San Juan Canal

Some Maps on Another TL I working on.

10. Hail Jefferson, The American Caesar

The Second Anglo-American War (or War of 1808) initiated with a strong, well-prepared American offensive into British North America. In Upper Canada, General Jacob Brown drove his troops across the Niagara River, hastily capturing St. Catherine’s and proceeding around Lake Ontario towards Mississaugua and Fort York [1] Supporting Harrison on the water was Commodore Oliver Perry, who managed to defeated the British fleet in the First Battle of Lake Eerie.

The first months of the war against Britain coincided with the presidential elections of 1808. Because the war seemed to be going well on during its early stages, the Republicans opted for consistency, and offered Jefferson the opportunity to run for a third term. A move that most Federalist saw as a gross expansion of executive powers, and contrary to Washington’s precedent. Worried about the economic effects of the war, the Federalists campaigned in favor of ending hostilities and finding a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, fully aware that Britain would be hard pressed by the wars in Europe. But despite their solid victory across New England, the Federalists found it hard to fight “the patriotism of youth”. Jefferson replaced James Madison with George Clinton as his VP nominee, in order to appeal to New York, and won an election for the third time. 

But by Jefferson’s second re-inauguration the war had turned into a stalemate. Despite the early victories, General Brown failed to move past Mississagua before winter, severely setting back the American plans. Meanwhile in the east, American forces had prepared and planned for an invasion of Canada since the time of the Revolution. Yet the American forces were unable to capture any of Canada’s major cities above the St. Laurence. By winter, with most of the battlefields frozen, the war moved to the seas where Britain had the clear advantage. 

The Royal Navy managed to successfully blockade all major New England ports and Chesapeake Bay. The United States Navy, an organization still in its cradle, proved unable to prevent the British from laying siege to Boston and New York City in the spring of 1809.  Once again trade in New England plummeted, while a sporadic riots against the war in New England grew in intensity and frequency. 

[1] Toronto

8. The Fall of Portugal and Consequences

After the Treaties of Tilsit, the wars in Europe had passed into a lull, with the end of The War of The Fourth Coalition; Napoleon’s “Continental System” now fought an economic war against Great Britain. Much to the Emperor’s irritation, Portugal continued to trade with France’s great rival, and allowed the Royal Navy to use Lisbon’s ports as part of its operations against France. 

After signing an alliance with Manuel de Godoy, the Prime Minister of Spain, Napoleon sent his army into Portugal under Jean-Andoche Junot with the assistance of three Spanish divisions. Paralyzed by surprise and indecision, the Portuguese offered little resistance. Junot occupied Lisbon on October 1807 forcing the Prince Regent, and much of the Portuguese court, to flee to Brazil. Despite the easy surrender by the authorities, heavy resistance by the Portuguese population would incite the Peninsular War less than a year later. 

The escalation of the rebellion, and fear of Spain turning on France, pushed Napoleon to order his army into Spain and force Charles IV to abdicate. The King was replaced by his son Ferdinand VII, who was by then engaged to Napoleon’s sister, Pauline. But just like in Portugal, the general population of Spain rose in rebellion against the French and “their puppet king”. [1] The rebellions were not limited to Spain; across the Spanish possessions in the America’s insurgencies rose up against the Napoleonic controlled Spain.

Following the insurrections, the British fleet landed in Portugal fully re-engaging in hostilities against France. 

Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil 

9. Britain’s Other Headache

As the Napoleonic Wars continued to escalate, their effects began to be felt in America. Napoleon had attempted a re-conquest of Haiti, as part of his attempt to spread his influence into the Americas. But the forces under the command Charles Leclerc, at the time Napoleon’s brother-in-law, were defeated in 1804 by the local resistance. Leclerc himself was killed in battle and by 1805 Haiti was once again an independent nation. [1] As a consequence, Napoleon slowly abandoned his North American ambitions. Seeing a window of opportunity James Monroe, immediately began negotiations with both France and Spain. In the spring of 1808 a letter from Livingston reached President Jefferson; France was willing to accept the American claim to the entirety of Louisiana if an agreement was reached between Spain and the United States. Livingston urged the president to accept Spain’s terms and take hold of the continent. In April 1808, Spain (under French pressure) sold the remainder of Louisiana to the United States for 7 million dollars. Britain was outraged when news of the purchase reached London (possibly earlier than Washington) and refused to acknowledge the American claims, arguing that Spain had been coerced to give up those lands.

As, Britain tightened its grip on the Atlantic trade, it became common for the British navy to seize and search American merchant ships, particularly those thought to be trading with France. In the summer of 1807 The British warship HMS Leopard attacked and boarded the USS Chesapeake near the coast of Virginia while looking for deserters. When the Chesapeake refused to be boarded, the Leopard opened fire killing four American’s including Commodore James Barron. [2]

Not surprisingly the American public was outraged! President Jefferson himself noted, “Never have I seen this country in such a state of exasperation”, and asked Congress to place economic pressure on Britain with an embargo. Unfortunately, the embargo had the unintended consequence of placing the nation at odds against itself. Without the possibility of trade with Britain, New England spiraled into an economic downturn, sparking riots in several border towns inside Maine and Vermont. Rumors that Britain was inciting these rebellions were rampant, and a young group of Congressmen, led by Henry Clay, known as the War Hawks urged Congress to declare war on Britain.

As a preemptive measure, Jefferson did order US troops to reinforce disputed the border alongside Vermont and Maine, as well as disputed regions west of Lake Superior. Skirmishes on the frontier were common, but the arrival of American troops in Fond du Lac [3] unnerved the local British garrison into thinking war had already started back east. When news reached Washington that British forces had moved south of the St Louis river and occupied the American outpost, the United States officially declared a State of War against the United Kingdom, on April 4th of 1808. 

The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

[1] So Leclerc doesn’t get sick with yellow fever, so he lives a little longer. Yet he still dies in time for Pauline to marry Ferdinand VII. 

[2] He dies in TTL, rather than just being wounded.

[3] OTL’s Duluth

7. South by Southwest and Back to New Spain

For Aaron Burr, the war between the United States and Britain, began much too soon. Before he could spring his plan into action, New Orleans had been reinforced, and Wilkinson was deposed form his position as governor of the territory. Furthermore, it was now clear the France had thrown its weight in favor of the United States as Louisiana was now officially part of the American Republic. Burr found a new opportunity, when New Spain declared its independence, in the summer of 1808. 

The early years of Jose Joaquin de Iturrigaray’s time as a viceroy could have been described as the calm before the storm. Like his predecessor Iturrigaray arrived to a New Spain in the midst of rebellion. But in contrast to his predecessor, Iturrigaray had a friendly and jovial character that made him popular amongst the population. 

An unusual viceregal union; Iturrigaray with his María Inés de Jáuregi - daughter of the Viceroy of Peru - and his children. 

He had brought with him a large quantity of arms from Cuba to supply the regiments of Veracruz, Mexico, and Puebla in order to quell any major uprisings in the main cities of New Spain. And the military was indeed successful at this task. He sponsored the Prussian explorer, Alexader von Humboldt, who arrived in 1803 to make extensive, and much needed, research on New Spain’s geography. Humboldt’s publishing’s had a curious effect on the criollo and mestizo populations; the news of New Spain’s riches stirred a sense of national pride. Iturrigaray himself was impressed and openly expressed the possible potential that an autonomous New Spain could achieve. 

The viceroy’s sympathy towards the criollos resulted in major discontent amongst the peninsulares, which provoked The Audiencia into disallowing most of Iturrigaray’s proposals. Tensions between the Audiencia and Iturrigaray escalated, when the viceroy Iturrigaray appointed Francisco Antonio de Velázquez command of the defenses along the Gulf Coast, as Velazquez had been previously tried for treason for assisting the criollo conspiracies. When a new rebellion broke out Guanajuato under Pedro Martin, the Viceroy asked for further funding and assistance in putting down the rebellion. The Audiencia not only refused but was now openly looking for a replacement for Iturrigaray. 

However the wars in Europe delayed the possibility of any replacement arriving anytime soon. On July 13 1808, news was received in Mexico City that Charles IV had abdicated and the French were now occupying Spain. That same week a group of criollo councilmen presented Iturrigaray with a plan to form a provisional autonomous government in New Spain with Iturrigaray at its head. The plan was accepted by Juan Francisco Azcárte and Diego Leña, leaders of the Ayuntamientos in Mexico City and Veracruz. The Audiencia would never recognize the plan, but this did not stop the creation of a congress parallel to it by the criollos.

The spark ignited sooner than anyone anticipated! When a representative of the Junta of Seville finally arrived in New Spain later that summer, the peninsular government recognized and ordered the arrest of Iturrigaray and other insurgent leaders. At the same time Melchor de Talamante, a leader in the criollo government openly declared the dissolution of all political ties between Spain and what he called

‘The Sovereign State of The Americas’. At Talamante’s cry Mexico City broke into riots. The Spanish forces, lead by Gabriel J Yermo, were moved in to suppress the revolt. 

On September 9th 1808, before Yermo managed to enter the capital, Jose de Iturrigaray publicly announced his resignation as viceroy of New Spain, his support for the insurgency, and the abolition of the Audiencia. Because Yermo’s forces were at the gates of Mexico City at the moment of his announcement, Iturrigaray hastily left the city and fled to Queretaro, where the governor, Miguel Dominguez and his wife Josefa Ortiz had openly declared in favor of the insurgency. In Queretaro, Iturrigaray met Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest who had managed to raise a considerably sized militia in a rather short time and James Wilkinson an American with a rather odd proposal.

Rather than heading east towards New Orleans, Burr and his forces marched south into New Spain.When Juan Bautista de las Casas and Erasmo Seguin [1] declared their support for the rebellion, Burr seized the opportunity and offered his support to the insurgents. With Burr’s aid Tejas easily fell into the rebels hands and San Antonio became the hub of all northern rebellions. Early in 1809 Burr’s army had crossed the Rio Bravo and captured Laredo in Santander [2]. Once there, Burr was informed that Wilkinson had contacted Iturrigaray in Queretaro and was negotiating the terms for their support. Though the ex-viceroy had little to offer at the time Burr was conscious that support for each other would be beneficial for both parties.

Viceroy. Leader. Rebel. Patriot.

[1] Juan Seguin’s father. 

[2] Tamaulipas used to be called Santander during the viceroyalty. The name remains in TTL. 

6. Aaron Burr Goes West

With the purchase of New Orleans in 1802, Spanish Louisiana became isolated from the rest of New Spain and mostly unprotected from British or American incursions. Both powers eyed the territory greedily. But it was former vice-president Aaron Burr, who now acted as a free agent, to be the first to plunge in for the win.  

Apparently, and while he was still Vice-President, Burr had met with the British ambassador to discuss a plan to break off New Orleans from the US and establish a “Southwestern Republic” under the protection of a European sponsor. Burr’s Vice-Presidency ended after he got tangled into a duel with the Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. The duel resulted in Hamilton’s death and Burr being accused of murder. With his political career apparently over, Burr placed his western plan into motion. 

With the rebellions in New Spain increasing day by day and the scramble between the U.S., Britain, France, and Spain over the remainder of the Louisiana territory Burr realized the needed war was eminent. Convinced that he could claim Louisiana or Tejas for himself with a relatively small force when war finally broke out, Burr leased 40,000 acres of land from the Spanish government. And allied himself with James Wilkinson, who was the governor of New Orleans, and the Anglo-Irish aristocrat Herman Blennerhassett. Wilkinson offered the possibility of breaking off New Orleans while Blennerhassett had enough capital and resources to pull off the conspiracy. The final pieces of the conspiracy fell into place early in 1806 when the French minister contacted Burr guaranteeing French support. France was not keen in seeing the United States or Britain create a colossus in North America and Burr’s success could help prevent this. Furthermore they saw Burr's plan as a way to deal with the growing problem of piracy around the Spanish territories of  Louisiana and Tejas. [1]

By the time President Jefferson was informed of Blurr’s plans, and Burr was declared a traitor, the former Vice-President was already safely settled in Tejas, which at that point was still part of New Spain, with a small band of farmer-soldiers in for the venture. His plan was straightforward: initiate a rebellion, declare Tejas independent from Spain and once a war broke out over Louisiana move into New Orleans where the new state would be based in. 

“In New York I am to be disenfranchised, and in New Jersey hanged. You will not…conclude that I have become disposed to submit tamely to the machinations of a banditti.” - Aaron Burr on his flight westwards. 

[1] Small butterfly of Spain keeping the majority of Louisiana a bit longer means there is a larger safe-haven for pirates like Pierre and Jean Lafitte. 

5. Indians and the West

Aside from the territorial purchase of New Orleans, Jefferson’s time in office saw the growth of the nation in economic and demographic terms. The growing number of settlers to the west would often clash with the local Indian population. In the Southeast the territorial and state governments forced out several tribes out of their ancestral homes. As President, Jefferson accorded with Georgia’s state government, that if the state were to abandon its claims on the lands to its west, the Federal military would help expel the Cherokee Nation from Georgia. This fully violated an existing treaty between the United States government and the Cherokee Nation and marked the first forced “Indian removal” by the Federal government. Many Indians were forced to flee to Spanish Florida where the lack of authority gave them much wanted freedom. 

"If we are constrained to lift the hatchet against any tribe, we will never lay it down until that tribe is exterminated, or driven beyond the Mississippi.” - President Jefferson to Secretary of War Henry Dearborn [1]

Meanwhile, in the Northwest, the Shawnee continuously laid raids into white settlements as their leaders attempted to form a Confederacy of Indian Tribes in the area. Relationships between Great Britain and the United States strained as it became clear the British were supplying the Shawnee and other tribes in the area with guns. For the most part, the Jefferson administration kept a cool head, following Washington’s Neutrality Act. But Britain’s incursions into Spanish Florida, and their unofficial support of Aaron Burr’s expedition into Louisiana and Tejas did not help ease the tensions. Halfway through Jefferson’s second term it became clear that the only way to avoid Britain from taking over Louisiana would be for the US to take it for itself. 

Secretary of War Henry Dearborn, architect of the Indian Exodus. 

[1] This is an actual quote BTW. 

Unites States Presidential Election 1804

Federalist Party: Charles C. Pinckney (SC) - Rufus King (NY): 34 EVs, 19%

Democratic-Republican: Thomas Jefferson (VA) - John Breckenridge (KY): 142 EVs  81%

4. If it looks like Federalist, and acts like a Federalist? Jefferson’s First Term

The New Orleans Purchase brought the reach the federal government into question. Jefferson himself was unsure if the government had the right to purchase land. Thus, even though a majority of congress supported the purchase, Jefferson pushed for the creation of a constitutional amendment that clarified the federal government’s right to purchase land. This became the first of two amendments passed during the Jefferson administration - the latter revising the presidential election procedures - this places a bit of stress between Jefferson and his anti-Federalist Republicans. But it also allowed for a few moderate Federalist to defect to Jefferson’s side. 

To balance the power equation, Jefferson repelled many federal taxes. This made the government excessively dependent on custom’s revenue. And the policy would latter prove disastrous when trade between the United States and Europe is interrupted by the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1803 the Miami Valley Territory was admitted as a state; as the nation expanded the anti-federalist policies of Jefferson became increasingly appealing to most voters causing major rifts in the Federalist Party. By the election of 1804 New England remained the only Federalist stronghold. Thus Jefferson’s first reelection happened to be an easy victory against Charles C. Pinckney.

But despite, Jefferson’s stance as a staunch anti-Federalist, many of his New England based critics believed, “the actions he took during his three terms as President would only strengthen executive power, bend the constitution until it broke, and bring down the Union with it”. 

Contemporary political opponents of Jefferson sought to destroy his presidency and his new political party with charges of Jefferson’s promiscuous behavior and his ownership of slaves. The cock was also a symbol of revolutionary France, which Jefferson was known to admire and which, his critics believed, Jefferson unduly favored.

[1] Yes, I know the Ohio Territory was called that well before the POD in OTL. But I like the name change. No worries there will still be an Ohio in TTL. 

3. New Spain, Old Headaches

On November 1799, Félix Berenguer de Marquina arrived in New Spain as the newly appointed Viceroy. Berenguer found it impossible to deal with New Spain’s internal problems, not only was he facing a population much frustrated with Spanish rule, but The Audiencia regulated every single one of his actions. As a result, Berenguer opted instead to focus on external problems, mostly reinforcing the ports against pirate raids and securing the northern frontier from the “uncivilized” tribes. 

His indifference towards the woes of the criollos and mestizos resulted in greater discontent, and indirectly provoked a handful of rebellions. The largest of these rebellions include: the Tepic Conspiracy (in which the idea of crowing an Emperor for New Spain was first promulgated) and the Nuevo Leon Incident where a pseudo-Emperor was actually crowned. Collectively these events are known as the Indio Mariano Rebellion.

The uprising began in Tepic, where a handful of influential men under the leadership of José Desiderio Maldonado, began to promulgate the idea of crowning a monarch for New Spain. Maldonado and his men planned to hold a symbolic coronation of a native of Tlaxcala in January 5th 1801 as a form of protest against the Spanish government. The ceremony - however - was interrupted by the local Spanish forces, turning the otherwise peaceful demonstration into a violent confrontation. The violence quelled within a couple of days but Maldonado and several leaders managed to escape to Guadalajara. Rumors that a force of 1,000 Yaquis and Yumas had gathered to assist Maldonado sparked a second uprising a few weeks later. Once again Maldonado’s forces were defeated and the rebels were forced to scatter through out New Spain. Several smaller battles followed though out Jalisco but the rebellion was successfully quelled by the Spring of 1802.

Frustrated by the impotence of his position, when it came to dealing with such situations, Berenguer de Marquina resigned as Viceroy of New Spain just a few years later. His successor, Jose Joaquin de Iturrigaray y Arósetgui, arrived in New Spain on January 6th, 1803. 

2. What Spain Sold for 10 Million Dollars

At the time of Jefferson’s inauguration Spain was facing serious financial troubles. British attacks on its colonies and a blockade on its major ports only worsened the situation. After the first rebellions broke out in Spain’s American colonies, United States’ officials had been sent to Madrid with the purpose of negotiating the purchase of New Orleans to financially assist Spain. Jefferson’s predecessor, John Adams, had already considered the idea of purchasing the port but negotiations did not begin until Jefferson became President. Immediately after his inauguration, Jefferson sent Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans for up to 10 million dollars. France was also interested in acquiring the territory; Napoleon had openly expressed his plans to start a colonial Empire for France. A small bidding war began between France and the United States but France backed down at the possibility of loosing Spain’s alliance against the British if the negotiations happened to fall apart, or getting in a quarrel with the United States. 

In November 1801, less than a year into the presidency of Thomas Jefferson the United States purchased New Orleans form Spain. Napoleon’s France readily recognized the purchase. But in the haste of finishing the transaction and transferring New Orleans over to the Americans several details of the treaty had been overlooked! For starters, there was no direct land connection between the port and the rest of the United States. For the Americans it seemed easiest to assume that the purchase included the land between the Mississippi River and the Pearl River. This territory was later organized into the Mississippi Territory, but the American claim would become a source of contention between the US, Spain and Britain over the next few years. 

1. Once Upon A Time...

      At the end of the 18th century, life wasn’t easy in New Spain. Even the criollos, descendants of Europeans elite but born in the New World, could only climb so far in society, as the top offices in government were reserved for the those born in the Iberian peninsula, across the ocean. These penninsulares had it easy... or easier, for they found themselves ruling an increasingly unrestful population. By the first decade of the the new century, New Spain had experienced a handful of revolts; criollo and indigenous led; each one more violent than the last. It could only be a mater of time before the right spark ignited the fire!

      Meanwhile, in the north, the United States of America were celebrating the inauguration of their third President, Thomas Jefferson. So far the new nation, which was created out of a loose alliance of former British colonies had enjoyed relative stability. But political schisms were starting to appear. The new President led a faction that fancied themselves “Democratic-Republicans”; these Republicans stood in favor of a decentralized government, preferring to allocate power into the hands of the individual states. In opposition to Jefferson, the Federalist party had formed. Spearheaded by Alexander Hamilton, and former President John Adams. The Federalists supported a strong executive office at the head of government. Their differences and quarrels would pile up over the course of Jefferson’s three terms as President. It would only be a matter of time before the right domino was pushed to and the whole pile was brought down!

The World at the Start of this Story

A Short Introduction On This Proyect

How I Learned to Balkanize America…

 and Screw with The Rest of the World while I’m Was at it As Well. 

A Timeline

This is the fruit of some old ideas gathered in my head and a crazy outline I laid out in one long - and I mean long - afternoon of leisure after months of stress at work. It is an alternate history timeline dealing with a world that will see multiple nations appearing across North America - at the expense of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. 

For those of you who don't know and ended up here by chance: Alternate History is the exercise of looking at the past and asking "what if"? What if some major historical event had gone differently, and how could that have changed the world? If you are interested, I highly recommend you check out the alternatehistory.com forum. Where this Timeline (TL) will also be posted.

Anyway I won’t be working with a specific point of divergence (POD) here. Instead, I’ll start with a few unrelated changes in the early decades of the 1800s (for all intents and purposes the POD is somewhere in December 1799 or January 1800). These changes will certainly pile up fast and result a radically different North America (and world) than our time line (OTL). 

Like my previous TL, this will be posted mostly in a textbook-like style, but I’ll do my best to add some pulpy-ness as I go (rule-of-cool will take preference where I see fit). There will also be a huge butterfly net on the people that are around. I also intend to reference other TLs (in this forum and pop-culture) later on with the appearance of certain characters. Anyways while I was at it I figure the end result will look something like this:

I’m including the map to get some attention, but things might (or rather will) change as we go along. Also I do hope this ends up being somewhat realistic. The first update will be published tomorrow, once I proof read it. I hope you enjoy the ride. 

Cheers!

Jycee