Much Ado About Nothing New York City, New York
October 7, 1789 – Working all though the night, New York Governor George Clinton organizes a response team of loyal militia members and pro-Confederate citizens with military experience. He also devises a plan to retake the city and arrest those in charge of the secession plot.
At dawn, Clinton’s troops commenced their plan. It only took two hours and minimal casualties on both sides, but the Confederates were able to retake control of the city. Hamilton’s forces didn’t expect such a sudden and immediate response to their takeover the previous day. Yet the most important thing that happened that day was both Alexander Hamilton and Richard Varick were arrested for treason.
Month of October – News of the Hamilton Secession Coup reaches the rest of the country. Confederates across the country claim that Federal Government of the United States of America was behind the New York plot and that this will be the start of many to come. Many Confederates are calling for war against the Constitutionalist government and for more states to join the Confederates.
President John Adams
President Adams realizing that his response is going to pivotal in preventing a civil war takes a very cautious approach. He denounces Hamilton’s actions and adamantly claims that his administration had nothing to do with the New York plot. Adams also makes the point that the Confederate states need to join the Union and that a failure to do so will result in a future confrontation. Confederates twist this statement and they compare it to the statements made by the British in the early parts of the Revolution.
General George Washington
George Washington also releases a response. He is extremely critical of Hamilton and he compares him to a wannabe King. He also denounces the partisan atmosphere of the country and he declares his neutrality in the current conflict. This is a huge blow the Constitutionalists as they always considered Washington to be one of them.
Early November – Alexander Hamilton becomes enraged when he hears of President Adams, George Washington and other Constitutionalists responses to his actions. He feels betrayed by the Constitutionalists. He comes to the conclusion that he is too good for the Constitutionalists and that New York is too good for either the United States or the Confederacy. It is in jail were Hamilton would develop his political views and write about his vision for the future of New York.
Alexander Hamilton