Divided America

An Alternate History Timeline

Authors Note: This is the original version before it was rewritten in 1998

By John Mullervy

Point of Divergence: September 1862. Lee never lost any orders and passes though Maryland into Pennsylvania

Fast Forward:
1870 |1880 |1890 |1900

1862

1870: Seward, hoping connect the United States to the new territory of Alaska, heads to British Columbia, promising leaders a railroad link to the East coast within three years of annexation. The British government tells Seward that any further provocation will be an act of war. Britain moves forces into Canada.; Rupert's Land is given to the Dominion of Canada which forms the fifth province of Manitoba and the North West Territories out of it.; Tensions build between Britain and the US over British Columbia.; Economic conditions in CSA continue to deteriorate. Only can trade with United States and Mexico. Breckinridge travels to London to open trade and offers an alliance with Britain, promising to attack the USA if war breaks out; Britain declines.; CSA General Robert E. Lee dies, US allows Confederate honor guard to go to Arlington funeral. Many US generals attend.; Military buildup triggers massive industrialization in United States.
1871: As a show of force a British naval squadron goes to Vancouver Island while British Columbia votes on whether or not to join the United States. The poles are mixed, many people wanted the nonexistent of choice of being independent of Canada, Britain and the United States.; When the British Columbia government starts negotiations with US over annexation, the British shut down the government, the US protests. A month later, a British ship attacks and sinks a US ship in the San Juan Strait, Seward calls for war. On April 15, the US declares war on Great Britain.
The British Columbia War rages. In the northwest forces from the British fleet invade the United States before being stopped by the Army of the Columbia (Gen. George Thomas commanding) at the Battle of Yakima. The Army of the Columbia then heads north to take British Columbia, except for Vancouver Island, and heads east where it is joined by forces before the reinforced army arrives in Winnipeg on August 12.
In the east, however, US naval forces are defeated at the Battle of Halifax in May. At the same time the Army of the St. Lawrence, under General U.S. Grant is defeated outside Quebec City. The Armies of the Niagara and the St. Clair under Hancock and William T. Sherman fail in there objective to link up at Waterloo, Ontario. Sherman is defeated by British regulars in the Battle of Chatham and retreats while Hancock defeats Canadian militia at Welland but after capturing Hamilton in July, is forced to go on the defensive.
A British counterattack takes northern Maine in August. General Hancock, with fresh troops, breaks the siege on September 2. With Thomas about to march on Ontario, Britain sues for peace. Peace talks convene in Nashville, Tenn., CSA in November. US troops withdraw from Ontario in exchange for British troops leaving Maine.; CSA opens trade with new German Empire, helping to stop economic decline.
1872: The CSA hosts US and UK diplomats discussing the peace treaty. Britain demands autonomy in any areas ceded to United States. Confederate President Breckinridge acts as a mediator at peace talks. Talks continue to stalemate as US demands Ontario while Britain insists on keeping it. Talks break in March, new talks scheduled for later in the year.
US President Seward pushes though Congress a Constitutional amendment authorizing Congress to create "Autonomous Regions," it is ratified in February 1873 as 19th Amendment.; Seward, his health failing, declines to run for reelection. General Hancock gets Democratic nomination while dark horse Edwin Stanton gets Republican nomination. Stanton calls for a reconquest of the south. Hancock barely wins election in September.; Peace talks between the US and UK are postponed until Hancock office.
1873: France stops embargo and starts trading with CSA, Britain protests. France also makes overtones with Mexico on avenging defeat.; Using Stanton as an example Breckinridge pushed though the New Military Act which expands standing army to 200,000 and a new fleet. The CSA Congress also sets up the Confederate Supreme Court.; New president Hancock goes to Britain, at Kent he and Prince Albert negotiate a compromise, which becomes the Treaty of Manchester. It is ratified by British Parliament in November 1873 and the US Senate in January 1874. Features:; Area east of Ontario between 49th and 60th parallels plus Vancouver Island to become an autonomous region within the United States; area cannot be made into states before 1888. Ontario and southern Quebec becomes the independent nation of Canada, while Nova Scotia and New Brunswick become the Dominion of Acadia. Lands north of there 60th parallel are divided along 95&deg W. All lands east to Britain, all lands west to United States.; US allowed to station ships at Bermuda and Newfoundland in return for British docking rights along US Pacific ports.; As word of the treaty spread, many people in Canada move east to Acadia to remain in British territory.; Confederate politicians break into two main groups. One group support war hero James Longstreet, advocating gradual emancipation and a friendly attitude toward the United States. The other group, with obscure Nathan Bedford Forrest at the lead advocates an expansionist policy and keep slavery indefinitely.
Longstreet wins the election.
1874: Canada becomes independent on January 1. The government declares that both French and English will be the official languages since there is a significant francophone majority.; US Congress declares the "Canadian Autonomous Region". Manitoba is expanded northward; British Columbia is renamed Pacific Columbia; Area in between becomes Saskatchewan Territory. Capital is named Vancouver built near the Fraser River.
Northern area remains unorganized.; US establishes and continually enlarges Liberia Protectorate in Africa as European powers start claiming colonies.; Construction begins on the Chicago, Winnipeg & Vancouver Railroad.; Forrest's supporters form an anti-adminstration coalition in the CS Congress.
1875: CSA offers to buy the strip of Mexican land separating Arizona Territory from Gulf of California to gain access to Pacific, Mexico refused. CS Congress passed National Railroad Act which will add new routes, including a transcontinental on from Atlanta to Arizona.; Prince Edward Island is added to the Dominion of Acadia.
1875-1888: United States economic power grows against rivals Great Britain and Germany. "American" comes to be used for the United States while "Confederate" is used for the Confederate States. Confederate States have limited industrialization around Atlanta and Richmond. Unsure over the security of the Mississippi, American railroads run to connect the plains with the ports of New York and Boston.; Both the USA and CSA expand their navies, the former much more than the latter.; British begin a major industrialization program in Acadia.; US population swells with immigrants. Many Irish people migrate to Canada.
1876: Wars between US Army and Plains Indians reaches a climax until US forces, lead by George Custer achieves a total victory in Montana. Most tribes surrender within a few years.; Mexican general Porfirio Diaz seizes power in Mexico and declares he wants to bring Mexico "back to its former glory".; US President Hancock reelected.; A bill is proposed in the US Congress to make Philadelphia the permanent capital, it is defeated.; CSA Supreme Court declares the National Railroad Act unconstitutional.
1878-1880: The Confederate-Mexican War breaks out when Mexican armies invade Arizona and New Mexico, claiming that they were stolen in 1848.; Lacking railroads Confederate troops cannot move fast enough to the west and Mexican troops reach the Colorado border. US diplomats threaten war if Mexicans enter US territory.; A Confederate army, led by John Bell Hood leaves Texas and engages the Mexicans at Monterey, routing them. A second army, Jubal Early commanding, leaves Texas to cut across Mexican supply lines but is held in constant fighting in Sierra Madre.; With Confederate industrial capacity at its maximum, CSA buys huge amounts of American and German weapons.; In November 1878 Diaz is killed in a battle near Santa Fe, Confederate armies, led by Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson defeat the Mexican Army and by January 1879 reach Hermosillo, Sonora where Early's Army arrives, cutting off the northwest corner of Mexico.; Hood's army reaches Tampaco where it met reinforcements coming by sea. Hood, however, attacks prematurely and is forces to retreat back to Tampaco. Longstreet replaces Hood with General Lewis A. Armistead.; Jackson, now Confederate General-in-Chief, attacks from the west while Armistead attacks from the east. By September the two armies are approaching Mexico City from opposite directions attack retreating Mexican forces. A provisional Mexican government in Puebla surrenders on October 4, 1879.
1879: Forrest's supporters from the 1873 election support John Bell Hood for Confederate President, but is defeated, in absentia, by Stonewall Jackson, endorsed by the pro-adminstration coalition, who is elected by all states except Texas.; Chicago, Winnipeg & Vancouver Railroad is completed. US Congress passes the Alaska Railroad Act which calls for a rail link between Alaska and Pacific Columbia by 1892.; Former Virginia counties of Accomack and Northampton ceded to Maryland.

1880: President Hancock-after the traditional two terms-does not run for reelection. Republican George A. Custer is elected.; US Congress creates the Alaska Territory and Northern Territory.; CSA and Mexico sign Treaty of Havana which 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. Custer offers an economic aid package to settle the CSA's debts if it abolishes slavery. Jackson reveals evidence of French involvement in New Mexico.; Jackson proposes a constitutional amendment to end slavery by 1900, it is defeated in the CSA Congress.; Jackson proposed a national effort to industrialize but is thwarted. Virginia, however begins an industrialization program seeking American investment.
1882: Atlanta Stock Exchange opens.; To raise funds the CSA sells Baja California to USA for $40 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.; USA creates Lower California Territory out of Baja California.; Debate over the remaining captured Mexican areas continues and are placed under the jurisdiction of the Confederate War Department.
1884: US Armies 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 "its 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.; Election between Custer and Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland remains undecided until votes in New York are counted. Custer wins.
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.; 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 but Texas. Texas and Western territories are in Texas Standard Time, 6 hours 30 minutes behind GMT.
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.; US Atlantic Fleet leaves Staten Island, NY and cuts off French supply lines, taking French Caribbean possessions. US Third Army lands at Coatzacoaicos in May and heads towards French positions. Mexican government declares itself nonbelligerent. 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 welcomed in British ports, to the outrage of the French. An American task force, consisting of Third and Fourth Armies leaves Los Angeles for Liberia Protectorate in November, it arrives via Cape Horn in January 1886. Expecting attack from the north 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 Indochina 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."
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.; 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 say 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.; Texas secedes from Confederacy on April 12, 1888 and outlaws slavery, without compensation. Texas claims the Western territories. Confederate government states, "We cannot stop Texas from leaving but the...territories are property of the Confederate States of America."
Rejecting that, Texas begins to secure the west, triggering the Confederate-Texas War. As Texans seize Santa Fe, Richmond offers New Mexico to Texas, but Sonora and Arizona revolt under the Lone Star Flag. A force of Texas Rangers seize New Orleans in September 1888, allowing only American ships to pass.
Lee proposes an armistice which both sides agree to.
US recognizes and opens trade with new Republic of Texas.; 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. Texas gets Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora and Chihuahua and Confederate Navy's Pacific Squadron. Confederacy gets Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas and remainder of Confederate Navy. Treaty also 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 signing 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 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.
1889: Custer, in his inaugural address, states "America can no longer stand alone." Later he goes to London and begins negotiations for an alliance.; CS Congress creates New Virginia Territory over former Mexican lands. Monterey is renamed Leeville after Robert E. Lee.

1890: American and British diplomats work on an alliance which calls for an attack on the US or UK as an attack on both. Both nations are allowed to use the others ports freely. The treaty faces much debate on both sides of the Atlantic.; Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky call a convention for an Emancipation Amendment. Virginia threatens to secede forces passage with all states but Alabama and Mississippi agreeing. Slavery is outlawed in the CSA on December 31, 1890.
However, slavery continues under other guises for decades to come.; US government calls the Western frontier closed, but it also says the Northern frontier is still open.
1891: US lifts embargo of the Confederate States.; The Reform Party is formed in the Confederacy, its platform calls for amending the constitution to allow more people to vote. Former Federalists form the Centrist Party, calling for constitutional amendments to become more like the CSA. Conservative Party calls for a return to the old ways. The Common Sense Party platform calls for encouraging states to move toward industrialization.
Common Sense nominee Robert Freeman is elected President in the House of Representatives. Neither of the four parties obtain a majority in either house of Congress.
1892: The Alaska Railroad is completed on schedule, leading to extensive settlement in the northern areas near the Yukon River and Alaska.; In his last act of President, George Washington Lee dedicated Arlington National Cemetery. Confederate figures such as Jackson and Longstreet are buried there.; The Senate finally passes the Anglo-American Alliance Treaty in March, two months ahead of Parliament. It goes into effect July 1, 1892.; Custer declines to run for a fourth term, Republican Levi P. Morton elected President of the USA. Republicans maintain majority in Senate and House.; Canadian Autonomous Region Legislature splits Vancouver Island from Pacific Columbia and creates the Cariboo Territory out of northern Pacific Columbia. Saskatchewan divided into East Saskatchewan, West Saskatchewan and Athabasca Territory.
1892-1900: Immigration swells US population, including people from Texas and CSA. African-American population encouraged to move to Liberia, Native Americans to Sequoyah. US Industrial Growth continues.; Confederate economy recovers, with cheap labor and no tariffs US moves factories south--especially Virginia--cities such as Alexandria and Norfolk grow from manufacturing and trade.; Cattle comes to dominate Texas goods. Disputes on how to administer the Southwest dominate Texan political debate.; Naval building race between the United States, United Kingdom and Germany continues.
1893: Republic of Hawaii is declared. Hawaii is annexed by the United States the following year.; Confederate Navy contracts Norfolk to American builders in return for four battleships. CSA moves main naval facility to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
1894: Third French Republic is overturned by a Communist revolution.; Georgia forces freemen to leave the state. Many flee to Liberia but many stay behind in defiance. Race Riots burn Atlanta and Savannah.; Panhandle War, is fought between Texas and Sequoyah over the Sequoyah panhandle. Texan forces push north but American demonstrations in Colorado and Kansas convince Texans to retreat. There are no declaration of war or an peace treaty.
1895: Canada proposes to join Anglo-American Alliance but is stopped by francophone members.; Americans seize Terra del Fuego.
1896: The Canadian Autonomous Region is disbanded. Vancouver Island, Pacific Columbia, Manitoba, West Saskatchewan and East Saskatchewan become states; Cariboo Territory and Athabasca Territory formed.; Second railroad to Alaska via Edmonton is completed.; Democrat William Jennings Bryan is elected President of the USA.; 20th Amendment is ratified in USA, declared English the official language and gives Congress power to enforce usage of English.
1897: French Communists move to into Belgium. Germany, Britain and Russia meet to discuss action. Britain is reluctant to act. Russia, however, offers to back Germany should Communism spread again.; Common Scene and Centrists form Fusion party in CSA and elect Matthew Richardson.
1898: Congress abrogates a New York act forming Greater New York over Staten Island naval base. New York agrees to limit Greater New York to Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. It is the first time Congress uses its 14th Amendment power to abrogate a specific state act.; Klondike gold rush along Yukon river, under pressure, Congress creates the Yukon Territory. The two railroads to Alaska swell with settlers and prospectors.; A Confederate deportation of freemen to Santo Domingo results in a naval battle between Spanish and Confederate forces. The two declare war on each other in March and the Spanish-Confederate War begins. Confederate forces attack Cuba, Puerto Rico and Hispanola. As Spanish forces leave the Philippines, the Philippines declare independence and request becoming a US protectorate but Bryan refuses to consider further expansion.
Spanish forces stop the invasion of Puerto Rico at the Battle of San Juan in June.
Meanwhile a Spanish fleet attacks USS Manitoba, US Congress declares war over Bryan's objection in July. Bryan, however, refuses to prosecute the war.
Spanish forces are sent back to the Philippines, allowing Confederates to take Havana.
Lead by Mark Hannah, Bryan is impeached and then convicted in the Senate. Vice President Adlei Stevenson becomes President in September. American forces based in Singapore and Hong Kong take Guam and the Philippines and an American division helps to take Puerto Rico. The American Navy destroys the Spanish Navy and the Spanish sue for peace.; Treaty of Bermuda, concludes the war. Spain cedes Philippines, Guam and Canary Islands to USA; Cuba, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico to CSA. CSA agrees to US naval bases in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
1899: Confederate President Richardson calls for a larger military and the Military Reform Act of 1899 raises the standing army to 120,000 and for a ten battleship fleet by 1910.; Cubans revolt against Confederate rule, 75,000 CSA troops deployed into Caribbean possessions.; Philippine revolt put down by 200,000 American troops from Fourth and Ninth Armies.; Portugal sells its overseas empire, including the Azores, to the USA for $25 million.; France proclaims itself the French Socialist Republic. The F.S.R. begins a huge military buildup.

1900: Spanish government is overturned by French-supported Communists. However, anti-communist forces continue attacks.; Boxer Rebellion, takes place in China and is repressed by European, American and Japanese troops. Those powers agree to have a conference on China.; Confederate Army reorganizes to a general staff system.; Calling the democrats "near-communists" Mark Hannah leads Republicans into Congress when he is elected president.

List of Presidents in this timeline