The American Monarchy

[Lief 🗽]

The American Monarchy: 1925 - 1927

In July 1925, the Battle of Mexico City took place. Pershing had arrived outside of the city in late June, where Félix Díaz and much of his army had holed up. On July 4th, during an impromptu Independence Day celebration, Pershing’s army was ambushed by Díaz’s cavalry, and the battle began. Pershing and Obregón both believed that the only way to end the civil war was the complete capture of Mexico City and destruction of Díaz’s army. By July 10th, Pershing had taken much of Mexico City, after brutal house-to-house fighting. Many Americans serving with Pershing were veterans of the conflict in Russia, and had thus become well-accustomed to urban warfare. On July 12th, as Díaz’s army became surrounded in the center of the city, he sued for peace. While the Liberation Army of the South, led by Emiliano Zapata, still controlled much of southern Mexico, Pershing and Obregón declared mission accomplished. General Smedley Butler, “The Hero of Ireland”, was sent with a small detachment of some 10,000 men into the jungles of the South to pacify Zapata. Throughout the autumn, Obregón, Prime Minister Roosevelt, King Henry I, and numerous leading Mexican politicians and military men met in Mexico City and hammered out a Mexican Constitution. Borrowing largely from the American constitution, it called for a Senate (Senado) which elected a Presidente or Prime Minister, with an upper house called the Royal Council (Consejo del Rey). In keeping with the tradition of an American Republic, there was also to be a King. Henry I selected his brother, Prince Charles, and Prince Charles and his wife Viktoria Luise would arrive in Mexico in early 1926. He would be crowned King Carlos I.

Theodore Roosevelt returned to the United States in 1926 again as a hero, having cemented his reputation as an expert diplomat and master of foreign policy. But Roosevelt’s strenuous schedule had taken a toll on his health, and in March 1926, he made it clear to this cabinet that he intended to resign, and pass the title of Prime Minister along to one of the younger Senators in the party. Before he resigned, however, he would push for major election reform. In April 1926, Roosevelt officially announced that he would be resigning in July, exactly a decade after he had first become Prime Minister. The Liberal Party Senate caucus, wary of repeating the chaotic fight over selecting a Prime Minister that occurred in 1908, held a private meeting in Cleveland to decide upon a Prime Minister. After short speeches by all the candidates, the first round of balloting began:

First Ballot:
Nicholas Longworth (L-OH): 123 votes
Hiram Johnson (L-CA): 75 votes
Arthur Meighen (L-ON): 54 votes
John Calvin Coolidge (L-MA): 21 votes
John Q. Tilson (L-CT): 12 votes
Daniel O. Hastings (L-DE): 7 votes
William Borah (L-KS): 6 votes
Abstentions/Not-attending: 5 votes
Total: 303 votes

Nicholas Longworth emerged as the frontrunner on the first ballot, and quickly gained the support of the conservative wings of the party, with the endorsements of Meighen and Coolidge on the second ballot. Hiram Johnson was supported by more progressive, pro-Roosevelt members of the party, but his wing was drastically out-numbered by Longworth’s conservative wing of the party. Nicholas Longworth won a majority of the votes on the second ballot.

Second Ballot:
Nicholas Longworth (L-OH): 181 votes
Hiram Johnson (L-CA): 80 votes
John Q. Tilson (L-CT): 15 votes
Abstentions/Not-attending: 7 votes
Total: 303 votes


Prime Minister Nicholas Longworth

The First Longworth Cabinet (July 1926):
Prime Minister: Nicholas Longworth (L-OH)
Deputy Prime Minister: John Calvin Coolidge (L-MA)
Majority Whip: Franklin D. Roosevelt (L-NY)
Secretary of State: John Calvin Coolidge (L-MA)
Secretary of the Treasury: Arthur Meighen (L-ON)
Secretary of War: Hiram Johnson (L-CA)
Attorney General: Ogden L. Mills (L-NY)
Secretary of the Interior: William Borah (L-KS)
Secretary of Agriculture: James W. Good (L-IA)
Secretary of Commerce: Herbert Hoover (L-IA)

In the year since Pershing had taken Mexico City, the situation in Southern Mexico had worsened considerably. Thousands of American soldiers had been killed by disease and the guerilla attacks of the Zapatistas. In August 1926, General Smedley Butler, the commander in charge of American forces fighting in Southern Mexico, testified before the Senate, asking for additional reinforcements as well as a naval blockade of the area. Secretary of War Hiram Johnson, something of an isolationist, refused Butler’s request, arguing that enough American blood had been shed defending Mexico. Opposition Leader Villa (in large part forced by his increasingly dovish party) and Populist Leader John W. Davis applauded the Secretary’s decision. Nonetheless, a furious Prime Minister Longworth asked for Johnson’s resignation, making it clear that his government fully supported the Mexican government’s struggle against guerilla forces. On August 23rd, Hiram Johnson, along with fellow isolationist Liberals Borah, Good and Hoover, resigned from the cabinet over Longworth’s Mexico policy. Nonetheless, Longworth pushed forward, putting the Mexican Stability Authorization Act of 1926 up to a vote. The SDP and Populists quickly came out against it, but Longworth’s Liberals had a commanding majority in the Senate. Problematically, isolationists and progressives within the party, rallying around Hiram Johnson, joined the SDP and Populists against the act, leading to its failure by a vote of 232 to 241.

Francisco Villa then put up his own bill concerning Mexico, calling for a full pull-out of American forces. “The era of American imperialism must come to an end,” he boomed before the Senate chamber in September 1926. But Villa’s bill was also to be defeated, as many Liberals who had voted against Longworth’s proposal were also unwilling to pull out of Mexico completely. At an impasse, the Senate adjourned for the winter, as Americans continued to fight pitched battles against guerillas in Mexico. In Mexico, newly elected President Obregón and King Carlos Ieveed the federal army and sent 30,000 troops to reinforce Butler’s men in the South. When the Senate reconvened in March 1927, the Mexico issue was still front and center. King Henry I by this point had made it clear that he would send troops into Mexico with or without the Senate’s consent. Opposition Leader Villa responded by calling the King a “tyrant, ignorant of the constitution and his role in government.” Prime Minister Longworth agreed, though certainly in not so many words, and privately met with the King, arguing to Henry that the Senate had as much say in the situation as he did. Henry disagreed; in April, he ordered the Royal Navy to move into the Gulf of Mexico. Longworth, unwilling to cede the Senate’s power to the monarchy, and wary of creating a precedent that King had full control of the military, pushed a bill defunding any army regiments send to Mexico above those approved by the Senate. With the support of all three parties, the War Powers Act of 1927 passed overwhelmingly in early May 1927.

With the King temporarily checked, Longworth met with Hiram Johnson to work out a compromise on the Mexico issue. By June 1927, just before the Senate adjourned for the Summer, Longworth was finally able to pass the Mexican Stability Authorization Act of 1927, which authorized an additional 5,000 troops to be sent to Mexico and increased funding for the Mexican army. General Smedley Butler complained that 5,000 troops would not be enough, but Longworth realized that it was the most he could get through a Senate (and a country) that had generally tired of foreign intervention. June 1927 also saw the passage of a budget with record low taxes and record high tariffs; evidently the Senate in 1927 had not yet tired of the liberal economic policies of Longworth’s party.

[Хahar 🤔]

He would be crowned King Carols I.

Carlos, I assume?
But a great update.

[Lief 🗽]

He would be crowned King Carols I.

Carlos, I assume?
But a great update.

Yes, you would assume correctly.

[Хahar 🤔]

What is the situation in Bengal?

[MasterJedi]

Nice update, too bad we didn't annex Mexico though.

[Reignman]

bump.

[Lief 🗽]

I'll update on Friday. Expect a new (major) political party (or maybe two; I haven't decided) and some political upheaval in Europe.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I'll update on Friday. Expect a new (major) political party (or maybe two; I haven't decided) and some political upheaval in Europe.

Sounds Very Good. I can't wait

[Хahar 🤔]

[Kevinstat]

Bump

J'attend avec impatiance!

[Lief 🗽]

The American Monarchy: 1927 - 1928

In September, 1927, former Prime Minister Theodore Roosevelt, in slightly better health since leaving behind the stresses of leading the country, and former Royal Advisor Woodrow Wilson published an article entitled “The Case for Election Reform.” In the essay, they called for a major overhaul of representation in the legislative branch, a subject that they had both for a long time been interested in. Roosevelt, one of the most popular Prime Ministers in United States history, and Wilson, a highly respected political theorist following his presence at the Treaty of Rome negotiations, carried a lot of weight with the public and in political circles. In the essay, Roosevelt and Wilson argued that the current system of representation, first past the post with single-member districts, was inherently undemocratic and prevented the true voice of the people from being represented. Roosevelt and Wilson argued for an amendment to the constitution establishing a mixed member proportional system, with half of the seats being represented by constituency elections with run-offs and the second half coming from a proportional nationwide party-list vote.

The essay, written by two popular political figures, was widely circulated, and won large public support. Prime Minister Longworth was initially opposed to it, but nonetheless set up a committee headed up by Senator Arthur Meighen (L-ON), along with four other Senators (two Liberals, one SDP, and one Populist). The Senate adjourned for the rest of 1927, while the Meighen Commission investigated the during the fall and winter. When the Senate returned to the capital in March 1928, Meighen came before the Senate, arguing against the proposal. Despite support from the SDP and Populists, the three Liberals on the commission, fearing that such a system would erode Liberal power, had written a report strongly criticizing it. Longworth was prepared to instruct his party to kill the amendment, which was coming up for a vote in April, when Theodore Roosevelt died on March 18th, 1928. Senate business was stalled for a month, as the nation mourned a hugely popular leader. Roosevelt’s funeral was attended by King Henry I, King Carlos I and President Álvaro Obregón of Mexico, Prime Minister Longworth (along with the entire cabinet), Leader of the Opposition Francisco Villa, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky of Russia, along with many diplomats from around the world.

When the Senate returned to business in April, the proposal, now closely linked with the memory of the late Prime Minister, had gained much support, particularly from the progressive bloc in the Liberal Party, which saw themselves as the successors to Rooseveltian policies, at least domestically. In a number of private meetings, Hiram Johnson, the leader of the bloc, threatened to walk out of the party if Longworth did not see the amendment’s passage through. Ultimately, with the public in favor of the bill, and with the threat of his own party fragmenting, Longworth instructed the Liberals in the Senate to vote in favor of the Democratic Representation Reform Amendment. With SDP and Populist support and the dissent of only the most conservative Liberals, the DRRA easily broke the required 2/3 support in the Senate and was sent to the states. While many large states, mostly in the Northeast, opposed the 22nd Amendment, it would be easily ratified by the beginning of 1930.

The passage of the amendment in the Senate marked one of the first successes in Longworth’s two years as Prime Minister. Unfortunately for Longworth, he was soon faced with more problems. On August 4th, 1928, a group of 3,000 American marines entered the Mexican city of Veracruz, in the coastal state of Veracruz. Unbeknownst to them, Zapatistas had taken control of the city’s government, and by nightfall on the 4th of August, the Americans had been completely surrounded. What followed was a bloody massacre, as the entire detachment was wiped out. General Smedley Butler, who was awoken on August 5th by the radio message of the handful of survivors who had escaped the slaughter, was furious, and directed 50,000 soldiers as well as 25,000 additional Federales to march on the city of Veracruz. The Battle of Veracruz commenced on August 8th, 1928. Though the Americans had expected to take the city easily, the populace had turned against the Americans and allied with the Liberation Army of the South and Emiliano Zapata. On August 11th, after three days of fighting, American forces had failed to push very far into the city, and General Butler called for an artillery barrage to break the will of the defenders, as well as a naval blockade and bombardment of the city.

In the United States, especially in the Senate, there was immediately public outrage. “We must bring our boys home now, and end this immoral imperialist adventure,” Populist Party Leader John W. Davis boomed before the Senate. The SDP quickly came out in support of withdrawing from Mexico entirely, as did the Populists. Prime Minister Nicholas Longworth’s Liberal Party was again divided on the issue, with the progressive wing pushing for a withdrawal, but Longworth’s own conservative faction steadfastly against withdrawal. Majority Whip Franklin D. Roosevelt (L-NY) stood before the Senate in September and expressed the views of many in the chamber: “If we as Americans shall fail to support the flower of democracy wherever it may bloom, we shall enter upon a new and terrible era in which the whole world would be run by threats of brute force, terror and dictatorship.” Roosevelt’s speech was met with wide acclaim, and there were even private conversations in the capital about replacing the relatively unpopular Longworth with Roosevelt come next election. Ultimately, Longworth’s conservatives were able to keep control of the Liberal party and the chamber, and bills calling for a pull-out were soundly defeated.

Nonetheless, conditions in Mexico continued to worsen, and the Second Battle of Veracruz, fought in September, proved to be as bloody as the first. This time, American and Mexican forces were able to pacify the city after a week of brutal fighting, though Veracruz was left largely in ruin. General Smedley Butler again came to the United States to testify in front of the Senate, demanding more troops and more funding for the Mexican army. He also met with King Henry I in Arlington Palace, where the King expressed regret that the Senate was not more willing to support troops in Mexico. King Henry I met with Nicholas Longworth in October, to ask him for more troops in Mexico. The two quickly descended into a shouting match, a furious Longworth screaming that he was doing all he could. A week later, the Prime Minister met with Hiram Johnson and told him that he would be sending an additional 100,000 troops to Mexico. Johnson saw that as unacceptable, and promised that his progressive faction would leave the party. Longworth, long tired of being blackmailed by the progressives in his party, famously responded, “Damnit Hiram. Either leave or don’t, but I’m done with you.” The next week, Hiram Johnson announced he was leaving the Liberal party and forming the Independent Liberal Party (ILP). Fifty-three Liberal Senators, along with a handful of Populists and Social Democrats, also left their respective parties to join Johnson. Nonetheless, the Liberals still held a majority, albeit a slim one, and were able to pass the Mexican Stability Authorization Act of 1928 in October of 1928, authorizing an additional 100,000 troops to be sent to Mexico.

[Lief 🗽]

The next update will be solely concerned with Europe during the 1920s, where many things that I haven't detailed have occurred.

[Хahar 🤔]

Cool.

[The Hack Hater]

If events are exciting as they have been in America, I can hardly wait.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

If events are exciting as they have been in America, I can hardly wait.

Neither can I

[HappyWarrior]

You should change the new party's name.  Maybe the Progressive Liberal Party(PLP)?

[Хahar 🤔]

You should change the new party's name.  Maybe the Progressive Liberal Party(PLP)?

C'mon Lief. You can do this.

[Person Man]

Were in 1928, already. Come on! Let's see 1950 by the end of April and 1980 by June and let's be caught up to current time by the end of the summer!

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Were in 1928, already. Come on! Let's see 1950 by the end of April and 1980 by June and let's be caught up to current time by the end of the summer!

As much as I'd like that to be the case, I highly doubt it. Poor Lief he has to deal with College (I think) and this TL we keep on nagging him about. I'm sure he'll find time to do it.

[Хahar 🤔]

Were in 1928, already. Come on! Let's see 1950 by the end of April and 1980 by June and let's be caught up to current time by the end of the summer!

As much as I'd like that to be the case, I highly doubt it. Poor Lief he has to deal with College (I think) and this TL we keep on nagging him about. I'm sure he'll find time to do it.

College? I thought that once you get into college, you get a lot more free time. Besides, he has the summer.

[MasterJedi]

Were in 1928, already. Come on! Let's see 1950 by the end of April and 1980 by June and let's be caught up to current time by the end of the summer!

As much as I'd like that to be the case, I highly doubt it. Poor Lief he has to deal with College (I think) and this TL we keep on nagging him about. I'm sure he'll find time to do it.

College? I thought that once you get into college, you get a lot more free time. Besides, he has the summer.

College is more work, just not busy work in class. And haha at summer, that's for working.

[Хahar 🤔]

Were in 1928, already. Come on! Let's see 1950 by the end of April and 1980 by June and let's be caught up to current time by the end of the summer!

As much as I'd like that to be the case, I highly doubt it. Poor Lief he has to deal with College (I think) and this TL we keep on nagging him about. I'm sure he'll find time to do it.

College? I thought that once you get into college, you get a lot more free time. Besides, he has the summer.

College is more work, just not busy work in class. And haha at summer, that's for working.

Hehe. Tell your forum sister that.

[Lief 🗽]

I'll update tomorrow afternoon. I do intend, by the way, to end the TL/catch up with the modern day (same thing) by June or so.

And I don't start attending college until next September, though MasterJedi is right that summer is a good time for making the money with which one pays for college.

[Хahar 🤔]

[MasterJedi]

Were in 1928, already. Come on! Let's see 1950 by the end of April and 1980 by June and let's be caught up to current time by the end of the summer!

As much as I'd like that to be the case, I highly doubt it. Poor Lief he has to deal with College (I think) and this TL we keep on nagging him about. I'm sure he'll find time to do it.

College? I thought that once you get into college, you get a lot more free time. Besides, he has the summer.

College is more work, just not busy work in class. And haha at summer, that's for working.

Hehe. Tell your forum sister that.

Yeah, ok, we both have no idea what you are talking about.