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In March 1783, some of the soldiers of the Continental Army, who had long been unpaid and were discontented about the lack of funding for future pensions, planned a military coup against the Congress of the Confederation. This was called the Newburgh Conspiracy. However, George Washington gave an impassioned speech against any violent mutiny, and afterward, agreements were made to partially pay the soldiers, diffusing the crisis. Though miscommunications later that year led to the Pennsylvania Mutiny (which encouraged Congress to found a new federal capital outside of Philadelphia), by 1790 the soldiers were fully compensated and peace was assured.
However, what if the Newburgh Conspiracy was not prevented, and Washington, among others, was killed in a military coup? Who would take power, and would the US have descended into dictatorship?