Divided America

1880-1889

By John Mullervy

1880

US President Hancock, after the traditional two terms, does not run for reelection. Republican George A. Custer is elected.

CSA and Mexico sign Treaty of Havana to end the war between them. The treaty gives the CSA Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas for 15 million Confederate Dollars.

Confederate President Jackson advocated putting the new territory under direct federal control, opposed to a territory. His supporters come to be called the Federalists as a result. The anti-adminstration coalition becomes the Anti-Federalist party.

1881

Presidents Custer and Jackson meet in a summit in Washington DC; it is the first ever meeting between the sitting presidents of the US and CS. Custer offers an economic aid package to settle the CSA's debts if it abolishes slavery; Jackson does not respond. Jackson reveals evidence of French involvement in New Mexico. Also at this meeting, both sides agree to abandon 1879's Treaty of Annapolis.

Jackson proposes a constitutional amendment to end slavery with compensation by 1900, it is defeated in the CSA Congress.

Jackson proposes a national effort to industrialize but is thwarted. Virginia, however begins an industrialization program seeking American investment. Alexandria and Norfolk become the major points of entry, land and sea respectively for American goods entering the Confederacy.

1882

Atlanta Stock Exchange opens.

To raise funds the CSA sells Baja California to USA for $28 million US gold. CSA uses money to pay off debts and to increase naval size.

US railroads introduce railroad time, dividing the US into the Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones.

1883

Tennessee & Kentucky start their own industrialization programs after Virginia's model.

USA creates Lower California Territory out of Baja California.

At the second summit between Jackson and Custer what will become the Treaty of Alexandria. The US will pay $10 million a year for ten years to the CSA in return for Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora, and Chihuahua. The treaty is derided in the US as paying something they should have but Custer speakes that it is still cheaper than another war with the South. In the CSA the treaty is attacked as being too cheap but all Senators except those from Texas approve it, mostly because it settles the debate of what to do with the west.

1884

US Army reorganizes into a general staff system. Geographical commands are abandoned in favor of more general ones, ex. "First Army".

Accused as being soft on Indians by political opponents, Custer decides to take a hard line on the Confederacy, declaring "it's a time to put an end to slavery". With Custer's support Congress passes the CSA Embargo Act, ending all trade with the CSA on January 1, 1885. There is considerable protest from a resurgent Democratic party centered on New York's Tammany Hall. However, Custer says that the US must keep its work concerning the

Alexandria Treaty and an exeption is made in the embargo act.

The transfer of the four territories is set for July 1, 1884. Texas in protest secedes from the Confederacy. President Jackson states "Texas, being a sovereign state, is free to leave the Confederacy at any time but the newborn Republic of Texas has no influence outside its state boundaries." A group of Texas Rangers marches to Santa Fe on June 29 and with the help of Texas regiments containes the CSA Army. However the US Army arrives on July 1 and with a show of force makes the Rangers retreat; other power transfers go on without incident. To protest, the US refuses to recognize Texan independence.

The election between Custer and Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland remains undecided until votes in New York are counted. Custer wins. Split between the Radicals, Democrats and Republicans there is no majority in Congress.

Shipyards in San Diego open up. It is the first of two on the west coast (San Francisco opens 1887) which is mean to push American presence in the Pacific while taking workloads off the east coast Naval Yards in Groton, Brooklyn and Philadelphia.

1885

US troops close border with Confederacy on New Year's Day, price of industrialized goods soar with American and British goods removed from the market. Without the Mississippi River, farmers rely on railroads to transport to Eastern ports. New York and Boston ports overflow with the higher traffic.

With the economy crippled, the Confederate elections are boisterous and highly charged. Federalist Party calls for an end to slavery by 1890, the Antifederalist Party calls for the status quo and opening up markets with France and Germany. A third group, the Common Sense Party forms with defectors from the other two parties wins the election under George Washington Lee (Robert E. Lee's son).

CS Congress establishes Confederate Standard Time, 5 hours and 30 minutes earlier than Greenwich Mean Time in all states. It is for the most part, ignored.

1885-1888

A French expeditionary force lands in the Yucatan in February 1885. Citing the Monroe Doctrine, Custer demands their withdrawal, French refuse. The United States declares war on France on March 3, 1885, the French-American War begins. US mobilizes 2 million men from reserves over the next six months.

US Atlantic Fleet leaves Staten Island, NY and cuts off French supply lines, taking French Caribbean possessions while operating out of bases in the Bahamas. US Third Army lands at Coatzacoaicos in May and heads towards French positions. Mexican government declares itself nonbelligerent; the CSA and also declare neutrality. US Sixth Army lands near Cancun in July. French Army of 250,000 men surrenders without a battle in August, its taken back and interned in Lower California.

American battleships engage French ships off Ireland in October ends in draw, American ships are welcomed in British ports, to the outrage of the French. An American task force, consisting of Third and Fourth Armies leave San Diego for Liberia Protectorate in November, it arrives via Cape Horn in January 1886. Expecting attack from the north, the Americans catch French off guard, and romp through equatorial Africa; with reinforcements from the Eleventh Army, all areas south of the Sahara are in American control by November 1887.

In the Pacific, American naval task forces and marines secure French possessions. Hawaii proves to be a chief base. The Eighth and Twelfth Armies land in French posessions in Asia and, with most forces sent to Africa, French surrender, leaving it in American control by the end of the year.

American vessels defeat most of the French fleet off of Brest in October 1887.

In December 1887, the French government sues for peace, an armistice is agreed upon on January 2, 1888. Peace talks scheduled for March.

There is shock in Europe at the sound defeat of France. German chancellor Bismarck comments "There is a new player on the field."

1886

US Miltary spending reaches an all time high. The British move troops into Halifax which Americans respond to my moving troops along the Canadian border. Hopeing to foster better relations with the United States (and to annoy the French) the British allows the US Navy to use their bases.

The British Parlament passes home rule for Ireland, allowing for an Irish Parliament in Dublin.

1887

Disputes between American forces in Montevideo and native results in quick victory of American forces, and the Uruguay Protectorate is proclaimed in December 1887.

With goods waiting along the side of the Ohio River, Kentucky almost passes an Ordinance of Secession in March. US sends representatives to campaign for reunification with the north. Representatives of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina met in June to discuss forming their own union separate from the CSA and USA. President Lee, attends and convinces them to stay in the CSA, arguing the USA will otherwise reannex them piecemeal.

1888

1888 would come to be known as The Year Of Great Change.

In February US Congress passes the Capital Act of 1888. The US capital is permanently changed to Philadelphia. The District of Columbia is disbanded and returned to Maryland. Old federal buildings in Washington become a museum and grow as a tourist attraction. Many adminstrative functions are maintained in Washington as well as being duplicated in Denver for the West.

Treaty of Cherborg is signed between France and the United States. France cedes St. Pierre & Miquelon, Indochina, Pacific Islands, Caribbean Islands, East African colonies to United States. France keeps Indian Ocean possessions.

Treaty of Washington is signed between the Confederate States and Texas. Treaty provides an alliance if either nation is attacked by Mexico and a free trade agreement. Unable to decide between themselves, the CSA and Texas agree to allow the "Five Civilized Nations" to form the independent nation of Sequoyah in the old Indian territory.

US and Mexico sign a treaty allowing two American naval bases in Mexico, one on each coast. Frontera base opens in 1891, Puerto Angel base opens in 1892.

US Congress designates land ceded from French as "colonies" as opposed to "territories" or "protectorate." In light of the recent gains, the Congress increases naval spending. The US also declares a protectorate over the Yucatan, already under military occupation.

In Illinois vs. United States the US Supreme Court says 14th Amendment allows Congress to regulate intrastate commerce. This decision comes to be used to strip state governments of all power.

Custer, only 48, runs for an unprecedented third term and defeats Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland and Radical candidate Rutherford Hayes.

Great Britain extends home rule to Scotland.

1889

Custer, in his inaugural address, states "America can no longer stand alone." Later he goes to London and begins negotiations for an alliance. Split over issues such as Hawaii and America's role in Asia the talks are a bitter failure, relations between the US and UK sour .

With refugees pooring into California, with the consent of Sacramento and Philadelphia, California is split just north of Santa Barbara into the states of Northern and Southern California.

CS Congress creates New Virginia Territory over former Mexican lands. Monterey is renamed Leeville after Robert E. Lee.

US Congress passes the Canal Act which will fund a canal connected the Pacific and Atlantic.

In Hoff v. Abbott the US Supreme Court declares the Federal income tax unconstitutional.

With the French leaving the Carribean the British buy French interests in Panama.


1870-1879	Index	1890-1899

List of Presidents in this timeline