A Different Path: Alternate History of the United States - Election TL

[Senator-elect Spark]

I began a new series on my YouTube channel this week. This thread will serve as a noticeboard for updates.

Presidents of the United States of America (1789 - present)

1. George Washington, (Independent - Virginia), (1789-1797)
2. Alexander Hamilton, (Federalist - New York), (1797-1805)
3. George Clinton, (Democratic-Republican - New York), (1805-1809)
4. James Monroe, (Democratic-Republican/Independent - Virginia), (1809-1817)
5. John Quincy Adams (National Republican - Massachusetts), (1817-1825)
6. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonian/Democratic - Tennessee), (1825-1833)
7. Martin Van Buren (Free Soil/Democratic - New York), (1833-1841)
8. Henry Clay (Whig - Kentucky), (1841-1849)
9. Winfield Scott* (Whig - New Jersey), (1849-1851)
10. Millard Fillmore^ (Whig - New York), (1851-1853)
11. Stephen A. Douglas (Democratic - Illinois), (1853-1857)
12. Charles Sumner* (Republican - Massachusetts), (1857)
13. William H. Seward^ (Republican - New York), (1857-1861)
14. Thomas H. Seymour (Democratic - Connecticut), (1861-1869)
15. Benjamin Wade (Republican - Ohio), (1869-1877)
16. Samuel J. Tilden (Democratic - New York), (1877-1885)
17. Thomas A. Hendricks (Democratic - Indiana), (1884-1888)
18. John Sherman (Republican - Ohio), (1888-1892)


Vice Presidents of the United States of America (1789 - present)

1. John Hancock (Federalist - Massachusetts), (1789-1793)
2. John Jay (Federalist - New York), (1793-1797)
3. Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican - Virginia), (1797-1801)
4. Aaron Burr (Democratic-Republican - New York), (1801-1804)
5. John Breckinridge (Democratic-Republican - Kentucky), (1805-1809)
6. John Quincy Adams (Democratic-Republican - Massachusetts), (1809-1817)
7. Simon Snyder (Democratic-Republican - Pennsylvania), (1817-1825)
8. William H. Crawford (Jacksonian/Democratic - Georgia), (1825-1833)
9. John C. Calhoun (Democratic - South Carolina), (1833-1841)
10. James Barbour* (Whig - Virginia), (1841-1842)
11. Theodore Frelinghuysen (Whig - New Jersey), (1845-1849)
12. Millard Fillmore (Whig - New York), (1849-1851)
13. James Buchanan (Democratic - Pennsylvania), (1853-1857)
14. William H. Seward (Republican - New York), (1857)
None (1857-1861)
15. George H. Pendleton (Democratic - Ohio), (1861-1869)
16. Salmon P. Chase (Republican - Indiana), (1869-1873)
17. Ulysses S. Grant (Republican - Ohio), (1873-1877)
18. Clement Vallandigham (Democratic - Ohio), (1877-1881)
19. Thomas A. Hendricks (Democratic - Indiana), (1881-1885)
20. Thomas J. Randall (Democratic - Pennsylvania), (1884-1888)
21. Russell A. Alger (Republican - Michigan), (1888-1892)



*=died in office (natural causes, assassinated)
^=succeeded to presidency
#=removed
+=resigned

[Chips]

Interesting start.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Everything but Watergate would have probably happened still but we would probably have more family dynasties if the Assassinations didn't occur.

Like Robert Todd Lincoln
Bobby Kennedy
George Romney Sr
Al Gore Sr
More Tafts

[Senator-elect Spark]

Bump. Working on the 1868 election.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Election Results Part I:

New Government in Formation (1789-1812)

1789


General George Washington (I-VA) - 83%
John Hancock (I-MA) - 15%

George Washington still selected unanimously by Electoral College​, John Hancock runs for Vice President and places second​. Hancock becomes VP losing to Washington and sworn in on April 30, 1789​. Hancock is ineffective as VP and is replaced by Secretary of State John Jay in 1792


1792


President George Washington (I-VA) / Gov. John Jay (I-NY) - 100%

George Washington re-elected and John Jay elected unanimously, Jay retires to New York after serving as VP. The Federalist party is founded, the Democratic-Republican party is founded​.

The political party system becomes staunchly pro-Federalist in its early beginnings

1796



Sec. Alexander Hamilton (F-NY) - 53%
Sec. Thomas Jefferson (DR-VA) - 46%

George Washington and John Jay retire clearing the way for political parties to emerge​.

Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton wins the Federalist party nomination, defeating John Adams, he supports a stronger national government, central bank, high tariffs, and internal improvements​.

Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson wins his contest defeating Aaron Burr and supports states' rights, low tariffs, agrarianism, and opposes structural improvements​.

Federalists are stronger due to staunch federal supremacy over the states.

1800



President Alexander Hamilton (F-NY) - 56%
Senator Aaron Burr (DR-NY) - 43%

President Hamilton touts the national bank, infrastructure improvements, U.S. enacts excise taxes to pay down war debt, and brokers a treaty with Great Britain to delay tensions. Hamilton picks John Adams as his VP.​

Alien & Sedition Acts pocket vetoed by President Hamilton​

Quasi War unavoidable and unpopular with most Americans​

In 1801, Vice President Thomas Jefferson leaves the Hamilton admin and chooses not to run. ​

Jefferson appeared too friendly to France and as a result, Burr prevails for the nomination.

1804


Gov. George Clinton (DR-NY) / Sen. John Breckinridge (D-NC) - 56%
Sec. John Adams (F-MA) / Charles C. Pinckney (F-SC) - 44%

President Hamilton brokers the Louisiana Purchase in 1803​

Following President Hamilton's death after leaving office in July 1804, the Federalist Party survives for a bit longer than OTL. ​

The 12th Amendment is also ratified in June 1804.​

The Federalists nominate elderly statesman John Adams, who selects Charles C. Pinckney for VP.​

The Democratic-Republicans nominate Governor of NY George Clinton, who selects Sen. John Breckinridge as his running mate. Burr resigns due to the scandal associated with the duel.

1808


Amb. James Monroe (DR-VA) / Sen. John Q. Adams (DR-NY) - 52%
Sec. James Madison (DR-VA) / Sec. Henry Dearborn (DR-MA) - 47%

The Embargo Act of 1807 still happens and is very unpopular in New England​

Due to poor health, President George Clinton decides to retire.​

The Federalists endorse Democratic-Republican rogue and former ambassador James Monroe who aligned with the Federalist Party, he selects Senator John Quincy Adams of New York as his running mate.​

The Democratic-Republicans nominate former Secretary of State James Madison, who selects Secretary of War Henry Dearborn as his running mate.​

In the closest election since 1800, Monroe prevails due to promising a dynamic shift in US foreign policy.

1812


President James Monroe (I-VA) / Vice President John Q. Adams (DR-MA) - 67%
Governor Elbridge Gerry (DR-MA) / Governor John Langdon (DR-NH) - 32%

President Monroe avoids the War of 1812 by brokering a peace deal with Great Britain to extend their claims of parts of Canada and Northern Maine. ​

The Federalists again endorse President James Monroe who aligned with the Federalist Party, he retains VP John Q. Adams.​

The Democratic-Republicans challenge Monroe, deeming him a rogue in the party and he is subsequently expelled. ​

They nominate Governor Elbridge Gerry of MA, a poor campaigner. Gerry selects John Langdon of New Hampshire as his running mate. ​

Both candidates do not actively campaign and incumbent independent President James Monroe is re-elected in a landslide due to keeping the US out of war and instating the Monroe Doctrine.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Election Results Part II

Emergence of Political Parties/Factions (1816-1836)

1816



President Monroe presided over a long period of peace, and as a result, this made incumbent VP John Q. Adams a favorite for the Democratic-Republican nomination. Adams would go on to defeat Secretary of War William H. Crawford. He selected Simon Synder of Pennsylvania as his VP.​

The Federalist Party endorsed Adams, but the party would later become splintered into the Old Republicans, National Republicans instead of fusing into the Democratic-Republican Party at a party convention.​

Vice President John Quincy Adams goes on to win the presidency.


1820


President Adams and VP Synder had great successes abroad, but some controversy at home.​

An opponent of slavery, President Adams chooses to veto the Missouri Compromise, and instead concedes in signing a bill to permit slavery in the new Southern territories while admitting Missouri and all other states as free states.​

The Federalist Party did not field a candidate and endorsed Adams, effectively disbanding in 1820.​

Democratic-Republican Governor of NY and nephew of former President Clinton, DeWitt Clinton, decided to mount a challenge to President Adams due to opposing the national bank and supporting moderation on the tariff.


1824


After the collapse of both major political parties, former President John Quincy Adams endorsed House Speaker Henry Clay, a National Republican who opposed Jackson.​

The Democratic-Republicans who remained loyal to Jackson became Jacksonians, and known later as the Democrats. Two other candidates ran, including William Crawford, Dem-Rep, and Daniel Webster as an independent.​

Jackson and Clay debated the merits of internal improvements and Jackson vowed to disband the National Bank. Jackson retained his campaign style in OTL and was reminiscent of the common man.​

Andrew Jackson was a popular General under former President Monroe and Jackson promised William H. Crawford a spot on the ticket.​

The election went to the House and they settled on Jackson.

1828



President Jackson dismantled the National Bank, lowered tariffs, and granted additional autonomy for the states​

Jackson was buoyed by support of agrarian farmers, moderates, and the common man​

The National Republicans opted for Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts​

Webster struggled in the Mid-Atlantic states due to voting for the Tariff of 1828, which hurt both industrialists and farmers​

Andrew Jackson was very popular and he retained Jackson William H. Crawford as VP.​

Webster selected Senator Richard Rush of Pennsylvania for his VP.

1832



After President Jackson's term expired, Vice President William H. Crawford, the front-runner, ran for the Democratic nomination but died in 1831. His opponent, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina prevailed over Martin Van Buren of New York. Calhoun selected Richard M. Johnson, Senator from Kentucky.​

The National Republicans nominated James Barbour, Secretary of War during the Adams administration, he defeated John Sergeant. He selected John W. Taylor, Speaker of the House, as his VP.​

Martin Van Buren mounts a splinter candidacy to win votes in the North. The election is deadlock and a contingent election goes to the House of Representatives. Van Buren wins in the House and Calhoun becomes VP as a compromise.


1836



President Van Buren struggles to put down the slave rebellion ​

The National Republicans, Anti-Jacksonians, and former Federalists form the Whig Party in January 1833. One year earlier and establish an effective organization and opposition to the Democrats. ​

The Whig Party front-runner was William Henry Harrison, former Senator, announces his candidacy in 1835 but dies of cholera upon return from a trip to South America. ​

Willie P. Mangum, Senator from North Carolina, defeated Hugh L. White, a Senator from Tennessee. Mangum selected Daniel Webster as VP.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Part III - Era of Peace & Prosperity (1840-1856)

1840



President Van Buren has difficulty addressing the Panic of 1837, and this causes the Democrats to become very unpopular; Incumbent VP John C. Calhoun runs unopposed for the Democratic nomination despite the unpopularity of the Van Buren administration. His VP is James K. Polk. ​

The Whig Party's founder, Henry Clay, also Speaker of the House announces his candidacy and runs a front-porch campaign for a return to "normalcy". Clay selects James Barbour as VP. ​

Clay centers the election around banking reform, calling for an independent treasury or return to the national bank. He also supports higher tariffs and is moderate on the issue of slavery​.

Many Southerners were becoming galvanized in an appeal to sectional pride during the Van Buren administration but two Southerners on both tickets appeased these tensions.  ​

Northerners saw Calhoun as too much of an extremist.


1844



President Henry Clay pushes through an independent treasury, opposes annexation of Texas, helped to pass the Tariff Act of 1842, and brokers a treaty with Great Britain to secure Oregon territory.

President Clay received vehement opposition from Southerners due to opposing the acquisition of Texas; he supports popular sovereignty to let each state decide on slavery. After the death of VP Barbour, Theodore Frelinghuysen of New Jersey was nominated to serve as VP. ​

Former Senator John Tyler is expelled from the Whig Party after he blocked much of their agenda and became an independent – he was a vocal opponent of the Clay admin​.

The Democratic Party could not decide on a nominee in a contest between Lewis Cass, George Dallas, and John C. Calhoun and remained fractured on the Texas issue. The Democrats endorsed Tyler after his departure from the Whig Party and nominated Senator Silas Wright for Vice President. Tyler chose to run with Senator Wright​.

Clay and Tyler debated the annexation of Texas, tariff rates, the independent treasury, and the Oregon issue. Tyler moderated on tariffs to appeal to various areas of the Midwest.

1848



President Clay endorses former General Winfield Scott, who had served as Secretary of the Treasury in his administration. Scott goes on to defeat Daniel Webster for the Whig Nomination and picks Millard Fillmore​.

The economy rebounded significantly from the 1830s and an independent treasury was established​.

Texas is never annexed and instead Clay reaches a treaty with the President of Mexico – The Whigs are viewed as the party of peace and stability​.

The Democrats opted for Lewis Cass who defeated James Buchanan, Cass selected Levi Woodbury as his VP​.

Future Chief justice and VP Salmon Chase ran as a member of the Free Soil Party, an abolitionist party as Cass advocated for popular sovereignty​.

Both nominees were unremarkable campaigners and ran front porch campaigns. In the end, Scott narrowly prevails both in the PV and EC.


1852



President Scott runs a turbulent administration plagued by the spoils system and widespread corruption, he dies in office in October 1851. Vice President Millard Fillmore becomes President and declines to stand for election​

Fillmore approves a more pro-Northern Compromise of 1850 ​

William A. Graham wins his nomination again defeating Daniel Webster​

Due to high tariff rates, the country becomes mired in a recession and sectional divides begin to intensify​

The Democrats are unified and nominate Stephen A. Douglas, who again defeated James Buchanan. Douglas delivered a rousing speech in support of expansionism ​

In order to solidify the South and compete in the pivotal state of PA, Douglas selected Buchanan as his running mate ​

The Free Soil Party gained some influence and struck a deal with Whigs to nominate their candidate John P. Hale to be VP to William A. Graham.

1856



Due to President Stephen Douglas granting popular sovereignty, this caused many Northerners to become angry and become abolitionists against slavery.​ Former President Millard Fillmore runs a 3rd party candidacy under the American party to take advantage of the nativist sentiment in America.

Douglas chooses not to run for re-election due to losing massive Northern support​. This caused the formation of the Republican Party with former Whigs and Free Soilers coming together to oppose the Democrats​.

Pressured by the Southerners in his party and reticence on the issue, President Douglas goes through wit an unpopular executive order to protect slavery in the South and allow for expansion into new territorial possessions including SoCal.​

The Compromise of 1820 is repealed and replaced with the Kansas Act, in which Kansas is admitted as a slave state. Through popular sovereignty, the Northern states voted to outlaw slavery​.

Vice President James Buchanan wins the Democratic nomination on popular sovereignty and focusing on foreign affairs, he selected Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge as his VP. ​

The Republicans opted for Senator Charles Sumner who was attacked by a pro-Southern mob in Spring 1856. Sumner picked William Seward for VP. John C. Fremont goes on expeditions to settle the West​. Senator Sumner campaigned on immediately banning slavery nationwide if elected and that there would be no compromise on the issue. This startled Southerners, and started the rumblings of possible secession.

Shortly after Sumner won the election, pro-slavery advocates held a secession convention in South Carolina. They voted to leave the Union because they knew Sumner would vow to end slavery in the South and not allow further expansion.

Sumner was now presented with a crisis in his first day in office​.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Part IV - Turmoil on the Home Front (1857-1860)

Pre-lude to the Civil War (1856-1857)

Shortly after his election, President Sumner touts development of railroads, internal improvements, higher tariffs, homesteads, and passes an executive order to outlaw slavery in the North. He pledges a civil rights bill and an equality act to grant social equality to African Americans nationwide.

To avoid war, he sends Vice President William H. Seward to negotiate with the South Carolina Secession Convention – but the talks break down and Seward is thrown out of the convention hall in December 1856.​

The Civil War era sees much more turmoil than in our TL.President Sumner, despite being an abolitionist, heeds his advisors' advice to not provoke the Southern states into walking out, he concedes to South Carolina and reassures them that slavery will not be eradicated in the South but cannot expand any further Westward into the territories – this is called the Compromise of 1857​.

Right thereafter, In February 1857, upon departure from the meeting at the South Carolina state house, President Charles Sumner is assassinated by pro-Confederate sympathizers. They planted dynamite under a bridge near Charleston as President Sumner's carriage passed over it. as the powder keg to start the civil war. This leaves newly succeeded William H. Seward to lead the U.S. during the Civil War. Seward's leadership is largely short-sighted and ineffective at staving off Confederate advances. McClellan famously loses the Maryland campaign at Antietam to R.E. Lee, and Lee is able to make advances into PA in mid-1860.

President Seward blamed South Carolina for the death of the slain President and threatens to eradicate slavery. In response, South Carolina secedes and 11 other states follow suit in Spring 1857​. The Civil War begins earlier in 1857 after SC secedes after SC takes various forts. The South was still trying bring slavery into outer islands of the Caribbean. After secession, the CSA held a separate election with John C. Breckinridge becoming President of the Confederate States of America and Jefferson Davis becoming Vice President.

Civil War Era (1857-1861)

In March 1857, President Seward appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac; he is later replaced by Gen. Burnside in 1859.​

In late 1857, President Seward sends troops to Maryland to ensure they do not secede​ In early 1858, President Seward dispatches National Guard to fortify DC. By 1859, as a precautionary measure, the US capital is moved to New York City.​

The Civil War is fought on three fronts – Western Theater (Missouri and westward), Midwestern Theater (Upper Midwest)​, Eastern Theater (VA, MD, PA).

The sequence of battles does not go well for the Union and is as follows:

Union loses Battle of Charlottesville, VA  (1857)​

Union loses First Battle of Manasses (1857)​

Confederate Gen. Jackson mounts VA campaign; still killed by friendly fire (1858)​

Confederate Gen. Longstreet handles Northwest campaign through Ohio (1858)​

Battle of Dayton largely inconclusive (1858)​

Blockade of CSA by Grant impossible due to KS being a slave state, failing to cut CSA into two fronts (1859)​

CSA supply lines remain intact, pushing into MO leads to the Battle of Kansas City, which the Union loses. MO falls (1859)​

R.E. Lee defeats Gen. Burnside at Battle of Antietam and prepares to launch Pennsylvania campaign (1860)​

U.S. President Seward begins to lose confidence in his generals (1860)​

Confederate President Breckinridge allows field officers to make decisions on the battlefield (1860)​

R.E. Lee directs troops to attack upriver across Baltimore, Confederates win the Battle of York. (1861)​

President Seward flees to NYC.

After President Seward flees, The CSA surrounds Washington, D.C. and blockades to shut down Union supply lines across the Mason-Dixon Line (Jan 1861)​

R.E. Lee pursues Joseph Hooker into Pennsylvania, destroying his army, ending the war in the Eastern front (Feb 1861)​

U.S. President Seward orders U.S. Secretary of State Henry Wilson to begin negotiations with C.S. (Feb 1861)​

Union Gen. Hooker surrenders to R.E. Lee at Philadelphia, PA (Mar 1861)​

New U.S. President Thomas Seymour takes office (March 1861)​

Union surrenders on the Western front follow; MO, KY is absorbed into the CSA, CA is partitioned and becomes a slave state (Mar 1861)​

CSA gains independence from USA; slavery lasts at least another 50 years.

1860



President Seward was deeply unpopular in the GOP due to his handling of the Civil War. He decided not to seek the nomination.

The Republican Party nomination was a contest between Secretary of State Henry Wilson, Salmon Chase, and Hannibal Hamlin. Wilson sought to instate harsher policies against the South, increased tariffs, protecting homesteads, and opposing expansion into territories. Wilson chose Chase as his VP.​

The Democratic Party nominated former Governor of CT Thomas H. Seymour and he selected Geroge H. Pendleton as his VP. The Democrats were divided into Copperheads and War Democrats.

The National Unity party was formed to try to defuse tensions and make peace between the USA and CSA it was filled with disaffected former Whigs and both War Democrats and Copperheads. ​John Bell was the nominee for the National Unity Party.

With Union losses abound in the war, the Republicans were unfavorable, and many in the North desired an end to the war.​

Seymour ran an anti-war campaign on negotiating peace with the eventual victor, the CSA.

1864



Incumbent President Thomas Seymour was popular due to negotiating peace with the newly independent CSA, although some Radical Republicans in the border states and the base were livid at this.​

Henry Halleck was a Civil War general under President Seward, and the GOP remained unpopular due to the poor leadership of Seward.​

Although many Western states supported homesteads, and President Seymour proved to be an activist President who supported federal programs for rural areas, an avant-garde position as a member of his party at the time.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Post-bellum Era (1868-1888)

The war was largely over after Lee encircles McClellan's army near Philadelphia, and is forced to surrender. The Union capital relocates to NYC. Surrender terms see the Confederate States gaining independence from the USA. As a result of this failed leadership, the GOP has massive losses in the 1859 and 1860 elections. To recap, Democratic Governor of Connecticut Thomas Seymour is elected and must now make peace with the CSA. Seymour gets a trade deal through Congress, settles some boundary disputes regarding AZ, NM, TX and other states. President Seymour supported non-intervention, a commitment to a sound dollar, free trade with the CSA and other allies, and bi-metallism. He leaves office fairly popular and quietly in 1869.


Senator Benjamin Wade (R-OH) / Secretary Salmon Chase (R-IN) - 53%
Vice President George H. Pendleton (D-OH) / Maj. Gen. Thomas Ewing Jr. (D-NJ) - 46%

By the 1868 election, most Americans felt some betrayal and regret over the loss of half the country, and wanted to take more of a hard-line stance against the CSA. This resulted in the GOP seeing a resurgence in the 1866 midterm elections. As a result of most Southern Democrats leaving Congress due to the CSA's victory in the Civil War, Congress is mostly Republican. Senator Benjamin Wade became famous for his raucous speeches in galvanizing crowds against the Democratic Party's perceived ineptness and soft stance on the CSA. Many of Wade's supporters believed that the Democratic Party was being lenient in order to divide the U.S. further. Wade won by a wider than expected margin in the election against former VP George Pendleton, after a scandal was revealed.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Rise of International American Exceptionalism (1892-1914)

1892: