| October 11 |  |
Editor says, what if General Washington had been crowned King in order to save the Republic? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the October 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1976, on this day the reputation of the American tyrant King Washington was partially restored by his posthumous appointment to the grade of General of the Armies. The appointment was by congressional joint resolution Public Law 94-479 and approved by the President of the Republic, Ronald Reagan.
All Hail King WashingtonThe unexpected coronation of King Washington was forced upon the General by the imprisonment of the Contintental Congress at a particularly low moment in the fortunes of the patriot cause. And of course the Continental Army had been chronically under-supplied due to the slow collegiate style decision-making processes of that body. Therefore the assumption of power in itself could be justified (or at least, excused) on the rational basis of both expedience and also fate.
And also chance. To ensure continuity of government, Washington had verbally agreed to become Life-term President of of the Continental Congress (the final name of this post was up for discussion and might have been either Cromwellian - Lord Protector of the American Colonies - or in the spirit of the times, even Roman Classical). But at this juncture, the British sprung a second surprise by offering to buy-out the Officer Corps. The take-it-or-leave-it never to be repeated deal was essentially a cessation of hostilties in return for back-pay for the Continental Army and local autonomy as a proto-dominion. Washington took the deal, terminated the French Alliance (a decision that resonated with the Continental Army) and then double-crossed the British.
Of course many patriots feared that an Army takeover was a killer blow for liberty, and events were soon to prove them right. During the heavy-handed response to the Whiskey Rebellion, he saw fit to personally lead an army to Western Pennsylvania where he was killed in action. But during the next two centuries, historians took a more measured view of his executions actions, and the result was a consensual decision to recognize his unquestionable military accomplishments during the War of Independence.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Generals Source: Wikipedia Labels: George Washington, Presidency, Tyrant, America, United States. Editor says, in this article we pay homage to All Hail King Washington in Assassin's Creed III'S DLC. Thanks to Scott Palter and Mike McIlvain for their valued contributions to the development of this post. Wikipedia reports the event for this day
976 - George Washington's appointment, posthumously, to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States by congressional joint resolution Public Law 94-479 is approved by President Gerald R. Ford.
~ Not an impossible stretch, given the demands of Revolutionary War times, and the seemingly practical practices of Ronald Reagan. Washington, on several occasions, was known to expose himself to enemy fire too many times in the fight against the British. Perhaps he could have thought he was still bullet proof in the Whiskey Rebellion?
~ Of course, in real life he was offered the crown and refused it.
~ Not an impossible stretch, but certainly hard to imagine.
~ This pretty much requires George Washington to not be George Washington. It's also a reminder of how lucky we were to have him as the leader. Although, apparently, he was helped by ninja assassins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDpaBevykUo
~ If he'd been King-who'd have been his heir?
~ Good question, Mark...especially since he had no known children.
~ Mark - his nephew. On the other hand, the office of King (in Europe, at least) was originally elective, which means that it would likely be anyone of accomplishment from a good family. John Adams, most likely.
~ I don't know how well this would have gone down, but I think most people at the time would have accepted it more easily than moderns might believe.
~ Awesome story, and I loved the Assassins Creed cover the moment I saw it. This is what AH is all about! Though, from the pic, it doesn't look like the kingship was forced upon him. I imagine the the American Civil War would not have been fought for secession or slavery, but for an end of the Washington Dynasty. So much potential flows form this story, great job
~ Sam Adams and others would've gone berzerk. We'd have a civil war within a rebellion. Britain might gain back her colonies after all.
© Today in Alternate History, 2013-. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
