An Empire of Stars and Stripes

[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 .  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!

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....

[Jerseyrules]

Yeah! It's off the ground!

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!

[Jerseyrules]

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



(these are tears of joy, FYI)

Thanks .  It's not too wankish too soon is it?

[Jerseyrules]

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

[Jerseyrules]

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.

[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

[Jerseyrules]

i like the art work on this.

Thanks

[Jerseyrules]

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

Thanks man

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

[Jerseyrules]

Have no fear!  An update is almost here!

[Jerseyrules]

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

Thanks man, and trust me, I won't disappoint if I can help it

[Jerseyrules]

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.

[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

[Jerseyrules]

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?

[Jerseyrules]

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 .  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.

[Jerseyrules]

Also, if anyone is an expert on the Middle East, Iran, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Bahai, Germany, Austria, Scandanavia, Russia, Slavic countries (apologies if that's not politically correct; I don't know), Ottomans, etc., I'd really appreciate if you could shoot me a PM; its pretty important to this TL.

[Jerseyrules]

Bump

I'm hoping to do an update this weekend, providing my computer works.  I've been having some troubles lately; I think my poor old thirdhand laptop is on its last licks guys

[Jerseyrules]

Alright, so I've got a massive update, at this point it's just about going through and editing the whole thing.  Sorry to the people who read this TL, but with school it's been pretty tough.  I appreciate your support guys!

[Jerseyrules]

Update on the way!

Sorry about the delay guys!

[Jerseyrules]

With France's rise in power and prestige, and with the Napoleonic Wars raging in Europe, Chancellor Hamilton was faced with a dilemma.  He was unsure whether to come to the aid of the British or the French, as he was increasingly encouraged by his cabinet to choose sides.  Privately, Chancellor Hamilton believed that the United States would be best to wait this one out and offer diplomatic and reconstruction/humanitarian aid to the victors when it was all over.  Hamilton believed this would allow America to emerge from the war as a political and economic superpower.  Meanwhile, Burr was among his closest allies and confidantes, and Hamilton was becoming increasingly withdrawn from day-to-day affairs in Congress.  The young Chancellor would pace his office like a madman, with Burr increasingly running the show on most Congressional affairs.  Some believed he was going insane; he was met with criticism of nearly everything he did, (largely from Jefferson, "the ignoramus"), and yet....

Hamilton felt an obligation to his country to remain Chancellor until the Napoleonic Wars were finished, to prevent Americans from going the wrong direction; Hamilton firmly believed intervention, either diplomatically or militarily, would cripple the young nation if they joined the losing side.  He definitely didn't want Jefferson to become Chancellor; nearly sixteen years of hard work and strong leadership had shaped the nation.  And with Burr seen as a traitor by both parties, it was likely he or any other Federalist would win in 1804.  Save one, that is...  Hamilton firmly believed that he was the only candidate who could guarantee another 4 years Federalist government.  However, he knew it would cause problems with Burr, whom he had promised to support this year.  But when approached in secret, Burr agreed that Hamilton would be the best candidate for 1804, and that he could run in 1808 or some later time, either against or after Jefferson's near-guaranteed election next time around.  But this is perhaps what made Hamilton feel most guilty; his friend was willing to perhaps end his political career to allow his greedy Chancellor an unprecedented third term.

He declared his candidacy once more, with Jefferson unsurprisingly doing the same soon afterwards.  The race was on, and it would be a rough battle for both candidates.

Meanwhile, the Ottoman Empire was astonished at the rapid growth of their neighbor, who was industrializing rapidly.  Shah Fatemi had also declared a military draft, with a mandatory 10 years in the military or 20 years of community service for all citizens (women or men), with the exception of the mentally and physically handicapped, in addition to a reserve system based off of the Prussian "canton system" in which all able-bodied men would be enlisted as reservists, with mandatory 2 months of training per year.  The Sick Man of Europe was frightened that their status as the sole Middle Eastern and Muslim superpower was being usurped.  (Though now the latter no longer applies; Zoroastrians now form a strong and steadily increasing 55% of Persia's population).  Ottoman spies were sent to collect information regarding Shah Fatemi's plans for the future.  Several returned to Istanbul with proof that the Shah was gearing up for an invasion, which would take place as soon as two weeks.  Sultan Selim III was informed that he could not mobilize his armed forces quickly enough, so he decided to declare Jihad against the Persians, and to send a group of assassins to Fatemi's palace.

Several nights later, the Shah declared war on the Ottomans.  That night, as he was sleeping, three assassins snuck into his chambers.  Pulling out a sinister-looking dagger, the leader dripped a bottle of arsenic onto the blade, and crept towards the bed.  Just inches from the bed, he stepped on a creaky floorboard the shah had installed for instances such as this.  Leaping out of bed, the Shah drew his saber, smashing the would-be killer repeatedly with the butt of the hilt. He then elegantly cut through the other two men, just as his wife, Homeyra, ran inside from the ballroom down the hall holding Crown Prince Ryan Cyrus.  The Shah quickly threw a rug over the mess, not wanting his son to be traumatized.

Unable to sleep, Fatemi began to finalize the invasion strategy of the Ottoman Empire with his generals, and resolved the best way to legitimize his new regime would be to enter into an alliance with Napoleon.  Fatemi would receive supplies and equipment from Napoleonic France, who viewed the upstart Shah with much respect; in many ways the two men were very similar in their rise to power and views on government.  Napoleon embraced the new Shah, believing that he could never pose a threat to the mighty French Empire; Fatemi secretly noted the Emperor's arrogance, easily detected during their first meeting.



French propaganda depicted Napoleon as saving the savage Persians from famine, disease, and poor sanitation, though Fatemi Shah had done much to modernize his country during his short stint in power, and some historians even go so far as to say that the alliance benefitted France more than it did Persia; the Ottomans would be forced to fight a dual-front war, not to mention the economic benefits of the free trade agreement; many spices, tea, and jewels poured into France at a highly discounted price thanks to the Shah's maneuvering behind the scenes.

[Jerseyrules]

Awesome update! Glad to have you back to writing!

Thanks man!  Hoping to crank out another update by tomorrow

[Jerseyrules]

BTW, if you want to do election maps in the future, since it's a parliamentary system, I'd advise that they look like the way Lief had them in American Monarchy: https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=61177.msg1266907#msg1266907

Thanks a lot Cathcon; I'll try to fiddle with the maps but since I'm working from my grandma's computer it'll be tough.  You've been incredibly helpful through this whole thing btw

[Jerseyrules]

Emperor George II was having his weekly lunch meeting with Chancellor Hamilton.  The two men had become very fond of each other during their years of service together, and had become very close friends.  Suffice to say that if anyone knew about Hamilton's rapidly deteriorating mental state, and enormous stress, it was George.  Both men discussed Burr's qualifications, and how he was essentially running the day-to-day affairs while Hamilton was playing an increasingly minimal role in governance.  Hamilton was convinced that Napoleon wouldn't be going anywhere in the next two years, and in order to ensure an experienced man was sitting in the Chancellor's chair when his time was up, the transition progress would need to begin soon.  George agreed fullheartedly, and thanked Hamilton for his years of service to him, and to the American people.  Both men parted with tears in their eyes, and Hamilton submitted his letter of resignation by the end of the week.  Burr was confirmed and appointed Chancellor immediately afterwards.  After nearly eleven years, Chancellor Hamilton became a private citizen once more.

Aaron Burr, Third Chancellor of the United States

[Jerseyrules]

Cyrus Fatemi entered Napoleon's War Room at Versailles, with a noble grace that had become a sort of signature.  His military uniform gleamed in the sunlight, and Napoleon rose to greet him.  The two men discussed the war plans; Napoleon had consented to allowing Persia to fight the Ottomans alone, because French intervention could result in dragging Persia into the European war, and potentially provoking Russia.  However, the Kalmar King Charles XIV John would provide reinforcements for the Persians, in addition to modern equipment.  During his brief stint in power, the Shah had already modernized his nation rapidly, nearly bringing it into competition with the primary European powers; his passion for all things French was well-known - he had introduced reforms similar to the Napoleonic Code, though some "essential" elements of Feudalism remained.  He had decreed that French must be taught in all Persian schools, and the ability to speak French became a symbol of class and wealth in Persian society.

However, his support of Napoleon was waning; the Shah was becoming increasingly aware of Napoleon's faults.  Though he had yet to make any fatal errors, Napoleon was slipping.  There was something about his insatiable nature that Fatemi was convinced would one day be his undoing.  The Shah had decided that he would not directly support Napoleon if he could help it, and would only give him the lands north of the Aegean Sea once Constantinople fell.  Fatemi reached out to Charles XIV, and both men signed a secret mutual defence treaty in the event Napoleon went mad and attempted to seize Kalmar or Persian land for himself.  For now, however, the Shah and King Charles would remain loyal to France, and the Napoleonic Wars continued to rage through Europe.  Shah Fatemi would personally lead his forces in the upcoming Siege of Baghdad.

The "Grand Alliance" between Emperor Napoleon, Kalmar King Charles XIV, and Cyrus Shah Fatemi would determine the fate of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe

[Jerseyrules]

Interesting developments!

Thanks!  Sorry if this wasn't more clear before, but there was no Russian Campaign (yet), Napoleon has kept his crown so far, and the Kalmar Union is back (I think that was in the beginning but I'll say it again just in case). 

[Jerseyrules]

August 1814:
23-year-old Albrecht Zierer* runs into the library at Leipzig, late again.  For six years he had led Die Wacht am Rhein* (The Watch/Guard on the Rhine) with his younger brother Josef.  The two had formed the secret society in opposition to Napoleon's creation of the Confederation of the Rhine.  It was a nonviolent group committed to spreading the ideals of German Nationalism, and it's members believed unity was the only way to defeat Napoleon.  From birth their father had instilled in them the ideals of Pan-Germanism: though he was a Prussian noble, he had told them on many occasions that if he believed that the Kaiser in Vienna had a better plan for German unity than the Prussian King, he would gladly switch allegiance "in a heartbeat".  The society began as a group of 10 close friends with similar political outlooks, but their beliefs were popular and their ranks had swelled to 1,000, making it the largest of its kind in Europe.  They had created the first Burschenschaft, and were eventually successful in organizing a federalized body of similarly-minded groups throughout the German states; Die Greater Kongress der Burschenschaften had over 20,000 members from over 50 different chapters across the continent, including several in the Kalmar Union (particularly in Norway and southern Denmark), Switzerland, and the Netherlands.  The citizens of the so-called Confederation of the Rhine were outraged with French rule; Albrecht and Josef's father had written a poem called "Die Wacht am Rhein"** in protest, giving the boys inspiration for a song and the society's name.

Until now their Kongress had been nonviolent and preached unity with other races, particularly the Slavs of Austria, however at today's meeting the presidents of the regional Burschenschaften concluded that they could not continue to fight Napoleon and continue their peaceful ways; and that they must liberate Germany before other races could be included in their "Great German Society".  The time to act was now.  Albrecht and Josef had received military training from their father from young ages - they would lead "Der Deutsche Jüngling" into Vienna to offer their services to the Austrian Emperor, and then lead their youth forces into Frankfurt to topple the French government in Germany.

* If you get tired of the fictional events and characters just let me know
** identical to OTL version

An example of nationalist anti-French propaganda; student societies helped finance and distribute such works throughout the German states.

Napoleon had seized control of Iberia.  The Peninsular War had been won, and the Spanish Empire, as well as Portuguese, were his.  However, there were several problems he would need to face; he could not trust his brother Joseph to retain the throne - he always had to handle all the administrative duties of governing Spain himself, and even Joseph's own generals required Napoleon's consent before obeying Joseph's orders.  So Napoleon would have to add Spain and Portugal to the French Empire.  However, he now had a plethora of colonies in the New World, and knew he wouldn't be able to retain them for very long.  So he invited the American Emperor and Chancellor to Versailles to discuss redrawing borders; Napoleon decided that perhaps he would grant all Spanish/Portuguese colonies their independence, however he needed American loyalty securely in his favor in order to secure American neutrality.  He decided that all the lands north of Panama were to be given to the United States as an initial offer; he was willing to concede all now-French possessions in continental Central and South America, if the two men "showed they truly wanted and deserved them."

Napoleon crowned King of Spain and Portugal