Disunited States of America... Washington died

[Napoleonrules]

1850/1851

Allied representatives meeting in Philadelphia agree to all recognize California but can not agree on Texas, Yucatan, or Deseret. Virginia recognizes all, NY recognizes Yucatan, the rest of the nations give de facto recognition but not de jure. They tap John Clayton, Delaware governor, to negotiate with the UK regarding a joint canal in Nicaragua.

William Fargo and Henry Wells form American Express in Buffalo, NY and press the NY govt that Panama, instead of Nicaragua, is the best bet and that an expanded show of force in the Caribbean is needed now. Millard Fillmore, new President of NY shows interest, he has NY Pacific Squadron leave the allied armada in Oregon and go on an expedition through the Pacific Ocean with Hawai'i and Japan as main stops.

The "Join or Die" movement is able to get the Michigan and NY legislatures to agree on a joint constitutional convention with instructions on making a new constitutional relationship based on the Swiss model. At the Convention in Rochester it is put in the new Constitution that NY is pulling Wisconsin out of the Condominium and into the new federal structure if a majority of Wisconsin residents vote to approve in 1852. A new federal government is erected, an upper house the Senate will have 20 members (30 if Wisconsin joins) 10 from Michigan and 10 from NY (5 must be from north of Yonkers "Upstate"; with 5 from NYC and Long Island); the lower house, the Assembly is based on population. A popularly elected president and vice president as the executive branch, all males are given the right to vote, two votes are cast, one of which has to be from the other nation (A Michigan voter must vote for at least one NYer, can vote for 2 NYers but can't vote for 2 Michiganers), runner up becomes vice president. A chief Superior Court over federal matters is established as the highest level of appeals. Buffalo becomes the new capital with Albany as the capital of New York and Ann Arbor of Michigan. The new nation takes the name- Iroquois.

 

[Napoleonrules]

1852/1853

In 1852 because of the Dorr Rebellion causing agitation in the part of the former Rhode Island that MA had conquered the MA govt calls on the Iroqouis and PA govts for a division of CT. NY agrees in return for allowing Wisconsin to join Iroquois regardless of a referendum. MA agrees, PA invades the Western Reserve, NY helps MA receive all of CT by occupying CT west of the Connecticut River which they turn over to MA. VT, DE, and NJ all protest and the allied system falls apart. Elections occur in Wisconsin for Congressmen to join the Iroquois without a referendum on joining.

Abraham Lincoln advocates for anti-slavery counties of Virginia to join Iroquois as the 4th state.

William Walker of New Orleans, SC (though born in Nashville, NC) leads pro-slavery southerners and Texans who don't wish to be under Mormon Deseret or anti-slavery California in declaring and independent nation of Lower California. He invades Mexico and captures La Paz, capital of Mexico's Baja California territory. He is forced to retreat by Mexican forces, however he uses the experience to train his men and unite the American settlers around San Diego and Los Angeles. California and Deseret put their differences aside and agree to recognize Lower California as a way to settle their differences. The border between Deseret with California and Lower California is placed at the 120th longitude south to Lake Tahoe then a line southeast to meet the Colorado River at the 35th latitude. The 35th latitude is placed as the border of California with Lower California. In 1853 Lower California changes their name to Mojave. Walker becomes the first President. Slavery is made legal though there are few slaves or opportunities for such an economy. SC is approached about having a naval base for a Pacific squadron at San Diego.

Presidents-
MA- Charles Sumner
VT- Erastus Fairbanks
Iroquois- William Seward (first elected under Iroquis)
NJ- Robert Stockton
PA- Salmon P. Chase
DE- William Ross
MD- Thomas Pratt
VA- Lynn Boyd (first non-tidewater president)
NC- George Badger
SC- Andrew Butler
TX- William Travis
Deseret- Brigham Young
California- John Fremont
Mojave- William Walker

 

[Napoleonrules]

1854/1855

Secretaries/Ministers of State for Iroquois (William Marcy), South Carolina (Pierre Soule), Pennsylvania (James Buchanan), Virginia (John Mason), and Massachusetts (Franklin Pierce) meet in Philadelphia to discuss the deteriorating situation in Spanish Cuba and canal proposals in Central America. None wanted to see Britain take control directly or indirectly. They agree to secretly fund an expedition by Narciso Lopez through NYer John O'Sullivan. Afraid of comments thought to be anti-slavery, Pierre Soule back in SC makes it public the secret meeting. Spain sends protest and the money and backing of Narciso Lopez disappears.

Major Henry Wayne of SC joins the Texas army and is given the rank of brigadier-general. He is stationed at Santa Fe and he experiments with a Camel Corp of using camels as replacements for horses and mules in the western desert lands of Texas.

Vermont joins Iroquois as the 4th state amid threats from MA and Iroquois' reluctance to defend a VT not in the federation.

Mormon's found the community of Las Vegas.

 

[Danishbro]

Okay- here is the situation (as I understand it) in 1790, the white areas are either controlled by Natives, or European powers, with disputed borders. As you can see I used a map with modern county borders, for ease of making, so certain borders won't be 100% correct.

 

[Danishbro]

Here we are in 1795!

 

[Danishbro]

Moving into the 19th century!

 

[Danishbro]

Goodbye Georgia...1805.

 

[Danishbro]

And 1810, that is all I've made for now, but I'll keep at it. Please let me know if anything is blatantly wrong- I know for instance that the borders of the PA Ohio don't exactly follow the Miami River, because the counties of Ohio don't.

 

[Napoleonrules]

WOW! Amazing. Those are amazing maps and very accurate. I'm impressed. I'd love to see how it looks now that we've reached a point with TX and California, et al. Let me know if there's any time period where you think the borders aren't explained well enough.

 

[edvardas]

I think this is a highly implausible timeline in that a disunited America is doing better than a OTL united America. During the war of 1812 England occupied northern Maine and most of Michigan. I don't see how a divided America could do better than that. And then you are having them gain all the land they got from Mexico, and apparently Baja California.

 

[Napoleonrules]

Actually, the only occupation of Baja California that occurs ITTL is the same as what happened in OTL under William Walker. Read closer, Walker, as in real life OTL was kicked out by Mexico ITTL as well. And in OTL during the Mexican-American war the USA occupied ALL of Mexico including Mexico City for a numerous number of years (it was the Iraq War of its time), nothing like that has occurred ITL. Under no circumstances are the nations ITTL doing as well or better than the USA in OTL. If anything westward settlement is about a couple years behind; economic penetration of China and the Pacific is 5 to 6 years behind; Liberia never happened. People seem to think that because the individual states are "small" that they can't have navies, exploration, industrialization, or colonies. In OTL the Netherlands in the 17th century and Belguim in the 19th century proved that belief wrong. I strongly disagree with your entire premise of implausibility and suggest you bone up on how real history played out in OTL before criticizing this alternate history.

My concept for this timeline is that history doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme.

 

[kichinichini]

In OTL the Netherlands in the 17th century and Belguim in the 19th century proved that belief wrong. I strongly disagree with your entire premise of implausibility and suggest you bone up on how real history played out in OTL before criticizing this alternate history.

The Netherlands and Belgium weren't on the frontier. They contained major financial markets and were nestled among the largest economies of the world. Despite being "small" their populations were still notably higher than any of the states for a long time.

 

[Napoleonrules]

and on more thing!...

And one more thing- the army and US flag did not go first to the West, it was Americans leaving America and not caring who was in charge that led to wars and the US army and Federal govt having to play catch-up. In OTL real life- Daniel Boone was in Missouri when it was still Spanish many years before Jefferson purchased it; Davy Crockett and Sam Houstin, Stephen Austin, etc were all in Texas prior to the American govt.

To naively believe that a disunited America would impact American's belief in Manifest Destiny (already evident in the fact that Georgia, SC, NC, VA, PA, CT, and MA; 6 of the original 13 colonies had sea-to-sea charters) or farmers wanting virgin lands, especially when it came to cotton and slavery is just ASB! Americans regardless of 1, 2, 13, 14, or 38 nations east of the Mississippi are GOING TO MOVE WEST, hate the foreign government they now live under (especially if they ban slavery) and will revolt, set up a new govt or join a stronger one back east. A disunited USA like this timeline simply makes it MORE likely that the western rebellions, like California and Texas, remain independent.

Don't forget all the filibuster expeditions. There will be more under this scenario, and they will be MORE successful. So, in a way, yes a disunited states of America CAN be more successful, if you mean that White American culture is spread and dominates more land mass. The USA federal govt won't be around to say no to filibusters, individual (especially Southern) nations will be more likely to say yes.

 

[Napoleonrules]

Despite being "small" their populations were still notably higher than any of the states for a long time.

I think you seriously need to research before writing. My timeline is at around 1850 now... in OTL New York had already passed the Netherlands in population. Virginia, by keeping Kentucky and parts of the North West Territory, and with Pennsylvania having Ohio they ITTL would have done so as well. Many people from the early 18th century on in OTL had already predicted that Philadelphia, Boston, and NY would surpass London in financing, shipbuilding, and trade. The 13 colonies had resources, a growing population from natural childbirth, and a culture of moving west. This would not change in another timeline. If you want to make a different timeline of the 14 colonies (Vermont of course) go their own way I would LOVE to see how you have it turn out.

 

[Napoleonrules]

1856/1857

Charles Sumner, President of MA, denounces slavery during what will become the first annual State of New England speech before the Massachusetts Legislature. Sumner makes a public call that MA, Iroquois, NJ, and PA have a moral authority to stop the spread of slavery and the imperialism of SC and Virginia that has spread slavery throughout the old Louisiana Territory and set up slave nations in the west such as Texas, Deseret, and Mojave. He warns California will be fall to pressure to have slavery and that Virginia could take Oregon. Despite the speech being quite long and having many topics, it is remember mostly for this denouncement.

Iroquois now consists of 5 states- NY, Michigan (OTL Lower Peninsula) Wisconsin (OTL Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula, and Minnesota east of the Mississippi), and Vermont. Each has 10 Senators, the NY contingent must have 5 from Upstate and 5 from NYC/Long Island/Yonkers. Calls for NJ and New England to be united are strong inside the nation, and getting stronger in NJ, very weak in most of New England except old Rhode Island.

NY prior to the creation of Iroquois had a strong executive and a semi-feudal concept (Rensselearswyck was a feudal manor that had its own representative in the Legislature separate from those elected). With the addition of more democratic Michigan (large number of New Englanders), Wisconsin (large number of freedom loving Scandinavians), and Vermont (classic New England direct democracy lovers) the nation of Iroquois starts in 1856 giving in to Anti-Renters in the Hudson River, allowing more local control at the town and city level, and expansion of the right to vote. Rensselaerswyck and the other patroonships are eliminated.

Despite Jackson having been a de facto dictator in SC until his death, he actually was reelected consistently in fair and open elections (though many were uncontested) and his political cronies were elected freely as he was popular enough to have strong coat tails. SC expanded its electorate faster and wider than any other state by eliminating poll taxes, property requirements, and reading tests. All white males had the right to vote. This would be copied by other nations along the eastern seaboard and used by Texas, California, and Mojave. Virginia and Iroquois are the last to have universal white male voting.

Deseret is a theocracy, the Mormon Church is the government. Non-Mormons are sometimes given positions of moderate local power, especially in non-Mormon areas. Deseret has little power outside of Mormon areas however.

Abraham Lincoln has begun taking his oratory skills beyond Illinois and has spoken in St Louis, Evansville, and in communities in Iowa. Slavery is not strong in Virginia compared to NC and SC, however the fear of what would happen with emancipation and free blacks makes people who are otherwise not sympathetic to the slavery cause uncomfortable. Organizations spread up with different ideas of what to do with blacks and end slavery but without having to deal with living among those of another race. Some have ideas of sending them to Haiti, Africa, or out west in reservations like they have for Indians.

 

[Napoleonrules]

1858/1859

Comstock lode is discovered in the western part of Deseret near California. Californians cross in huge numbers, many former South Carolinians (with experience from the Carolina and Georgia Gold Rushes). With so many "gentiles" the Mormons send missionaries, militia, and govt officials. They try to outlaw prostitution, drinking, gambling, and other immoral activities. They find few converts and lots of law breakers. Claim stakers call upon California to help as they organize into local militias to protect themselves from the Mormons.

The John Brown slave revolt is put down by Colonel Robert E. Lee. Abraham Lincoln is considered to have been indirectly responsible by way of his reckless speeches against slavery. Lee is sent on orders to arrest Lincoln on charges of inciting a slave revolt. Lincoln flees to Milwaukee and seeks asylum with Iroquois.

 

[Napoleonrules]

1860/1861

Lincoln, having traveled to NYC makes his Cooper Union speech. He gives a passionate and logical exposition of the moral need for PA, Iroquois, NJ, and MA to unite in ending the spread of slavery by force if necessary by supporting non-slavery portions of VA, Oregon, and California against the slavocracy.

Local anti-slavery militias form based on being riled up about the arrest warrant for Lincoln and the slander about abolitionists being responsible for Brown's raid. They clash with pro-slavery militias that form in Saratoga County.

VA presidential election sees a three way contest between John Breckinridge, Stephen Douglass, and John Letcher. Letcher was from old Virginia lands and had a strong pro-slavery stance despite once advocating for popular sovereignty to allow localities to ban; Breckenridge believes in the Jeffersonian stance on slavery- legal but rare, rights for slave holders but voluntary emancipation, limited legal rights in courts for slaves, and colonization of Africa by free blacks. Douglass believes in strict local rule over slavery, let slavery be where the people want it and not where they don't. Letcher wins and calls on PA, MD, NJ, MA, NJ, Iroquois, and VA to meet in Georgetown, MD to discuss the issue of slavery, tariffs and trade, Lincoln's agitation, Oregon, and other issues.

The Danites, a militant homegrown militia that used to be associated with vigilantism among Mormons when in Virginia prior to Deseret, is reestablished and recruits members. They march on Comstock lode territory and capture the towns but don't go into the mountains as they are confronted by terrain unfamiliar and the miners can pick them off from cover.

 

[Napoleonrules]

1862/1863

With escalating tensions regarding western settlements and the spread of slavery Virginia feels it is in its best interest to quickly secure its western territory and create lasting bonds with Deseret and California. The legislature passes the Pacific Railway Act authorizing the building of a railroad from Kansas City to Deseret and talks begin with the Mormon govt for cooperation to build on to Salt Lake City and west to San Francisco.

Lincoln advocates publicly that Free Blacks should migrate to Africa or Central America and that by doing so it will encourage nations like Virginia, MD, and DE to eliminate slavery if they know that the Free Blacks will not remain. This hurts his credibility with the black community.

William Quantrill begins leading the pro-slavery militia in Illinois and Saratoga counties of Virginia raiding, burning, lynching people who were abolitionists or suspected of having anti-slavery views. Some call him just a ruffian who wishes to hurt, kill, rape, and steal and say the issue of slavery is just his excuse. Richard Yates organizes a Free Soil Illinois County congress that issues a statement that they are loyal to Virginia, but wish for slavery to be illegal in their county, and raise a militia to protect their county from Quantrill and his like.

Oliver Morton, from the far western part of Pennsylvania (OTL Indiana) becomes President on a strict confrontationist stance against slavery and for giving support to Richard Yates. He invited Lincoln to Johnstown and encourages him to make plans to set up a "govt in exile" that will encompass more than just Illinois County, including areas north of St Louis and west to Oregon.

 

[Napoleonrules]

1864/1865

Gold is discovered by those scouting and speculating on land along the possible routes of the Pacific Railway of Virginia. Towns spring up along the edge of the Great Plains meeting the Rocky Mountains. Deseret is afraid it is only a matter of time before gold is found on the other side of the mountains and they have a problem with Virginians as they have with California on their west. Deseret has been, for the most part, left the Navajo and other native tribes of the deserts alone, and now sign treaties giving Deseret nominal sovereignty in return for letting the Natives run their own affairs. Deseret decides not to allow the railroad. Denver becomes the official ending point for the railroad.

Virginia taps Robert E. Lee, with Thomas Jackson in second-command, to reign in both the pro-slavery and anti-slavery militias in Illinois and Saratoga as fighting has begun to spread to Kentucky, Mississippi (OTL St Louis area), and Missouri (OTL Kansas City area); Winfield Scott is made Minister of War. Pennsylvania mobilizes their forces, with Ulysses S. Grant in charge of the Philadelphia region, William Sherman at Cincinnati, and George McClellan takes up in Lenape (OTL Indianapolis); Irwin McDowell is given command of all forces and sets up his headquarters at Pittsburgh.

 

[Napoleonrules]

1866/1867

Jesse James and gang take up the banner of robbing banks and railroads (instruments of anti-slavery oppression of course). Begins raiding abolitionist farms and swears allegiance to the cause of William Quantrell.

Iroquois is the first of the American nations to adopt the metric system.

Russia is shopping Alaska around. No one is interested as it is large, uninhabited, and potential for resources are small there. Only the UK is interested, but Russia has no desire to see Britain establish itself so close to Siberia. Russia and the UK already have been involved in their Great Game in Central Asia/Afghanistan/Iran/India; and recently have disputed rights over who has the most right of interference in Hawai'i affairs. Virginia has proposed that it would be willing to give the money to buy Alaska to a Pennsylvania/Iroquois/Massachusetts condominium in return for undisputed sole rights over Oregon, agree to ban slavery north of Missouri River to Kansas City and a line due west; and of course a treaty guaranteeing peaceful coexistence to stave off any war over slavery. Iroquois seems interested due to William Seward's insistence, but the others see no reason, and nothing is pursued.

Winfield Scott dies. Lee is promoted to oversea all Virginia forces and do whatever is necessary to put down all rabble rousers on both sides of the slavery issue on both sides of the Mississippi River. Jefferson C. Davis (not to be confused with Jefferson Davis the Secretary of War for SC) is given command out of Kansas City to track down Jesse James.