Rewrite American History! (Open Participation)

[Хahar 🤔]

Inspired by this thread...

I would like to get a story started for anyone interested in participating.

Entries can be serious, humorous, exaggerated, fun, fanciful, almost anything.

However, the story must remain somewhat realistic, in the sense that, for example, some dancer from Australia or somewhere cannot become President.

Such things as the world is blown up end of story, or aliens attack and destroy the world end of story, or all possible candidates die end of story, will not be allowed.

The story will start at the 1789 elections. If anyone's game, start us off!

[gorkay]

Okay, here's a good starting place which should open things up. George Washington announces his retirement from public life and his intention to live the rest of his life in peace and solitude on his Virginia farm. He will not be a candidate for President or any other public office.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

His Excellency, John Adams receives a majority in the electoral college (47 of the 69 electors voting for him).  John Jay and Thomas Jefferson both end up with 26 electors leaving the Senate with the choice.  With no parties in place, the Senate decides to make Jefferson the Vice President so as to provide regional balance.

The Initial Cabinet:
John Jay: Secretary of State
Gouverneur Morris: Secretary of the Treasury
Henry Knox: Secretary of War
Edmund Randolph: Attorney General
Ebenezer Hazard: Postmaster General

[Хahar 🤔]

In 1792, the French Revolution takes place. President Adams sends a "resolution of support" to the new French government. Thomas Jefferson worries that this may lead to war.

[Reluctant Republican]

Angered by American interference, the British government officially sends a message to president Adams warning him to “stay out of European affairs.” Adams, feeling he’s being treated more like a lapdog then the leader of a sovereign nation, is outraged at Britain’s threat, but knowing the nation cannot afford war with Britain at the moment, officially sends a message reassuring Britain that America will remain neutral in the conflict.

[Хahar 🤔]

In the 1792 election, President Adams receives little opposition (political parties have not yet formed). Adams gets 92 votes, while Jefferson gets 84, reelecting them as President and Vice President, respectively.

[Reluctant Republican]

Upon their reelection Jefferson and Adams, began to form their own blocks of support as they jockeyed for power with each other. These blocks would come to be the first American political parties.

Adams’s and his supporters were pro British [at least nominally]  and called for a strengthening of relations with Britain. They supported a strong  federal government and called for a strong military to protect the nation from foreign interference. They became known as Federalists, and are strongest in the North.

Jefferson and his supporters by comparison were supporters of the French over the British. [Jefferson had become more and more frustrated by Adams attempts at improving relations with the British.] They also supported a weak federal and strong state governments.  They became known as Republicans, and do best in the South.

[Хahar 🤔]

In 1794, the Whiskey Rebellion breaks out. State militia, led by Henry Lee, put the insurrection down. While Adams supports this, Jefferson opposes it. This is the start of a rift between the President and Vice President.

However, in foreign affairs, Adams is clashing with the leader of the Federalists, Alexander Hamilton. While Hamilton is pro-British, Adams, smelling public opinion, supports France, as does Jefferson on principle.

[Hatman 🍁]

The president is assassinated.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The assassin is none other than Edmund Randolph after President Adams learned of correspondence between Randolph and the French government.  (In our time line this correspondence led to Washington demanding Randolph's resignation.)  Vice President Jefferson becomes Acting President, but suspicions (unfounded, but still damaging) of his being at least indirectly involved in the attempt to cover up that Randolph was the assassin lead to him being removed from his position as head of the Republicans and getting but 2 electoral votes next year in the closely fought election that was mainly between Alexander Hamilton of New York and Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina.

[Reluctant Republican]

The election of 1796 sees Hamilton and the Federalists triumphing over Nathaniel Macon’s Republicans. The Federalists were able to tie the Republicans and especially Macon with the assassination of Adams and were able to discredit the Republican party throughout the north.  The Republicans only received the support of five southern states: Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina,, Kentucky and Tennessee. Clearly, if the party wants to win it needs to become more viable in the north, and Republican leaders are already looking for ways to make this happen,

Victorious, Alexander Hamilton takes office with his vice president Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina.

[Хahar 🤔]

A challenge to the supreme court [which is made up of Adams supporters.] is rejected, having the consequence that Hamilton and other people born outside the United States can now run for office. 

Note: This is based on Article II, Section I, Clause 5, which states:

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Since Hamilton was a citizen in 1787, he is eligible for the presidency.

[Reluctant Republican]

[Ah, duly noted, thanks. I’ll edit.]

[Хahar 🤔]

[Ah, duly noted, thanks. I’ll edit.]

Yes, it's very confusing. I've always been puzzled at why Hamilton didn't run, since he was technically eligible.

[Хahar 🤔]

Democratic-Republican Societies have started to pop up throughout the nation, supportive of popular but controversial French Ambassador Edmond Genêt. These societies call for an upholding of the terms of the alliance with France by declaring war on Britain. They rally around Revolutionary War hero Henry Lee, who reluctantly assumes its mantle. Wildly popular, the Democratic-Republican Societies are a major thorn in the side for President Hamilton.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

[Ah, duly noted, thanks. I’ll edit.]

Yes, it's very confusing. I've always been puzzled at why Hamilton didn't run, since he was technically eligible.

In 1796 he was too badly damaged politically by the Maria Reynolds affair.  By the time that had blown over so had the Federalist Party.

[Rep4e]

Henry Lee is found dead in his virginia home.

[Reluctant Republican]

(Sorry to bump this after such a long time, but I thought I’d bring this back if anyone‘s still interested in continuing it.)

Henry Lee’s death, though ruled natural, raises many questions. Many historians believe Lee was in fact poisoned on the orders of loyalists to President Hamilton if not by Hamilton himself. To date, no concrete answer has been found.

The death of Lee however undoubtedly helped President Hamilton. Without Lee as a rallying figure for the movement, the Democratic-Republican movement dissolves into infighting and lose a great deal of their popularity and support. The movement, though still  popular in the country, is at the moment disorganized and not capable of challenging Hamilton’s foreign policy. There will not be any serious chance of a war with Britian for the next few years.

[Hatman 🍁]

The president is assassinated.

[Historia Crux]

4th  - Thomas Pinckney (1798-?) Federalist

Pinckney came to the presidency during the turbulent time that the Republicans and the Federalists are what come be said as warfare with each other, even with the dieing Republican Party they would continue to fight the Federalists, new President Pinckney would vow to continue the Federalist legacy and also vows to find the assassin that murdered his predecessor Alexander Hamilton. Suspicion lands on the Republicans shoulders as many seem to link Macon and the Hamilton Assassination together and point the blame against the Republicans, severely weakening the party even further than before and even several prominent Republican northerners leave the party and join the Federalist Party.

[Hatman 🍁]

The president is assassinated.

[Historia Crux]

5th - Theodore Sedgwick (1798-?) Federalist

The former Acting Vice President and Senate Pro Tempore Theodore Sedgwick would come to the Presidency after a storm of battle from Speaker Jonathan Dayton that he should ascend to the presidency instead of Sedgwick but this was beaten down and Theodore Sedgwick called for a "Calm and a return to a peaceful America". Even with this the Republicans were a dead party but they would still run candidates against the dominant Federalists.