An Empire of Stars and Stripes
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Author Topic: An Empire of Stars and Stripes  (Read 10399 times)
Jerseyrules
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« on: August 05, 2012, 07:25:02 PM »
« edited: August 10, 2012, 01:16:52 AM by Jerseyrules »

An empire of Stars and Stripes

Okay, so this was inspired by Cathcon's TL and The American Monarchy, as well as Tex's "United States of Ameriwank" from ah.com.  It also starts begins with a POD similar to American Monarchy, just bare with me Wink.  Also, this contains a bit of Ameriwank, and is my first major TL (spanning more than 50 or so years), so without further delay, I present to you my summer's work! Cheesy

The year was 1787.  Despite the initial swell of pride after Quebec, Newfoundland, and Ontario joined the Continental Congress, things went downhill.  The Articles of Confederation were not working.  There was no national revenue system, no national bank, no debts of the Revolution were paid off, the states were bickering amongst themselves, vying for power.  Heck, some states were planning to invade each other.  Not only that, but the Constitutional Convention held this year descended into chaos as Richard Henry Lee died.  Guy Carleton, Alexander Hamilton, John Marshall, Rufus King, and James Madison in particular took charge of the Convention, and proposed a sweeping new constitution: the United States of America would be established as a constitutional monarchy, with a tripartite government.  There would be a Congress as the legislative branch, divided into a Senate and House of Representatives, the former serving staggered six-year terms and the latter serving two-year terms.  The senators would be appointed by state legislatures, "with the states free to modify their methods of election at their discretion", with two senators from each state.  The House would be popularly elected, and would be allocated by proportional representation.  At every other Congress, a Chancellor would be elected to a four-year term, "to serve as the voice of the People and their Congress", who needed to be elected by both houses of Congress, then be appointed by the Monarch (largely a formality, but should the monarch decline to appoint the Chancellor, said Chancellor would need to be confirmed by 2/3 majority of both houses of Congress).  Next would be an American Emperor, who would be a hereditary monarch serving the role of the executive Branch, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, etc., with the responsibility of appointing his Royal Council (essentially a cabinet of sorts, which is much more ceremonial), which must be confirmed by the Congress.  The Chancellor would also have his own cabinet, (including a Speaker of the House and President Pro Tem of the Senate) subject to confirmation by Congress.  Finally there was a Supreme Court, appointed by the Emperor after confirmation by the Senate.  The Senate would ratify treaties while the majority of domestic legislation, particularly budgets (submitted annually), tax policy, etc., would be required to originate in the House.

Next states demanded a Bill of Rights, with James Madison doing much of the heavy-lifting with regards to drafts, baring the brunt of criticism, etc.  The Bill of Rights included 10 amendments to the Constitution, including Freedom of Expression, the right to a speedy trial, etc.
* Note: Bill of Rights, Constitution, etc. essentially the same save for the Emperor and Chancellor.

While George Washington didn't like the idea of a new monarch, he approved of the great lengths the Convention had gone to in order to distinguish between the British system of government, right down to the names of the governmental positions.  He new he would be the first the new nation would turn to for guidance, and for the throne.  He reluctantly endorsed the Constitution drafted by the Congress, and even Patrick Henry gave his tepid support (mainly out of the political capital he would lose if he didn't do so.)

Washington was declared Emperor, crowned in a modest ceremony in Arlington, which would become the official resident for the monarch due to its proximity to the capital of Washington D.C.  The Congressional elections were set for 1788, and the nation would decide its next Chancellor.


Emperor George Washington's Imperial portrait, completed shortly after his coronation

The Federalists were given a resounding victory in the Congressional elections of 1788.  When the Congress met in 1789, with a majority of 48 of the 80 seats in the House, and 25 of the 32 senate seats.  Meanwhile, Emperor George I appointed the six members of his Supreme Court: Chief Justice John Jay, Associate Justices William Paterson, John Rutledge, Ben Franklin, Oliver Ellsworth and John Hancock.  The new Chancellor was elected easily: key Washington ally John Adams.


Chancellor John Adams

Adams' First Cabinet:

Secretary of Foreign Affairs: Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War: Henry Knox
Minister to France: John Quincy Adams
Minister to Britain: Thomas Pinkney

Washington's First Royal Council:

Advisors for Foreign Relations: Rufus King, John Marshall
Advisors for Monetary Policy: Alexander Hamilton, Robert Morris, Nathaniel Macon
Advisors for National Defence: Thomas Pinkney, James Monroe, James Madison

While the United States progressed, Europe was a hotbed of conflict.  The United States scored a major victory in it's purchase of Greenland and Iceland from the Kalmar Union.  The new Kalmar Union was formed after Sweden scored a major victory over the Danish Realm, acquiring all it's territory.  However, there was a need to repay the insurmountable debt built up over the course of the War of Scandanavian Unification, and the overseas colonies were seen as a means to pay off their crushing debt.  The United States paid $250,000 for both islands in 1790, plus an additional $100,000 for the Faroe Islands (after a bidding war ensued between America and Great Britain) and both sides walked away happy afterwards.  The United States also purchased Rupert's Land from Britain for $400,000 in the Treaty of Paris in 1783.  The Federalists were generally noncommittal on both purchases, but Hamilton and Rufus King thought it would be a good idea to inspire the American people by expanding Her borders.  Aaron Burr whipped enough Jeffersonians into agreement to pass the treaty, and it was ratified, but not without the stringent opposition by fiscal hawks, who demanded that America pay down the national debt first.  Nevertheless, the new tariffs (set at 7%) provide more than enough income to pay for this "investment".


1790 elections:

The Jeffersonians made small inroads, picking up one seat in the Senate and three in the House of Representatives.  Chancellor Adams has been immensely successful, passing much of his agenda thus far with bipartisan support, and sets to work, drafting a domestic and foreign agenda for the remainder of his term (though it was mainly a guide for his remaining time in office, and likely couldn't all be accomplished in two years) including:

1. Paying off the national debt with a slight tariff increase (Hamilton believed in a larger tariff hike, but then he wasn't the Chancellor)
2. A large naval expansion, including the development of brand new ships and researching Ironclads
3. Improving relations with France and Britain

The National Bank was established during the Second Congress in 1791, the brainchild of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, with the Board of Directors appointed by the Chancellor to ten-year terms (upon the advice of the Emperor), and subject to confirmation and audit by the Congress.  There were also provisions providing for impeachment due to poor monetary policy, misconduct, etc.  The first Board of Directors includes:

- Robert Morris
- Governeur Morris
- Isaac Roosevelt
- Phillip Schuyler
- Charles Caroll of Carollton


Robert Morris, First Chairman of the National Bank

Meanwhile, Revolution rages in France....
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« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2012, 07:33:07 PM »

Yeah! It's off the ground!
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2012, 07:34:15 PM »
« Edited: August 05, 2012, 07:39:11 PM by Jerseyrules »


I'm so happy that I'm actually posting!  I'm hoping to do updates every week or so, please give me a kick in the pants when needed everyone!

I really want to thank Cathcon for all the support, inspiration, and attention he's given me for this project, and my others.

Comments, questions, critiques, queries welcome!
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Snowstalker Mk. II
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« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2012, 01:28:09 AM »

Not even 1800 and we already have Canada, Greenland, and Iceland?



(these are tears of joy, FYI)
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« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2012, 08:39:55 AM »

Not even 1800 and we already have Canada, Greenland, and Iceland?

**Ahem**
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2012, 03:42:39 PM »

Not even 1800 and we already have Canada, Greenland, and Iceland?



(these are tears of joy, FYI)

Thanks Wink.  It's not too wankish too soon is it?
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2012, 04:23:07 PM »

Chapter 2:

1791 was a fairly peaceful year.  Emperor Washington oversaw the normalization of relations with Great Britain, sending Secretary Jefferson to and fro in an attempt to broaden American influence worldwide.  Many "Anti-Administration" Congressmen believed that America should stand firmly behind the Revolutionaries in France, though many (including Emperor Washington and Chancellor Adams) believed neutrality was the best course of action.  America also received its first visit from the Marquis de Lafayette since the Revolutionary War, who embarked on a tour of the new nation, including visits to Boston, Concord, and New York City.


Emperor Washington and the Marquis inspecting the troops in Boston

In other events, Arlington Palace, Washington's planned Imperial residence, is nearly complete.  It spans from all of Arlington County to Mount Vernon in Fairfax County, VA, connecting Washington's two estates.  The Emperor insisted on a much more modest design, but the Congress overwhelmingly approved funds for a palace "more grand than any ever seen in Europe," as a plan to shore up American morale.  While none will admit it, the design is based loosely on Versailles, and is intended to be larger and more elaborate than Versailles or any other European palace.  However, the other Imperial government buildings in the Capital are fully complete, including the Congressional building.  Foreign Relations Advisor John Marshall has also proposed plans to create a Supreme Court building, in order to "fully establish the judiciary as an independent branch of government" rather than meeting in the old Congressional building.  Right now, however, the Congress will not appropriate any more funds, trying to use as many resources as possible to pay down the national debt.  The last three years have produced balanced budgets, and the war debt is nearly paid off.  Some estimate payments may be complete by next year if public improvements are kept to a minimum.


An artist's rendition of Arlington Palace

Other important events include the deaths of Justice Benjamin Franklin, who will be replaced by John Marshall.  Marshall will make an excellent justice, and has been groomed by Emperor Washington and Chancellor Adams for the position.


Benjamin Franklin: 1706-1791


Associate Justice John Marshall
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« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2012, 04:32:02 PM »

Another update! (You ever read "John Adams" by David McCullough, or see the HBO mini-series? Chapter Six provides a cool gilmpse of the role of John Marshall in the final year or so of the Adams Administration)
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2012, 01:56:04 PM »

Another update! (You ever read "John Adams" by David McCullough, or see the HBO mini-series? Chapter Six provides a cool gilmpse of the role of John Marshall in the final year or so of the Adams Administration)

I watched parts of it, but my DVR had it on lower preference (my sister's crap recorded over it, etc. if both were on at the same time).  To the best of my knowledge it's not on Netflix or YouTube, so it's high-priority if I can find it, along with The Trojan Horse and The West Wing.
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« Reply #9 on: August 14, 2012, 10:08:57 AM »

Bump dude.
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #10 on: August 14, 2012, 01:55:27 PM »
« Edited: August 14, 2012, 02:23:15 PM by Jerseyrules »

Meanwhile, the remainder of the 1790s would be fairly straightforward.  Adams was easily re-elected in 1792, after the Federalists sustained small losses in Congress.  Kentucky joined the Union in 1792, followed by Tennessee in 1793, then Greenland and Iceland in 1794.

Meanwhile, Revolution raged in France, and when the Republic was declared in 1792, America came out in support of the Republican government; in 1793, Secretary Jefferson famously declared, "My own affections have been deeply wounded by some of the martyrs to the cause, but rather than it should have failed, I would have seen half the earth desolated. Were there but an Adam & Eve left in every country, & left free, it would be better than as it now is."  Secretary Jefferson firmly believed that the people of France had to do what was necessary to reap the benefits "of the freedom we [America] so enjoy."  However, Jefferson was not aware that the Revolutionaries had executed King Louis XVI on January 21.

France's Revolution was fading however; the French lost a critical victory to the Holy Roman Empire at the Battle of Jemappes in 1792, and

By the end of 1793, Jefferson's fervent and outspoken support of the Revolution had sizzled, mainly because he did not want to contradict Emperor George's policy of neutrality, fearing it would discredit himself and his allies.  Jefferson later denounced the atrocities of Robespierre, writing that he would have voted for removing the King, but not for his execution.  The United States remained largely silent during the Reign of Terror under Robespierre and his Committee of Public Safety; when Robespierre fell by the guillotine in July of 1794, Americans and French breathed a sign of relief.  However, Jefferson and the Emperor stopped Chancellor Adams from immediately coming out in support of Robespierre's execution, reminding him that the devil you know might be better than the one you don't.  However, both hoped they were wrong, and were immensely relieved with the rise of the more stable, free, and peaceful Directory in 1795.

1795 was also an important year back home.  After six consecutive balanced budgets, America has finally paid off its national debt, including payments to France.  Hamilton receives (and gladly accepts) credit for this triumph, as his tariffs, national bank, and other domestic policy are credited with doing so, putting him at the forefront of the upcoming 1796 election, providing Chancellor Adams doesn't seek another term (Adams will rule out seeking a third term in early 1796, leaving the field wide-open).  Although the election is a year away, Alexander Hamilton is the preferred candidate of many Federalists, some say including the Emperor himself.  However, he will have to take on Thomas Jefferson to win the Chancellor's office, which will be a worthy challenge for the "Crown Prince of the Federalist Party"


The rising star of the Federalist Party, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton

With some of the leftover money in the treasury, Chancellor Adams proposes buildup of the armed forces, which Hamilton agrees is an integral part of catapulting the United States to a major military power, particularly while European colonialism rages across the Americas.  Ultimately, both agree on a large naval buildup, including 8 new frigates, with the goal of being completed by 1800.  This will be accomplished by purchasing retired privateers, buying up civilian vessels and outfitting them with military equipment, and reinstating the service of several retired vessels from the Revolution, after outfitting them with modern equipment, guns, as well as the construction of new ships, which will be the case for the majority of the lesser vessels, including eight powerful new frigates.  One of these will be known as the USS Constitution.  This will pass as the Naval Act of 1794, which passed narrowly in the House, but had an easier time passing the senate; the cost would total approximately $800,000.


Though Adams and Hamilton focused primarily on the buildup of the Navy, Hamilton called also for a sizable standing army.  Adams consented it would be best to establish such an army, but they disagreed on the size and scope of the standing army.  Whereas Adams favored most funds and research going towards US Naval Forces, Hamilton preferred a large standing army.  Finally, Adams consented to a moderate - but respectable - standing army, which would be paid for with modest tariff increase, from 7% to 8%.

In 1795, Chief Justice John Jay resigned to become Governor of New York.  He was replaced by Justice John Marshall, who was heavily recommended by both Adams and Hamilton.  Marshall would become an incredibly successful Chief Justice, and was sworn in on June 30, 1795.


Adams was also becoming increasingly irritated with the situation in France.  The French Revolutionary Wars were raging across Europe, and Adams was increasingly anxious over the inability of the Coalition forces to end France's territorial aspirations.  Finally, with the entrance of the Kalmar Union and Russia (joining the Coalition), French victories began to grind to a halt.  However, the main victor in the Wars was General Napoleon Bonaparte, who won a long string of key victories in the wars, and established himself as a symbol of French Nationalism.  Peace came in 1796, after the French Republican Government was persuaded that further conflict would damage their situation at home (after several months of blockade by Prussian and Habsburg forces).


Thus began the Second French Revolution, which was caused by civilian discontent over the French "defeatism" brought on by the Republican government.  General Bonaparte declared that the French were winning the wars, but the French Government surrendered before victory could be achieved.  He took control on October 7, 1796, after a coup against the Republican government, and installed himself as Emperor of the French.  Jefferson was privately happy at this turn of events, believing that the French Republic would have disintegrated shortly afterwards anyway.  This is sometimes referred to as the first "October Surprise" in American politics, and resulted in American fear that Napoleon posed a threat to American interests.  Hamilton promised to build up the young nation's armed forces, and quietly spread word that he would be proud to fight against the French "Radicals", seeing this as an opportunity to prove the nation's might against a "worthy challenger."  Essentially, Hamilton would declare War on France, and promised to do whatever was necessary to halt French aggression around the world.  The strategy worked, and Hamilton narrowly won the Chancellorship in 1796 over Secretary Jefferson, despite Chancellor Adams giving his support to Jefferson.

The Congressional vote for Chancellor:

House vote:

Alexander Hamilton: 52 votes
Thomas Jefferson: 45 votes
Scattering: 3 votes

Senate Vote:
Alexander Hamilton: 23 votes
Thomas Jefferson: 17 votes

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« Reply #11 on: August 14, 2012, 02:41:34 PM »

Great update. Can't wait to see what Washington's Council and Hamilton's cabinet look like!
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ask_not
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« Reply #12 on: August 14, 2012, 02:58:10 PM »

 i like the art work on this.
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #13 on: August 14, 2012, 04:10:24 PM »


Thanks Wink
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #14 on: August 14, 2012, 04:28:54 PM »

Great update. Can't wait to see what Washington's Council and Hamilton's cabinet look like!

Thanks man Wink

I'll do a quickie update now:

Emperor George's Third Advisory Council:

Advisors for Foreign Affairs: Thomas Jefferson, Rufus King, Charles Coatsworth Pinckney
Advisors for Monetary Policy: Robert Morris, Nathaniel Macon, Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Advisors for National Defense: Thomas Pinckney, James Madison, James Monroe

Chancellor Hamilton's First Cabinet:

Secretary of Foreign Affairs: Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of the Treasury: Oliver Walcott, Jr.
Secretary of War: Henry Knox
Ambassador to Britain: John Quincy Adams
Ambassador to France: Timothy Pickering
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #15 on: August 24, 2012, 05:09:54 PM »

Have no fear!  An update is almost here!
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« Reply #16 on: August 24, 2012, 05:21:02 PM »

Given Jefferson and Hamilton's OTL relationship, I'm expecting some entertaining cabinet fights.
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« Reply #17 on: August 24, 2012, 07:32:50 PM »

 This TL has the potential to be the best in the history of the forum! Don't screw it up! Tongue
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #18 on: August 24, 2012, 11:53:35 PM »

This TL has the potential to be the best in the history of the forum! Don't screw it up! Tongue

Thanks man, and trust me, I won't disappoint if I can help it Wink
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« Reply #19 on: August 25, 2012, 04:56:57 PM »

Update?
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #20 on: September 02, 2012, 04:14:53 PM »

One of Hamilton's first actions as Chancellor is to, at the recommendation of Secretary Knox, eliminate the exporting of domestically-made weapons and drastically increase the amount of foreign-imported weapons, as well as the creation of federal facilities for the production and stockpiling of weapons.  This will be accomplished by eliminating the tariffs on imported weapons, as well as some arms purchases by the federal government.  These will be distributed to all in the armed forces who cannot afford to arm themselves, while those who can afford to purchase their own arms are encouraged to do so.  While essentially an expansion of the Militia Acts of 1792, this Militia Act of 1797 will be critical in coming years.

Meanwhile, Hamilton's first major domestic action occurs in late March: his appointment of Thomas Willing to the Board of Directors of the National Bank, after his son-in-law, William Bingham declined the offer, preferring his senate seat.

The remainder of the 1790s saw the rise of the United States, economically and militarily.  The bulk of military funding went into the construction of a large naval force, hopefully large enough to withstand a war with Britain if need be.  But on April 30, 1799, Emperor George I abdicated in favor of Crown Prince George II, who turned eighteen that day.  Historians debate whether the Emperor was always hesitant to become a monarch, and was just holding the throne until his heir could assume it.  Regardless, America now had a new Emperor, and Emperor George II's first action was to sign a large military bill, the American Naval Act of 1799, which would construct another 500 ships by 1810.  He also reached out to Napoleon Bonaparte in France, who had just installed himself as First Consul, and was covertly building the infrastructure for a coup to install himself as Emperor of France.


The new Emperor's Coat-of-Arms, as designed by Chancellor Hamilton


Emperor George II shortly after his coronation

In 1800, congressional elections were held.  After a large grassroots campaign by Jeffersonian surrogates, the Republican Party had been formed in 1798 in opposition to Hamilton's economic and governmental policies.  The results were a Republican majority in the House of Representatives and a narrow Republican majority in the senate.  The results were contentious, and among the most controversial in American history.  Chancellor Hamilton reached out to newly-elected Whigs to broker deals with them if they voted for him, and ensured that all Nationals were in the bag for him.  His greatest ally in the Republican Caucus was Senator-elect Aaron Burr.  Burr had plans of his own, and Hamilton told him that he would not run for a third term in 1808; Burr could run as the nominee of whichever party he wished, with Hamilton's support.  He would also appoint Burr Secretary of Foreign Affairs.  Burr agreed, and Hamilton won re-election by a very slim majority in the House, and by one vote in the Senate.  Jefferson, enraged, would be re-appointed to the Royal Council as Foreign Minister, and plot for 1808.


Chancellor Alexander Hamilton's Official Portrait

Another major event in 1797 were the seeds of Revolution being planted in Persia.  General Mohammad Fatemi, a Zoroastrian and Persian nationalist, was the inspiration for massive demonstrations in the streets against the Qajar Dynasty, claiming that "these Turkic occupiers are forcing their will upon the people!  We, the people of Persia, have been kept in the dark ages for far too long!  These Muslim occupiers stand in the way of scientific and economic triumph over the Middle East, and stand in the way of Persia becoming the sole power of the Middle East!  Just think, we were once the keepers of untold knowledge and immense fortune!  We are being restrained by those in power, if unintentionally so.  We must show them that we are the ones who will lead Persia into the nineteenth century, reclaim our scientific and military prowess, and take on the Sick Man of Europe!  The Ottoman Empire is in decline; now is our chance to restore the days of Cyrus, of Darius, of Xerxes!  The Revolution begins now!"

General Fatemi has so far been successful at revealing that the Shah had hidden a full copy of the Za Avesta (including several other tablets which could be used to translate the rest) from the public, and his movement is growing rapidly.  Furthermore, his goal of reclamation of all Persia's former territory is very popular with the people, as is his campaign for an elected Parliament with a Prime Minister, who would have influence on all domestic actions.  Secretary Jefferson is very supportive of Fatemi, as is Emperor George and Chancellor Hamilton.

These protests continued, and over the coming months,  Fatemi would continue to stir up dissent, and finally Shah Qajar abdicated after many of his generals (mainly Zoroastrians) turned against him.  Fatemi led his followers up the steps of the Sa'dabad Palace in late October, where he was crowned Shah in an elaborate ceremony.  In a heartfelt speech following the ceremony, he vowed to modernize the country, build up the military, strengthen ties abroad, encourage religious freedom and secularism, and help sow the seeds of democracy in the Middle East, as well as unite it under Persia's banner, as well as "restoration of our proud Aryan heritage" by encouraging Zoroastrians to have children, with monetary incentives for each child born, which increase with every additional child.  The Ottoman Empire is on-edge about this turn of events, but the Holy Roman Empire, French, Spanish, Russian, and Italian heads-of-state make journeys to Tehran, where they are greeted with the "firmest of handshakes and the most welcoming of embraces" by the enthusiastic new Shah.


Shah Mohammad Fatemi

*Noteworthy is that ITTL Zoroastrians account for approximately 40% of the population in Persia as of 1795, and that this number is growing rapidly following many Muslim converts.  Part of it is a status symbol, as Zoroastrians are ethnically pure Aryan, and part of it is that persecution in the form of genicide has been much less successful.  This will have a major effect on Persia in the future, as Zoroastrians have become a sort of nationalist icon for Persians.  Though the young Dynasty is still in its developmental stage, the country is still of the revolutionary mindset, with Shah Qajar just being crowned in 1796.
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« Reply #21 on: September 02, 2012, 04:15:21 PM »
« Edited: September 02, 2012, 04:18:38 PM by Jerseyrules »

On August 24, 1799, Napoleon set sail for France, leaving Jean Baptiste Kléber in command of the French military.  By the time Napoleon arrived, the War of the Second Coalition was dragging on too long; a mixed bag of wins and losses, but the French Republic was bankrupt.  He was approached by one of the Directors, Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, for his support in a coup to overthrow the Constitutional Government.  The leaders of the plot included his brother Lucien; the speaker of the Council of Five Hundred, Roger Ducos; another Director, Joseph Fouché; and Talleyrand. On 9 November—18 Brumaire by the French Republican Calendar—Bonaparte was charged with the safety of the legislative councils, who were persuaded to remove to the Château de Saint-Cloud, to the west of Paris, after a rumour of a Jacobin rebellion was spread by the plotters.  By the following day, the deputies had realised they faced an attempted coup. Faced with their remonstrations, Bonaparte led troops to seize control and disperse them, which left a rump legislature to name Bonaparte, Sieyès, and Ducos as provisional Consuls to administer the government.


Bonaparte, First Consul, by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Though Sieyès expected to dominate the new regime, he was outmanoeuvred by Bonaparte, who drafted the Constitution of the Year VIII and secured his own election as First Consul, and he took up residence at the Tuileries.  This made Bonaparte the most powerful person in France.  
In 1800, Bonaparte and his troops crossed the Alps into Italy, where French forces had been almost completely driven out by the Austrians whilst he was in Egypt.  The campaign began badly for the French after Bonaparte made strategic errors; one force was left besieged at Genoa but managed to hold out and thereby occupy Austrian resources.  This effort, and French general Louis Desaix's timely reinforcements, allowed Bonaparte narrowly to avoid defeat and to triumph over the Austrians in June at the significant Battle of Marengo.  Bonaparte's brother Joseph led the peace negotiations in Lunéville and reported that Austria, emboldened by British support, would not recognise France's newly gained territory.  With peace negotiations becoming fractious, Bonaparte gave orders to his general Moreau to strike Austria once again. Moreau led France to victory at Hohenlinden.  As a result, the Treaty of Lunéville was signed in February 1801; the French gains of the Treaty of Campo Formio were affirmed and increased.


Napoleon Crossing the Alps

Soon both France and Britain became exhausted by war, and signed the Treaty of Amiens in October 1801 and March 1802.  The Treaty included provisions that required Britain to remove troops from its recently-occupied colonies.  But the peace was uneasy and short-lived.  Britain did not evacuate Malta as promised and protested against Bonaparte's annexation of Piedmont and his attempt to stir independence movements in Austrian Switzerland, though neither of these territories were covered by the treaty.  The dispute culminated in a declaration of war by Britain in May 1803, and he reassembled the invasion camp at Boulogne.

Bonaparte faced a major setback and eventual defeat in the Haitian Revolution.  By the Law of 20 May 1802 Bonaparte re-established slavery in France's colonial possessions, where it had been banned following the Revolution.  Following a slave revolt, he sent an army to reconquer Saint-Domingue and establish a base.  The force was, however, destroyed by yellow fever and fierce resistance led by Haitian generals Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines.  Faced by imminent war against Britain and bankruptcy, he recognised French possessions on the mainland of North America would be indefensible and sold them to the United States—the Louisiana Purchase—for less than three cents per acre (7.4 cents per hectare).  What Bonaparte didn't know, however, was that Hamilton had funded revolutionary movements in Haiti, through his own personal wealth and by convincing Emperor George II that it would be "the best way to ensure freedom of Haitians from European interference and freedom from slavery."


Chancellor Hamilton's Pride, the Louisiana Purchase

Napoleon faced royalist and Jacobin plots as France's ruler, including the Conspiration des poignards (Dagger plot) in October 1800 and the Plot of the Rue Saint-Nicaise (also known as the infernal machine) two months later.  In January 1804, his police uncovered an assassination plot against him which involved Moreau and which was ostensibly sponsored by the Bourbon former rulers of France.  On the advice of Talleyrand, Napoleon ordered the kidnapping of Louis Antoine, Duke of Enghien, in violation of neighbouring Baden's sovereignty.  After a secret trial the Duke was executed, even though he had not been involved in the plot.

Napoleon used the plot to justify the re-creation of a hereditary monarchy in France, with himself as emperor, as a Bourbon restoration would be more difficult if the Bonapartist succession was entrenched in the constitution.  Napoleon crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I on 2 December 1804 at Notre Dame de Paris and then crowned Joséphine Empress.  Ludwig van Beethoven, a long-time admirer, was disappointed at this turn towards imperialism and scratched his dedication to Napoleon from his 3rd Symphony.   The story that Napoleon seized the crown out of the hands of Pope Pius VII during the ceremony to avoid his subjugation to the authority of the pontiff is apocryphal; the coronation procedure had been agreed in advance.


The Coronation of Emperor Napoleon, by Jacques-Louis David
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #22 on: September 02, 2012, 04:19:52 PM »

Did everyone else know that there's a maximum character limit on this?  It's 11000 characters, and I guess the two posts above combined are more than that.  Anyway....thoughts?
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Cathcon
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« Reply #23 on: September 02, 2012, 05:20:27 PM »

Yeah, I've encountered the character limit in the past. Awesome stuff man. This spans quite a large amount of the globe. Just wondering, since apparently Hamilton and Burr are friends ITTL, did the 1791 NY Senate election (or something like it) happen? In it are probably the roots of the Burr-Hamilton hatred. Hamilton's father-in-law Phillip Schuyler lost re-election against Burr. I'm guessing nothing like that happened in this though.
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Jerseyrules
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« Reply #24 on: September 02, 2012, 05:37:06 PM »

Yeah, I've encountered the character limit in the past. Awesome stuff man. This spans quite a large amount of the globe. Just wondering, since apparently Hamilton and Burr are friends ITTL, did the 1791 NY Senate election (or something like it) happen? In it are probably the roots of the Burr-Hamilton hatred. Hamilton's father-in-law Phillip Schuyler lost re-election against Burr. I'm guessing nothing like that happened in this though.

Thanks for the info, I didn't know (or perhaps had forgotten) the source of the animosity between the two.  Now, with regards to the 1791 senate election, Burr was re-elected; he had been appointed to replace Schuyler (with Hamilton's support; the other major candidate was Governor George Clinton) when the latter had been appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Bank.  If you remember my Drink Too Much TL, I tend to like shaking up a lot of rivalries, especially ones that cross party lines Wink.  As a result of this, both parties in New York are a little more catch-all, voting based on individual candidates, as well as the candidates' personalities.
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