A Nation, Divided: The Price of War and Freedom.
- Thread starter The Uchronian
- Start date
And I thought everybody had forgotten this TL already.
In any case, Jefferson's the President now, and undoubtedly, he's likely to sympathize with the rebels, or so I would think.
But what I'd like to know is, how would Britain and France react to the downfall of Spanish Louisiana? I have a few ideas of my own though I'm still working on them and don't know how plausible they are.
Free Lancer
Banned
Try to claim it for themselves since it looks like Spain has lost all control of the Region they can’t legally claim ownership of the land
For the British I believe it will be the prospect of gaining new lands for the ones lost to the US, furthering their interests with the Native Indians, and blocking off the US from all western expansion.
For France I believe it would be the prospect of a new American Empire.
For the British I believe it will be the prospect of gaining new lands for the ones lost to the US, furthering their interests with the Native Indians, and blocking off the US from all western expansion.
For France I believe it would be the prospect of a new American Empire.
Thanks Free Lancer, for your comment.
Spain hasn't lost all control just yet, given that it's currently the late fall of 1797 as of this writing, but they definitely will eventually.
In any case, I do believe that the crisis in Louisiana would be bound to greatly piss off Spaniards, since the French are becoming more and more sympathetic to the rebels and given that Napoleon is soon to arrive on the scene much, much, earlier, I do suspect that whatever friendship may have existed between Republican France and Royalist Spain is about to come to a screeching halt; I think he'd would be more than happy to take advantage of this.
Finally! Here's post #5.
Sorry for the wait, folks. Post number 5 is funally up, though. Spain's claims on Louisiana have essentially been forfeited to France at this point, and everyone's waiting for the next move. How they'll react to their loss, though, is anyone's guess, and will be featured in the next post.
**
Chapter 1-A Different Election.
Part 5: A Little Problem in Louisiana, America Reacts.
The following was taken from “Louisiana: The Land, Its People, and Its Culture.”, by John Halbert.
Midwest Press, Kansas City, 1966
Word of the collapse of the government in Louisiana reached America about as quickly as New Orleans had fallen. Many in the American political establishment had suspected that a collapse was inevitable: though news was often hard to come across, when it did reach America, it usually came from the frontiersmen, many of whom who lived in the north of the area.
Some described various incidents that had occurred and the numerous grievances that many people had with the bureaucracy in New Orleans, in newspapers across the nation[1].
One young Virginian who had ventured out to a patch of the Missouri River valley not far west of St. Louis hoping to make his fortune, recalled that due to his sympathy with the rebels, Spanish soldiers had put the torch to his farm and killed his livestock right around the harvest season in September, and not a thing was done to stop them or to give him compensation for his lost property, in an interview with a New York paper.
Another American farmer who had left Louisiana told a Richmond, Va., publication that his wife had been raped by another Spanish soldier after he refused to pay 'tribute' to the local military squad near the settlement were he lived, near today's Little Rock, Ark.
As more and more tales of the New Orleans bureaucracy gone mad began to flood into the United States, debates began to arise in Philadelphia regarding what should be done in Louisiana. Alexander Hamilton believed that U.S. intervention might backfire on the Jefferson administration should the French have gotten suspicious of America's actions. Others, such as Delaware's James Bayard, however, argued that the government had every right to intervene, not only because of the presence of American citizens in that region, but also to protect American shipping interests as well. He also stated his belief that if America wouldn't take advantage of Louisiana's collapse, then France and Britain most certainly would, and that failure to do so might also be seen as weakness on the
part of Philadelphia.
In any case, the debate would go on for some time. Only in December 1797 did Jefferson make his decision...
**
Philadelphia, Penn.
Dec. 22nd, 1797
“I'm sure you have finished read both of these documents, Mr. President?”, said the Secretary of State, James Madison. On the desk, were a pair of resolutions drafted by two factions of Congress: one that advocated direct intervention in Louisiana, and one that advised that that the American government instead take a stance of neutrality. Both sides were desperately vying for the President's support, and it was beginning to take a bit of a toll on Jefferson at the moment.
“Yes, I have indeed, Mr. Secretary.”, the President replied. He had spent an average four hours looking over each document, per day, since this last Thursday. And it was starting to exhaust him.
“And have you come to a decision, sir?”, Madison asked. Tensions had started to run high as the situation in Louisiana worsened. Most recently, a brawl broke out in Congress just two days earlier which required the removal of three Congressmen. Some arguments had broken out in the streets of some of the major cities as well, especially in New York, where a small riot had seen people on both sides of the debate come to blows. Perhaps it was no significant matter in the overall scheme of things but it did seem to have an effect on Jefferson's thinking.
“Well, Mr. Secretary...” said the President, “while I do indeed sympathize with those who have taken up the mantle of liberty and freedom, and do despise what the Spaniards have done in the name of law and order to them and our settlers[2], I also have come to understand that we cannot risk possibly damaging our relationship with the French, if we go too far, or starting another war with Great Britain should they become fearful for the security of their holdings in the Canadas and what they call 'Rupert's Land'. Therefore, I am afraid that we must keep an appreciable distance. However, we may be able to offer indirect aid to the rebels, whether American or otherwise, as well as assisting the safe passage of those of our citizens, and perhaps a few others as well[3], who would wish to return to these States.” Jefferson sincerely hoped that a compromise would please as many on both sides as possible; if this were to backfire, it could create even more disaster, for all involved.
“Alright then, Mr. President.”, replied Madison, “I shall inform Congress of your decision right away. And Godspeed.” He smiled as he started to leave.
“Thank you, James,” said Jefferson, “I think I'll need much in the way of good fortune in these coming weeks.”[4]
**
This was taken from “The following is from “Le Bonne Etat: A Complete History of Louisiana”, by Pierre Gustave Boulee.
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 1988.
America Steps Back...and France Steps Forward.
The news of America's refusal to intervene in the Louisiana Revolution was met with mixed feelings. While men such as Charles Langlade, the famed Metis trader, believed that the struggle would be much more challenging without American help, others, such as the sugar baron Etienne De Bore, stressed that America's involvement might possibly have backfired and exacerbated an already messy situation, and that continuing the rebellion without much, or any, outside help, might be the most beneficial scenario in the long run. Whatever the case, Jefferson's decision shocked many on both sides, and arguments would continue to erupt for some time; it certainly hadn't helped that many feared that Britain & France could take advantage of what could be seen as U.S. weakness, either. Jefferson, however, informed both parties that regardless of who took control in Louisiana, the American government would assert their rights to use the waterways of the Mississippi as much as any other nation in that area, and any attempts to subvert this would be seen as a provocation to war regardless of who might be the guilty party.
Despite the concerns of a major war should the Louisiana conflict spiral out of control, the United States was fortunate enough in one respect; the French were likely to be far more sympathetic than the British to their desires. In the fall of 1797, a young Corsican nationalist by the name of Napoleon Buonaparte, later anglicized to Bonaparte, had come to power as the first President of the French Republic[5]. Bonaparte, long a republican before his ascent to prominence, had been sympathetic towards the Americans in the fight for Louisiana, but he also desired to keep France's empire in North America alive for a time yet. In February, 1798, he sent an envoy to Washington in the hopes of gaining the respect and trust of the Americans, and to begin negotiations concerning the fate of Louisiana...
The following was taken from “Louisiana: The Land, Its People, and Its Culture.”, by John Halbert.
Midwest Press, Kansas City, 1966
Starting in February, 1798, the French and American governments negotiated a permanent term of settlement for Louisiana, the main part of which would last over a year[6]. Finally, on March 18th, the main part of the agreement was completed, and the terms were as follows.
1.) Settlement- Any Americans who wished to settle in Louisiana were allowed to do so, but on one condition: There was to be no slavery, and any American who brought indentured servants of any race with him had to release them after a certain period of no more than a decade, the exact period of which to be decided by the local government of their new home. Also, any American convicted of a serious crime could be deported at any time, without consent.
2.) Navigation-American traders were given the right to use the Mississippi as much as any Frenchman or Briton, but those living in Louisiana itself were subject to a small income tax, partly to help offset the cost of the damages caused by Rebellion of 1797.
3.) Land Rights outside Louisiana itself - The French agreed to gradually the newly acquired land of West Florida to the Americans, within a decade of April, 1799.
4.) Voting Rights-All American men about the age of 21 who qualified for voting would be allowed to do so, just as any native Louisianan.
The final and most important part of this agreement was signed on the 23rd of July, 1799.
The Americans and Frenchmen agreed on a charter proposition, that ensured that French ownership would be guaranteed for a period. The Americans suggested that the contract of ownership be divided into 3 sections and separate terms be applied to different areas of the colony. The French hesitated for a time, but President Jefferson's solution involved a system based on how strategically & economically important each region was to both of the powers, allowing for the French to inject their own input. This system, in its final form, after having undergone the necessary adjustments[7], went as follows:
1.)All territory north of the Missouri River and the 40th Parallel-10 year charter, renewable 3 times.
2.)Any territory West of the 100th Meridian west-10 year charter, renewable 3 times.
3.)Any territory East of the 100th Meridian and north of the Arkansas down to the 35th parallel North-15 year charter, renewable twice.
4.)South of the 35th to 31*31' North(Upper Louisiana)-25 year charter, extendable by 5 years, no more than 5 times.
5.)Lower Louisiana-30 year charter, may be extended by 10 years, twice.
After the end of the grace period, however, France would no longer be able to guarantee Louisiana's territorial security and could be subject to American annexation, at least, ideally, if both parties agreed to such. France could also, if necessary, end the contract early, if they needed to sell Louisiana. America, on the other hand, could disregard the contract if the French violated their end of the agreement by any means.
This compromise was understood as a fair deal by all, and went into effect with the signing of the Treaty of Richmond in September, 1799...[8]
**
[1]As they likely would have.....most Americans don't take kindly to the oppression and maltreatment of civilians, especially not if the victims are their countrymen....
[2]Jefferson still remembered the bad old days when the Brits had been haranguing those people who had been advocating for America's independence, so you can see why he would feel sympathy for the rebels in Louisiana.
[3]Not too many of them, though, especially certain types of people......Jefferson can't afford to piss off his fellow planters, you know.
[4]Things won't turn out as badly as he had feared, though. You'll see why.
[5]Well, you saw it here first: Napoleon has indeed risen to the top of the pile in the still-young French Republic. Will he become, and perhaps even remain, an emperor? Wait and see.....=)
[6]Diplomacy sometimes takes time to get things done.
[7]These are rather generous terms, IMO; I'm not sure if John Adams would have approved of the same scheme that Jefferson has just done ITTL.
[8]Richmond was chosen by President Jefferson thanks to its status as the first (post-colonial) state capital of Virginia.
**
So, there you guys have it. Hope you liked this one.
Sorry for the wait, folks.
Post number 5 is funally up, though. Spain's claims on Louisiana have essentially been forfeited to France at this point, and everyone's waiting for the next move. How they'll react to their loss, though, is anyone's guess, and will be featured in the next post. **
Chapter 1-A Different Election.
Part 5: A Little Problem in Louisiana, America Reacts.
The following was taken from “Louisiana: The Land, Its People, and Its Culture.”, by John Halbert.
Midwest Press, Kansas City, 1966
Word of the collapse of the government in Louisiana reached America about as quickly as New Orleans had fallen. Many in the American political establishment had suspected that a collapse was inevitable: though news was often hard to come across, when it did reach America, it usually came from the frontiersmen, many of whom who lived in the north of the area.
Some described various incidents that had occurred and the numerous grievances that many people had with the bureaucracy in New Orleans, in newspapers across the nation[1].
One young Virginian who had ventured out to a patch of the Missouri River valley not far west of St. Louis hoping to make his fortune, recalled that due to his sympathy with the rebels, Spanish soldiers had put the torch to his farm and killed his livestock right around the harvest season in September, and not a thing was done to stop them or to give him compensation for his lost property, in an interview with a New York paper.
Another American farmer who had left Louisiana told a Richmond, Va., publication that his wife had been raped by another Spanish soldier after he refused to pay 'tribute' to the local military squad near the settlement were he lived, near today's Little Rock, Ark.
As more and more tales of the New Orleans bureaucracy gone mad began to flood into the United States, debates began to arise in Philadelphia regarding what should be done in Louisiana. Alexander Hamilton believed that U.S. intervention might backfire on the Jefferson administration should the French have gotten suspicious of America's actions. Others, such as Delaware's James Bayard, however, argued that the government had every right to intervene, not only because of the presence of American citizens in that region, but also to protect American shipping interests as well. He also stated his belief that if America wouldn't take advantage of Louisiana's collapse, then France and Britain most certainly would, and that failure to do so might also be seen as weakness on the
part of Philadelphia.
In any case, the debate would go on for some time. Only in December 1797 did Jefferson make his decision...
**
Philadelphia, Penn.
Dec. 22nd, 1797
“I'm sure you have finished read both of these documents, Mr. President?”, said the Secretary of State, James Madison. On the desk, were a pair of resolutions drafted by two factions of Congress: one that advocated direct intervention in Louisiana, and one that advised that that the American government instead take a stance of neutrality. Both sides were desperately vying for the President's support, and it was beginning to take a bit of a toll on Jefferson at the moment.
“Yes, I have indeed, Mr. Secretary.”, the President replied. He had spent an average four hours looking over each document, per day, since this last Thursday. And it was starting to exhaust him.
“And have you come to a decision, sir?”, Madison asked. Tensions had started to run high as the situation in Louisiana worsened. Most recently, a brawl broke out in Congress just two days earlier which required the removal of three Congressmen. Some arguments had broken out in the streets of some of the major cities as well, especially in New York, where a small riot had seen people on both sides of the debate come to blows. Perhaps it was no significant matter in the overall scheme of things but it did seem to have an effect on Jefferson's thinking.
“Well, Mr. Secretary...” said the President, “while I do indeed sympathize with those who have taken up the mantle of liberty and freedom, and do despise what the Spaniards have done in the name of law and order to them and our settlers[2], I also have come to understand that we cannot risk possibly damaging our relationship with the French, if we go too far, or starting another war with Great Britain should they become fearful for the security of their holdings in the Canadas and what they call 'Rupert's Land'. Therefore, I am afraid that we must keep an appreciable distance. However, we may be able to offer indirect aid to the rebels, whether American or otherwise, as well as assisting the safe passage of those of our citizens, and perhaps a few others as well[3], who would wish to return to these States.” Jefferson sincerely hoped that a compromise would please as many on both sides as possible; if this were to backfire, it could create even more disaster, for all involved.
“Alright then, Mr. President.”, replied Madison, “I shall inform Congress of your decision right away. And Godspeed.” He smiled as he started to leave.
“Thank you, James,” said Jefferson, “I think I'll need much in the way of good fortune in these coming weeks.”[4]
**
This was taken from “The following is from “Le Bonne Etat: A Complete History of Louisiana”, by Pierre Gustave Boulee.
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 1988.
America Steps Back...and France Steps Forward.
The news of America's refusal to intervene in the Louisiana Revolution was met with mixed feelings. While men such as Charles Langlade, the famed Metis trader, believed that the struggle would be much more challenging without American help, others, such as the sugar baron Etienne De Bore, stressed that America's involvement might possibly have backfired and exacerbated an already messy situation, and that continuing the rebellion without much, or any, outside help, might be the most beneficial scenario in the long run. Whatever the case, Jefferson's decision shocked many on both sides, and arguments would continue to erupt for some time; it certainly hadn't helped that many feared that Britain & France could take advantage of what could be seen as U.S. weakness, either. Jefferson, however, informed both parties that regardless of who took control in Louisiana, the American government would assert their rights to use the waterways of the Mississippi as much as any other nation in that area, and any attempts to subvert this would be seen as a provocation to war regardless of who might be the guilty party.
Despite the concerns of a major war should the Louisiana conflict spiral out of control, the United States was fortunate enough in one respect; the French were likely to be far more sympathetic than the British to their desires. In the fall of 1797, a young Corsican nationalist by the name of Napoleon Buonaparte, later anglicized to Bonaparte, had come to power as the first President of the French Republic[5]. Bonaparte, long a republican before his ascent to prominence, had been sympathetic towards the Americans in the fight for Louisiana, but he also desired to keep France's empire in North America alive for a time yet. In February, 1798, he sent an envoy to Washington in the hopes of gaining the respect and trust of the Americans, and to begin negotiations concerning the fate of Louisiana...
The following was taken from “Louisiana: The Land, Its People, and Its Culture.”, by John Halbert.
Midwest Press, Kansas City, 1966
Starting in February, 1798, the French and American governments negotiated a permanent term of settlement for Louisiana, the main part of which would last over a year[6]. Finally, on March 18th, the main part of the agreement was completed, and the terms were as follows.
1.) Settlement- Any Americans who wished to settle in Louisiana were allowed to do so, but on one condition: There was to be no slavery, and any American who brought indentured servants of any race with him had to release them after a certain period of no more than a decade, the exact period of which to be decided by the local government of their new home. Also, any American convicted of a serious crime could be deported at any time, without consent.
2.) Navigation-American traders were given the right to use the Mississippi as much as any Frenchman or Briton, but those living in Louisiana itself were subject to a small income tax, partly to help offset the cost of the damages caused by Rebellion of 1797.
3.) Land Rights outside Louisiana itself - The French agreed to gradually the newly acquired land of West Florida to the Americans, within a decade of April, 1799.
4.) Voting Rights-All American men about the age of 21 who qualified for voting would be allowed to do so, just as any native Louisianan.
The final and most important part of this agreement was signed on the 23rd of July, 1799.
The Americans and Frenchmen agreed on a charter proposition, that ensured that French ownership would be guaranteed for a period. The Americans suggested that the contract of ownership be divided into 3 sections and separate terms be applied to different areas of the colony. The French hesitated for a time, but President Jefferson's solution involved a system based on how strategically & economically important each region was to both of the powers, allowing for the French to inject their own input. This system, in its final form, after having undergone the necessary adjustments[7], went as follows:
1.)All territory north of the Missouri River and the 40th Parallel-10 year charter, renewable 3 times.
2.)Any territory West of the 100th Meridian west-10 year charter, renewable 3 times.
3.)Any territory East of the 100th Meridian and north of the Arkansas down to the 35th parallel North-15 year charter, renewable twice.
4.)South of the 35th to 31*31' North(Upper Louisiana)-25 year charter, extendable by 5 years, no more than 5 times.
5.)Lower Louisiana-30 year charter, may be extended by 10 years, twice.
After the end of the grace period, however, France would no longer be able to guarantee Louisiana's territorial security and could be subject to American annexation, at least, ideally, if both parties agreed to such. France could also, if necessary, end the contract early, if they needed to sell Louisiana. America, on the other hand, could disregard the contract if the French violated their end of the agreement by any means.
This compromise was understood as a fair deal by all, and went into effect with the signing of the Treaty of Richmond in September, 1799...[8]
**
[1]As they likely would have.....most Americans don't take kindly to the oppression and maltreatment of civilians, especially not if the victims are their countrymen....
[2]Jefferson still remembered the bad old days when the Brits had been haranguing those people who had been advocating for America's independence, so you can see why he would feel sympathy for the rebels in Louisiana.
[3]Not too many of them, though, especially certain types of people......Jefferson can't afford to piss off his fellow planters, you know.
[4]Things won't turn out as badly as he had feared, though. You'll see why.
[5]Well, you saw it here first: Napoleon has indeed risen to the top of the pile in the still-young French Republic. Will he become, and perhaps even remain, an emperor? Wait and see.....=)
[6]Diplomacy sometimes takes time to get things done.
[7]These are rather generous terms, IMO; I'm not sure if John Adams would have approved of the same scheme that Jefferson has just done ITTL.
[8]Richmond was chosen by President Jefferson thanks to its status as the first (post-colonial) state capital of Virginia.
**
So, there you guys have it. Hope you liked this one.
Any thoughts, comments, etc.? I might try to do something with a European perspective, if you guys are really interested.........
I appreciate the kind words.
And sorry I haven't updated in so long. I can however, say this: Look out for what happens with Napoleon in the future and how the Spanish react to losing Louisiana to their former friends. I can tell you, it won't be pretty.
Hope this gets somebody interested.
I certainly rather like this. it's based on a novel idea and it's going in a rather interesting direction.
I'd wholeheartedly encourage you to develop this further.
I'd wholeheartedly encourage you to develop this further.
Thanks, and believe me, I will. It's just a matter of when I can get this next chapter done.
I need assistance.
I'm still trying to work on this TL, but I need a little help. Any suggestions, anyone?
I'm still trying to work on this TL, but I need a little help. Any suggestions, anyone?
Writer's Block.
If anyone's got any suggestion, I'll be happy to take them into consideration ATTM.
If anyone's got any suggestion, I'll be happy to take them into consideration ATTM.
Good work, an interesting idea. But...
I don't follow this at all. What does it actually mean? France is to have control for a while, then an automatic cession to the U.S.? Who's going to evict the Spanish officials?
I don't follow this at all. What does it actually mean? France is to have control for a while, then an automatic cession to the U.S.? Who's going to evict the Spanish officials?
Hey Rich, thanks for commenting.
Well, what I intended was for the control to be guaranteed to the French for a set period, based on how important the noted area was, or might have been to them, and then, after that, negotiations could begin if France wished to be rid of the territory, since the leadership at the time was unsure if they'd be able to hold on to everything.
The only way the treaty could be broken, is if either power broke it thru aggression, or if the French wished to sell Louisiana early on.
I'll try to explain this better whenever I can. Hopefully, that'll be sometime in the near future.
This TL's still alive!
Hey, everybody. I thought I might show you where I've been planning on taking this(Hint: it involves the Caribbean, and revolutionary slaves.....).
Sorry for the lack of footnote info but I'm still working on this chapter. More will be coming soon, though.
Hey, everybody. I thought I might show you where I've been planning on taking this(Hint: it involves the Caribbean, and revolutionary slaves.....).
Sorry for the lack of footnote info but I'm still working on this chapter. More will be coming soon, though.
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Hey there, folks. I thought I might do a little something inspired by a scene in Male Rising.....but set in Ireland, and plans & ideas I'd like to share with you in that regard.
**
In Between the Lines #1: A Little Something from the Emerald Isle.
(Author's Note: I am happy to admit that this was inspired a scene in Jonathan Edelstein's excellent story, Male Rising.)
County Meath, Ireland
June 21, 1992.
It was a lovely summer evening in the Irish countryside today; a little bit of fog began to develop around much of County Meath as the air cooled down and the air got a little moister, making the atmosphere seem almost ethereal.
Sean Patrick O'Kennedy was an academic by trade; he was one of the brightest minds educating budding young adults at County Dublin's most well-regarded public university. With him, were his youngest daughter Deidra, 16, and fresh out of high school, nephew Sam, aged 10, and nieces Casey and Keili, aged 8 and 6. They were trying to find one of Ireland's most recognizable landmarks, but Sean hadn't been to the area in a long while and was wondering if he'd gotten lost. And then he saw a bus go by, with “Emerald Sightseeing Tours, Dublin”, painted in big green letters on the side. Sean decided to follow the bus, briefly accelerating as much as his aging jalopy's four-cylinder engine would allow, and then just coasted the rest of the way. Sean was in his middle fifties and a couple hours' drive could sometimes take quite a bit out of a man his age, but he didn't mind.
About a half-hour later, they arrived at the park they had been searching for. “We're here, everyone.”, Sean announced cheerily. The kids all smiled and jumped out of the car. A 10-minute walk on the footpath lead to a stone engraving marker, detailing the park's history and cultural significance; and this place might just have been the most important place in all of Irish culture outside Blarney Castle...
“So this is the Hill of Tara!”, Deidra said, in pure awe and amazement.
“Yes indeed, my darling, it is.” said Sean. “Does anyone know happened on this day, many years ago?”.
“The start of the Second Revolution, right?”, Deidra replied.
“Yes, very good, Deidra. It was on this day, 88 years ago, that the Republic of Ireland was born, right here on the Hill of Tara.” 'I wonder how the Hill had looked to Dad, when Grandmum and Granpa had carried him up here on that summer morning?', Sean wondered. His father Albert had been only six years old when it had all started, and his grandparents Johnny and Laura both in their forties then; Laura had been seventy-three when Sean was born but still as sharp as a tack, and was all too eager to tell the story of the role she and Johnny had played in the Emerald Revolution. 'This is truly holy ground.', Sean thought, 'It was only fitting that Ireland was to be reborn on the very spot which was the home of the High Kings of old.”. And he smiled. Nearly every modern Irish family had their story to tell about what they'd done during the Revolution, and could recall where their parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents had stood up and said, 'Enough!'.
Except the Hill of Tara wasn't just the meeting spot for the Revolutionaries to lay out the Gilmore Plan; it was the holiest site in all of Ireland, where High Kings once gathered to be crowned, and where the country's first constitution was written up.
“Well, kids, how's about a little story?”, Sean said, as they all sat down on the grass. The younger ones chatted excitedly as the prospect.
“Okay now, settle down a bit,”, Sean said, gently, “and I'll get started. It involves your grandpa Johnny, grandma Laura, and Bobby Tone....”
“Who's Bobby Tone?”, said Sam, in wonderment.
“I'll get to that in a second, Sam, don't you worry.” Sean said, with a nod.
“Did this happen during the Revolution?”, asked Deidra.
“Some of it, dear, yes, but not all. Their story starts in the 1880s, but the real story of how Ireland came to be an independent state of its own, actually started many years before that. That Bobby Tone fellow I mentioned? Well, he was the first ever Prime Minister of Ireland, and the second Taoiseach. He was also the great-grandson of the man who is considered by many to be like the George Washington of Ireland, Theobald Wolfe Tone. Wolfe Tone, as he is known, was born in 1763 in Dublin, the son of a farmer. He was a lawyer by trade and had become interested in revolutionary beliefs a little later on in his adult life....”
“So why did he become a rebel?” Casey asked.
“Well, Casey, there were some things happening in Ireland at the time that many people didn't like. Tone wanted to solve these problems peacefully and so he founded the United Irishmen in 1791. Sadly, however, the British weren't happy with the man and tried to pit the Irishmen against one another by using religious sectarianism and intolerance.....”
“That's terrible!” Keili interjected.
“Yes, I know, isn't it?”, Sean replied. “But sadly, that's how it happened. Things got so bad, in fact, that Wolfe Tone even tried resorting to getting the French government to back the removal of the pro-British government in what he hoped would be a bloodless revolution.”
“And I guess it didn't work out?” asked Sam.
“Sadly, it didn't, Sam. Even with 300,000 men backing him and his friends,though they fought valiantly, Wolfe Tone and his allies simply couldn't stop the tide of the British counter-attack; Tone's Rebellion ended in Dublin, the city of his birth, and many of his friends were either jailed or hung.”, Sean replied.
“What happened to Mr. Wolfe Tone?”, asked Keili, always the inquisitive kid at her age.
“Ah, now this part of the story has a happier ending. Wolfe Tone was able to escape to America with the help of a few friends. He spent the next 20 years in Boston before finally coming back home to Ireland; the new British government forgave his past trespasses, and he eventually helped set up the first major reforms in modern Ireland, which helped lay the groundwork for the democratic and egalitarian Ireland that we all know today.”
The kids listened intently all the while. Deidra, in particular, had become enthralled with her father's retelling of Irish history, and had begun to consider if perhaps, she, too, could become a historian like her dad. And she knew exactly where she wanted to start her research.....the life of Wolfe Tone, and his impact on Irish history.
**
So, you guys liked it, I hope? I cooked it up as a special St. Patrick's day treat.
**
In Between the Lines #1: A Little Something from the Emerald Isle.
(Author's Note: I am happy to admit that this was inspired a scene in Jonathan Edelstein's excellent story, Male Rising.)
County Meath, Ireland
June 21, 1992.
It was a lovely summer evening in the Irish countryside today; a little bit of fog began to develop around much of County Meath as the air cooled down and the air got a little moister, making the atmosphere seem almost ethereal.
Sean Patrick O'Kennedy was an academic by trade; he was one of the brightest minds educating budding young adults at County Dublin's most well-regarded public university. With him, were his youngest daughter Deidra, 16, and fresh out of high school, nephew Sam, aged 10, and nieces Casey and Keili, aged 8 and 6. They were trying to find one of Ireland's most recognizable landmarks, but Sean hadn't been to the area in a long while and was wondering if he'd gotten lost. And then he saw a bus go by, with “Emerald Sightseeing Tours, Dublin”, painted in big green letters on the side. Sean decided to follow the bus, briefly accelerating as much as his aging jalopy's four-cylinder engine would allow, and then just coasted the rest of the way. Sean was in his middle fifties and a couple hours' drive could sometimes take quite a bit out of a man his age, but he didn't mind.
About a half-hour later, they arrived at the park they had been searching for. “We're here, everyone.”, Sean announced cheerily. The kids all smiled and jumped out of the car. A 10-minute walk on the footpath lead to a stone engraving marker, detailing the park's history and cultural significance; and this place might just have been the most important place in all of Irish culture outside Blarney Castle...
“So this is the Hill of Tara!”, Deidra said, in pure awe and amazement.
“Yes indeed, my darling, it is.” said Sean. “Does anyone know happened on this day, many years ago?”.
“The start of the Second Revolution, right?”, Deidra replied.
“Yes, very good, Deidra. It was on this day, 88 years ago, that the Republic of Ireland was born, right here on the Hill of Tara.” 'I wonder how the Hill had looked to Dad, when Grandmum and Granpa had carried him up here on that summer morning?', Sean wondered. His father Albert had been only six years old when it had all started, and his grandparents Johnny and Laura both in their forties then; Laura had been seventy-three when Sean was born but still as sharp as a tack, and was all too eager to tell the story of the role she and Johnny had played in the Emerald Revolution. 'This is truly holy ground.', Sean thought, 'It was only fitting that Ireland was to be reborn on the very spot which was the home of the High Kings of old.”. And he smiled. Nearly every modern Irish family had their story to tell about what they'd done during the Revolution, and could recall where their parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents had stood up and said, 'Enough!'.
Except the Hill of Tara wasn't just the meeting spot for the Revolutionaries to lay out the Gilmore Plan; it was the holiest site in all of Ireland, where High Kings once gathered to be crowned, and where the country's first constitution was written up.
“Well, kids, how's about a little story?”, Sean said, as they all sat down on the grass. The younger ones chatted excitedly as the prospect.
“Okay now, settle down a bit,”, Sean said, gently, “and I'll get started. It involves your grandpa Johnny, grandma Laura, and Bobby Tone....”
“Who's Bobby Tone?”, said Sam, in wonderment.
“I'll get to that in a second, Sam, don't you worry.” Sean said, with a nod.
“Did this happen during the Revolution?”, asked Deidra.
“Some of it, dear, yes, but not all. Their story starts in the 1880s, but the real story of how Ireland came to be an independent state of its own, actually started many years before that. That Bobby Tone fellow I mentioned? Well, he was the first ever Prime Minister of Ireland, and the second Taoiseach. He was also the great-grandson of the man who is considered by many to be like the George Washington of Ireland, Theobald Wolfe Tone. Wolfe Tone, as he is known, was born in 1763 in Dublin, the son of a farmer. He was a lawyer by trade and had become interested in revolutionary beliefs a little later on in his adult life....”
“So why did he become a rebel?” Casey asked.
“Well, Casey, there were some things happening in Ireland at the time that many people didn't like. Tone wanted to solve these problems peacefully and so he founded the United Irishmen in 1791. Sadly, however, the British weren't happy with the man and tried to pit the Irishmen against one another by using religious sectarianism and intolerance.....”
“That's terrible!” Keili interjected.
“Yes, I know, isn't it?”, Sean replied. “But sadly, that's how it happened. Things got so bad, in fact, that Wolfe Tone even tried resorting to getting the French government to back the removal of the pro-British government in what he hoped would be a bloodless revolution.”
“And I guess it didn't work out?” asked Sam.
“Sadly, it didn't, Sam. Even with 300,000 men backing him and his friends,though they fought valiantly, Wolfe Tone and his allies simply couldn't stop the tide of the British counter-attack; Tone's Rebellion ended in Dublin, the city of his birth, and many of his friends were either jailed or hung.”, Sean replied.
“What happened to Mr. Wolfe Tone?”, asked Keili, always the inquisitive kid at her age.
“Ah, now this part of the story has a happier ending. Wolfe Tone was able to escape to America with the help of a few friends. He spent the next 20 years in Boston before finally coming back home to Ireland; the new British government forgave his past trespasses, and he eventually helped set up the first major reforms in modern Ireland, which helped lay the groundwork for the democratic and egalitarian Ireland that we all know today.”
The kids listened intently all the while. Deidra, in particular, had become enthralled with her father's retelling of Irish history, and had begun to consider if perhaps, she, too, could become a historian like her dad. And she knew exactly where she wanted to start her research.....the life of Wolfe Tone, and his impact on Irish history.
**
So, you guys liked it, I hope? I cooked it up as a special St. Patrick's day treat.
There you go, finally got part 1 finished.
I'd also like to see if anybody would like to help me out with Ireland here.....I know where I'd like to go but I'm not exactly how sure to get there. Any ideas?