American Presidents

United States of America

Presidents of the United States of America

1801-1809: Thomas Jefferson (Republican)

1800: (with Aaron Burr) def. John Adams/Charles C. Pinckney (Federalist)

1804: (with George Clinton) def. Charles C. Pinckney/Rufus King (Federalist)


-big event is barbary wars, fights with barbary piracy

-negotiates new orleans access with spain repeatedly, but fails

-in 1802 there is big crisis after spanish intendant juan ventura morales, under secret order of king, ends us right to deposit in new orleans

-war scare begins, intense in west, but less so among federalists - unlike otl, weaker fear of french control

-resolutions for sending 50,000 troops proposed, scares spain into transferring intendant, and new one under orders of king authorizes right to deposit again

-allows jefferson and co to spin it as a silly little crisis caused by rogue intendant

-but spain takes more measures to prohibit smuggling, ultimately unsuccessful

-after france supports first bahia war of independence including slave revolt, builds up fleet to defend us and stuff

-end of french revolutionary war brings about period of immense prosperity as american markets opened

-spending cuts and stuff, sectreas gallatin drastically reduces us debt

-but doesn't do away with bank of united states

-also plans to reduce debt hampered by expensive scientific expeditions

-aaron burr as with otl goes to the west plotting to form...something

-gets more southwestern support than otl for his plan, as they support conquering new orleans

-but most southwesterners believe in doing so within the union - bring new orleans in

-in addition to acquiring british funding for a "coup" in washington and spanish for giving them southwest

-when burr tips his hand a little too much, plan starts to collapse, and so burr launches invasion of luisiana early with not enough troops

-ends up badly routed, burr ends up hated in west for this plan

-wilkinson, seeking to save his own skin, sends jefferson letter accusing him of treason

-aaron burr tried in vindictive trial for trying to overthrow spanish louisiana and make himself ruler and pull in southwest, trial fails but burr's reputation destroyed

1809-1817: James Madison (Republican)

1808: (with George Clinton) def. Charles C. Pinckney/Rufus King (Federalist)

1812: (with DeWitt Clinton) def. John Marshall/Jacob Stout (Federalist)


-allows first bank of us to lapse

-continues jeffersonian economic policy broadly but with some of the madisonian impulse influencing it

-end of public debt in 1813, allows for money to be sent to states for internal improvements and other stuff

-relatively popular john marshall made federalist nominee in 1812 to get southern votes, not enough and still beaten handedly

-dewitt clinton tries to become nominee, fails and as compromise made vp instead

-gets some federal funding for his American Infrastructure > Erie Canal project

-tensions with uk at times over impressment, but cools down with informal agreements

-wilkinson conspiracy discovered, gets destroyed

-but dissatisfaction over kentucky and tennessee's semi-detachment from republic continues to cause resentment, talk of invading new orleans

1817-1825: James Monroe (Republican)

1816: (with Simon Snyder) def. DeWitt Clinton/Caleb Rodney (Clintonian Republican/Federalist)

1820: (with Simon Snyder) def. DeWitt Clinton/John Sergeant (Clintonian Republican/Federalist), Rufus King/John Sergeant (Federalist), Humphrey Marshall/Rufus King (Federalist)


-in caucus prevails over both clinton and crawford (reqs 2 ballots)

-economy splutters following year without a summer

-people particularly in west need loans, hundreds of banks issue paper money backed by nothing

-public land speculation makes uptick in this period

-in violation of its enabling act, illinois sends a constitution permitting slavery, the house votes it down

-a lot of people who in otl moved to missouri instead move to illinois

-causes widespread anxiety, both north and south turn to loggerheads

-illinoians threaten to secede and align with spain

-attempts to compromise voted down, results in calls for civil war

-but henry clay steers compromise combining statehood for illinois as-is with more ardent restrictions on slavery in remaining territory

-bubble pops in 1819, many banks go bankrupt causing massive economic chaos

-in its wake, congress pushes through tariff of 1820 with wide support, monroe signs this despite some voices claiming it's unconstitutional

-push for bank of us to reduce chaos caused by hundreds of banks, but fails in congress due to much opposition, dispute over precise scheme

-federalists gradually weaken, but monroe continues to follow jeffersonian policy

-war scare with uk in 1818-20, causes brief federalist revival in same year that threatens political order

-some threats of secession start to get brought up, federalists end up becoming a regional new englander party increasingly

-tries to prevent competition, unify country and stuff

-but 1824 election is massive mess, republicans refuse to agree on a single candidate, result is hung college

1825-1827: William Lowndes (Republican)

1824: hung electoral college: William Lowndes/Nathan Sanford (Republican), DeWitt Clinton/Richard Rush (Republican), William H. Crawford/Nathaniel Macon (Republican), Daniel D. Tompkins/Samuel Smith (Republican)

1825 (with Nathan Sanford) def. in contingent election William H. Crawford/Nathaniel Macon (Republican), DeWitt Clinton/Richard Rush (Republican)


-politician in south carolina, well-respected

-elected as war hawk to congress in 1818, immediately becomes well-respected

-made treasury secretary in 1821, competent and enhances war readiness in a way that's savvy to finances

-nominated by south carolina for 1824


-contingent election resolved with lowndes winning contingent election, but chaos results in amendment to constitution

-henry clay's support important to lowndes' victory (both being war hawks) (he's not speaker though)

-clinton, who lacks many congressional connections, makes motions about this being corrupt bargain, doesn't really work

-war with Spain over Louisiana begins over failure to renegotiate access to new orleans

-secretary of state henry clay very notable, has massive influence in congress and gets declaration of war through it

-american troops swiftly charge in across mississippi, take over saint louis, charge to take new orleans but it gets immediately lost after spanish ships come

-spanish bombard charleston, invade it, and loot it before leaving

-much american shipping seized, merchants chafe at closure of routes

-spanish raid ports across eastern seaboard, but not enough to give them charleston treatment

-but most of luisiana gets occupied by usa, as spain fails to combat american efforts there

-attempts to penetrate lower mississippi fail due to spanish naval efforts that result in deflections of american

-sees growth of neo-Madisonian wing of party as the war exposes the flaws of jeffersonian system, lowndes follows

-health rapidly deteriorates, dies but after feelers for treaty in madrid make progress

1827-1829: Nathan Sanford (Clintonian Republican)

-decides to become president rather than "acting president", with urging and support from ally clinton

-sworn in with regular presidential oath

-treaty signed in washington with spanish envoy sent from mexico city

-luisiana war a victory with peace in 1827 which gets the us louisiana and the floridas

-when there's controversy in the senate, expansion spun as "compensation" for bombardment of american ports

-anxiety grows over catholicism of luisiana, fosters nativist reaction that grows in future

-clay's prominent role in treaty means he's given special responsibility by public

-with clinton discounting run over clay's popularity, wants sanford to prepare groundwork by flying clintonite flag

-tries to assert himself with mild success

-but for time being, keeps cabinet due to need to complete diplomatic proceedings and other stuff

-tariffs implemented for protection, sees wide support including from south carolina

-gets in dispute with clay who acts like real power, ends with clay resigning

-tariff of 1828 seeks to divide clay's support by forcing him to support unpopular tariff, he does and sanford signs it

-includes tariffs on wool and other raw goods at expense of burgeoning industry, motivates issuing of new tariff later on

-reestablishes bank of the United States in late 1827, jeered as neo-federalist but also has support

-banknotes must meet specie backing requirements to be properly certified

1829-1837: Henry Clay (Republican, then National Republican)

1828 (with John Sergeant) def. Langdon Cheves/Littleton W. Tazewell (Republican), Nathan Sanford/None (Clintonian Republican)

1832 (with John Sergeant) def. Hugh Lawson White/William C. Rives (State Rights), DeWitt Clinton [died before certification]/Charles Polk Jr. (Clintonian Republican), John C. Calhoun/Henry Lee (Nullifier), John McLean/Samuel Morse (Anti-Catholic)


-cheves runs as respectable and anti-tariff and suspicious of bank

-sanford runs two campaigns in effect, one in ny and parts of west as expansionist, in new england as nativist and suspicious of expansion

-wins on record as secretary of state, wins some support from federalist remnants



-lots of industrial growth

-Erects turnpikes like American Infrastructure > National Road, gets to work to open up Mississippi to boat access, funds American Infrastructure > Pennsylvania Mainline Canal

-statehood for Orleans

-settlement with new British Isles regime after revolution, borders and stuff

-set at 49th parallel, maximum maine border, representative of fresh new wave of good relations

-but then relations worsen after new govt abolishes slavery

-recognizes venezuela, establishes commercial relations

-establishes new ties with european republics


-with annexation of Luisiana Indian removal becomes a major issue

-especially in Southwest where it's already been a major issue

-Clay attempts to get them to agree to voluntary removal to Luisiana but they refuse

-in particular Georgia seeks to annex its Cherokee lands

-against this after Marshall Court rules in the Cherokees' affirmative Clay sends federal army southwards to protect them

-not out of humanitarianism but because hates this states' rights nonsense

-when there's a skirmish between Troup's forces and the federals, this causes a national backlash and Troup backs down

-however when Georgians discover gold in Country folders/United States/Economy/Mineral rushes > Georgia Gold Rush (1831), Clay forces the Cherokee to accept land losses in return for continued support

-forces a lot of Cherokee into Appalachians to protect their lives against these mobs the federal forces are doing nothing to protect against

-and also results in a considerable out-migration into Texas

-in contrast elsewhere land stresses not quite as great but there is a gradual encroachment


-clay endorses bill allowing sale of federal lands with bulk of profits going to states, with lots of benefit to south

-does finance freed black and manumitted black move to east africa from govts that want it - virginia, kentucky, maryland, and delaware

-after maryland sees slave rebellion, movements for abolition grow in border south, results in enlargened movement for manumission and whitening

-in maryland ban of introducing new sales, and many sell slaves southwards, colonization also focuses more on sending black women to decrease pop

-focused on maryland due to it fearing rebellion the most

-but in the end not enough to bring about immediate emancipation

-proceeds of western land sales given to states, ensuring states could finance internal improvements and govt will need tariff for revenue

-wraps up tariff into tariff of 1830, despite calhoun's lobbying only somewhat reduces tariff in some areas (increasing in others)

-reduces on basic goods not prod locally like coffee, tea, spices, and wine

-increases in others prod locally like cotton, woolen goods, and iron

-in particular, maintains 200% tariff on wool which strongly benefits south


-but south carolina increasingly views tariffs with suspicion following abolition in uk, and clay's own sos calhoun resigns after endorsing nullification

-budding crisis, south carolina holds nullification convention, nullifies the tariff

-rest of south also anti-tariff for most part, but not to extremes of south carolina

-"State Rights and Free Trade Associations" pop up across south, though divided on whether pro-nullification or merely anti-tariff

-tennessee association nominates more moderate white, sc more extreme calhoun, to shock of many white does much better

-nullification takes up more ground than otl because clay not as popular in south

-narrowly, virginia endorses nullification of tariff, but so narrow clear that no further action may be done

-georgia approves measure declaring tariff unconstitutional and endorses nullification

-resolution defeated in north carolina decisively

-resolutions denouncing tariff as bad policy but not unconstitutional passed in miss, yazoo

-clay unable to get South Carolina on the table


-rising sentiments of anti-catholicism

-during the war, due to cut off of immigration, wages go up, attract rural people (who are wooed by industrialists) to cities

-proletarianization of independent artisans as well

-market revolution

-suddenly irish and german people come in, and serve as competition, push wages down

-potato blight comes in late 1820s instead of 1840s

-results in anti-catholic wave due to their sheer size

-increases even more following admission of orleans state, because for the first time the us has a catholic-majority state

-clay accused of being pro-catholic as a result

-many respectable politicians join

-results in rise of anti-catholic party, winning control of new york under samuel morse in 1831

-loses control following giant anti-catholic riots in 1833, including burning of catholic churches, denounced widely

-more establishmenty anti-catholic tammany wins control of new york

-nominates presidential candidate (holds natl convention, unusual for its time), loses

-dissolves, but a lot of its membership come into rising opposition

-consequently, immigrants and black people support natreps (later unionists) despite a lot of hatred between irish, germans, and black people


-election sees glut of candidates seeking to win in hung ec, but clay wins large majority, including votes in south

-finally brings calhoun to negotiation table


-afterwards congress issues compromise tariff drastically lowering it gradually in addition to force resolutions confirming powers to crush rebellion, ends crisis

-force resolution accepted by white, but south carolina nullifies it as one last parting blow

-Clay continues efforts, builds Second National Road between Washington and New Orleans among other projects

-after clinton dies, most of vote base goes to clay, results in irish vote bank

-collapse of bank of england in 1834 results in panic, but by 1836 efforts of bank of us in ensuring liquidity able to create renewed economic prosperity

-but many banks close down due to it, resulting in bus becoming very prominent

-many banks become dependent on bus and loans from it, which are used to help bail them out

-gets some money for these loans from smaller banks by selling them bonds, helping reduce money supply in west

-land that falls into bus hands, clay is able to get government control over it through negotiations, paying well above market rate for it


-when missouri statehood is proposed in may 1836, amendment to make it free state causes chaos, clay says something pro-slavery in attempt to lobby for no amendment and causes massive dispute, attempts to compromise fail, and national republicans face massive split and electoral defeat

-as president he asserts "inviolability of this species of property", spoke of contendedness and "convenience" of slaves in kentucky, favourably compares "black slaves" of south with "white slaves" of north, and askes gentlemen if they would "set their wives and daughters to brush their boots and shoes, and subject them to the menial offices of the family?", proves a very alienating thing to say and causes big party split

-he also argues that it would violate privileges and immunities clause

-note that this is all stuff he said in otl during missouri crisis


-after house passes restriction bill twice, south meets in savannah to decide on collective action - including secession

-thomas cooper talks of the south non-participating in the union, no pres elections, no appropriations, and gets an audience at savannah

-senator abel upshur brings up measure proposing dissolution of union, to horror of senate

-clay responds by proposing force bill authorizing him to force states to participate in coming elections

-his pro-southern stance in crisis means it cannot be easily dismissed by south either

-bill not brought to floor, but its proposal is alarming enough and kills talk temporarily

-enough to stop that talk, esp with one ticket dominated by southerners and another unpledged nullifier slate

-till the end clay proposes compromise, but attempts fail

-attempts to push through compromise restricting slavery north of missouri but allowing it in and south of it, gets through packed committees but fails

1837-1845: Zebulon Pike (Old Republican, then People's)

1836: (with Peter V. Daniel) def. Louis McLane/Francis Granger (National Republican), John Quincy Adams/John W. Taylor (Anti-Missouri), George Troup/Abel P. Upshur (Nullifier)

1840: (with Peter V. Daniel) def. William Henry Harrison/John M. Clayton (Unionist), William Leggett/Thomas Morris (Equal Rights)


-(note: pike is kentuckian)

-party formed out of fractured opposition, in no small part thanks to martin van buren's skills

-nominated first by various states rights associations, then tennessee, then various other southern states

-only afterwards does new york legislature provide endorsement

-he deliberately pushes slave-sided ticket to make it seem like ticket of south

-pike keeps lips silent, as per tradition, gives him a broad appeal, and he wins



-after kentucky brings forward date for election of representative (in otl it was pretty late), henry clay returns to congressional politics

-clay advises pike on calling early session of congress in may

-secures after 3 ballots the election of john m clayton as speaker with the assent of the lower north, upper south, and enough supporters elsewhere

-presents resolution from missouri convention banning further importation of slaves (which he convinced them to make)

-notes that slavery was already introduced by spanish, so it would be violation of norms to abolish slavery from above

-and argues it's among privileges of treaty of washington assuring continued privileges

-successfully secures missouri compromise

-missouri gets made a state in conformance with its own prev resolution, in return for slavery in arkansaw being assured, passage of new stronger fugitive slave law, and indian removal

-fsa of 1837 includes provisions allowing for jury trials in contrast to otl

-but it's really weird jury which gives commissioners, appointed across the north, wide latitude to select jurors without state supervision

-also jurors given special bribe of one dollar if they rule the accused a slave

-and this is deemed a civil, not a criminal, trial - which means res judicata, not double jeopardy applies

-and if jury gives hung verdict, considered a mistrial

-immediately fugitive slave cases see jury nullify ppl known to be slaves

-high-profile jury nullification in Boston commences, causing widespread disgruntlement

-over one case, commissioners try to arrange for a jury that will return guilty verdict

-results in state issuing law declaring this a mistrial, this is ignored, and slave is freed by mob which through vigilant committees shuffles slave to north

-results in it blowing up in the govt's faces, lets opposition unify in the name of the jury

-however, in "Lower North", slave cases generally rule accused being a slave

-spans from lower parts of Middle West, to New Jersey, to New York

-culminates in missouri convening new constitutional convention, legalizing importation of additional slaves

-as retaliation against northern jury nullification

-Indian removal goes under a truly federal process

-all but small branch of cherokee cross border into spanish texas, considering Great American Desert uninhabitable

-joining their tribesmen that already settled there

-Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek follow and prefer going to Texas too

-in part because they consider their allotted land bad for settlement

-and in part due to Cherokee refugees within their domains looking there

-Seminole refuse to move west

-Pike's attempts to force them leads to US's Wars > Second Seminole War (1839-51)


-tries to reform bank of United States, but fails to get it past congressional opposition, puts it aside for a while

-lets tariff decrease despite monetary issues


-when French Republic refuses to repay money for raids of goods during wars which it had previously accepted, sees tensions

-then after france forcibly stops american ships trading slaves from portuguese mozambique to portuguese brazil, tensions increase

-this having been done because after 1820s war, france forces portugal to give it right to stop ships

-american ships used to loop around it, proactive french captains seize them anyways

-despite this being illegal under american law, clay nor pike enforce it too much

-in 1839, this results in naval war, US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42), with support from both parties despite some opposition

-unionists nominate william henry harrison as compromise option, for "peace with honor"

-in 1840 liberia's fear of becoming raided by french results in sheriff, council results in it deciding to join british east africa

-doesn't include maryland in africa on edge, where virginia and delaware form their own colonies which eventually agglomerate

-despite him being well-respected and holding campaign with some effectiveness, pike's popularity wins the day decisively

-war brought to end in 1842 with agreement where us agrees to enforce slave trading ban more, but also restricts french ability to seize ships

-results in blooming slave trade from american south to portuguese brazil, technically not against treaty


-recession occurs due to cotton glut (helped by improved canal transportation), bad relations of govt with bank of united states worsen things

-investments in internal improvements depress price of cotton, resulting in a cascade effect

-bank overstretched due to existing loans used to fight against collapse of bank of england, can't do much more

-pike allows public lands to be purchased with ordinary non-certified bank money, fuels credit bubble which pops

-a number of states default on debts in this era

-including biggest of all Georgia and South Carolina, and Pennsylvania and New York come pretty close (but avoid it)

-causing brewing crisis

-which results in Barings and other British banks going after

-bank takes a great deal of land in the west from people who used it as collateral for loans

-resulting in resentment across the west

-auctions it off, common people left out in favor of corporations and the wealthy

-bank also takes control over slaves, used as collateral in south

-fights to constitute new board and overthrow existing one, but effort fails and pike gets backlash for challenging their efforts against downturn

-attempt at measure to sell govt stock in bank fails, as unionist congress declares it would result in him selling stock to his cronies

-causes a backlash against him despite reputation as great hero of discovery and war, on campaign trail unionists often deemphasize his personality

-low tariff results in crisis, also makes pike utterly unable to finance infrastructure projects

-leaves office in dust, but remains a very well respected man

1845-1852: Daniel Webster (Unionist)

1844: (with James L. Petigru) def. Martin Van Buren/John Tyler (People's)

1848: (with James L. Petigru) def. John C. Calhoun/David Henshaw (People's)



-name proposed in unionist convention, gets nominated, wins

-liberty party makes small breakout, surpassing 2% in popular vote


-fights against clay for a while over party leadership, clay eventually accepts smaller role as legislator

-makes nicholas biddle sos, in opposition to clay's preferred pick

-also in oppn to clay's preferred pick, makes friend james wilson sectreas



-restores clay’s economic policies to full extent

-establishes new tariff which causes disgruntlement in south because viewed as settled issue

-federal government takes on debts from states suffering from debt

-including from Georgia and South Carolina

-about half of the debt of the several states

-allows for new booming era of internal improvements brewing

-though some of them do still have issues

-but rising (slave-powered) industry funded by bank investment, unionist presence means more southerners are pro-tariff, also more northerners anti-tariff

-due to european warfare, trans-caribbean slave trade cut off, and slaves traded to brazil instead sold to home markets

-value of slaves collapses massively, and as south has a lot of "wealth" calculated in terms of slaves, results in "economic" crisis

-in upper south, many slaves sold southwards, in context where slaves are viewed as investment slaveholders want to get "full value"

-with economy of virginia dependent on slave breeding, ravages it, results in investment in (slave-powered) industry

-similarly across rest of south there is more use of slaves in urban area due to there being very many

-in kentucky, maryland, and delaware, where bringing in further slaves is banned, this instead causes panic and slaves being sold downstream

-out of fear of attempt to allow further slaves in, as well as lowering value of slave affecting things in general

-calhoun crushes neo-nullificationist talk in south carolina over tariff because wants to make presidential run

-with rising market for Canadian goods, Webster also gets reciprocity treaty with canada bc new england, other areas now tapping into canadian markets

-attempts to buy San Francisco, rebuffed by Spain

-south starts sabre rattling about Texas Cuba, webster says no and his party has to work to maintain southern support

-there is big northern push for acquiring columbia despite weak us claim

-Webster sees that he can't really make a claim

-after much negotiation, does get britain to agree to giving usa a perpetual lease over olympia triangle by substantial payment for it

-hopes to bring columbia under american influence as friendly state through immigration

-guarantees the us the right to make roads to olympia, with webster aiming at transcontinental railroad one day

-lays out trail to oregon as far as possible, in effort to settle it as friendly state america, results in large settlement of mostly young men

-despite many viewing this negatively as a waste of money/betrayal, american commerce immediately is boosted by this pacific port


-also, there is filibuster attempt in cuba with massive southern support, including american soldiers, in name of stopping race war, but it fails

-webster prosecutes hard those responsible, controversial in south where some support filibusters but others view spain as fellow slaver and ally

-thus in south many decide to support unionists in name of slavery international

-aligns unionists with the latter southern types more tightly, helps to ensure victory, even as worrying trends hit


-British Wars > New Granadine War of Independence (1848-52) breaks out, results in anxiety across south over it destroying slavery

-despite general support for new granadine independence

-webster anxious to avoid a british takeover of california

-british take monterey quickly, soon after war

-webster sends american ships to monterey to threaten intervention to drive them out

-after much negotiation, they leave in 1849

-ultimately, webster offers to mediate negotiations, accomplished in 1852 just before his death


-calhoun partially reverts to nationalism, builds up south west coalition in name of internal improvements and low tariff

-due in part to grand success of charleston-cincinnati railroad

-also mentions texas a lot, to bring up spectre of british controlled texas breathing down us's neck

-threatens to drive out british from monterey if necessary

-wins nomination, ticks off northeast, only barely able to conciliate burenites

-plan emerge filibuster to texas with many army members assoc with it, pending his election and suspension of neutrality act

-webster includes preemption act in platform, decisive and important despite break with traditional unionist view of land distribution

-and successfully ties this to the tariff

-election proves closer than expected, but webster wins important midwestern districts

-with calhoun southerner, webster's seeming acquiescence to slave power, liberty party surpasses 5% mark


-due to the US sending slaves to Portuguese Brazil following Bahia revolt, much of South's economy dependent on it

-and following France declaring war on Portugal and entirely cutting off slave trade during French Wars > Third French War (1847-54), this causes a sudden crash of slave prices

-due to slaves being most valuable asset in South, causes giant crash

-due to slaves being collateral used by Bank of the United States, results in Bank quickly getting massive amounts of slaves as "assets", becoming the largest slaveholder in the US

-in general, this low price for slaves results in slaves becoming much more widespread across social classes in South

-including mass use of slaves in industry

-and also many states try to stem this by having Kentucky-style import prohibitions

-and a panic of slaves sold south

-in general, also wreaks havoc on Northern ties with slave economy as institutions which heavily invested in south, and with it the slave as commodity, wrecked badly and avoid it in the future

-which also means that slave-powered industry, and the whole slave system, is now counterpoised to compete with the north

-as part of renewal of Bank, Webster successfully achieves southern votes by promising to unofficially send slaves to Africa

-to increase price of slaves

-a lot of slaves sent there

-and crisis eventually brought under control


-additionally, also because of French Wars > Third French War (1847-54), immigration cut off which results in labor issues in North

-to resolve this, industrialists look to poor white trash of South, recruit to bring them northwards to work in labor

-is pretty massive and South is fairly happy with this

-additionally poor whites have better lives in the North

-however, does worsen ratio between North and South


-without suspension of neutrality act, smaller filibuster attempt to texas occurs, fails

-preemption act gets passed with difficulty despite southern unhappiness

-and land-grant colleges established

-in wake of calhoun's defeat, south carolina legislature calls for organization of southern convention against tariff with calhoun support

-initial talk of forming nullification convention right away fails due to rising merchant, trader, industrial class (risen due to railroad, rising industry) which views south carolina as tied to its neighbors

-indeed, part of this class is, while not okay with rise of tariff, acquaintanced to it

-delegates sent by legislatures of missouri, mississippi, virginia, georgia, and south carolina to charleston in 1850 to organize united support

-in contrast to missouri crisis, is not united action and in all states except south carolina is done over sizeable minority

-massively controversial and webster threatens force, even getting force bill through

-issues nullification proclamation, not only condemning nullification but also secession as unconstitutional

-results in some disgruntlement by south, including pro-tariff unionists who agree with logic of secession because they think might be needed if north gets too powerful

-but ultimately only disgruntlement, and crisis is for the most part brought under control

-midway georgia and virginia depart after unionists take control of legislatures and pull delegates

-after passing some resolutions moderated by non-sc presence, charleston convention dissolves

-smaller more radical convention meets dominated by sc, threatens secession, but dissolves afterwards because lone action not possible

-though south carolina disgruntled, cowed by first nullification crisis and fact that most of south not with it

-in wake of second nullification crisis and southern disarray, Juniper (iowa) organized as territory with bill passing through congress with tight margins

-despite longstanding worry over illinois being almost surrounded by free soil

-some border southern senators reluctantly choose to abstain or vote for it, and some note it wouldn't mean total encirclement

-webster victorious, without compromise of clay


-Juniper formed as free territory in 1849, having already had a degree of settlement

-missouri congress, threatened by free territory, votes that its border reaches des moines,

-soon afterwards, missourian tax collectors come in

-federal government, intent on observing the law, declares few slaves coming in should leave or be free

-homestead act intensifies controversy, as settlers claim land both ways

-skirmishes between settlers breaks out near border

-this even includes bloodshed between Missouri militia and Juniper territorial settlers

-webster sends small military detachment, intent on enforcing the law in the territory and bringing in controversy to an end

-south being divided means it cannot support Missouri strong enough

-but Illinoians support it, bring slaves into Juniper to provoke constitutionality crisis, and though terr authorities free their slaves it provokes long court cases

-but in the end, missouri backs down and accepts a commission to demarcate boundary, votes Juniper side

-slaves brought in freed, but they find hostility in Juniper

-controversy comes to an end (not in the least because missouri divided on issue), but rising extremism in south

-talk of overturning missouri compromise, or even of federal slave code in the territories

-webster's national unity tour in south met with widespread applause, papering over this new issue


-revealed that directors of bank of us artificially inflated stock values for personal enrichment

-some claim he knew of this before renewing its charter, point to friend Samuel Appleton being president of bank

-webster initially denies this report, then when confirmed popular outrage forces him to push new appointments and replace them

-bank of us generally suffers as a result of less competent appointments, results in bank being overstretched

-crashes his popularity

-bank of us generally weakened by this, affects unionist policies

-webster revealed to be cartoonishly corrupt, including accepting massive "loans" and selling appointments to highest bidder

-accepts ludicrous gifts, sells appointments in cabinet

-unionists lose various elections in late 1851-2, due to a certain lack of confidence (but not all the way because v. personal)

-south sees some anger emerge over Juniper

-Great Shoemaker Strike of 1851 emerges, over introduction of sewing machine in 1840s

-thanks to rising industry, communication more generally

-earlier since rise of pneumatic, hydraulic tech results in these technologies getting combined earlier to use pnuematic, hydralic tech to make it better

-across Eastern Seaboard, spreading from Lynn Massachusetts across to Washington

-much of it even comes to President's Mansion

-Webster well known to be anti-strike, brings ire

-but in the end, strike comes to an end due to local opposition, police, despite some small opposition


-webster dies on july 4, 1852 of liver cirrhosis due to drinking and eating a lot

-by bizarre coincidence, dies on same day as clay on independence day

1852-1853: James L. Petigru (Unionist)

-follows sanford precedent of being president rather than acting president

-but doesn't have time to do much before election

-nevertheless presides over "Webster's Last Achievement" - ratification of the Treaty of Washington ending British Wars > New Granadine War of Independence (1848-52)

-even convention occurred after webster died, so can't even become Unionist nominee

1853-1861: Robert F. Stockton (People's)

1852: (with Thomas Jefferson Rusk) def. John J. Crittenden/Rufus Choate (Unionist), John P. Hale/Leicester King (Equal Rights)

1856: (with Thomas Jefferson Rusk) def. Edward Everett/Kenneth Rayner (Unionist), Abel P. Upshur/Robert Barnewell Smith (Whig)


-served as naval officer, for a while, involved in war scares with uk

-operated against slave trade in west africa, conquers cape montserrado for acs

-launched naval escapades during US's Wars > Luisiana War (1825-8) despite outstripped navy

-afterwards deeply involved in acs once more, naval protection etc.

-during US's Wars > Second Quasi War (1839-42) becomes commodore, involved in american raids in caribbean which makes him household name

-retires from navy afterwards, pike appoints him secretary of navy

-afterwards becomes new jersey senator, makes himself known for naval reform and charisma

-sweepingly defeats supreme court justice crittenden


-reforms bank in accordance to populist principles

-gung-ho, American ships open up around the world

-aggressively attempted to promote international revolution

-backs internal improvements deeply, helps create railway bubble that stockton himself puts stocks in


-due to webster's scandals, to prevent selling of civil service jobs proposals of civil service reforms

-but populists now reluctant due to them being in power

-instead some unionists support reform to restrict populist patronage

-not enough to get bill passed because unionist control of senate enough to block them

-but after midterms, populists get majority in senate and keep house

-results in unionists, with some populist support, passing radical civil service reform bill in lame duck session

-making all non-constitutional appointments subject to examination system

-immediately afterwards, populist congress amends act to release some top-level jobs from this extreme restriction


-more suspicious of bank of us, believes it bad investment for the american people

-that its president is reverdy johnson, a unionist, doesn't help

-when bank of us replaces administrators with others to resolve overstretching, they push period of retrenchment that causes economic chaos

-stockton turns firmly against administration bank of us, derides it constantly and plans to weaken it

-in congress proposes selling its stock as move to weaken it

-california gold rush means many of the old rationales for it obsolesced

-sells govt stock in public-private partnerships in great numbers, because he views it as abhorrent

-which further fuels massive speculation bubble


-rising power of railroad companies as they even found new cities in the West

-with many practically becoming real estate companies

-molding all forms of law in their image

-Ohio increasingly becomes an urbanized state (like the East), Indiana starting to follow it

-rising industrial chaos, strikes over railroads (largely localized), especially with end of railroad bubble


-fights election primarily over bank of us issue, stance of opposition very popular

-union put in backseat by this, forced to defend unpopular bank and thread the line between reform and conservation

-spain is issue that remains sublimated because it's largely southern, but stockton cannot ignore it

-Everett being a seeming new Webster means he is able to get many southern votes


-ultimately wins sweeping landslide, takes it as mandate to reform the bank

-issues grand bill selling govt stock in bank to american investors, banning further foreign investment, reduction of capital by one half (retiring some foreign shares), and allowing freer note conversion (notes from one bank converted at another)

-with more populist congress, stockton gets bill through despite fears of it weakening bank heavily (it does)

-but with amendment eliminating reduction of capital

-but nevertheless largely popular as bank seems like less useful institution due to flow of money from govt

-stock (govt, bought up foreign shares) primarily sold to stockton's allies, results in bank being placed in hands of populists

-great damage to it, however, results in bank speculating in new schemes to regain lost money

-in contrast to its previous role in popping bubbles early, regulating finances etc.


-delaware issues manumission law in 1857, causes fear in the south and stockton is able to stop fear by admitting arkansaw without tied free state


-in 1857, act organizing nebraska as free territory passes congress

-gets vote from north, some border south, enough to pass barely

-causes some misgivings

-related act passes, funds railway to olympia by oregon trail to platte river (omaha), to independence -> st louis

-this route helps satisfy missourians

-opening of nebraska causes some controversy as missouri fears being surrounded by free soil territories

-results in stockton allowing filibuster attempt into cuba to go off

-ends up resulting in mass flood of missourian settlers, who seek to prevent northernization of west

-as well as cheap German construction workers along the northern part of the platte river

-reports of violence emerge, as well as sabotage of railroad by southerners fearful of north swallowing up south

-but not as much sabotage as one would fear, because of many missourians being happy about railroad from st. louis

-nevertheless many missourians want to avoid northern settlement of west, and so launch violent intimidation

-along border, many missourians enter, and through their numbers control election of delegate

-petitions for division of nebraska

-begins process of shifting indigenous peoples further east to open up kansas river lands


-filibuster movements increase in magnitude, particularly in south with desire to expand slave power

-spanish cuba seizes american ship, causing outrage across the us

-filibuster takes place into cuba with lots of american troop support, ends up taking up much land but in the end bullets and (esp) yellow fever do them in

-stockton declines to prosecute them for it, but careers ended and he declines to pursue issue further

-but also in north, due to california, support emerges there in its wake

-major rebellion in california emerges among anglophones with ample support from american consul for the rebels

-results in diplomatic crisis

-spain decides to go to the table and pays a great deal of compensation

-after California rebellion crushed, american honour deemed satisfied

-notably, Republic of Jamaica (now under the control of American filibuster William Walker) applies for admission into the Union

-with filibuster having been supported, stabilized, directly afterwards

-treaty voted down, Stockton accepts this

-a lot of Northern Populists opposing this due to pro-slavery reasoning

-and just enough Southern Unionists also oppose it


-gold rush initially boosts economy greatly, allows stockton to weaken bank of us on basis that hard currency much more viable

-promotes industrial development despite misgivings from his own party, and expands on internal improvements

-sends fleet to Buenos Aires to keep spain from defeating third platinean war of independence

-but economic crisis occurs related to overspeculation in railway investments in 1858, people quickly point to stockton's railway company investments doing well

-railways recoup profits by raising rates, causes chaos and movement for regulation of railroad rates

-and an emergence of strikes across railroads, as well as large amounts of unionization

-in particular, rise of Ancient Noble Order of United Workingmen

-all of this suppressed hard

-stockton attempts to regain popularity by moral grandstanding over spanish territories, causes south to stick with him

-causing defeat in 1860 elections for populists despite weakness of union party at same time

1861-1865: Richard Menefee (Unionist)

1860: (with Henry Gardner) def. Henry A. Wise/Daniel S. Dickinson (People's), Joshua Giddings/Henry Wilson (Young America)


-elected after economic crash, but by surprisingly narrow margins

-Young America (rebranded and expanded Equal Rights Party) spikes over both parties being slaveholding, unionists being soft on filibuster issue (to attract southern votes)

-enforces neutrality act, filibustering stops

-further internal improvements and stuff, but stockton's fusionist policies weaken unionist party cohesion greatly

-firmly and staunchly denounces movemement to expand terrutiry in the name of slavery


-when bill making superior a state - a free state - comes up, results in acrimony but menefee lays it off until west florida comes up and gets both through

-despite much of south voting no, and despite anxiety over senate


-controversy pops up as organized missourians with muskets march across the border to Nibrasca, use the homestead act to occupy best land

-a lot of of them even bring slaves

-with Missouri being very much slavery dominated this results in massive plantations popping up in quick succession including on the Platte River

-north of platte river, dominated by northerners (many irish and Germans) due to railroad being constructed there

-and they take advantage of Land Grant Acts > Preemption Act (1850)

-menefee is intent on enforcing the law on the subject, results in suit being brought up with slave, slaveowner intentionally sets it in Illinois

-here, a slave state

-Illinois court rules slave free, resulting in widespread scorn

-appealed to supreme court, which rules him a slave

-case is taken to supreme court, which narrows judgement to Illinois law and rules it is binding, therefore he continues to be slave

-to cool the controversy, menefee secures organic act dividing Nibrasca into Nibrasca and Kances, with division of platte river, to keep two separate

-met with intense scorn by many northern unionists but menefee has barely enough votes to succeed, though it badly divides party

-enough northern support because many say it'll empower the northern interests, and also it'll reduce southern horror at military

-many northern unionists end up much more antislavery as a result, many openly condemning menefee

-elections end up badly in Kances due to widespread electoral fraud, slaver majority

-as well as massive number of slaveowners having crossed

-kansas passes slave code citing missouri compromise "unconstitutionality"

-towards end of his presidency

-and case on the subject ends up going to supreme court


-after viceroyalty of new Spain’s provincias internas (Texas, New Mexico, California, New Navarre, new vizcaya, Coahuila, new Leon, and new Santander) declares independence as United Provinces of Buenaventura, Menefee declares support

-but Buenaventura also abolishes slavery including in texan plantations, causing staunch southern opposition to what is viewed as attack on slavery, southerners in both parties support spain, Menefee is chucked out by unionists for next nomination

-overrepresentation of south in unionist conv esp. relative to congressional representation means southerner gets in with help of some north

-though he doesn't run in next election and endorses next unionist nom, anti-slavery unionists join up with abolitionists to create anti-slavery ticket

-results in party defeated, lots of vote splitting occurs

1865-1868: George Washington Woodward (People's) [impeached, removed from office]

1864: hung electoral college: George Washington Woodward/Andrew Johnson (People's), Thomas Wilson Dorr/Salmon P. Chase ("Justice"/"Free Soil"/"Northern Unionist"/"Young America"), James C. Jones/Robert C. Winthrop ("Southern Unionist"/"Moderate")

1865: (with James L. Orr) def. in contingent election Thomas Wilson Dorr/Salmon P. Chase ("Justice"/"Free Soil"/"Northern Unionist"/"Liberationist")


-served as chief justice before being elected

-kept his mouth shut during buenaventura controversy, and moderated slave case ruling in keeping with populist policy

-hung electoral college with woodward plurality

-in congress, woodward wins election on basis of southern unionists voting for him

-with divided north and united south, wins by lopsided margins

-politics very obscure and he's assumed to be moderate, but turns out to be ultra-doughface on verge of being calhounite


-declares neutrality in Buenaventura's Wars > Buenaventuran War of Independence (1864-7), but many American volunteers still join up with comunero rebels but south helps give arms to spanish, results in shooting war involving americans over slavery

-enforces neutrality act over americans supporting buenaveturan rebels

-Buenaventura issue becomes explosive in the halls of Congress, south accuses it of being part of anti slavery conspiracy

-but ultimately through much effort recognition of Buenaventura is revoked by Congress, but now it gets accused of being part of slave power

-prosecutes american volunteers for violating neutrality act, juries often nullify it but causes much furor, especially since slaver volunteers not tried

-attempts to maintain slavery in texas by proposing purchase from spain, to revulsion and horror from north, while spain emphatically refuses this

-leaked from diplomatic department


-case on Kances slave code goes to the supreme court

-strikes down missouri compromise entirely, to allow slavery across the territories as a right of American citizens

-with bill of rights incorporated under due process, this also applies to states

-making slavery essentially legal everywhere (rather, transit and sojourn) which causes massive crisis in the north

-woodward recognizes this as valid, enforces this despite massive amounts of controversy to this

-northerners moving in (slower since railway through st. louis) end up fighting with missourians over this issue, resulting in bloodshed

-and slaveowners move northwards into Middle West and even beyond, with massive unpopularity despite state laws against it

-and despite juries fighting against it

-federal courts, dominated by southerners and doughfaces, enforce this

-Underground Railroad moves northwards to Canada

-in kansas elections, his men continually recognize electoral fraud by southerners as legit


-bank issue comes to him, takes up number of things for renewal

-requires appointing more directors with strong Populist leanings

-also reducing ratio of paper notes to gold, in sop to the South to prevent speculation in the North it views as damaging

-this sparks economic panic in 1867


-Order of United Workingmen responds, and strikes in 1867 against railroad companies turn massive

-after longstanding grievances, in part in response to competition with slave-powered labor of south

-spread across the North, and into Missouri and Washington

-militias formed are of only partial loyalty

-even including infighting between militias from diff cities, firing on one another

-massive disorder culminates in Woodward calling in regulars to suppress riots, strikebreakers called in

-only some of the troops end up disloyal, and for the most part strike broken

-but this also results in troops posted across the nation, militias armed, in time for the election

-and states having posted their troops everywhere


-following maryland issuing manumission law in 1867, there is major chaos over it, and "balance" at risk

-dough faces become heavily hated, lose in midterms, northern unionists and some northern populists increasingly ally with abolitionist lobby against slave power

-establishes east florida, cimarron as states despite questions over fradulent referenda including many non-resident voters

-uses statehood of superior as bribe to get them in

-is able to pull southern unionists to support this bill, destroying any attempts at cooperation with justicialists in the process

-congress blocks woodward's agenda, woodward vetoes all of congress's attempted legislation

-after Buenaventura wins independence, woodward refuses to recognize it, instead condemning it as a rebel regime, to anger of north

-after 1866 midterms House of Representatives sees massive deadlock on electing a speaker

-all congressional discussion has paused

-and has caused massive political chaos

-over two hundred ballots

-in 1867 Senator Joshua Giddings gives a vitriolic speech in favor of the Comuneros and praises them for stopping the Slave Power in their country and calls for the same in the US

-Senator Henry A. Edmundson replies by unbuttoning his jacket, pulling out a bowie knife, and stabbing Joshua Giddings

-when Northern senators try to intervene, another southern Senator pulls out a gun and threatens to shoot

-after they keep going fires a warning shot up, cracks the glass ceiling, though people shield themselves with their jackets successfully

-stops people from interfering

-Giddings successfully stabbed to death, bleeds out on the Senate floor

-Edmundson resigns from office, placed on trial, acquitted by Southron-dominated jury, and reelected

-complete with advisory popular vote seeing him win high-turnout landslide

-the Populist-dominated Senate decides not to eject him

-this in turn causes the secession of the Justicialist senators but not enough to deny quorum


-after Giddings' stabbing, sees division of Congress into two different bodies after election of Justicialist speaker

-Woodward decides to exclusively recognize the Populist body

-Justicialists ejected, they meet in temporary "Wigwam" structure nearby

-Justicialist Congress continues to meet, organizes the Committee of Vigilance from among its membership to keep a watch over government

-initially neither side willing to pull the trigger

-but then as 1867 turns to 1868, Justicialist Congress passes some laws banning slavery in territories

-in order to end Justicialist Congress's claimed quorum, Woodward conducts mass arrests of its members

-goes off badly, only eleven of them arrested and treated like hostages

-Justicialists flee to Philadelphia to take on aura of the original American Revolution

-declares the government of Woodward illegal and call for resistance against it

-convenes army under state-appointed officials, in clear preparation for war

-against this, Woodward sends army to overthrow the Philadelphia government

-before it can cause any more trouble in his eyes

-repulsed in part because not enough soldiers heed call, in part because local Comunero defences suffice

-sees declaration of war, end of the tenuous peace

-united states divided into two governments, the Constitutionalist Government, and the Richmond Government

-also impeaches and removes woodward from office

-along with his southern VP

-this makes the President Pro Tempore of the Senate the acting president, or more simply president

1868-1869: William Pitt Fessenden (Justice)

-godson of the great Daniel Webster

-but attains fame on his own terms

-made his name as a charismatic supporter of his godfather and the whole Union Party

-when Webster becomes president, Fessenden serves as highly important congressman

-and deputy of Webster in the house

-later becomes a Senator for Massachusetts

-where his stunning oratory makes him a leading Northern Unionist and later a Dorrite

-extremely bellicose rhetoric makes him extremely popular

-becomes President of the Committee of Vigilance after separation

-which organizes northern resistance to "King George IV"

-after Woodward suppresses the Wigwam Congress Fessenden issues declaration of resistance

-convenes it in Philadelphia

-refuses any and all talk of compromise even if that means hostages are killed

-Committee of Vigilance becomes Committee of Safety for the whole nation

-engages in military plans against invasion and faces off in Battle of Chester which wins


-had previously served as President of the Committee of Safety

-made President Pro Tempore of the Senate so that he also becomes president upon swift impeachment

-ascent to office only recognized by philadelphia congress, but nonetheless provides for military preparation and beginning of war

-and in practice authority continues to be held within Committee of Safety

-revokes territorial governors, everywhere except east florida is successful

-oversees era of military preparation

-secures recognition from most northern states

-and organizes an army waiting for more war to begin

-with a lot of defections from governmental units

-but then again peacetime army is pretty small anyways

-in practice a lot of army consists of Comunero Order members

-Kances has revolution over this, as slaver controlled territorial assembly sees massive rebellion by comunero rebels

-and Frank Townes gets commission from Johnson government in Constitutional Government > Constitutional Army

-when Indianan governor castigates johnson and calls woodward rightful pres, johnson gets Indiana congress to say no

-brings kansas on path to union

-baltimore falls, but swathes of maryland stays loyal

-upon election ends up not being nominated

-considered too radical and people worry he'll end up being alienating

-due to aggressive maneuvers

-additionally he regards the post of presidency as ungentlemanly and the legislature his home

-result is that the most moderate member of the Committee of Safety made next president

-for rest of his life Fessenden is a quite hard working Senator and very powerful

-dies in 1873 with death widely mourned

1869-1870: George Bancroft (Justice)

1868: (with Henry Winter Davis) def. Richard Menefee/Thomas Ewing (Straight-Out Unionist)

Note: This election was held during the opening salvo of the Liberty and Union War (1868-76). This was merely the election held by the Constitutional Government.


-moderate Justicialist, broke with Populists very recently

-nominated because he's very moderate, need to unify coalition of Constitutional Government as much as possible

-goes on criss-crossing national tour, gives fairly well-respected speeches

-in prelude to officially taking office

-essentially a plan to ensure he gets enough support from the people at large

-but nevertheless receives groundswell of support from paramilitary organization, "Comunero Clubs" formed by volunteer veterans of buenaventura war

-practically speaking the Straight-Out Unionists with their agenda of national compromise are a weak impotent opposition

-guarded every step of the way by Comunero troops


-election confirmed by congress session in philadelphia, however slavers have majority of senators

-swiftly assembled armies, navy, and declared the southern congress in dc illegitimate but much damage already done

-it's pretty tough to organize the Constitutional Government > Constitutional Army

-but with some difficulty including having to hand out blank commissions to governors does so

-a lot of political generals emerge

-also brings a great number of factories to work to make arms


-harpers ferry arsenal seized by richmondites

-arms given to baltimore richmondites, kicks off rebellion that takes over city before being crushed

-numerous countries declare the government of usa to be unclear

-because Washington is under control of continuous Woodward administration which hands power over

-Britain under Heads of British Isles > 1864-1869 George Grey (Moderate) † which views Richmondites as kin recognizes Richmond Government

-this immediately means the Constitutionalists are on the backfoot

-nevertheless deflected attempts in border states like his own maryland, also illinois, to join southern government

-a year into presidency a charge took dc and brought it back under legitimate rule, southern congress forced into richmond, though they take documents, seals with them in flight

-congress formally meets in dc once more in its hallowed halls


-remembered to posterity as great American hero

-who saw the light of abolition before he died for the country

1870-1877: Henry Winter Davis (Justice)

1872: (with Samuel Tilden) def. Washington Hunt/Mark M. Pomeroy (Compromise)


-marylander, avowed supporter and follower of henry clay and his ideals

-hates abolitionists for most of his life, regards them as rabid despite belief in eventual emancipation

-supports recognition of buenaventura in major break with southern unionist stance, trumpets their fight against spanish despotism as like america's own

-does not support jones in 1864 election

-and votes for Dorr in contingent election

-which is decisive in shaping people's view of him

-refuses to be like other southern unionists who join populists, instead he joins up with oppositionist candidates

-gets elected senator by oppositionist govt in maryland

-opposes bill making kansas slaveowning, makes him friend of northern oppositionists further

-opposes court case allowing slaveowners transit across states

-opposes blatant fraud in cimarron and east florida statehood referenda

-when justicialist national convention occurs, attends in attempt to moderate it

-nominated as Vice President, as youngish moderate candidate selected to keep from shaking the boat too much

-and to reassure the South (failed)

-more moderate than party, but that does not reassure south one bit and letters fly about violently keeping justicialists out of power

-becomes president following Bancroft's death


-Davis ends up being very radical, far more than people would have expected


-leaves office in 1877, seeking congressional career to complete reconstruction

-because though Justicialist convention happens before war ends, it's pretty obvious war is reaching its end

-davis lays groundwork for radical reconstruction before his terms come to an end including land reform to freedmen, leaves office a massive hero

-goes on to serve as senator with lots of soft power until overworking himself to death in idk 1882

1877-1879: John Wentworth (Justice)

1876 (with Curran Emmet) def. Andrew Johnson/Samuel J. Randall (Restoration)


-served as successful War Governor for Michigan

-well-noted for suppressing anti-Colored riots in Miami [Toledo]

-as well as for enacting full colorblind suffrage


-fought for radical reconstruction of south

-amends constitution to avoid constitutional coups, also establish equality

-after southern constitutional conventions prove shit, causes radicalism further and enforcement acts against terror attacks

-establishment of education systems in south

-variously with Colored and white schools

-ratifying amendment made price of readmission

-however, too much violence and even attempt to establish quasi-territorial legislatures not entirely successful


-expands settlement west, enforces homestead act across 100th meridian (is wet period so it's a success - for now)

-notably, sees the rise of the Country folders/United States/Economy/Mineral rushes > Pikes Peak Gold Rush (1878)

-which does more than anything to bring in settlers across the border

-makes laws for mining licensing on public land

-also begins to buy up gold for the purpose of making loans abroad with it


-in anti-corporate gesture, refuses to sell off nationalized railroads and enforces maximum railroad rates

-with financial chaos of war years having meant that old bank notes are now worthless, the rich, including railroad owners, lost it

-resulted in many of railroads being in the hands of the government

-terror attacks increase, crushed hard

-Saskatchewan Metis rebellion in Canada (Heads of Laurentia > ^baf9ec) supported by Cree who cross border in its support, crushed after a lot of difficulty, causes scandal

-Canadian regiments cross border, inspiring crisis and Canadian govt paying indemnity thanks to swift diplomacy

-also cavalry surge in region

-during and following Antillean War (1880-4), need to use army against outside results in numerous army regiments being transferred to Civil Guard

-sees migration of Metis into North-West Indian Territory


-assassinated by white supremacist terrorist while at centennial expo in philly (World Expo > 1879 Centennial Festival (Philadelphia))

-terrorist worked as part of cell calling itself "Knights of the White Magnolia", claims loyalty to the congress over the water

1879-1887: Curran Emmet (Justice)

1880 (with John F. Hartranft) def. Samuel Tilden/Darius N. Couch (National Stability), Samuel Fenton Cary/William Daniel (Prohibition)

1884 (with John F. Hartranft) def. George A. Custer/Edward P. Allis, /John Quincy Adams II (Custer Republican)

1886: New Constitution adopted; presidents restricted to six year terms without reelection, vice presidency abolished


-full name John Philpot Curran Emmet (Curran Emmet)

-son of Thomas Addis Emmet, a United Irishman exile, and nephew of Irish nationalist martyr Robert Emmet

-long involved in antislavery politics


-arose to power on back of assassination, waves bloody shirt of his predecessor when pushing reforms

-swiftly holds inauguration and gives a speech transmitted immediately over telegraph

-to assure the public that there is still authority

-receives recognition from all the governors as well


-sees first of the White Knight rebellions in the South

-angers the North hard and results in new army movement down south to suppress them

-formally divides the Army into an exterior Army and a Civil Guard

-with the Civil Guard for largely internal uses and general policing

-this is because it makes the army seem smaller now that it's been cut up

-and also so that it can get to work deploying the army in prep for war with Spain

-also sees rebellion in Tahosa to massive northern anger

-results in new laws to tighten mining laws


-war frenzy to liberate cuba to expel richmondite exiles in wake of assassination

-spanish tentative attempts to remove congress over the water not enough

-us recognizes cuban rebels as legitimate government

-speed gathers ironclads in gulf ports, and despite supply issues (worsened by destroyed railroads) gathers soldiers in new orleans, mobile, appalachicola, pensacola thru waterways

-arms funneled to spanish haiti, sent to independentist rebels

-holds extended attempts to negotiate with Spain

-in truth this is more showmanship than real negotiation to buy time to build up something of a navy

-and because it's pretty clear that Spain would totally own the US if war occurs too early

-and simultaneously he assures supporters of intervention that this is just showmanship while he builds up a navy

-after failed attempts to negotiate, spanish capture of us merchant vessel and speed impressed by military readiness results in war in mid 1880 and outbreak of Antillean War (1880-4)


-In the war

-spanish attacks on ports halted by competent fleet but after extreme difficulty

-the US has some pretty severe logistical issues due to wrecked railroads

-but eventually it does prevail by sending troops down south and all

-american vessels land on cuba

-which isn't all that hard because it's actually pretty close to the US

-troops battle and defeat spanish forces in alliance with cuban revolutionaries

-similarly force invades puerto rico in alliance with rebels there

-by 1883, spain driven to the peace table, in effort to keep mexico in their hands concedes independence of cuba, puerto rico


-continues to own railroad shares, establishing public-private partnerships

-to increase profits (decreased due to rate caps), railroads involved in massive land speculation

-which results in growing anger against railroads as an institution

-increasingly consolidates government-owned railroads into a singular authority with this move

-and wartime only enhances this further

-which culminates in formation of Railroad Company of the United States after a lot of negotiation and stock consolidation

-part of a general plan to establish a singular railroad system under the direct supervision of the government in order to bind the nation together


-expands settlement of west further, engages in wars with native americans with goal in forcing them into reservations in minasota

-establishes National University of the United States of America incorporating smithsonian into it, funds new constituent colleges in various cities

-but scotus strikes it down as unconstitutional, govt ignores it and continues building anyways

-results in scotus formally censuring government

-despite Congress issuing act confirming government action

-results in more states, issuing declarations for an Article V Convention


-government-led effort for railroad construction to the west, with rapid land speculation emerging

-wins re-election despite party split of "moderate" faction that joins up with certain populists, forms unionist party

-further corruption scandals occur but fights against them hard, issues civil service reforms

-scandal over war profiteering by Secretary of the Treasury

-sees Emmet fire him

-but sotr is powerful figure and brings his people within party against Emmet

-states get readmitted into the union with unprecedented black involvement in them

-also many northerners who move southward with southerners having vacated their plantations into exile

-bahia links get established, due in part to german unification war weakening bahia's european links

-endorsement of money untethered to specie (civil war, without california and with having to create govt w/o wash, leads to gold standard dying) leads goldbugs to break from party in disgust

-major slowdown in immigration caused by French Wars > Fourth French War (1880-4)

-helps cause commercial slowdown

-as well as increasing wages which comes on to consumers

-run for president in 1884, despite too many enemies made due to his prosecution of justicialist corruption he runs and wins

-white supremacist violence continues to intensify, 1884 election unprecedentedly violent affair but republicans win convincingly

-with Constitution of the United States (1885), term cut by two years

-in a compromise to get it through

1887-1891: John A. Logan (Justice)

1886 def. Stephen Decatur Hancock (Hancock Republican), John St. John (Prohibition), Jacob D. Cox (Redemption)


-despite illinois being slave state, logan is not some big slaveholder, is part of yeoman farmer class

-serves for most of his life as a mild supporter of the slave power, but as with otl is not fully on board that

-serves as a Populist, but one who joins up with Menefee

-because the Slave Power is too much for him in its sheer extremism

-upon the Liberty and Union War (1868-76), his opposition to state government makes him a Constitutionalist, and he becomes a political general

-a very very successful one

-with end, serves as Commandant-General of the Order of the Comunero

-also firmly supports black suffrage

-eventually, volunteers and joins the US military with the Antillian War

-with the end, returns with the air of martial glory

-selected as Justicialist nominee on basis of him being fairly successful general

-who has been aloof from grand fights of Emmet era


-end of Antillean War (1880-4) sees an influx of Colored immigrants from slave trade from Cuba coming

-many of them move to the North in unprecedented wave

-they get integrated into existing Colored Justicialist machines

-despite revulsion of existing Northern Coloreds to these "semi-savage" and semi-Catholicized people

-results in racist backlash including in the North, with riots

-reacts by sending Civil Guard northwards

-successfully portrays the riots as driven by a conspiracy of White Knights

-Logan decides to instead direct them southwards through ships to and from the South

-particularly Charleston

-which begins general trend towards urbanization

-when many of them bring with them yellow fever causes major push towards looking for treatment


-white supremacist violence results in movement to strengthen election laws

-issues force act making it federal responsibility to enforce free and fair elections

-results in army being divided into two, with one with civilian responsibility like a gendarmerie - "Civil Guard"

-however, force act gets struck down by supreme court

-results in amendment authorizing the federal government to ensure security of elections

-violence settles down as biracial system gets established

-drought emerges west of 100th meridian, many homesteaders give up land, railroads lose profits, resulting in panic of 1891

-worsened by existing problems of specie leaving the us

-results in "closing of the west" in the eyes of many as lands east of meridian gets largely settled and it seems the us is to be an urban country

-establishes links with newly independent mexico, philippines, much closer links established with mexico

-at the same time strikes grow in scale, along with union activity

-won re-election by large margin, white supremacist terrorism in stark decline

-launches intervention in new granadine civil war to secure panama for canal route in contrast to spanish-british project in nicaragua

-passes antitrust act, in practice it does fuck all

-dies of rheumatism

1891-1893: John W. Foster (Justice)

-served as Secretary of State

-as a career bureaucrat

-sponsors formation of missouri valley authority to manage water usage and - maybe - make the desert bloom

-bankrupt independent railroads bailed by federal govt (which buys stocks), and finally the further consolidation of these railroads into the Railroad Company of the United States, consolidating federal holdings in railroads into a singular company

1893-1899: Galusha Pennypacker (Justice)

1892 def. Felix Vaniman (Aeronautic), John M. Palmer (Independent Justice), xxxxx (Prohibition), Charles F. Adams Jr. (Redemption)


-a lawyer in Pennylvania

-as a young man, volunteers as a Comunero in the Buenaventura's Wars > Buenaventuran War of Independence (1864-7)

-leads several campaigns and fairly successful

-upon returning leads the local Order of the Comunero lodge in Chester

-upon war, is core part of Battle of Chester

-makes him a war hero almost overnight

-becomes leading officer in Liberty and Union War (1868-76)

-and continues to serve in a military capacity here


-despite new constitution nominating convention still held

-large section of Justicialists support an independent ticket

-section breaks off, but some return

-eventual union of sections

-additionally the first man who crossed the Atlantic in Aeronautics > Lighter than air aircraft gets drafted and does pretty well

-Justicialists still win overwhelming majority in election


-sees most astonishing event of Supreme Court entirely dismissed under new constitution and replaced

-despite some bickering widely viewed as a legitimate affair

-leads charge in International Interventions > Intervention in Grao-Para (1897-8) after atrocities unveiled, troops take over

-ends up with it mostly taken over and internationalized, us gets to appoint councillors to its council of administration

-congress over the water (already effectively turning into a social club) collapses, arrests of members

-people who flee to portuguese pernambuco get turned over

-at home, marks decisive end of reconstruction insurgency as groups lose morale, collapse

-with drought in far west not ending, rising movement for opening north-west indian territory for settlement

-Pennypacker is reluctant to do it, results in rising movement for opening it in west which makes itself known in form of oppositionism

-also rising movement for its statehood emerges

-in 1898 election an independent admiral campaign happens to take advantage of war effort

-but loses, Justicialists are high on war victory

1899-1905: John M. Dubois (Justice)

1898 def. George Dewey (Dewey Republican), Moorfield Storey (Free Trade), xxxxx (Prohibition)


-similar ancestry to Fred T. Dubois

-military experience in liberty and union war, antillean war, before getting drafted as governor, serves with reformist agenda

-as president, opens up north-west indian territory to settlement, soon afterwards white-native coalition pushes for statehood which he accepts

-with end of Russo-Chinese War (1893-9), a lot of Russian refugees come

-they bring with them cattle, infected with rinderpest

-with railroads they get spread across the US

-suddenly in this era most American cattle drops dead

-beef, dairy becomes way more expensive

-a considerable financial strain

-as a substitute Dubois promotes mutton and later, in particular, buffalo meat

1905-1911: Cromwell Hutton (Justice)

1904 def. William E. Russell (Free Trade)


-son of British nonconformist immigrants named in honor of the Lord Protector

-government is tired and essentially run by his Secretary of State

-sees corruption scandals

-but opposition just not strong enough to defeat his successor

1911-1917: Martin Fueger (Justice)

1910 def. Henry Cabot Lodge (Free Trade)


-son of German naturalized immigrants, and a general

-sees Recessions > Panic of 1911 and ensuing Great Depression

-is dismally ineffective and trade policies help cause gigantic trade war

-and at same time Currency > Greenback sees deflation from Bank of the United States policies

1917-1923: Paul Drennan Cravath (Free Trade)

1916 def.


-against Great Depression blames federal spending and enacts large scale cuts

-also enacts a Land Value Tax

-which prevents deficits

-major military putsch attempt which causes violence in Washington before it's suppressed

-coup only has partial support from military and not from Field Marshal

-also opposed from Civil Guard hard

-condemned by Justicialists but does not stop major backlash against them in this era

-eventually does increase spending and economy sees a recovery albeit a slow one

1923-1929: Robert Brinkerhoff (Free Trade)

1922 def. (Justice), (Association of Workers and Peasants)


-son of this guy

-reaction to Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 widely regarded as catastrophic and feeble

-in contrast to more vigor of governors

1929-1934: Pancrace Landry (Justice)

1928 def. Charles E. Merriam (Free Trade)


-an Independent Catholic

-albeit a Cajun

-which is just Protestant enough for him to be electable

-as governor of Orleans, leads highly successful reaction to Great Mississippi Flood

-and successfully jumps from plaudits of that to nomination from the rudderless Justice Party and ultimately to victory

-pumps new projects and funding into national economy

-which fuels the economic boom of the era further

-faced with Polvamiento coarsing through west

-thanks to Interior overfarming

-declares martial law to enforce good farming, establishes incentives for people to move out

-does reduce dust storms and a lot of people have moved out

-agitation for resolving "rural question", strengthens movement for establishing rural equiv for cities

1934-1940: Leonidas C. Dyer (Justice)

1934 def. Robert G. Menzies (Free Trade)


-finally seeks to resolve the "rural question" of cities having representation and rural areas not except within states and federal government dominated by cities

-successfully amends constitution to group areas outside federal cities into cantons with their own assemblies with powers of property taxation

-cities now considered a "special" type of canton

1940-1946: Robert G. Menzies (Free Trade)

1940 def.


-descended from Cornish miners who made it big in Country folders/United States/Economy/Mineral rushes > Pikes Peak Gold Rush (1878)

-becomes leading politician of the area based on his charisma

-and being opponent of old Justicialist establishment

-end of French Wars > Sixth French War (1937-41) has economic aftershocks that travel across the ocean

-result in a recession around 1944

-Menzies breaks from normal party policy by accepting some degree of spending to combat this crisis

-but consumer confidence badly shaken and it means his successor defeated

-there's a massive immigration surge due to latent immigration stopped by war suddenly coming

-results in a housing crisis and accused of depressing wages

1946-1950: Herman Trisch (Justice)

1946 def.


-embarks on huge mission to restrict immigration

-eventual Immigration and Naturalization Act 1949 establishes rate limits on immigration

-and a preference towards relatives of immigrants which causes chain immigration

-ultimately dies of a heart attack in 1950

1950-1958: Edwina Gervasi (Justice)

1952 def.


-prominent female politician who served in House since 1920s

-and rose to influential position within committees

-then got appointed as first female SoS in history before becoming pres after predecessor dies in April 1949

-daughter of Italian (Independent Catholic) immigrants

-and married to an Italian as well


-first female president

1958-1964: Zimri Kovack (Free Trade)

1958 def.


-first Colored president

-deliberately selected as such to win Colored votes from Justicialists (doesn't succeed) and outdo Gervasi

-father is a Czech immigrant and mother is a Colored woman

-despite being proud of his Colored ancestry he does not want to be a "Colored president"

-leading Congressman who became a leading member of the Free Traders in this role

1964-1970: Gerhardt Stiller (Free Trade)

1964 def.

1970-1976: Milton Soozoocky (Justice)

1970 def.


-first Asian president

-comes from old Japanese whaling family that moved to the US

-became a pretty significant minority in many parts of New England including his Rhode Island

-wins governorship of state

-and from there ascended to the presidency




Small list


  1. 1789-1797: Former Commander-in-Chief George Washington (I-VA)
  2. 1797-1801: Vice President John Adams (F-MA)
  3. 1801-1809: Vice President Thomas Jefferson (R-VA)
  4. 1809-1817: Secretary of State James Madison (R-VA)
  5. 1817-1825: Secretary of State James Monroe (R-VA)
  6. 1825-1827: Secretary of the Treasury William Lowndes (R-SC)
  7. 1827-1829: Vice President Nathan Sanford (IR-NY)
  8. 1829-1837: Fmr. Secretary of State Henry Clay (NR-KY)
  9. 1837-1845: Major General Zebulon Pike (P-KY)
  10. 1845-1852: Senator Daniel Webster (U-MA)
  11. 1852-1853: Vice President James L. Petigru (U-SC)
  12. 1853-1861: Senator Robert F. Stockton (P-NJ)
  13. 1861-1865: Senator Richard Menefee (U-KY)
  14. 1865-1868: Chief Justice George W. Woodward (P-PA) [impeached]
  15. 1868-1869: President of the National Committee of Safety William Pitt Fessenden (J-MA)
  16. 1869-1870: Fmr. Governor George Bancroft (J-MA) ‡
  17. 1870-1877: Vice President Henry Winter Davis (J-MD)
  18. 1877-1879: Senator John Wentworth (J-MI)
  19. 1879-1887: Vice President Curran Emmet (J-NY)
  20. 1887-1891: Major General John A. Logan (J-IL)
  21. 1891-1893: Secretary of State John W. Foster (J-MA)
  22. 1893-1899: Major General Galusha Pennypacker (J-PA)
  23. 1899-1905: Senator John M. Dubois (J-IL)
  24. 1905-1911: Field Marshal Cromwell Hutton (J-WI)
  25. 1911-1917: Major General Martin Fueger (J-OH)
  26. 1917-1923: Senator Paul Drennan Cravath (FT-NY)
  27. 1923-1929: Secretary of State Robert Brinkerhoff (FT-OH)
  28. 1929-1934: Governor Pancrace Landry (J-OR)
  29. 1934-1940: Senator Leonidas C. Dyer (J-MO)
  30. 1940-1946: Governor Robert G. Menzies (FT-TA)
  31. 1946-1950: Senator Herman Trisch (J-IN)
  32. 1950-1958: Secretary of State Edwina Gervasi (J-VA)
  33. 1958-1964: Representative Zimri Kovack (FT-YZ)
  34. 1964-1970: Secretary of State Gerhardt Stiller (FT-PA)
  35. 1970-1976: Governor Milton Soozoocky (J-RI)



† Died of natural causes

‡ Assassinated





Chief Justices of the United States of America


36. 1787-1795: John Jay

37. 1795-1795: John Rutledge

38. 1796-1800: Oliver Ellsworth

39. 1800-1835: John Marshall

40. 1835-1847: Joseph Story

41. 1847-1858: Peleg Sprague

42. 1858-1865: George Washington Woodward (*)

43. 1865-1869: William Littleton Harris (**)

44. 1869-1871: Benjamin Robbins Curtis (***)

45. 1871-1885: Charles Sumner

46. 1885-1892: Samuel Freeman Miller

47. 1892-1904: William Thomson

48. 1904-1912: John W. Griggs

49. 1912-1926: Carl F. Mueller


(*) Resigned upon being elected President of the United States

(**) Impeached and removed from office by the Philadelphia Congress upon recognizing as constitutional the victory of Pendleton in the 1868 election, served as "Chief Justice of the Supreme Court" for the Richmondite government for the duration of the Liberty and Union War (1868-76)

(***) Resigned upon failing to get a majority of the Supreme Court onboard to declare the Emancipation Act unconstitutional


-William Thomson is alternate elder (by 5 yrs) brother of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FrankThomson(railroadexecutive)

Story Court

-clear successor to Marshall Court

-strikes down equivalent of this

-results in Bank of the United States getting way more powerful

-and banks at state level reduced a great deal in power

-resulting in less western development relative to OTL due to Bank's eastern orientation

-and fewer notes in circulation in the West

Sprague Court

-increased tilt towards proslavery, pro-states rights resolutions due to judges appointed from South

Woodward Court

-decisively southern

-when elected president infamously (American Presidents > 1865-1868 George Washington Woodward (People's) [impeached, removed from office]) resigns his post a few days before inauguration

-present constitution includes provision to prevent such a thing from happening ever again

Harris Court

-even more southern

-goes full lemmonv

-supports Richmondism, goes with Richmond Government

-impeached in Extraordinary Congress

Curtis Court

-appointed during Extraordinary Congress

-after arguing Emancipation Proclamation unconstitutional

Sumner Court

-headed by heir of Story legacy

-strongly and very pro-reconstruction

Miller Court

-starts going hardline against the law and reconstruction amendments

-causes constitutional crisis

-ultimately ended with Constitution of the United States (1885) and end of Old Court

-he's dragged out

History of parties

Union Party

-formed by republicans aligned with Henry Clay and his American System

-includes clintonians connected with irish catholic political machines

-pro-bank of us, tarriffs, internal improvements

-also pro-military development to prevent military bombardment as

-included madisonian republicans, some federalists, and those converted to cause

-later ate up anti-catholic party after henry clay's attempts to court catholic vote beaten

-split for an election over missouri crisis, but crisis got diffused and reunification occurred

-becomes opposed to "extreme" territorial expansion that might cause a sectional crisis, also seeks to bring system further

-elitist character becomes increasingly apparent, blamed for economic panic

-young america movement takes parts of its agenda, along with populistic criticisms of it, meshes it with their own stuff, ethos shapes stockton era

-menefee's ascent in 1860 sees its unity threatened over slavery and expansion questions, eventually over buenaventura recognition north and south break up

-in various states unionist party forms coalitions with pro-buenaventura populists, also with liberty party

-woodward continues to worsen issue, results in coalitions getting bigger, known as justice party

-by 1866 party is dead except for some minor stragglers who keep label alive

-despite many who wish to revive unionist party, growing scale of crisis, ties to abolitionist elements, and woodward's shittiness makes it impossible

-till Liberty and Union War (1868-76) results in sweeping radicalism

People's Party

-formed by republicans opposed to Henry Clay and his American System

-tammany hall gets shaped, successfully beats national republicans party at getting catholic votes

-martin van buren is big mover in its formation, backs zebulon pike as useful war hero to get party in power

-he proves less than effective, populists serve in opposition for long time afterwards

-van buren keeps party united despite much attempts at backstabbing and the like

-finally in 1852 gets stockton elected president, but to grief of much party he's "young america", takes some ideas from unionist party

-shapes anti-elite ethos of era deeply in form of populist streak

-but then stockton stumbles, unionist gets elected

-buenaventuro war of independence causes major fissures, but party rallies behind chief justice woodward

-fissures get worse and worse, by 1866 much of populists have bolted and joined oppositionist coalitions

-woodward gets tossed by own party in favour of southerner

-after justicialists win, much of populists see red, storming of capitol etc.

-some populists remain within constitutionalist government, some rally behind it, other try to restore "union as it was"

-peace populists surge, but 1872 sees total and utter defeat in every state due to justicialist alliance with war populists

-party lingers on after war behind white supremacy, tries and fails to form coalition with defecting liberal justicialists

-but eventually collapses and just withers away with success of reconstruction

Justice Party

Tammany Hall


-earlier wave of irish immigrants, their association with anti-tammany clinton, sees tammany remain nativist & restricted to "native-born patriots"

-but not for anti-catholics, when samuel morse becomes mayor of ny tammany is only reluctantly affiliated de facto

-remains "in play" at natl level as clinton dies & both parties appeal to irish immigrants

-but increasingly affiliated to van buren despite not sharing his liberal-minded views on catholics

-supports second quasi war firmly

Tammany Societies


-named after lenape chief associated with friendship

-as with otl, societies spread from philly across us, which participate in garish native american caricature ceremonies

-unlike otl, most of them aren't killed off due to no war of 1812 (which made native ritualism highly unpopular)

-instead, they live on, spread west

-concerns over secrecy result in many of them transforming into benevolent societies, arms of local republican parties

-luisiana war gives many of them nativist tint

-postwar, rise of clay puts many of them into opposition to clay, divided on which candidate to endorse

-backs pike fully, plays very prominent role as his grassroots

-but none as prominent as new yorks

-falls apart during 1860s, numerous basically wither and die as members join comunero clubs instead

-with Liberty and Union War (1868-76), uniformly support richmondites, new york's tammany tries to rebel and gets slap down

-similarily other rump tammanies are centres of rebellion, incl. cincinnati

-dies postwar

-but tammany society in brazil lives on