Alternate US History (1788 onwards)

[West_Midlander]

VP Rutherford B. Hayes announces he will take Sherman's place after the President announces he will not run for a second term.
Fmr. VP James G. Blaine enters the race as a moderate, campaigning on his legislative experience as Speaker of the House and his executive experience as VP.
Popular PA Gov. John F. Hartranft enters the race, as does popular CT Senator, Marshall Jewell.
Fmr. Amb. Elihu B. Washburne enters the race with the support of Frederick Douglass and Victoria Woodhull.
1876 Republican National Convention — Baltimore, MD
484 to win
1st Round
✔ Jewell: 464 540
Blaine: 258
Hayes: 168
Washburne: 76
Hartranft: 0
In a presumed Blaine-Hayes race, Jewell pulls off a massive upset. Washburne drops out before the convention and endorses Jewell.
Jewell is nominated. Washburne is his running mate.

The Greenbacks decide not to field a candidate and to instead organize behind Democratic candidate, Gov. Thomas A. Hendricks.
Gov. Samuel J. Tilden leads the Bourbon Democratic faction.
Fmr. Gov. Horatio Seymour, after not running in 1868 and reluctantly running in 1864, enthusiastically announces. He faces a tough challenge, especially in defeating fellow son of New York, his successor in Albany, Samuel Tilden.
Confederate VP Alexander H. Stephens and Confederate General John B. Gordon enter the race.

Gordon endorses Hendricks a few days before the convention.
1876 Democratic National Convention — Washington, DC
484 to win
1st Round
✔ Hendricks: 644
Tilden: 270
Stephens: 46
Seymour: 6
Hendricks wins a huge landslide (65% of the vote). Unexpectedly, Tilden (frontrunner by a lot) gets "knocked out" and Seymour gets effectively trampled, only sealing up Delaware and even being kept off the ballot in his home state of New York by Tildenites.
Hendricks and Gordon are the Democratic nominees.

[West_Midlander]

United States Senate Election, 1874
40-33 Republican Majority (Republican-Democratic)
United States House of Representatives Election, 1874
123-120 Republican Majority

United States Presidential Election, 1876

Hendricks has a large lead but when he starts pandering to the South over Farmer-Populists, the Greenbacks jump ship and turn out for Jewell. The Democrats' "Southern Strategy" makes the whole South a battleground, but on Election Day only Mississippi & Alabama flip (re: the Deep South).

The moderate Jewell liberalizes once in office. In his first address to Congress:
"Reconstruction is alive and well! We will do, as administrations have prior, continue the struggle for social change and political equality for all Americans!"

United States Senate Election, 1876
45-31 Republican Majority
United States House of Representatives Election, 1876
148-95 Republican Majority

[West_Midlander]

Greenbacks turnout in large numbers in the midterms.

United States Senate Election, 1878
33-31-12 Democratic Plurality (Democratic-Republican-Greenback)
United States House of Representatives Election, 1878
112-105-37 Democratic/Greenback Leadership

The Greenbacks, feeling betrayed by President Jewell, vote for a Democratic Speaker of the House and receive the Deputy Speakership.

(Clarification: IRL the Deputy Speakership doesn't exist, ITTL it functions as the replacement for a Speaker who can no longer serve. The Deputy Speaker becomes the Acting Speaker until the end of that term.)

EDIT: Mistakingly listed the election year as 1874 instead of 1878.

[West_Midlander]

January 6, 1880: President Marshall Jewell dies of scarlet fever. Vice President Elihu B. Washburne is sworn in as President of the United States.

President Washburne chooses the respected Senator, George F. Edmunds, in an attempt to mend the Party after losing a President and both houses of Congress in the past few years.

[West_Midlander]

Let the games begin!


February 1, 1880: Mr. Benjamin Harrison announces a run for the presidency as a Republican.

February 4: President Washburne enters the race. Despite some calls in the party to not pursue the nomination, or to even step down. Despite being an incumbent, it will be a hard road to the Convention Hall for the President.

Image from: mrlincolnswhitehouse.org
February 16: Mr. Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, announces that he will not pursue the presidency.

February 18: Rep. James A. Garfield announces at his residence, that he will seek the Republican nomination. He intends to contest a Senate seat as well.

Benjamin Harrison & family
Image from whitehousehistory.org
February 26: Mr. Benjamin Harrison has decided that the field has become too crowded. Declaring, "Our time is not now. I don't want to lead you all, my loyal supporters, on a fruitless journey to the White House. As such, I am withdrawing my name from nomination and am ending my candidacy for the Presidency."

1 March: Sen. James G. Blaine announced on the steps of the Capitol that he will contest the nomination. Blaine represents the main moderate opposition to the President.

[West_Midlander]

June 7, 1880 — Republican Primary Day
ALABAMA — GARFIELD 48%
ARKANSAS — GARFIELD 92%
CALIFORNIA — BLAINE 75%
COLORADO — GARFIELD 87%
CONNECTICUT — WASHBURNE 43%
DELAWARE — BLAINE 73%
FLORIDA — GARFIELD 95%
GEORGIA — BLAINE 67%
ILLINOIS — BLAINE 40%
INDIANA — BLAINE 77%
IOWA — GARFIELD 51%
KANSAS — BLAINE 82%
KENTUCKY — GARFIELD 62%
LOUISIANA — BLAINE 46%
MAINE — BLAINE 79%
MARYLAND — BLAINE 66%
MASSACHUSETTS — WASHBURNE 72%
MICHIGAN — BLAINE 65%
MINNESOTA — GARFIELD 88%
MISSISSIPPI — BLAINE 61%
MISSOURI — GARFIELD 84%
NEBRASKA — BLAINE 72%
NEVADA — BLAINE 68%
NEW HAMPSHIRE — BLAINE 59%
NEW JERSEY — BLAINE 67%
NEW YORK — GARFIELD 56%
NORTH CAROLINA — GARFIELD 94%
OHIO — GARFIELD 96%
OREGON — BLAINE 76%
PENNSYLVANIA — GARFIELD 49%
RHODE ISLAND — BLAINE 79%
SOUTH CAROLINA — GARFIELD 50%
TENNESSEE — BLAINE 58%
TEXAS — GARFIELD 61%
VERMONT — GARFIELD 87%
VIRGINIA — BLAINE 58%
WEST VIRGINIA — BLAINE 83%
WISCONSIN — BLAINE 50%

TOTAL
✔ Garfield — 47.9% — 482
Blaine — 40.9% — 434
Washburne — 11.3% — 50
Garfield is two delegates short of a majority. Blaine and Washburne drop out.

June 11-14
Republican National Convention — Chicago, IL

Garfield is nominated by acclamation. Blaine is his running mate. President Washburne endorses the ticket.

[West_Midlander]

Thoughts on the new format?

(The rest of the primary and the 1880 Election is coming soon )

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

I like it!

[West_Midlander]

Who can oust the Republicans?

May 8, 1880: After losing the nomination in the past, the politically inexperienced military man, General Winfield Scott Hancock disappoints his small contingent of followers. He announces he will not run for the Presidency.

May 14: The popular former Governor of New York, Horatio Seymour, emerges onto the Democratic field after Samuel J. Tilden dispels rumors that he is mounting a run.

May 19: Senator and President pro-tempore of the Senate, Allen G. Thurman, emerges as the conservative alternative to Seymour. Horatio Seymour is still the massive favorite to win.

May 26: The failed 1876 nominee, Former Governor Thomas A. Hendricks, decides not to run. He endorses Seymour for President.
Democratic National Convention — Cincinnati, OH

from wisconsinhistory.org

June 7: Speaker of the House Samuel Randall is given the keynote Speakership at the DNC. He is a rare pro-tariff Democrat. He speaks of party unity and endorses Seymour for President.
June 8: Sen. Thurman sends a telegraph to Seymour, conceding the race. He is absent from the convention.
June 10: Seymour is unanimously nominated. The Democratic nominees are:
Fmr. Gov. Horatio Seymour (D-NY) / Speaker of the House Samuel J. Randall (D-PA)

[West_Midlander]

June 11-14, 1880: Greenback National Convention — Chicago, IL
The Greenback nominees are:
Rep. James Weaver (IA) / Mr. Barzillai Chambers (TX)

[West_Midlander]

Seymour holds a small lead but after weeks of campaigning, Garfield secures many major endorsements and gets a large lead. Garfield is racked with scandals and marches to the right to secure the South.

Emancipated blacks stay with the GOP, as it's the Party of Lincoln. Garfield starts to garner crossover support from Southern whites, putting him over the top in the South.

Considering the Democratic candidate: a moderate Northerner, Seymour. Many Northern Republicans turn against Garfield and vote for the Democratic ticket.

United States Presidential Election, 1880
186 electoral votes to win

(I apologize for the wacky PV counts so far. I had been using scenarios off of 270soft and the numbers are really exorbitant for the time. I removed them this time.)

Horatio Seymour secures the presidency in an upset. He wins the White House without winning the popular vote.

Democratic States (Percentage/Margin)
1. Maine: 42% (D+3)
2. Rhode Island: 42% (D+3)
3. Connecticut: 39% (D+0.4)
4. Vermont: 43% (D+5)
5. New York: 42% (D+5)
6. New Jersey: 41% (D+4)
7. Delaware: 41% (D+4)
8. Pennsylvania: 43% (D+6)
9. North Carolina 41% (D+3)
10. Ohio: 41% (D+3)
11. Indiana 42% (D+4)
12. Illinois 43% (D+6)
13. Michigan: 41% (D+2)
14. Wisconsin: 40% (D+0.4)
15. Oregon: 40% (D+0.3)

Republican States (Percentage/Margin)
1. California: 40% (R+0.3)
2. Nevada: 42% (R+4)
3. Colorado: 41% (R+2)
4. Kansas: 42% (R+8)
5. Nebraska: 41% (R+3)
6. Iowa: 44% (R+6)
7. Missouri: 47% (R+19)
8. Arkansas: 40% (R+1)
9. Texas: 40% (R+3)
10. Louisiana: 42% (R+6)
11. Mississippi: 42% (R+6)
12. Alabama: 42% (R+2)
13. Georgia: 40% (R+0.8)
14. South Carolina: 43% (R+7)
15. Florida: 40% (R+2)
16. Tennessee: 39% (R+0.6)
17. Kentucky: 44% (R+8)
18. Virginia: 44% (R+9)
19. West Virginia: 42% (R+6)
20. Maryland: 42% (R+12)
21. Massachusetts: 40% (R+3)
22. New Hampshire: 41% (R+0.4)

[West_Midlander]

I like it!

Thanks! Any suggestions, comments, etc. so far...or for future updates?

[West_Midlander]

A bit belated:

United States Senate Election, 1880
30-30-16 Tie (Republican-Democratic-Greenback)
A tie results in the Senate. Greenbacks stand at a considerable 16/76 seats. They will be the power brokers in the incoming Senate.
United States House of Representatives Election, 1880
112-105-65 Democratic Minority Leadership
The Republicans have the most seats and won the popular vote in the 1880 elections. Weaver continues to lead the Greenbacks in the House and decides it's better to be on the good side of present administration. The Greenbacks are promised the Deputy Speakership and cabinet positions in return to pushing through a Democratic Speaker.

Randall is sworn in as Vice President. The Democrats need a new House leader.
Democratic House leadership vote, 1881
✔ John S. Richardson (D-SC): 60
John G. Carlisle (D-KY): 20
Campbell P. Berry (D-CA): 11
Robert H. M. Davidson (D-FL): 3
Michael P. O'Connor (D-SC): 1
D. Wyatt Aiken (D-SC): 1
Two South Carolina representatives vote for themselves. Davidson joins a Florida and a Georgia representative, respectively, in voting for himself. Berry mounts a Western opposition to the presumptive leader, Richardson of South Carolina. Another Southerner, John G. Carlisle, throws his ring into the hat as well.

House Speakership vote, 1881:
✔ Rep. John S. Richardson (D-SC): 145 (91 Democrats, 54 Greenbacks)
Fmr. Speaker J. Warren Keifer (R-OH): 96 (Republicans)
Rep. James Weaver (Write-In): 11 (Greenbacks)
Rep. Campbell P. Berry (D-CA): 2 (Democrats)
Two Democrats defect to Berry, himself and a colleague in the House. 11 Greenbacks write in Weaver after he agrees to not contest the Speakership.

Richardson tells Democrats to vote for Weaver for the Deputy Speakership.
House Deputy Speakership vote, 1881:
✔ Rep. James Weaver (GB-IA): 152 (70 Democrats, 65 Greenbacks, 17 Republicans)
Fmr. Speaker J. Warren Keifer (R-OH): 79 (Republicans)
Rep. Campbell P. Berry (D-CA): 23 (Democrats)
After losing the Speakership, Rep. Berry contests the Deputy Speakership and loses. Berry's contingent of followers and the fact that a quarter of Democrats defected, mean that Speaker Richardson has his work cut out for him this session.
17 Farmer-Populist Republicans, newly elected from the Plains, back Weaver for the Deputy Speakership.

[West_Midlander]

Horatio Seymour's Cabinet
Secretary of State

Fmr Rep. Benjamin Franklin Butler (D-MA) — nominated, voted down 15-61 against

Mr. Edward P. Allis (GB-WI) — confirmed 39-37
Secretary of the Treasury

Fmr. Rep. Henry B. Payne (D-OH) — confirmed 68-8
Secretary of War

Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock (D-PA) — confirmed 65-11
Attorney General

Fmr. Gov. Thomas Andrews Hendricks (D-IN) — confirmed 62-14
Postmaster General

Fmr. State Rep. William Ralls Morrison (D-IL) — confirmed 40-36
Secretary of the Navy

Admiral David Dixon Porter (I-PA) — confirmed 75-1
Secretary of the Interior

Deputy Speaker James Baird Weaver (GB-IA) — confirmed 76-0

[West_Midlander]

At any time if you guys need any clarification or extra info in regards to this timeline, I'll be happy to provide it!

[West_Midlander]

Rep. Nicholas Ford (MO-9) is chosen unanimously (by Greenbacks) to replace Weaver as the party leader in the House.
Ford is unopposed in the House Deputy Speakership vote. He recieves all the House votes except from abstaining and absent representatives.

[West_Midlander]

A massively popular law is passed mandating the acceptance of paper money (greenbacks) as legal currency. As a result, the Greenback Party loses support as their purpose is mostly filled.

United States Senate Election, 1882
34-32-10 Republican Plurality (Republican-Democratic-Greenback)
Republicans take the most seats in the Senate, but don't wield much control due to Democratic—Greenback cooperation.
United States House of Representatives Election, 1882
119-112-42 Democratic Plurality/Minority Leadership (Democratic-Republican-Greenback)
The same agreement stands as Democrats take a plurality in the House. Richardson (D-SC) and Ford (GB-MO) are re-elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

[West_Midlander]

The Road to the White House
December 19, 1883: President Horatio Seymour cites failing health and says he will not pursue a second term. He endorses Vice President Samuell Randall (D-PA) to succeed him.
2 January, 1884: Attornery General, Thomas A. Hendricks, subject to declining health, announces he will not pursue the nomination and endorses Randall.

8 January: Sen. Thomas F. Bayard (D-DE) announces a run for the presidency. He intends to be the Bourbon Democrat option.

29 January: Gov. Grover Cleveland (D-NY) throws his hat into the ring.

1 February: Sen. Wade Hampton (D-SC) has a podium erected in front of the crashing waves of Charleston, SC. The former Confederate general announces a run for President, vowing to be a President for Southerners and to reverse Reconstruction (which has subsided under Seymour, but is mostly successful).

Charleston, SC
Photo from https://s3.amazonaws.com/medias.photodeck.com/14048fa8-eb25-11e3-a186-f2b86e40979d/1310190087_CHARLESTON_SOUTH_CAROLINA_X_large.jpg

14 February: Rep. Richard P. Bland of Missouri announces a run for the Presidency. He has the populist wing of the party behind him and is likely to attract Greenback support. 'Silver Dick' stands for bimetalism.

[West_Midlander]

Presidential Ballot
411 to win
1st Ballot
Cleveland: 345
Randall: 180
Bayard: 109
Bland: 96
Hampton: 90
2nd Ballot
Cleveland: 345
Randall: 270
Bayard: 109
Bland: 96
3rd Ballot
Cleveland: 345
Randall: 270
Bayard: 205
4th Ballot
✔ Randall: 475
Cleveland: 345

[West_Midlander]

February 25-27, 1884: Democratic National Convention — St Louis, MO

The Democratic nominees are:
Vice President Samuel Randall (D-PA) / Senator Wade Hampton (D-SC)
Randall could have picked Bland and stamped out a Greenback/populist ticket but instead chose Hampton to win over the South.

[West_Midlander]

The Greenback Primaries, 1884

8 March: The failed nominee for Secretary of State, Benjamin F. Butler, enters the Greenback primaries.

22 March: Secretary of the Interior, James Weaver, enters the Greenback primaries.
30 March: Butler exits the race due to a lack of support.
April 4-6, 1884
Greenback National Convention — Chicago, IL

International Exposition Building in Chicago, IL
James B. Weaver is chosen unanimously as the nominee. The ticket is:
Secretary James Baird Weaver (GB-IA) / Mr. Absolom Madden West (GB-MS)
*Weaver left Iowa for Washington, D.C. when he became Interior Secretary.
**West was an American planter, Confederate militia general, state politician, railroad president and labor organizer.

[West_Midlander]

An Age of Prohibition?

The Prohibition Party emerges onto the national scene. The Party convention takes place April 10-12 in Brooklyn, New York.

The nominees are:
Fmr. Gov. John St. John (P-KS) / Fmr. State Sen. William Daniel (P-MD)

from untappedcities-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com
Prohibitionists led by St. John & Daniel march across the Brooklyn Bridge after the convention ends.

[West_Midlander]

The Republican Primaries

April 16, 1884: The respected Senator, George F. Edmunds (R-VT), enters the Republican primaries.

April 24: After calls to run again, President John Sherman (R-OH) throws his hat into the ring. Many believe he's the Republicans' only chance to retake the presidency.

April 25: Gen. Sherman receives the news of his brother, the former President's campaign by telegram. The former General, William Tecumseh Sherman (R-OH) is expected to endorse his brother for the presidency, at a church in Cleveland, OH. Instead he announces his candidacy for the Presidency.

from csuohio.edu
A local church in Cleveland, OH

[West_Midlander]

The Republican Primaries, continued

1 May, 1884: The former Vice President, James G. Blaine (R-ME), announces a run for President.

5 May: Joseph Hawley (R-CT) announces a run for President. The pro-civil rights Senator is backed by Frederick Douglass.

19 May: Late in the race, Sen. Benjamin Harrison (R-IN) throws his name in for the nomination.

[West_Midlander]

May 29-31, 1884

from pinimg.com
Republican Convention Hall — Charleston, SC
1st Ballot — 484 to win
W. Sherman: 440
Blaine: 380
Edmunds: 54
J. Sherman: 48
Harrison: 30
Hawley: 14
Joseph Hawley is eliminated.
2nd Ballot — 484 to win
W. Sherman: 440
Blaine: 380
Edmunds: 54
J. Sherman: 48
Harrison: 44
Benjamin Harrison is eliminated.
3rd Ballot — 484 to win
W. Sherman: 440
Blaine: 380
J. Sherman: 92
Edmunds: 54
4th Ballot — 484 to win
W. Sherman: 440
Blaine: 380
J. Sherman: 146
5th Ballot — 484 to win
✔ W. Sherman: 586
Blaine: 380
The Republican nominee is Gen. William Sherman, his running mate is former President John Sherman!