Assume for a moment the American War of Independence goes as it does OTL. What is the latest (semi-) plausible time and instance for an American monarchy to take over from the republic? Bonus points accrue exponentially the further from the end of the revolution you go.
AHC: Latest American Monarchy
- Thread starter Arch-Angel
- Start date
scholar
Banned
Before Democracy becomes the regularly accepted norm of Western Society. Anytime before that it's not all that ASB. It just requires a particular politician to be popular enough to essentially be elected dictator for life and then have his son succeed him in elections. And then his son. From there its a monarchy already so it won't need all that much doing to become a Monarchy. Constitutional Monarchy (executive powers, limited legislative, no real judicial), but monarchy.
I can see a couple general ways it could happen.
First, a sustained breakdown of government under the Constitution would mean all bets are off. At that point, it becomes relatively easy for whoever restores order to become a de facto monarch, as happened with Oliver Cromwell and Napoleon Bonaparte. Possible circumstances for this to happen:
The major obstacles to this are Washington's two-term tradition and the effects of the two-party system. The former for obvious reasons, and the latter because the existence of a rival party makes it hard for a consensus to emerge in favor of near-automatic reelection. Possible scenarios:
First, a sustained breakdown of government under the Constitution would mean all bets are off. At that point, it becomes relatively easy for whoever restores order to become a de facto monarch, as happened with Oliver Cromwell and Napoleon Bonaparte. Possible circumstances for this to happen:
- The Continental Army seizes power from the Continental Congress shortly after the Revolution, as some of Washington's officers considered urging him to do IOTL. This would require either a major change to Washington's character or a different commander of the Continental Army.
- Hamilton attempts a coup against Adams in 1798-99, possibly triggering a multi-sided civil war. No evidence AFAIK that Hamilton seriously considered doing so, but Adams seriously feared that he would.
- A major war with a European power that goes badly enough to be an existential threat to the United States, especially if it involves foreign occupation of a large section of the US, invasion preventing either elections or congressional sessions, or attempts by US states to make a separate peace with the enemy. Perhaps a War of 1812 that goes considerably worse for the US than OTL or a Trent War scenario.
The major obstacles to this are Washington's two-term tradition and the effects of the two-party system. The former for obvious reasons, and the latter because the existence of a rival party makes it hard for a consensus to emerge in favor of near-automatic reelection. Possible scenarios:
- The two-party system never emerges. Get both Hamilton and Jefferson out of politics early in the Washington administration, and the Federalists may be able to hold together as a near-consensus party (Madison and many moderate Democratic-Republicans started out as Federalists, and only left out of opposition to Hamilton). If Washington then dies in office, there's no two-term tradition, and President Adams would have a good shot at repeated reelection as well as a son who's Presidential material in his own right.
- An extended Era of Good Feeling. Perhaps Monroe runs for a third term and goes unopposed as he did when he ran for his second term, and then goes on to win a fourth term as well before dying in office. He'd need to have replaced Tompkins as VP with a more plausible successor (probably William Crawford; JQA or Clay are plausible presidents, but would likely be too controversial to avoid the emergence of an opposition party) who could keep the Era of Good Feeling going until people come to take it for granted. Keep it up long enough, and eventually you'll get a President setting up his son as VP and successor.
Frankly, that's because the creativity necessary to bring this about post-ARW stretches the bounds of plausability. Mzniakes though has done a fine job of not straying too far out into the oort clouds at the edges of the plausability universe.
Wolfpaw
Banned
Perhaps the US could look to the Netherlands as a model. The US Constitution was inspired by that of the Dutch, after all.
I'm of the opinion that, if the US are to have a monarchy, it will be one with very, very little power. Pretty much a figurehead from the get-go who is responsible for important ceremonies and little else.
Hell, I could see the US keeping the Presidency as an elected executive position that sends a clear "just sit there and look pretty" message to the House of Washington.
I'm of the opinion that, if the US are to have a monarchy, it will be one with very, very little power. Pretty much a figurehead from the get-go who is responsible for important ceremonies and little else.
Hell, I could see the US keeping the Presidency as an elected executive position that sends a clear "just sit there and look pretty" message to the House of Washington.
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A Calvert absolute monarchy? Not a chance under any circumstance; sorry.
Who said Absolute? It would definitly be a very Constitutional Monarchy, on some lines with Napoleon when he was 'elected' Emperor of France. Lacking any of that Divine Right and all that such.
Triv. IOTL we had Mexican, Brazilian, and other monarchies.
We even also have a current North American monarchy and several Caribbean monarchies. So, no change is needed.
The American British Commonwealth members even had a tranfer from republic to monarchy, sigh - the Resoration.
Well, you didn't SAY, neener neener.
We even also have a current North American monarchy and several Caribbean monarchies. So, no change is needed.
The American British Commonwealth members even had a tranfer from republic to monarchy, sigh - the Resoration.
Well, you didn't SAY, neener neener.
Such a monarchy is ASBish in the post-ARW USA. Any US monarchy is highly unlikely as long as men like Payne, Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Randolph, to name but a few, live.
Triv. IOTL we had Mexican, Brazilian, and other monarchies.
We even also have a current North American monarchy and several Caribbean monarchies. So, no change is needed.
The American British Commonwealth members even had a tranfer from republic to monarchy, sigh - the Resoration.
Well, you didn't SAY, neener neener.
How does any of this achieve a post-ARW US monarchy?
How do we get there though? Who could have brought this about at the 1787 Const. Conv.?
Wolfpaw
Banned
Which, of course, is the billion dollar question. I doubt there were even a few monarchists amongst the Founders. Maybe Washington insists on retiring to Mount Vernon instead of serving as the first President, but they make a position especially for him naming him a figurehead King of a monarchy that exists at the mercy of Congress.
Ok, lets tweak/add on to the question. Lets say the ARW fails. The leadership is hanged, loyalists take over, BUT only limited reforms take place and for all intents and purposes the 13 colonies remain. Now, lets say another rebellion occurs sometime later and succeeds. What are the chances of a monarchy developing from that? How far out before a monarchy is unthinkable.
Disclaimer: American monarchy consisting of territory that substantially encompasses the OTL US, primarily US culture, and is completely independent of the Britain, IE no commonwealth solution.
Disclaimer: American monarchy consisting of territory that substantially encompasses the OTL US, primarily US culture, and is completely independent of the Britain, IE no commonwealth solution.