WI: Kingdom of the South

I had a weird idea that came to me in a dream. What if, after the Confederacy gains it's independence, it falls into decay and becomes a monarchy? It doesn't have to be a stable monarchy, of course.
 
I had a weird idea that came to me in a dream. What if, after the Confederacy gains it's independence, it falls into decay and becomes a monarchy? It doesn't have to be a stable monarchy, of course.

I have no idea how that would happen. Maybe the fact they were an unstable union to begin with leads to a dictatorship to hold it together, and goes on to declare himself king? Best I can come up with.
 
Or maybe they ally with the French in Mexico, or with the British, and end up getting drawn into their orbit and eventually a personal union? Unlikely, especially given the American hatred of monarchy, but... the best way I can think of to achieve it.
 
The Confederacy was a rich man's nation: It was pretty much an oligarchy run by the wealthy, slave owning gentry. I don't know if it's true, but I've also heard that they tried to keep poor, landless whites from voting.

That being said, I think in decay it would more clamp down and become a pseudo-dictatorship with the guise of democracy than a monarchy, or just completely explode with each state going off to become a Republic of it's own. Or, the poor whites would overthrow the wealthy gentry, and take over the nation with a Socialist government or something.
 
I don't think this was in his character, but...

His majesty, King Robert I of the Confederate States of America

url
 
I don't think this was in his character, but...

His majesty, King Robert I of the Confederate States of America

url

The first, and probably only monarch of the House of Lee?

The hard part about New World monarchies is that they don't have the legitimacy of the Old World monarchies.
 
I don't know if it's true, but I've also heard that they tried to keep poor, landless whites from voting.
Certainly it's true. Something a lot of people don't realize is that poll taxes, literacy tests, etc. weren't aimed exclusively at blacks. Obviously they were the primary target, but they also helped exclude poor white voters. Excluding blacks proved to be a very convenient scapegoat for excluding certain whites as well, especially since the rules were far more flexible for whites wanting to vote.
 
The first, and probably only monarch of the House of Lee?

The hard part about New World monarchies is that they don't have the legitimacy of the Old World monarchies.
Lee has the good fortune of being connected to George Washington via the Custis family, which also connects him to the original Baronage of Maryland. So, actually, Lee could be fairly legitimized, especially if he or his son (George Washington Custis Lee) develops a cult of personality around him and his connections to George Washington.

EDIT- Here's the connection to George Washington

George Washington
- George Washington Parke Custis (adopted son)
- - Mary Anna Randolph Custus (daughter, wife of Robert E. Lee)
- - - George Washington Custis Lee (son)

It's certainly an unorthodox connection, but if the Confederacy is desperate enough to install a monarch, it's certainly desperate enough to count this as being close enough.
 
Ah, legitimizing a monarch by his connection to George Washington, who rejected the throne when it was offered him and said, "I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world."

Beautiful.

In its incongruity.
 
I had a weird idea that came to me in a dream. What if, after the Confederacy gains it's independence, it falls into decay and becomes a monarchy? It doesn't have to be a stable monarchy, of course.

It is much more likely that a decaying Confederate State either rejoins the United States or is taken over in a Civil War part two.

Perhaps a weakeneing Confederate State would turn to Germany ( I am assuming it would take 20 years for a CSA to fall apart) for money and protection. The only way you could get a monarchy is if you get a German Prince to come over and become a figurehead. However I think most Confederates would prefer to rejoin the USA rather than submit to even a watered down monarchy.
 
Ah, legitimizing a monarch by his connection to George Washington, who rejected the throne when it was offered him and said, "I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world."

Beautiful.

In its incongruity.

History works in such insane ways.
 
Another possibility: There's a bare chance they might join with the other surviving slaveholding state, the Empire of Brazil. Whether Brazil would accept them and exactly what they would gain by this, of course, is another question.
 
It is much more likely that a decaying Confederate State either rejoins the United States or is taken over in a Civil War part two.

It wouldn't be a Civil War: Part Two, if you are invading an independent nation. Unless you consider Germany's invasion of Poland a civil war.

Most likely the term would be the Second War of Northern Agression.
 
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