Mexican States of America

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

A scenario similar to my earlier "Brazilian States of America".


American Civil War and the French Intervention

16th: Abraham Lincoln (R-IL), March 4, 1861 -

The election of abolitionist Lincoln sparked the American Civil War, starting shortly before he took the office, as several southern states formed a rival government. Although a minority faction argued for the Southern independence, the "moderates" decided to go with a simple declaration that the Lincoln Presidency lacked legitimacy and the South remained the last bastion of the constitutional rule. Though the Northeast and most of the Midwest remained loyal to the Union, the rebels were able to draw support outside the South, especially in the West, vary of direct federal rule, while "Copperheads" in the North were relatively quickly subdued. As the border states declared their allegiance to the "constitutionalists", Lincoln and his government had to flee Washington and relocate the capital to New York City.

1st/16th: Jefferson F. Davis (Constitutionalist-MS), February 26, 1861 - February 22, 1862

Former Senator from Mississippi and the Secretary of War under President Pierce, a reluctant Davis had been selected to become the provisional President under the rebel government, considered by it as the "rightful" successor to James Buchanan. After a year, he relinquished the position with great relief, a relief shared by many fellow "constitutionalists", as he proved to be a weak leader.

2nd/17th: Jesse D. Bright (Constitutionalist-IN), February 22, 1964 - June 18, 1864

It has been taken for granted that the first "permanent" President of the rebel government should come from outside the south, to emphasize the "national" character of the struggle. A prominent former United States Senator and "constitutionalist" Governor of Indiana (or rather it's Southern portion that had been controlled by the Constitutionalist army), Bright became a logical choice.

By the mid-1863 things appeared to be getting grim for the Constitutionalists, as the Union forced made substantial advancements in the Midwest, under General Fremont, with the offensive in the North under General McClellan recovered Pennsylvania and entered Maryland before getting to a halt. Desperate Constitutional leaders agreed on making a dramatic concession in order to secure much-needed European aid...

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Constitutional Emp... WTF?

In order to secure support from Napoleon III, the Constitutionalist government had agreed to swallow its republican pride and proclaim Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria, the younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph, as the "Constitutional Emperor of these United States". This was quite an unpopular choice, given anti-monarchist roots of the country, as well as the fact the Archduke was a Catholic. Much lesser attention was given to a number of political and economic concession the French required in exchange for their support. In the end, the rebel leaders were able to pacify the dissent, hinting that an inexperienced Archduke would serve mostly as a ceremonial figurehead, with the cabinet, now answerable to the Congress, exercising the real power. As a further appeasing gesture, Ferdinand Maximilian, not Emperor Maximilian I of these United States, converted to Episcopalianism.

Soon, as the French troops and ships began to arrive, the Constitutionalist camp experiences a series of successes. Combined armies pushed as far North as the Pennsylvania borders, Springfield, Illinois, in Midwest and Wichita, Kansas, in the Plains. Unfortunately for their side, Maximilian, who thought he knew how to govern a distant country he knew little about just because he had a motherf**king Habsburg jaw, tried to assume important rule in policymaking, leading to friction with the cabinet and undermining the war effort. By 1866 Britain and Russia began to covertly aid the Union, worried about the expansion of Napoleon's influence. In the South, tensions with Mexico kept much-needed troops tied across the border.

With the European affairs needing his attention and the financial cost of the American adventure, Napoleon started to withdraw his troops from America, leaving the Constitutionalist vulnerable. In early 1869 Lincoln, whose mandate had been indefinitely extended during wartime, reached a critical agreement with Mexico, which rebuilt its military potential. Under the agreement Mexico would receive Arizona, New Mexico and southern parts of Texas and California in exchange for invasion of the Constitutionalist-controled areas (officially Mexico would "buy" the land for some cheap ass price). In the last ditch effort to regain some support abroad, the Constitutionalist government abolished slavery, but it had no real effect. With the French troops gone and many rebels defecting upon the promise of amnesty, the cabinet, Emperor and loyal troops were constantly falling back to Georgia. On April 8, 1870 Maximilian was taken prisoner by the Union troops as he desperately tried to reach the sea. A quick court martial was assembled and the former Emperor, along with several high-ranking officials of the rebel cause that did not take upon the amnesty, were found guilty of treason, rebelion, murder, rape, looting and a number of other grave offences, and sentenced to death. Maximilian was said to maintain a stoic composure, apparently still deluding himself "he and Lincoln can work together", up until the last moment, when the hangman's noose snuffed the life out of his severely inbreed body. Thus ended the ridiculous period known as the "American Empire".

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

16th: Abraham Lincoln (R/Reelectionist-IL), ... - July 18, 1872

Victorious from the war, President Lincoln obtained reelection by a massive margin, complemented with the Congress dominated by his supporters. Radicalized by the experiences of his ling struggle, Lincoln embarked onto impressive feat of reconstruction and reforms. The power of Antabellum Southern elites were ruthlessly broken with the mass confiscation of land and redistributing it among freed slaves and poor whites. The federal government greatly expanded nation's railways, established a record number of schools, pushed for industrialization and guaranteed workers' right to strike, ironically taking the page from Napoleon III's (still ruling but in increasingly bad health) similar reforms in France. To offset the embarrassment of ceding land to Mexico, Lincoln managed to secure the purchase of Alaska from Russia and the Virgin Islands from Denmark.

On the less pleasant side, Lincoln had been growing increasingly authoritarian, hinting he's determined to serve multiple terms. This led to a series of short-lived revolts by the "anti-reelectionist" camp. Unfortunately for himself, but fortunately for his legacy, Lincoln died in 1872, and is celebrated to this day as the greatest American to ever live.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Nut

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

17th: Salmon P. Chase (R/Reelectionist-OH), July 19, 1872 – October 31, 1876

As President of the Supreme Court, Chase was Lincoln's constitutional successor upon the latter death, before being elected on his own right later that year. Before his accession, Chase had been a leading Radical Republican and it is rumoured he was the one who convinced Lincoln not to grant a last minute pardon to the doomed ex-Emperor. Chase was more successful than Lincoln in pacifying the country and strengthening the state, notably fending off the coup attempt by General Sheridan. His fortunes reversed after his reelection in 1876, as Sheridan was able to rally the opposition, popularly known as the "anti-reelectionists". Chase was forced out of office.

18th: John Baxter (Anti-Reelectionist-NC), October 26, 1876 – November 28, 1876

Another veteran Radical Republican jurist, Baxter assumed the interim presidency following Chase's removal.

19th: Philip H. Sheridan (Anti-Reelectionist-NY), November 28, 1876 – December 6, 1876

A veteran of the civil war and leader of the anti-reelectionist movement, General Sheridan assumed the presidency for the first time for a couple of days, before relinquishing the office (but not real powers) in order to run in election.

20th: Winfield Scott Hancock (Anti-Reelectionist-PA), December 6, 1876 – February 17, 1877

21st: Philip H. Sheridan (Anti-Reelectionist-NY), February 17, 1877 - ...

[DKrol]

I like it! I love this series!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Should I call the period of Sheridan's dominance and Philipato or Sheridanato?

[Adjective-Statement]

Bump