First post, but I'm a bit of an AH fan and I got a notion in my head about a Republic of Texas remaining independent. Easier said than done I'd think. But then searching through the forums, I found this topic: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=64576
In case your lazy and don't feel like clicking the link, (I put it there to give credit to the original poster of the idea), it's about Otto von Bismarck coming to the US of A. The neg. feedback on the idea is that by becoming President of the US, he isn't free to move around like he was in Germany. So here's the admittedly basic timeline running around in my head.
1. My POD is that there's some kind of event that leads to the Bismarcks heading to America, possibly while Otto is in the womb, but it could also be after he was born.
2. Otto decides to become a military officer and enrolls at the USMA at West Point but after two years, decides to leave and go to Texas to serve in their war for independence. (He'd be 19, and thus, in his sophomore year at WP, in 1835 when war breaks out. Alternatively, he could wait until 1836 to set up in the newly independent Republic, but that gets messy.)
3. Due to his WP training and the need for an officer corps, Bismarck is commissioned a Lt. Col of the Texan Army and serves as the adjutant for Gen. Houston, becoming a war hero in the process.
4. Being a war hero, Bismarck becomes a member of the Texan Congress, where his statemen ability truly shines. He convinces the Republic that the best way to be accepted into the Union is to improve itself by developing a better economy, creating a military academy to create an officer corps that results in a powerful militia, and creating a stable government. In reality, Bismarck hopes that Texas will become its own nation but he feels this rhetoric is the best way to achieve his nationalistic goals.
5. Outraged by Mexican attacks on San Antonio, Bismarck drafts a declaration of war in the Texan Congress. He also drafts a bill that would create a military draft and require service from males aged 17-35. Highlights of debate include an impassioned Bismarck stating that he will resign his seat in Congress to serve as commander of the forces. Both pass through Congress unanimously.
6. Bismarck is successful against all odds (possible US military aid) and becomes even more wildly popular. Uses the new nationalistic urges to become part of Congress again and helps to defeat a resolution asking the United States to annex Texas. Essentially, he becomes the Henry Clay of the Texan Congress, becoming the most powerful man politically in all of the Republic. I see him becoming Sec. of State (considering he's always been the man behind the man, serving as Chancellor) or President, right around the time of the American Civil War.
Note 1. People who are on a certain side of the fence in nature v. nuture won't be happy I suppose, but basing a story on Otto Bismarck coming to the US/Texas and not acting like Otto Bismarck in OTL just doesn't make sense. Might as well just call him John Doe and write a story that way.
Note 2. Germany will still be united, b/c IMHO, it would happen anyway. Just in case anyone was curious.
So what I want to know, I guess, is
a) is this something that people would be interested in seeing develop
b) is it plausible
c) any suggestions?
And again, if you're wondering, I'd think that Texas would still be a slaveholding republic, and that Bismarck would avoid allying with the CSA, predicting that it would lose regardless of Texan help. (Considering he's quoted about the next war in Europe after him being caused by the Balkans, I'm giving him foresight as a quality).
Main changes this would cause is that it would halt American progress west (and could even lead to a Texan-American war) as eventually, I'd see Texas adding California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado at the very least, seeing as Mexico would have to go through Texas to stop that from happening. Also, it would stop the Mexico-American war as that was fought over a) America annexing Texas and b) America wanting to add the Western territories, neither of which would happen in this TL.
I figure by giving Bismarck plenty of "unclaimed" land and people who would see themselves as different from America (the Spanish speaking Tejanos), he could continue to be a nationalist for what I imagine would be a bilingual republic. Thus, the problem brought up in the Bismarck an American thread is solved, and I get a Rep. of Texas.
In case your lazy and don't feel like clicking the link, (I put it there to give credit to the original poster of the idea), it's about Otto von Bismarck coming to the US of A. The neg. feedback on the idea is that by becoming President of the US, he isn't free to move around like he was in Germany. So here's the admittedly basic timeline running around in my head.
1. My POD is that there's some kind of event that leads to the Bismarcks heading to America, possibly while Otto is in the womb, but it could also be after he was born.
2. Otto decides to become a military officer and enrolls at the USMA at West Point but after two years, decides to leave and go to Texas to serve in their war for independence. (He'd be 19, and thus, in his sophomore year at WP, in 1835 when war breaks out. Alternatively, he could wait until 1836 to set up in the newly independent Republic, but that gets messy.)
3. Due to his WP training and the need for an officer corps, Bismarck is commissioned a Lt. Col of the Texan Army and serves as the adjutant for Gen. Houston, becoming a war hero in the process.
4. Being a war hero, Bismarck becomes a member of the Texan Congress, where his statemen ability truly shines. He convinces the Republic that the best way to be accepted into the Union is to improve itself by developing a better economy, creating a military academy to create an officer corps that results in a powerful militia, and creating a stable government. In reality, Bismarck hopes that Texas will become its own nation but he feels this rhetoric is the best way to achieve his nationalistic goals.
5. Outraged by Mexican attacks on San Antonio, Bismarck drafts a declaration of war in the Texan Congress. He also drafts a bill that would create a military draft and require service from males aged 17-35. Highlights of debate include an impassioned Bismarck stating that he will resign his seat in Congress to serve as commander of the forces. Both pass through Congress unanimously.
6. Bismarck is successful against all odds (possible US military aid) and becomes even more wildly popular. Uses the new nationalistic urges to become part of Congress again and helps to defeat a resolution asking the United States to annex Texas. Essentially, he becomes the Henry Clay of the Texan Congress, becoming the most powerful man politically in all of the Republic. I see him becoming Sec. of State (considering he's always been the man behind the man, serving as Chancellor) or President, right around the time of the American Civil War.
Note 1. People who are on a certain side of the fence in nature v. nuture won't be happy I suppose, but basing a story on Otto Bismarck coming to the US/Texas and not acting like Otto Bismarck in OTL just doesn't make sense. Might as well just call him John Doe and write a story that way.
Note 2. Germany will still be united, b/c IMHO, it would happen anyway. Just in case anyone was curious.
So what I want to know, I guess, is
a) is this something that people would be interested in seeing develop
b) is it plausible
c) any suggestions?
And again, if you're wondering, I'd think that Texas would still be a slaveholding republic, and that Bismarck would avoid allying with the CSA, predicting that it would lose regardless of Texan help. (Considering he's quoted about the next war in Europe after him being caused by the Balkans, I'm giving him foresight as a quality).
Main changes this would cause is that it would halt American progress west (and could even lead to a Texan-American war) as eventually, I'd see Texas adding California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado at the very least, seeing as Mexico would have to go through Texas to stop that from happening. Also, it would stop the Mexico-American war as that was fought over a) America annexing Texas and b) America wanting to add the Western territories, neither of which would happen in this TL.
I figure by giving Bismarck plenty of "unclaimed" land and people who would see themselves as different from America (the Spanish speaking Tejanos), he could continue to be a nationalist for what I imagine would be a bilingual republic. Thus, the problem brought up in the Bismarck an American thread is solved, and I get a Rep. of Texas.
