. However his bid failed as the now demobilised soldiers protested across the country urging for a new election, and Clinton resigned in April of 1801, a mere two months after the end of hostilities. The defeat had also destroyed the popularity of the Republican Party, leading to the schism of the Unionist Party under Joseph Bloomfield, with the split rendering the Republican majority in the House of Representatives useless, so the new government under former vice president Morgan Lewis was paralysed until the elections of August of 1802.
The disputes between both branches of the formerly ruling party led to the rise of the Unionist Party, a party that had opposed the rule of the Republicans on the basis that the Federal Government should be able to impose itself over the governments of the states, defending state-wide politics such as a national bank, as well as proposing a forced payment to the states to rebuild Philadelphia [2]. In the aftermath of a disastrous war, the Unionist surge caused the dispute over the states’ rights to bubble up again and this time there was a man to uphold their cause in the figure of Philip Jeremiah Schuyler. Son of a general of the Revolutionary War, Schuyler was also a military man that participated in the war against the Vermonter Insurgency (where had been shot) back in the 1780’s and that had strong connection with prominent families of New York, such as the Van Rensselaers through his sister Margarita [3]. Schuyler argued that New York should be able to decide by itself, and that it had been dragged to the useless war for the Northwest instead of taking a chance at recovering Vermont and extirpating the ever growing British influence in New England.
Philip Jeremiah Schuyler
His popularity rose to the point of him being chosen as a member of New York’s Assembly, from where a group of his supporters proposed a bill to petition for a popular vote to decide the fate of New York, gathering enough support to pass the criteria, despite such an act being unconstitutional [4]. The New York Militia was divided on the issue, but Schuyler’s influence among the former “Patroon” class that still occupied most of the higher posts in the Militia proved decisive, and the Militia agreed not to interrupt the process and the passive government of Morgan Lewis seemed unable to stop the vote. Despite Schuyler’s political successes, the population of New York was deeply divided on the issue, most of them were war-weary from the British blockade and the memories of the occupation of Staten Island in the latter stages of the war were vivid, creating a large block of supporters behind the unionist cause.
When the day of the voting came in March of 1802, the majority of the voters chose to remain within the UAS by a narrow margin of 54%. Schuyler attempted to use the Militia to topple the government and enforce secession but they sided with the voters, however when they tried to arrest Schuyler they realised he had already fled New York. Schuyler would flee west towards Ohio and eventually into Indian Territory, joining one of the many American settlements in the Great Lakes area. Following him, many New Yorkers and men from New England and the UAS moved west across the Appalachians in a quest to obtain new lands from the Indians, with the ultimate hope of creating their own Republic beyond the Ohio River [5].
The emigration continued steadily in the following years, to the point that by 1815 there were 80,000 American settlers within the Indian Confederation. Native resistance grew under the influence of the so-called prophet Tenskwatawa, head of the Purification Movement, who pretended to expel the Europeans (regardless of origin) and return to the traditions of the native tribes before contact. The main force behind the rallying of volunteers was his own brother Tecumseh, a great orator, who began to confront British and American presence in the area. By 1818 he had become so problematic that the British organised an expedition under Francis de Rottenburg that confronted Tecumseh at the Battle of Eel River, where he obtained a pyrrhic victory that impeded a march on Prophetstown, the capital of the Indian rebels.
When the day of the voting came in March of 1802, the majority of the voters chose to remain within the UAS by a narrow margin of 54%. Schuyler attempted to use the Militia to topple the government and enforce secession but they sided with the voters, however when they tried to arrest Schuyler they realised he had already fled New York. Schuyler would flee west towards Ohio and eventually into Indian Territory, joining one of the many American settlements in the Great Lakes area. Following him, many New Yorkers and men from New England and the UAS moved west across the Appalachians in a quest to obtain new lands from the Indians, with the ultimate hope of creating their own Republic beyond the Ohio River [5].
The emigration continued steadily in the following years, to the point that by 1815 there were 80,000 American settlers within the Indian Confederation. Native resistance grew under the influence of the so-called prophet Tenskwatawa, head of the Purification Movement, who pretended to expel the Europeans (regardless of origin) and return to the traditions of the native tribes before contact. The main force behind the rallying of volunteers was his own brother Tecumseh, a great orator, who began to confront British and American presence in the area. By 1818 he had become so problematic that the British organised an expedition under Francis de Rottenburg that confronted Tecumseh at the Battle of Eel River, where he obtained a pyrrhic victory that impeded a march on Prophetstown, the capital of the Indian rebels.
Tenskwatawa, one of the leaders of the Indian Revolt
Tneskwatawa stated that this was a divine act and that he and Tecumseh should call for a meeting of the Indian Tribes and form a common front against the British. The meeting took place in the first months of 1819 and saw most of the tribes pledge to the Purification Movement [6]. As for the British, Rottenburg was replaced with Gordon Drummond as Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, giving him control of the military operations in the Great Lakes. Before launching a new campaign Drummond met with prominent members of the American settler community, asking them to join forces and crush the natives despite their rivalries [7]. Drummond finally opted to begin his new campaign in April of 1820 after properly studying the terrain and organising his forces, decisively defeating the Indians at the Battle of Algonquin Hill. Months later, Drummond captured Prophetstown and razed the settlement to the ground and captured Tenskwatawa, who had refused to abandon the town.
Indian resistance collapsed by 1823, with the British deciding to impose harsh terms. In a unilateral decree approved later by London, Drummond declared the Indian Confederation abolished, and their land would become the province of Further Canada [8]. Natives were pushed into reservations or displaced, opening the Great Lakes for European settlement. As for the disdain between the American and British settlers, tensions would gradually dwindle over time, with the Americans eventually becoming loyal Canadian citizens. However, a portion of them refused to submit to any sort of British rule and decided to push the frontier even further, crossing the Mississippi into Louisianan Territory, where these settlers would proclaim the Republic of Fredonia, with Schuyler acting as the first President of the newly founded Republic, entirely within Louisianan territory. Their staunch defence of protestant Angloamerican values would eventually clash with the Louisianan attempts at securing their territory, but for many years nothing major happened between both sides.
Indian resistance collapsed by 1823, with the British deciding to impose harsh terms. In a unilateral decree approved later by London, Drummond declared the Indian Confederation abolished, and their land would become the province of Further Canada [8]. Natives were pushed into reservations or displaced, opening the Great Lakes for European settlement. As for the disdain between the American and British settlers, tensions would gradually dwindle over time, with the Americans eventually becoming loyal Canadian citizens. However, a portion of them refused to submit to any sort of British rule and decided to push the frontier even further, crossing the Mississippi into Louisianan Territory, where these settlers would proclaim the Republic of Fredonia, with Schuyler acting as the first President of the newly founded Republic, entirely within Louisianan territory. Their staunch defence of protestant Angloamerican values would eventually clash with the Louisianan attempts at securing their territory, but for many years nothing major happened between both sides.
Flag of the Republic of Fredonia
[1] - A less Jeffersonian version of the OTL Democratic-Republican Party.
[2] - The Unionists are essentially a rebranded version of the Federalists of the defunct United States.
[3] - Same people and marriages as IOTL.
[4] - Following the disaster that was the secession of the majority of states from the United States, the new constitution of the UAS strictly forbids any state from deciding on their own political sovereignty.
[5] - Despite Britain controlling de facto the Great Lakes Province, de iure the territory was in the hands of an Indian Confederation under British protection. This made legal issues and deportations complicated, especially as the Indians and the American settlers had a tendency to fight each other in open warfare right under the British noses.
[6] - The British and the Americans committed many atrocities towards the natives during and after Rottenburg’s campaign, pushing many tribes towards open rebellion.
[7] - Many American settlers still despise the British, but both sides prefer the other over the Natives.
[8] - The province would later be divided in two along Lake Michigan and the Wabash River. Both would receive new names. TTL’s Canada is going to receive a massive boost by controlling the Great Lakes, although it may lose lands somewhere else.
[2] - The Unionists are essentially a rebranded version of the Federalists of the defunct United States.
[3] - Same people and marriages as IOTL.
[4] - Following the disaster that was the secession of the majority of states from the United States, the new constitution of the UAS strictly forbids any state from deciding on their own political sovereignty.
[5] - Despite Britain controlling de facto the Great Lakes Province, de iure the territory was in the hands of an Indian Confederation under British protection. This made legal issues and deportations complicated, especially as the Indians and the American settlers had a tendency to fight each other in open warfare right under the British noses.
[6] - The British and the Americans committed many atrocities towards the natives during and after Rottenburg’s campaign, pushing many tribes towards open rebellion.
[7] - Many American settlers still despise the British, but both sides prefer the other over the Natives.
[8] - The province would later be divided in two along Lake Michigan and the Wabash River. Both would receive new names. TTL’s Canada is going to receive a massive boost by controlling the Great Lakes, although it may lose lands somewhere else.
I don’t really get why the confederation would rebel against the British when it’s the Americans who are causing them trouble. The British were certainly capable of intense brutality against indigenous peoples, but it doesn’t really make sense for them to destroy the Shawnee at this early stage of the game when they’re what’s standing between the UAS/Freedonian settlers and the Mississippi.
The disputes between the IC and the British are nothing new, since taking back the territory from the UAS the British have been encroaching on their lands, creating their own settlements and forts (as can be seen in the 1812 map of North America, the forts don't have the IC outline, that land was outside of their control) and pitching certain tribes against others (and then turning against them in order to keep them in check, with the Shawnee ending up on top). The British posture has always been one of tolerance as the natives were useful as a buffer state between the American colonists and the Mississippi as you have stated, but as the years went by the ability of the American republics to project power west of the Appalachians diminished, so the British were more confident in their rule. Another reason was that the Anglo-Virginian Treaty of 1799 that granted Virginia a chunk of land north of the Ohio River was seen by the natives in the area as a betrayal by their supposed protectors. Overall, while geopolitical interests are more relevant at first, as decades go by it turns more into a conflict of white men against natives, the British eventually prefer dealing with a limited number of American settlers that can be incorporated more easily than with native tribes of dubious allegiance (also the area had a strong francophone presence, throwing in more Anglos always helps). Rottenburg's expedition was aimed only at the rebels under Tecumseh, but their defeat was exploited by the pair of brothers who sold it as an act of agression against the whole Confederacy, rallying enough support to drag most of the tribes behind them. Some have actually sided with the British, it wasn't a complete shift.
I see, thank you for the clarification. So it's not so much a blanket ethnic cleansing and settlement of the region as an attempt to subjugate the rebellious groups and bring the others under direct oversight?
Pretty much, albeit given time I see Britain/Canada wanting to get rid of any semblance of native power. These lands are very valuable.
Man I want to see what happens in Louisiana. On the other hand I have a little faith in Mexico, maybe a strong Spain can prevent them from collapsing.
That makes sense, although I can also see them promoting acculturation like the United States did IOTL with the so-called "five civilized tribes."
Indeed, I was planning on creating some sort of Great Lakes Métis population.