| April 10 |  |
Editor says, what if the authorities chased Tolstoy out of Russia? muse Ed & Jackie Rose. 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 April 2013 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1899, provoked by the blistering satire of his final novel, Russian authorities forced Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy into exile.
Happy Endings 20: Tolstoy a Canadian Life by Ed & Jackie RoseIn writing Resurrection, he had originally intended to aid members of the Dukhobor sect to emigrate to Canada where they could practice
their beliefs freely and without persecution. But instead, with the
Tsarist Government emboldened1 by the Russian Orthodox Church's
decision to excommunicate him, Tolstoy opted to accompany them. It was in hindsight a step that had become inevitable ever since the banning of his Christian anarchist tract The Kingdom of God Is Within You five years earlier.
Also inevitable and also a result of the success of his novel-writing was his marital breakdown. Because his unbalanced union was also a source of tension and conflict - and for a very good reason. After his wife Sonya had transcribed and edited his novels, he ingraciously informed her that he was giving all the proceeds to the poor [3]. With the insensitive delivery of that painful revelation any semblance of marital harmony was destroyed, because in Sonya's eyes Leo had undone the magic of their partnership. The relationship was never quite the same and then a
final fracas Sonya made the decision for him and he set off to find a new day in Canada.
But the disastrous Russo-Japanese War changed everything and Tolstoy was able to return to Russia after the Revolution of 1905 overthrew the Tsar. Thanks to Father Gapon, he spent the final happy years of his life in his homeland, and was even able to reconcile with Sonya [2]. This was because in the new Era, women were granted property rights and his wife was afforded her full monied status as co-author of the Tolstoy novels [3].
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Happy Endings Source: Wikipedia Labels: Tolstoy, Russia, Tsar, Communism, Revolution. Editor says, in reality, [1] due to the fear of an international outcry, the Government never took any direct action to silence him. [2] picture from the movie Annie Karenina. [3] Contributions with received with thanks from Jackie.
Comment from Google+ reader Mike Whelan: I think it's brilliant. In my mind there is nothing greater than alternate history as it makes us think. And as a military historian it's nice to break out into other spheres of history and learn something new. I do like the idea of exile saving a marriage.
Comment from Google+ reader Brigitte Wooten: Aw, you went and said something about Edward IV which makes me think of a fav :John of Gaunt. As for Tolstoy in Canada, I dare say War and Peace would be different. The names would be easier that's for sure. ;)
~ That tension and conflict occurred for a very good reason. After Sonya transcribed and edited his novels, he informed her that he was giving all the proceeds to the poor. This helped to raise the issue of women's property rights, which were non-existent at the time. From this point of view, the happy ending came when she survived him into the Bolshevik era.
~ My e-mail is giving me just about as much trouble as Leo gave to Sonya. For some reason, it is allowing me to post here...so I will use this opportunity to assure Steve that I will be very flattered if he includes my contribution about Sonya's struggles within the story. And I thank him as always for his kind encouragement.
~ What a jerk giving his money to the poor. But, a jerk indeed as one should care for one's family first (though not to the detriment of others... Mafia family style).
~ But remember, Jeff, she had helped him earn the money, before he decided to give it all away.
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Editor says, what if there was more to the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash because a health Pope John Paul II was onboard (and he had survived due to the later on-site of Parkinson's disease)? 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 December 2011 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 2010, on this day a string of bizarre coincidences marred a ceremony marking the seventieth anniversary of the Katyn Forest massacre in which twenty-two thousand members of the Polish Officer Corps were executed by the Soviet Secret Police (NKVD).
Annex 13
Article written by Ed & Jackie SpeelThe execution of the Polish Officer Corps was expressly ordered in writing by the professional head of the NKVD, Lavrentiy Beria's in an official document of 5 March 1940 which was approved and signed by the Soviet Politburo, including its leader, Joseph Stalin. Three years later, the Government of Nazi Germany announced the discovery of mass graves in the Katyn Forest, a revelation which led to the end of diplomatic relations between Moscow and the London-based Polish government-in-exile.
In fact, the Soviet Union continued to deny responsibility for the massacres until 1990, when it officially acknowledged and condemned the perpetration of the killings by the NKVD. Because although the Polish government-in-exile failed to obtain justice, the brave actions of Polish nationals such as Lech Walesa and Karol Wojtyla contributed towards the final collapse of the Soviet System.
John Paul II had consecrated Russia after a Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca attempted to assassinate the Holy Pontif as he entered St. Peter's Square to address an audience in 1981 (the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a belief in the Roman Catholic Church that a specific act of consecration on the part of the Pope has been required by the Virgin Mary in return for which there would be world peace). Both the Central Intelligence Agency and an Italian parliamentary commission concluded that the Soviet Union was behind the conspiracy in retaliation for the Pope's support of Solidarity, the Catholic, pro-democratic Polish workers' movement (their "Top Secret" reports stated that certain Communist Bulgarian security departments were utilised and Soviet military intelligence - and not the KGB - were responsible).
It was widely rumoured in the Catholic Church that the Pope1 was intending to use the anniversary of the Katyn Forest massacre to announce that the consecration of Russia was the "Third Secret of Fatima". Such a move would redefine the relationship with the Russian Patriach and the possibility of removing the schism with the Orthodox Church.
Also en route to the ceremony was a delegation of high ranking Russian and Polish officials. In his own speech, Polish president Lech Kaczynski was expected to confirm deeper integration with both the European Union and also NATO.
A tragic and bizarre aircraft crash at North Smolensk Airport killed all of the principals. Under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Guidelines, the investigations were conducted by the Russian Government which acted under the direct, personal orders of President Medvedev. A conclusion of "pilot error" was reached which did nothing to dispel the global circulation of conspiracy theories.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Poland, Russia, Smolensk, Katyn Forest, World War 2. Editor says, in this post we explore a left-field idea with Jackie Speel. Extensive content has been repurposed from Wikipedia.
1) We assume a POD that John Paul II was alive in 2010.
Please click hyperlink for Google Groups Discussion comments.
~ Very odd. This is apparently derived from the tragic polish crash OTL. Yes Perhaps the POD is John Paul's miraculous recovery from Parkinson's? More like delayed start to, but that's part of the POD
~ Russia rejoining Rome would be a major step. Another What If: What if the schism of 1054 had never happened? We'd have Cossacks joining Crusaders in the Levant.
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Editor says, what if the Alamo had been relieved? 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 September 2011 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1796, on this day American pioneer, slave trader, land speculator, soldier and statesman James "Jim" Bowie was born in Logan County, Kentucky.
Jim Bowie
1st President of TexasHe would spent much of his early life in Louisiana where he was raised and later worked as a land speculator although his rise to fame began in 1827 on reports of the Sandbar Fight. What began as a duel between two other men deteriorated into a melee in which Bowie, having been shot and stabbed, allegedly killed the sheriff of Rapides Parish with a large knife. This, and other wild exaggerated stories of Bowie's prowess with the knife, led to the widespread popularity of the "Bowie" knife.
Bowie's legendary reputation was cemented by his role in the Texas Revolution. He joined the Texas militia, leading forces at the Battle of Concepcion and the Grass Fight. In January 1836, he arrived at the Alamo, where he commanded the Texian volunteer forces until an illness left him bedridden. Fortunately, he made a miraculous recovery after the dramatic relief mission. But confined to a cot he had the dubious distinction of becoming the sole surviving hero after William Travis, Davy Crockett and Sam Houston were all tragically killed during the fierce fighting.
Yet the battlecry "Remember the Alamo" held a powerful resonance at the birth of Texan Statehood and on October 22nd Jim Bowie became the first President of the new nation at the age of just forty. A legal dispute with the State of Louisiana quickly followed but investigations soon established that Bowie had not been involved in the Sandbar Fight at all. What was established however was the unedifying fact that Bowie a much better dead hero than living leader1.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Huffington Post Labels: Daniel Boone, President, Presidency, America, Frontier. ~ He did always leave me with the impression that he made a much better dead hero than living leader... Excellent summary! I have modified the story to end on that punch line
~ I don't know how well he'd have done as President of Texas. Someone who'd gotten into that many fights might have led Texas into a war it couldn't win.
~ Wonder if he'd live long enough to see the Civil War. Or, he may have been enough of a firebrand to keep Texas from going into the Union if they got into arguments with Louisiana or border disputes in the Panhandle.
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Editor says, what if US President Matthew C. Perry had sent the US Navy to force open the Confederacy? 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 June 2011 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1794, on this day Matthew Calbraith Perry the fifteenth President of the United States was born in Newport, Rhode Island.
Matthew C. Perry
15th US PresidentThe son of Captain Christopher Perry and Sarah Perry, he was also the younger brother of Oliver Hazard Perry, famous for capturing an entire British squadron at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Commissioned as midshipman in 1809, he launched an illustrious naval career that would last almost half a century, culminating in the opening of Japan.
Commodore Perry returned to the United States in 1855, a national hero who commanded almost universal respect and a remarkable reputation for forceful negotiation. The man of the hour, he was ran for office, winning the Presidency in 1856.
The arrival of such a powerful figure in the White House certainly augured well for the country. Because during his single term of office, the disintegration of the Union began to accelerate with frightening speed. Of course the expectation was that Perry would impose a quasi-military solution upon the south just as Andrew Jackson had done so during the Nullification Crisis.
He certainly tried, grasping at solutions that had worked in the past. But it didn't quite work out that way, because the famous gunboat diplomacy which had worked with such success in Tokyo Bay met a rather different response in Charleston Harbour.
Story continues..
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: President Perry Source: Wikipedia Labels: Matthew Perry, Civil War, Commodore, US Navy, America. Editor says, Wikipedia reports - when Perry returned to the United States in 1855, Congress voted to grant him a reward of $20,000 in appreciation of his work in Japan. Perry used part of this money to prepare and publish a report on the expedition in three volumes, titled Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan. He was also advanced to the grade of rear-admiral on the retired list (when his health began to fail) as a reward for his services in the Far East. Perry was known to have suffered severe arthritis that left him in frequent pain, that on occasion precluded him from his duties.
~ I don't think we've ever had an Admiral-President. One thing...the US Navy wouldn't have been let fall into its pre-Civil-War desuetude on his watch, I think.
~ Intriguing POD, looking forward to more installments.
~ I agree with Mr. Oppen's point. The blockade would be quickly and firmly established by a polished US Navy.
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Editor says, what if Abraham Lincoln never made it to the Ford's Theatre? 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 May 2011 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1865, jubilant with the exhilerating news that General Grant had convinced Robert E. Lee to surrender all of the Confederate Armies, President Abraham Lincoln departed Washington City for the Appottomax Court House where he would deliver a keynote speech that recognised the significance of this remarkable gesture of peace and national reconciliation.
Our American CousinSurrounded by the Army of the Potomac at Lynchberg, Lee had chosen to surrender only the Army of North Virginia (over which he had direct command). The change of mind to surrender all of the Confederate Armies (which were nominally under his command) was prompted by the successful meeting at the McLean House.
In his personal memoirs, Grant would note that "What General Lee's feelings were I do not know.
We soon fell into a conversation about old army times. He remarked that he remembered me very well in the old army; and I told him that as a matter of course I remembered him perfectly, but from the difference in our rank and years (there being about sixteen years' difference in our ages), I had thought it very likely that I had not attracted his attention sufficiently to be remembered by him after such a long interval.
Our conversation grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the object of our meeting".
The feelings of the Maryland-born racist John Wilkes Booth could safely be described as less ambivalent and not pleasant at all. Only the year before, he had concocted a plot to kidnap the President and ransom him in exchange for Confederate Prisoners of war.
Now he set upon a new assignment, he would follow Lincoln to Virginia, although he had not yet decided whether to shoot the President, or the traitor he was now refering to as "Our American Cousin", Robert E. Lee. Or perhaps both. And so he decided to take along with him George A. Atzerodt, David Herold, and the former Confederate Soldier Lewis Paine. Just in case he needed to pull together a multiple assassination cross-fire team, because even a crazy could never be _too_ sure of success acting as a Lone Gunman.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Confederacy, Civil War. ~ I find this a very interesting AH possibility because I can't wrap my mind around the idea of a post-war President Lincoln. Assuming he left the office in March, 1869, he would have had to fight the radical members of his own party over Reconstruction, a fight which all but destroyed Andrew Johnson. Would history have been as kind to Lincoln had he lived to go back to Illinois (or if he had merely survived a plot to kill him and then died a natural death while in office) after dividing the early Republican Party? The possibilities make my head hurt!
~ Maybe he went to Dallas...
~ Booth is bringing along the men on the grassy knoll... Lincoln needs to avoid book depositories.
~ Rich,on many levels.
~ This would have been interesting; ISTR Sherman tried to do something similar with Johnston, who had the CS SecWar with him---the SecWar had the authority to deal with all CS armed forces in the field.
~ South Was right!
~ Nice bit about Lee & Grant remembering the old days. Poor Lee wrote later that, despite wracking his brain and politely saying he did, he could not for the life of him remember meeting Grant.
~ Miles -- So save your Dixie Cups!
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Editor says, what if life really was a game and the Battle Royale was a long-established part of American culture? 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 2010 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 2006, in announcing his electoral platform as a Democratic Party Candidate for the US Senate, the actor and human rights activist Ramón Estévez1 pledged to withdraw the State of Ohio2 from the All America Battle Royale for 2007/8.
Watch the Trailer of Battle Royale 
Battle RoyaleA long-established part of American life, every year under the "Battle Royale" program states (or, in the case of small close-together states like Vermont and New Hampshire, or Connecticut and Rhode Island) randomly select a junior high school. Co-written with Eric OppenThe nineth-graders are put in an isolated locale with explosive collars to keep them under control and then given randomly-selected weapons (or "surprises" like boxing gloves) to have them fight to the death until one survives.
Privately, even the most vocal supportes of Estévez expressed doubt as to whether a pacifist could enter the Senate let alone deliver on his campaign pledge. Particularly when his own son Carlos Irwin Estévez3 was a gun-toting hedonist who had risen to fame (as a former winner) through the program.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2006-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Sport Source: The Nation Labels: Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen, Battle Royale, America, Violent Sports. Editor says, 1) Martin Sheen
2) On April 10, 2006, the New York Times reported that members of the Democratic Party in Ohio had contacted Martin Sheen, attempting to persuade him to run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. Sheen declined the offer, stating that "I'm just not qualified," he said. "You're mistaking celebrity for credibility". Sheen has resisted calls to run for office, saying: "There's no way that I could be the president. You can't have a pacifist in the White House ... I'm an actor. This is what I do for a living".
3) Charlie Sheen
~ Pretty good so far, but you should have linked it to the "Lottery" like in Shirley Jackson's story. When I first read _Battle Royale_ the novel (and manga) I was reminded instantly of that story. And why would he want to pull his state out of it?
~ Um . . . just exactly *how* did this "long-established part of American life" get established?
~ That's what I'd like to know.
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Editor says, what if Al Gore had won in 2000? muses Charles R. Testrake. 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 February 2010 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 2034, on this day former President Albert Gore Jr. died at his home in Tennessee of arteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease. He was surrounded by his wife Mary "Tipper" and their four children. He had just recently celebrated his 86th birthday.
Al Gore's ObituaryGore was elected President of the United States in 2000 after the controversial 5-4 Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore, which ruled that a Florida statewide recount would not violate the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The subsequent recount determined that Gore had won the election by 110 votes.
A new story by Charles R. TestrakeAfter the exuberance of the Clinton years and drama of the 2000 election, the Gore presidency was considered by many to be anticlimactic. The economic boom of the 1990's began to dissipate and the unemployment rate rose to 5%. The Gore administration responded with a serious of tax increases to fund public works projects and also began to retighten regulations on the banking industry which had been loosened during the Clinton years.
In June 2001 a major international scandal broke when it was revealed on FOX News that Gore had ordered a CIA black ops unit to violate Pakistani borders to assassinate accused Islamic terrorist Osama bin Laden. Initially Gore denied complicity in bin Laden death, but after intense media pressure was forced to admit that he had ordered the assassination in the interests of national security. Pakistan subsequently broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S. for the remainder of the Gore presidency, and several Republican Congressmen introduced resolutions for impeachment in the House of Representatives. However none of these resolutions came to anything.
By 2004 Gore's approval rating had slipped below 40%, yet he still decided to run for reelection. Gore had to fend off a strong primary challenge from former Connecticut Governor Howard Dean before losing the general election to George W. Bush in another close fight.
"In spite all the good work my father achieved, spring will be a little late this year"In the years immediately following his presidency, Gore managed to recover much of his lost popularity with the release of his environmental film "An Inconvenient Truth," which earned him an Academy Award and the Noble Peace Prize. By the end of 2007 he had become the chief critic of the disastrous Bush presidency. He seriously considered challenging Bush for a third time, but in the end decided to back the candidacy of the junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, who defeated Bush in the biggest electoral landslide in American politically history. The Republican Party has yet to regain the presidency.
Shortly after the announcement of Gore's death his daughter, Karenna Gore Schiff, appeared on the front lawn of the family home. With tears in her eyes she made the following statement: "This morning my father departed this world at peace. A State Funeral will be held in Washington in a few days time, but in lieu of flowers we ask mourners to please make a small donation to the Gore Climate Change Foundation. In spite all the good work my father achieved, spring will be a little late this year".
Entry posted by
Charles R. Testrake
© Charles R. TestrakeStory Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Al Gore, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, America, Presidency. Editor says, the Gore's were still together when I originally wrote the story a year ago, and also this story takes place in an alternate timeline where the Gore's never broke up.
~ Uh-oh. Anticipate a flood of e-hatemail from folks who think Al Gore is the Antichrist.
On topic, I wonder if Bush would have ben renominated by the GOP in '04 after losing to Gore. Of course, Nixon got the nod in '68 after losing to Kennedy, so it's possible.
It's unlikely, however, that after Obama's elecction the GOP would go a generation without winning the presidency. The Republican Party's ties to business and the military give it big political advantages. The last time Republicans were shut out of the presidency for even thtee elections in a row was after the Crash of '29, when they were widely blamed for the Depression. (Before anyone pipes up about how that was unfair, let me say that that doesn't matter--what counts is that, fair or not, the perception was there). And even then, they nearly won in 1948 and won big in '52.
~ No mention of whether Al and Tipper split up in this TL, I notice...
~ Wonder what came of his environmental policies.
~ @Chris Oakley: It mentions that Tipper is his former wife. BTW, what happened to her crusade against the record companies, anyway? With the White House behind her, she could have done a lot more with that, had she had the inclination.
Comment on Facebook from Robert Baker: Who knows. Had to have been better then what we got
Comment on Facebook from Richard Clark: We would all be a lot better off. For one thing, I think he would've prevented the national tragedy of 9/11. I don't think Gore would've been vacationing during almost the entire month of August 2001, ignoring security warnings like Bush did. The economy would be in better shape today. And in my opinion Gore did rightfully win the election in 2000!
Comment on Facebook from Michael Alexis: Leaving aside politics, I think the biggest flaw here is the assumption that any President would have had the political will to assassinate Osama bin Laden if 9/11 had NEVER HAPPENED.
Comment on Facebook from Walter W. Casey: Err, I think if you look, Bush was AWARDED the presidency by SCOTUS. Gore won the popular vote and the decision turned on contested votes in Florida. Since it could not be settled timely, it ended up before the courts. Why do you insist on being so ignorant of the facts? Do you like being embarrassed?
Comment on Facebook from Jim Casey: Listen, YOU said that Gore "did win in 2000"; I say he LOST; yeah yeah, I know all about the court decision and yeah, yeah, I know all about the vote; BTW, if you recheck you flawed 'fact' base, you will find that the FINAL vote count was n...ot what you WANT to see.
For someone who loves to tout that they do not disrespect others nor try to talk down to them, you are failing miserably! (I know, what you're thinking "damn, I thought I had that thorn of truth censored and silenced; damn, double-damn, he is going to blow my whole 'professional' facade!")
~ I wrote this story about a year ago as part of my MFA in Creative Writing program. The intent was show how 9/11, the Iraq War, and the global financial crisis could have been avoided. The irony of course is that my protagonist (Al Gore) loses re-election. If I wrote this story today, I would have probably tried to make Gore's post-presidential life more tragic, with very little resembelance to the life he has today.
~ 1. Florida was essentially a coin flip. An inept state with ballot design and counts by local whim
2. Bin Lauden was in Afghanistan in 2001 not Pakistan - we had the position scoped out but Clinton had refused to order the hit because there was zero chance of pulling it off without collateral damage [women, children etc. in the compound]
3. If W lost in 2000 zero chance he gets the GOP nomination in 2004. Best bets are McLame or Romney [conservative side lacked a strong leader and would likely fracture - see 2008 in OTL]
Comment from Stan Bundy on Facebook: One of the interesting things about the premise is that, according to the recounts actually reported post-election by USA Today, that all of the ways that Gore wanted a recount done would have resulted in a Bush victory - and that the ONE w...ay Bush wanted it done would have had the only result of a Gore victory, by 3 votes.
So an alternate such as this would require either something as simple as different people voting or not voting, or as sinister as a precinct getting voided, or other Democrat malfeasance (like the real attempts to keep US military absentee ballots from being counted by Gore's camp).
Where this really falls flat is the characterisation of the 2005-2009 Bush presidency. All the things that Bush was blamed for in OTL had their roots in the first term that is now fully owned by Gore. A more likely scenario is that Obama doesn't become a presidential candidate until 2012, if not later, even if Bush only served 2005-2009, as none of the motivators of the left would have occurred other than Gore's "convenient lies about the environment" campaign, and Gore's difficulties would have probably caused a positive shift in Congress for the Republicans in 2004 & 2006, and the fact that the financial issues of 2007-2008 are with people very closely tied to Gore in OTL as well (including his partners in the Climate Bank), and would have been even more obvious due to financial scrutiny of Gore from his being president, and inherent conflict of interest. (I wonder if Gore's group monkeying with the environment resulted in the late spring in the memorial remarks, or if the Climate change group shifted focus to make any deviation from their unnaturally static "base climate" a "crisis", once it became apparent that the 90s hot period was part of a normal cycle)
If any party would be losing the presidency for decades, it would be the Democrats, not the Republicans, as Gore's actions would likely have caused a permanent rift in the Democratic party - after all, this was the same party who hung out Gore's running mate in OTL out to dry for just ONE pro-military difference in policy from the main party. Gore assassinating OBL would have caused the party to shatter.
Comment from Edward Portillo on Facebook: Ah, a democrat's dream. No matter how unrealistic it is.
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In 2008, Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe accused British prime minister Gordon Brown of conspiring with opposition leader Tendai Biti to overthrow Mugabe's regime.Plot against Robert Mugabe by Chris OakleyAs proof of his allegations Mugabe produced a letter supposedly written by Biti to senior members of Biti's political party, the Movement for Democratic Change. Prime Minister Brown responded by issuing a countercharge that Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party had forged the letter itself in an attempt
to not only discredit the Zimbabwean pro-democracy movement but also Great Britain.
According to the Zimbabwe Times, the allegedly letter reads: "The swearing in will be done by the Chief Justice at State House and this must be planned in some detail. We have already sent invitations to President Bush, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Kelvin Rudd, Chancellor Angela Merkel and our international partners and other key stakeholders in the People's Project. Soon after the swearing in, President Tsvangirai will immediately take occupation of the President's Office and State House. Our British friends have already taken the President, his wife and the rest of the first family through a crash course on ethics, etiquette and basic protocol associated with this high office. Our international partners also continue to send us their assurances that they will guarantee our assumption of power, including with force of arms if need be".
Entry posted by
Chris Oakley
© Chris Oakley,2008-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Biti Letter Conspiracy Source: Wikipedia Labels: Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe, Gordon Brown, Southern Africa, Conspiracy Theory.comments powered by Disqus
| Detective | On this day in 1947, Xavier March contracted tuberculosis; this illness would keep him confined to a hospital bed in Munich for almost a year. It was right around this time that he met his future wife, Klara Eckart. |
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| Xavier March |
Variant entry posted by
Chris Oakley
original content has been repurposed to celebrate the author's genius © Roberrt Harris, Fatherland 1995.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Xavier March Story Source: Wikipedia Labels: Robert Harris, Fatherland, Xavier March, Lyndon Johnson, Konrad Adenaur.comments powered by Disqus
In 1970, Beatles member Paul McCartney held a press conference to formally deny rumors that the group, which had suffered from disarray for some time, was disbanding. | |
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| The Beatles |
Entry posted by
Eric Lipps
© Eric Lipps,2007-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Music Source: Wikipedia Labels: Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr.comments powered by Disqus
| Challenger | In 1990, prototype testing begins for liquid-fuelled boosters intended for use on the planned Generation II space shuttles. Performance demands are rigorous, as the Generation II's are intended to be capable of reaching geosynchronous orbit rather than merely low Earth orbit, addressing one long-standing complaint about the first-generation shuttles. The decision to move to liquid fuel addresses another: if necessary, it will be possible to throttle back or even halt the burning of fuel in the new boosters, something which could not be done with solid-fuelled rockets. |
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| Space Shuttle |
The Generation I shuttles will continue to fly until the Generation II's are ready. A classified NASA report warns, however, that they remain vulnerable to catastrophic failures. In a footnote, it observes that such a failure might well have occurred on the scheduled Jan. 28, 1986 flight of the Challenger, had engineers for shuttle contractor Morton Thiokol not persuaded their superiors and NASA authorities to delay the launch on account of dangers posed by the cold weather on that date. The Challenger mission planned for that date, carrying Christa McAuliffe, billed as the 'first teacher in space,' launched a week and a half later, on February 9, and proceeded without incident; afterwards, based on the engineers' concerns, the shuttles were subjected to a series of modifications intended to protect the shuttles, and particularly the critical O-ring seals on the solid rocket boosters, from degradation due to temperature; however, there remains concern that the seals may fail, especially as the shuttles age. |
Entry posted by
Eric Lipps
© Eric Lipps,2007-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Generals Source: Wikipedia Labels: Challenger, Space Shuttle, NASA, America, Cold War.comments powered by Disqus
On this day in 1982, Jim Cornette announced the formation of the Enforcers, a stable whose goals were to keep the NWA world title around Tommy Rich's waist and enable Cornette to dominate the NWA. | Manager |
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| Jim Cornette |
Entry posted by
Chris Oakley
© Chris Oakley,2008-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: The Tommy Rich Story Source: Wikipedia Labels: Tommy Rich, Wildfire, Wrestling, NWA, Boxing.comments powered by Disqus
| US President | In 1991, wealthy Connecticut-based investor James Sinclair is tipped off by friends in Washington that President Kemp plans to reintroduce his legislation returning the U.S. to the gold standard, and that Congress is likely to pass it this time. |
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| Jack Kemp |
Entry posted by
Eric Lipps
© Eric Lipps,2007-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Generals Source: Wikipedia Labels: Jack Kemp, Presidency, Gold War, America, Finance.comments powered by Disqus
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© Robbie Taylor, 2004-Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Sockless Source: Robbie Taylors Blog Labels: Jerry Simpson, Robbie A. Taylor, Topeka, Grover Cleveland, 1861.comments powered by Disqus
Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
© Robbie Taylor, 2004-Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Protocols Source: Robbie Taylors Blog Labels: Elders of Protocols of Zion, Robbie A. Taylor, Greater Zionist Resistence, GZR, Nazi.comments powered by Disqus
Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
© Robbie Taylor, 2004-Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Arthur II Source: Robbie Taylors Blog Labels: Arthur Pendragon, Robbie A. Taylor, Camelot Redux, Merlin, England.comments powered by Disqus
Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
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Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: The Langes Source: Robbie Taylors Blog Labels: Dave Lange, Robbie A. Taylor, Jean Lange, The_Langes, Claw.comments powered by Disqus
Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
© Robbie Taylor, 2004-Story Tags
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Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
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Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
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Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
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Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
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Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
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Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
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April 9
Editor says, what if the Swiss Confederates had been defeated by the Habsburgs? 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 December 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1388, at the Battle of Näfels, the Habsburgs crushed a heavily out-numbered force of the Glarus and their allies, the Old Swiss Confederation.
Habsburg Victory at the Battle of NafelsThe victory, which established Habsburg Control over the Central Alpine region, was won by a force of about five thousand men under the command of the Graf Donat von Toggenburg and the Knight Peter von Thorberg. A second column, with about fifteen hundred men under the command of Graf Hans von Werdenberg-Sargans, had also marched over the Kerenzerberg Pass.
Whereas the opposition was a force of only four hundred Glarner troops and a few dozen men from both Schwyz and Uri. But following up the easy victory was much more difficult and the Empire struggled to create an Austrian Puppet State. Within a century, they were forced to place a Habsburg Swiss monarch on the throne, creating a Kingdom of Switzerland.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: General Source: Wikipedia Labels: Glarus, Old Swiss Confederation, Battle of Näfels, Austrians, Werner Stauffacher. Editor says, in reality, due to freak weather conditions, the Swiss were victorious and a seven-years' peace was signed at Vienna, leaving the Confederation in undisputed possession of all the territory they had acquired in the recent war. In the same year, the first Näfelser Fahrt, a pilgrimage to the site of the battle was held. This pilgrimage, which still occurs, happens on the first Thursday in April and is in memory of the battle. The pilgrimage played an important role in the creation of the unified canton of Glarus.
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Editor says, what if Ögedei Khan had lived? 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 August 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1241, the seemingly unstoppable progress of the Mongol invasion of European gathered further momentum as the combined defending forces of Poles, Czechs and Germans under the command of the Polish duke Henry II the Pious of Silesia (supported by feudal nobility and a few knights from military orders sent by the Pope) were slaughtered at the Battle of the Field of Legnica also called Walstadt.
Mongol march to the Great Sea begins with a famous victory at LiegnitzHeavily armed in both plate and chain, and utilizing weapons such as broadswords, shields, and lances, the Europeans confronted a mobile force carrying daggers, maces, and swords, although their primary weapon was the bow. And the Mongols made maximum advantage of their primary assets of speed and maneuverability by tricking the Duke who was easily lured by a false retreat into an enemy ambush. The Duke himself was struck down and beheaded while attempting to flee the battlefield with three bodyguards, and the Mongols paraded his head on a spear before the town of Legnica. The Mongols cut the right ear off of each fallen European in order to count the dead; they filled nine sackfuls.
The remainder of European nobility faced the same fate. Two Mongol Armies led by Batu and Subutai had invaded Hungary, and a third led by Kadanhad won an unbroken series of victories at Sandomierz, Tursk, Chmielnik and then Krakow. Warned that King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia was two days away with an army of fifty thousand, they had quickly turned from Wroclaw to intercept Henry's forces before the European armies could meet.
The famous victory was another strategic triumph for Subutai and his master plan to destroy the European armies one at a time rather than allowing them to mass in force. Once again, the traditional European warfare method of hand-to-hand combat between knights ended in catastrophe when it was deployed against the Mongol forces, as the Mongols were able to keep a distance and advance with superior number. Subutai and Batu Khan began to plan for the winter invasion of Central Europe, marching all the way to the "Great Sea" (the Atlantic Ocean).
This historical depiction is unaltered other than that the Mongol invasion continues into Central Europe (it has been widely suggested that the invasion would have failed even without the fortuitous death of Ögedei Khan).
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Generals Source: Wikipedia Labels: Mongol, Kadan, Legnickie Pole, Silesia, Henry II. Editor says, in reality Ögedei Khan died, the armies were recalled and after the battles of Mohi and Liegnitz, the Mongols never again seriously looked westward for conquest, only raiding for loot, and even then they were not able to commit the bulk of their forces, which had to guard against other Mongol. It has been widely suggested that even if Ögedei Khan had lived the invasion would have ultimately failed. In authoring this post, we have repurposed content from Wikipedia.
~ Nowadays it is widely believed that the Mongols DID get across the Great Sea to a continent where they became known as Native Americans...who were also noted for their skill with a bow. Unfortunately for them, they did not progress to firearms, like the people who crossed the Great Sea long after they did.
~ There's the old story that Mongol bows would break down in the wetter European environment and fast-paced invasion of the Mongol style might not give folks time to adapt to the preferrable local fighting style, ala Hannibal in Italy. Perhaps the invasion produced a corps of Mongol knights.
~ This might have changed European civilization in a lot of ways. Most places the Mongols seriously took were not the better for the experience...Russia, the Muslim world, China...
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Editor says, what if the 1968 Democratic Nomination race was wide open? 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 May 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1965, on this day the thirty-eighth Vice President of the United States Hubert Humphrey, Jr. was shot at the Jack Tar Capitol House Hotel in Baton Rouge.
Tragedy in Baton RougeThe Secret Service had received warnings that right-wing organizations would make an attempt on Humphrey's life because of his integrationist beliefs. But the Vice President had refused to cancel the trip because of a commitment he had made to the Governor of Louisiana, John J. McKeithen. In the event both men were critically injured by shots fired by three gunman in the ballroom of the hotel.
Humphrey made a partial recovery and although a shadow of his former self, had intended to serve out his term of office. However by early 1968 it was becoming increasingly clear that the President's own position was becoming untenable. The administration now required an alternative "Beat Kennedy" Candidate in order to prevent the hated New York Senator from seizing the nomination. To be continued..
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy, America, Premature Death. Editor says, in reality the secret service foiled the assassination attempt.
~ I wonder if Humphrey would have been able to serve out his term until '68 under such conditions. Even if so, who would the "Beat Kennedy" candidate have been? I assume there's more to come.
~ 1965 has no way to replace a sitting VP.
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Editor says, what if Sir Francis Bacon survived the chill contracted during his snow research? muses Jeff Provine on the This Day in Alternate History web site. 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 May 2011 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1625, days after a spontaneous beginning to the experiment, Bacon announced by letter to the King his findings on the ability to preserve raw meat through freezing.
Bacon Announces Preservation of Meat by FreezingAccording to biographer John Aubrey, the idea had come to him suddenly while riding with the King's physician through the snow in Highgate. They attempted the experiment immediately, purchasing a fowl from a peasant woman at the bottom of the hill. Bacon prepared to stuff it with snow, but the physician warned him of the medical dangers of chill, and Bacon duly protected himself with gloves borrowed from the coachman.
A new story by Jeff ProvineHis frozen bird proved preserved and ready for cooking when it was thawed upon Bacon's return to his home. Following his philosophy, Bacon attempted the experiment repeatedly and duly observed results, measuring rates of decay after various times with what grew into an enormous stock of frozen food. He wrote a letter to King James noting its practicality in preserving food for warfare or famine, and the king rewarded him with a small sum. The money was a pittance in comparison to Bacon's massive debts, but the fame would prove more than enough to keep the scientist's name in the popular memory until his publication of New Atlantis, which served as a model for an idealized scientific community.
Despite his incredible mastery of experimental science (what would become known as the "Baconian Method"), Bacon was not mindful of his expenses and spent most of his life buried in debt. He received puritanical tutelage at home and higher education at Trinity College, Cambridge, with his older brother Anthony, where he studied under future Archbishop of Canterbury Dr John Whitgift and met Queen Elizabeth, who affectionately referred to him as "the young Lord Keeper". Bacon extensively traveled abroad, learning much about political science during his time in France, Italy, and Spain. When his father died in 1579, young Bacon returned to England finding that he had only one-fifth of his expected inheritance, and the money he had borrowed became officially debt. He took up practice of law to support himself and entered Parliament after a few years of struggles. Bacon rose through politics quickly to become Attorney General and then Lord Chancellor, but was found guilty of repeatedly taking gifts as a judge (a common practice at the time). Also accused of sodomy and pedantry, he bowed out of political life, as well as much of his family life when he discovered his wife Alice Barnham carrying on an affair with John Underhill.
Instead, Bacon dedicated himself to science. Upon the publication of his thoughts on Utopia, Bacon found himself a chance to return to the social scene not as a politician, but with a seat as an official scientific researcher for the king. Charles I had been intrigued with his freezing techniques for food as useful in the war effort against Spain. Bacon had campaigned for a Minister for Science and Technology during the reign of Elizabeth, and now his ideas had come to fruition. While his research primarily was dedicated to preservation through freezing, alchemy, and boiling (building the groundwork for Germ Theory to be understood over the next century by microscopist Henry Powers), Bacon also used his political contacts in the increasingly Protestant Parliament to ensure the continuation of his office.
Minister Bacon died in 1634, reportedly writing at his desk with quill in hand, and the Ministry of Science did indeed continue. Many thought that the seat would be given to Thomas Hobbes, but the philosopher's proposed research into political theory did not match Bacon's posthumous requirements for direct application. Instead, the seat went to a young physician, Thomas Browne, who would be instrumental in developing battlefield medicine. Later, the ministry would be held by great thinkers such as Henry Powers, Robert Boyle, and, especially known, Isaac Newton, whose works in optics, metallurgy, mathematics, and many other fields would set London apart as a great center of development. As per Bacon's sentiments, all of the new science has since been handed down through the engineers of the Ministry of Science, who determine practical applications such as Powers' use of pressure (particularly steam) to drive an engine, Newton's interchangeable parts for mass production, and Charles Babbage's later use of automation.
Entry posted by
Jeff Provine
© Jeff Provine, 2010-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Jeff Provine Blog Source: Jeff Provine’s Blog Labels: Bacon, Freezing, Charles Babbage, John Aubrey, Inventors. Editor says, in reality Bacon died as a result of pneumonia contracted from a damp bed after developing a chill during his snow-research. He left substantial debts of £23,000, which is some £3 million adjusted for 2009. Bacon's legacy would ultimately be his philosophy of scientific experimentation, which would contribute to the founding of the Royal Society in 1662.
~ Didn't people always know that frozen things lasted?
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Editor says, what if Little Mac had forced Lincoln out of office? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1865, driven from office by the West Point Conspirators, Jeff Davis flees across the Mississippi River to establish a short-lived Western Confederacy. The less fortunate Abraham Lincoln is shot by British Redcoats on the border with liberal Canada and dies in the arms of Harriet Tubman.
West Point ConspiracyThe eventual prospect of a decisive Union military victory had been dashed by the arrival of fresh Anglo-French divisions after the third consecutive defeat for the Federals at Antietam1. The Union Commander-in-Chief George McClellan was relieved of duty, choosing to run on an anti-war platform as a Democrat Candidate in order to force a contest with Lincoln in the 1864 Presidential Election. Both Lincoln and Davis were determined to fight on and their continuing, intransigent leadership into 1865 made political compromise close to impossible.
Ever since General Sherman was repulsed in the West, the military high commands had decided it was time to seek a military rather than a political solution that would stop the slaughter. Indeed, McClellan was the most popular of the Federal army's commanders with its soldiers, who felt that he had their morale and well-being as paramount concerns.
Negotiations were underway as soon as it became clear that Lincoln would win in 1864. Problem was not so much agreeing a ceasefire, but looking beyond that to a general settlement. The possibility of a compromise emerged in the meeting at Appotomax (pictured) with General Lee's insightful suggestion that a new compact between the States must be forged. His logic was that whilst the continuation of slavery might be morally repugnant, it was equally true that the original compact was predicated upon the continuation of the institution, and ultimately, it was the Federals use of authority to force the issue that had led to the break-up of the Union.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee. Editor says, 1) in our timeline, Britain and France received Judah Benjamin's entreaty to ally with the Confederacy, but waited for a third successive Confederate Victory; instead, the Union won at Antietam and this threat receded. In this OTL where the Confederates win out at Antietam, we have assumd therefore that "Little Mac" was even more radicalized against the war; refusing to accept electoral defeat, launched a coup d'etat. Lincoln might have sought refuge in Canada (as he does in the fictionalized account described in the 2004 movie CSA) instead of being accepted by Canadian Liberals, the British shout him in support of their Confederate Allies.
Thanks to Jeff Provine for the conception of the article title.
~ Okay, maybe its just me, but this seems to be all over the place. Why are France and England invading? Whom are they assisting? Why is Lincoln running to Canada, if he was re-elected? Thanks for your feedback more context added
~ Interesting thought for the West Point guys to conspire. They did already know each other anyway (except for the famous story where Grant eagerly meets Lee at Appomattox and describes meeting him before, though Lee has no recollection). Davis was class of '28 (and a part of the famous Egg Nog Riot); goody-two-shoes Lee (class of '29) was doing his trigonometry homework.
~ A military oligarchy - America, the New Sparta!
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Editor says, what if his own difficulties in governing a Sugar State created the need for a Hamiltonian economic program? 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 February 2011 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1782, the decisive French naval victory at the Battle of the Saintes marked the beginning of the end of British rule over the Sugar Islands.
Sugar StateBecause the crushing of Royal Naval Forces under the command of Admiral Sir George Rodney by the Comte de Grasse's French Fleet enabled the French and Spanish to proceed with the planned invasion of Jamaica. Within eighteen months, the seven thousand islands, islets, reefs, and cays of the Caribbean region would be admitted into the Union as a single maritime polity known as "The Sugar State". And the infant American Republic would confront a whole set of fresh challenges that threatened to wreck the ship of state.
The Founding Fathers made a pragmatic choice in proposing the appointment of Alexander Hamilton (pictured) as First Governor. In theory he was uniquely qualified for the position. Born out of wedlock on the Leeward Island of Nevis, he emigrated to the Eastern Seaboard as a young man. Initially loyalist in outlook, he was radicalized as a student at King's College in New York City (now Columbia University) and would later serve as George Washington's Chief of Staff.
In the medium term, white sugar farmers would have to confront the rise of enslaved African labourers long before the cotton plantation owners in the southern states of the interior. But a more pressing problem was the almost immediate outbreak of a quasi-war with Great Britain. With States coffers drained by the War of Independence, the new nation would need to raise big money fast in order to build a navy capable of defending their maritime forward position. By the time of the 1800 election, the situation was critical. And so immediately after the inauguration, Governor Hamilton travelled to Washington for a fateful confrontation with the third US President, Colonel Aaron Burr.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Admiral Sir George Rodney, Comte de Grasse. ~ The loss of that income would make GB a lot less willing to say "ah, screw it" and grant the US its independence. Those islands were mucho valuable then---IIRC, the French blew off losing Quebec as long as they got to keep Martinique.
~ True enough. Of course if they stay in the Union then Emancipation is also complicated.
~ Perhaps this question of emancipation is what weakens the Jeffersonians into not getting him elected.
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Editor says, what if Robert E. Lee had taken the Army of Northern Virginia into the hills? muses Zach Timmons. Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1865, on this day Confederate General Robert E. Lee issued the fateful order for the Army of Northern Virginia to disband and to take to the wilderness to act as guerilla fighters. His aide Walter Taylor apparently suggested the idea to him, and Lee, grief-stricken by the recent death of his wife Mary, and of the death of his son William as a Union prisoner, approved it.
American GuerillasFor the next 5 years, a reign of terror ruled the South as shootings, lynchings, and bombings became the norm. Anyone suspected of Union sympathies or those who collaborated with the occupation forces were frequently killed as an example to others, and the Union Army gradually laid a heavier and heavier hand on the South, taking civilians as hostages and conducting frequent reprisals.
After the assassination of President Andrew Johnson in 1868, Democrat Horatio Seymour defeated former general Ulysses S. Grant for the Presidency. Seymour immediately opened talks with the rebel leaders, most notably Nathan B. Forrest and John Mosby. A deal was struck with the rebels that the South would recieve limited autonomy, with the ability to opt out of trade deals and tariffs, but in return, slavery would be phased out over 20 years, with slaveowners receiving compensation. On January 1st, 1870, the agreement (now referred to as the Washington Agreement) officially took effect, and is now regarded in the South as a quasi-Independence Day.
Entry posted by
Zach Timmons
© Zach Timmons, 2008-Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Zachs Blog Source: Zach's Blog Labels: Robert E. Lee, Confederacy, American Civil War, ACW, Union. ~ The technology available during the civil war made defence far superior to the offense in most engagements. The South used this tactic time and again to thwart superior northern armies. What is ironic is that General Lee was on the offence at Gettysburg and suffered as a result. He had a great deal of confidence in his soldiers and as a result he miscalculated. He made few errors and never repeated any including Gettysburg. The North was able to carry out a very successful campaign further to the west and through Georgia. The terrain and limited number of southern soldiers was a big factor in those areas. It seems to me that the first world war saw these mistakes repeated on a grand scale. Tom Hickie fredericton
~ I doubt that it would have worked. Confederate spirit had been broken at that point. Civilians couldn't supply the army, how could they supply guerillas? As it were, none of the Confederate armies reformed in any way. (Okay, Quantrel, I believe, held out, but he was just a bandit.) The war ws over, and they knew it.
Comment from Chris Schultz on Facebook: Kinda like how the British capitulated to the IRA. This is probably the most realistic alternate Civil War outcome I've ever seen.
~ Interesting,the north had limited resolve.
~ Problem is that the best guerilla territory was also the least sympathetic toward the CSA and thier leadership. Meanwhile the Freedmen will volunteer in droves for the occupation garrisons that dominate the lowlands where the Confederate leadership's base of support is.
~ HTG said what I would have said. Also, the mountain areas weren't exactly oversupplied with food even in peacetime, and wouldn't have had extra for hordes of hungry Confederate guerrillas. In any case, a blind man could see that the Old South that the CSA was trying to preserve was dead as could be---why prolong the agony to no good purpose, particularly with the West just waiting out there? A lot of ex-Confederates went West in the years after the War, and some did very well.
~ More likely scenerio would be like the North launcing massiive and ruthless reprisals, destroying property, shooting hostages and other reprisal executions, destroying crops and other massive work until the south is crushed and occupied.
Perhaps a little hearts and minds might e worked in. They would have a relatively less difficult time since though unionists were a minority in the south, they were a large one.
~ 1. lee is unlikely to actually do this. Not his style. Better to have Lee lead the last attack [Gordon's in OTL] Have Lee KIA, preferably killed by a black regiment [would take small changes in Grant's deployments as in fact the black corps occupied Richmond]. Early and Fitz Lee wanted to do this and with Masa Robert dead there is no one to stop them.
2. You totally miss the likely Union reaction which is scorched earth. See sherman's march and Sheridan's Valley campaign
3. Union public does not elect Seymour. Probably not even Grant who was not a hard war man in that sense. Given a bottomless guerilla in Dixie Grant is probably still in the field as is Sherman. probable President is Sheridan who the radicals loved.
~ I have to agree with Eric Oppen and H. Torrance Griffin on this one.
~ I agree with Eric and HTG as well. By this time, the South didn't have the heart to fight. Sherman's March had done its job. You might have seen small bands of dead-enders harassing Union troops, but no realistic resistance.
I almost wish the South *had* gone to guerrilla tactics. The federal government would've come down much harder on the South, and we might've been spared 100 years of Jim Crow.
Comment from Robert Caudle on Facebook: The war would have lasted years longer than it did but, the outcome would be uncertain.
~ A greater probability would be a stronger version of the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan, perhaps one retAaining the conventional military structure, including ranks, of the CS Army instead of inventing the bizarre array of new offices and ranks the KKK did in our history--and calling itself by some less esoteric name, such as, perhaps, the Free Confederate Army or the Sons of the Confederacy--something like a Southern version of the IRA.
~ I wonder what the Southern slang for the guerrilla soldiers would have been. "Warries"? "Hill Boys"?
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Editor says, what if George Bush wasn't a higher flyer? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 2010, it was announced on this day that Supreme Court Justice George H.W. Bush, age 85, will retire from the bench after twenty-three years on the court.
"Skin" Comes off the Bench by Brian VisaggioFollowing the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Bush decided to join the US Navy, becoming the youngest naval aviator at just eighteen. His lanky physique earned him the nickname "Skin". Attending Yale after the war, he played as the star pitcher on their baseball team (a sport his eldest son would eventually run as MLB commissioner), and eventually graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor's in Economics.
After a career in the oil industry, in 1966 was elected to the House of Representatives, beginning a long life of public service inspired by his father, Senator Prescott Bush eventually taking on the jobs of Ambassador to the United Nations and Director of the CIA, culminating in an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination in 1980. Selected as Reagan's running mate, he impressed his former rival as an intelligent and capable thinker, well-versed in constitutional principles, eventually culminating in the President nominating the sitting VP to the bench itself after the retirement of Justice Lewis Powell. Proving a thoughtful and serious jurist, he served through four presidents, including his own successor as vice president, Orrin Hatch.
Entry posted by
Brian Visaggio
© Today in Alternate History, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Alternate Nations Source: Wikipedia Labels: George Bush, Ronald Reagan, America, Supreme Court, George H.W.Bush. ~ While not a legal necessity it is zero probability that the Senate would have approved a non-attorney, much less a sitting VP.
~ I agree with Scott. That said, having a non-attorney on the SC would be interesting, if nothing else. I wonder how GHWB would have voted on abortion cases?
~ Considering that as vice-president Bush was in the presidential line of succession, I suspect Congress would have been reluctant to confirm him. For the same reason, I think Reagan's top advisers would have counseled against naming the Veep to the Court.
~ Yeah, this scenario does seem a tad far-fetched...
~ There'd be even more suspicion of nepotism with GW Bush or Jeb running for office.
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Editor says, what if the Confederacy didn't open fire at Fort Sumter? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1861, on this day Major Anderson at Fort Sumter had withdrawn his men completely from contact with Charleston, knowing that keeping them in proximity with those civilians would trigger some fight that would probably escalate into further trouble.
Showdown at Fort Sumter Part 2 by Raymond SpeerPresident Jefferson Davis came to the correct conclusion about Lincoln's motives, but having done that, ceased to do anything else and sat by impassively. Davis' rival wanted the first shot fired by the secessionists. Unfortunately, Lincoln had a very good chance of making those wishes come true because the local Confederate state government (South Carolina) preferred forcing out the garrison from the fort. As Davis appraised the situation, it was possible that South Carolina would shrug aside the costraint of the confederal gov't and fire cannon on the feds on their own volition.
The Secretary of State of the Confederate States of America made the strongest presentation against a Southern action against the fort at a last Confederate Cabinet meeting on the evening of April 10, 1861. He had the inestimable value of access to Major Anderson's signals to Abraham Lincoln in which the major wrote that he planned to offer no resistance. Before that meeting, most meetings with Davis had assumed hat the South would fire at the fort. From that evening on, the order was that the reprovision of the fort would be allowed to take place.
Abraham Lincoln had skated to the verge of war, and like the frontier rustic he was, the new Union President jubilated in Northern praise of his "victory". That success made no practical difference in Lincoln's chances to reduce the South. Lincoln still spurned all commissions and emissaries sent to him by Davis or any other Southerner. As soon as April 12, Lincoln was planning the use of Northern resources to quell the South.
In the big picture, the Fort Sumter imbroglio proved utterly unimportant. The April 17, 1861, seizure by the Virginia Militia of the US Naval Base at Norfolk was argued by the North to be a Southern theft of Northern property without compensation, and that was all it took to justify Northern aggression against the South.
Few noticed when Fort Sumter was taken by the South on June 1, 1861, when the War was already underway. The Northern garrison did not make a serious show of commitment.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Today in Alternate History, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Alternate Nations Source: Wikipedia Labels: Abraham Lincoln, Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbour, Robert Anderson, Robert Anderson. ~ Three points:
(1) Shouldn't it be "a last Cabinet meeting"? there seems to be a typo here.
(2) Shouldn't it be "utterly unimportant"?
(3) Northerners would hardly have argued that the seizure of the Norfolk naval base was justification for "Northern aggression against the Soouth." They would have argued, instead, that it was the South which was engaging in aggression, by way of a treasonous act against the U.S. government.
~ Why Norfolk and not the seizure on bases and Federal facilities throughout the South?
~ "Confederal government?" Other than that, I agree with my learned friend Mr. Lipps' points. Fixed - thanks. Ed
~ I think they were going to open a Starbucks at Fort Sumter before the war started...:D
~ If memory serves me correctly the southern seizure of Norfolk naval base was triggered by the shooting at Ft. Sumpter. But whatever, that and the Virginia advance on Harper's Ferry arsonal would be sufficient proof of southern agression to justify war and blockade. As for Fort Sumpter, if propery garrisioned, it would bave been difficult to take except by bombardment and siege.
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Editor says, at the end of the Appomattox campaign, what if Ulysses S. Grant did wake up to hear that Robert E. Lee had fled to the hills to lead a guerrilla insurgency? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 1865, on this day Confederate General Robert E. Lee mounted his horse Traveler and with a deep sigh ordered the dissolution of the Army of North Virginia.
Trump CardThis informal cessation of hostilities between regular forces marked a new phase in the American Civil War. By ordering his troops to continue the fight as guerrillas in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the General had played the trump card that President Abraham Lincoln most dreaded.
But in a sense, he was only following the orders of the fleeing Confederate President Jefferson Davis who had issued his own call for guerrilla struggle. In anticipation of that order, hundreds of Lee's men had already vanished into the hills on their own initiative. And yet Lee had not taken the decision lightly, he had convened a council of war in which he had been advised that "a little more blood more or less makes no difference now". Nevertheless events in Virginia would soon mirror those in Missouri, where a full-scale guerrilla war of terrifying ferocity had dragged the state into a whirlpool of vengeance.
In his diary, Union General Ulysses S. Grant had noted "I was afraid every morning that I would wake up from my sleep to hear the Lee had gone .. and the war was prolonged". He was absolutely right, Even a cursory review of Lee's record indicates that he would never surrender to the abolitionists, despite his own fear that "we would bring on a state of affairs that would take the country years to recover from".
- As a Brevet Colonel of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, shooting John Brown dead at the climax of the Harper's Ferry Raid
- Refusing to honour the terms of his father-in-law's will which would have freed the slaves under his control
- After entering Pennsylvania, permitting his men to round up many former slaves and free blacks and send them south into slavery
- Refusing President Lincoln's offer of the Command of Union Forces at the outbreak of war
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Jay Winik "Graceful Exit" published in American History, Winter Edition: 35 Decisive Moments in American History AND Daniel Marino, reader's letter in the April 2010 Edition of Civil War TimesStory Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Alternate Nations Source: Wikipedia Labels: Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Presidency, 1860 Election, Civil War. ~ This ATL version of Robert E. Lee is a very different man from the one who fought for the Confederacy OTL. Lee was above all else a VMI man for whom his personal honor outweighed his personal desires on a grand scale. I could see OTL General Lee ordering his troops to disperse and carry on the fight, especially if he received a direct order to do so from President Jefferson Davis. The ATL man who would have abrogated his Father-In-Laws will for personal gain is not of that same character and would be far more inclined to surrender sooner so as to have reduced his own risks of death or injury.
~ I just don't see it. There was no honour in a guerilla war, no chance of victory.
Comment from J Michael Antoniewicz II on Facebook: Considering how well Col. Mosby had done before Gen. Grant was put in charge of the Union Army and started his move South, Gen. Lee would have had a prime example of how shifting from one form of warfare to another would bear fruit for the South.
The number of men the North would have needed to Garrison every crossroads, every township, every ... See Morewhere there was any kind of settlement, farming, and industry would have ballooned the Union Army into a size it could not long sustain. To the point that Lincoln would have faced the choice of suspending the Constitution, declaring Martial Law, and (somehow) Conscripting Troops for years ... OR riding out the next election as it turned into a vote on continuing the War or offering terms that, in effect, acknowledged the Confederate States of America.
I agree with Allen W. McDonnell in that the alt. Gen. Lee would not have been the same man who so ably led the Armies of the South and garnered the willing deep loyalty of his men that would have allowed him to hold that post. The Gen. Lee of the Main Timeline could have very well chosen to disperse his Army into Guerrilla Warfare Units and so, won the War.
~ Apart from what has been said above, it all depends whether where is any chance that the countryside could actually support a guerilla war. The Reb guerilla army would still need to eat, let alone ensure weapons materiel, & give that the Union armies were prepared to burn entire states to the ground, more or less, to see an end to the war, it's hard to see the guerillas last for very long. And given major combat operations are over, I can't really see who this will overly effect Union politics. Instead the South could suffer even more harshly, than the OTL, if it continues military action albeit a guerilla war.
~ Point of detail - Lee was a West Pointer not a VMI man.
more generally the ATL ignores Sheridan's Valley campaign of 1864 which essentially destroyed the logistical base of such a campaign. Presume that half of Lee's last 25K [the numbers for the Appomattox Campaign are approximate at best] go off to play guerilla [essentially the Virginians; most of the rest would have headed for home even if they continued to fight]. Without the need to maintain a Federal field army in Virginia outside the DC suburbs and Richmond-Petersburg-Norfolk Grant just keeps sending Sheridan through burning the state to the ground. this is not olike Mosby who could live off friendly civilians and plunder from Union depots. A few garrison towns like Winchester are all that would be needed for such campaigns. Absent a Confederate field army there is nothing to prevent this. Guerillas o not attack cavalry brigades. Virginia winds up essentially depopulated. Maryland, West Virginia and the Chambersburg area of PA endure some nasty reprisal raids by small Confederate bands [Union could garrison the Potomac fords but good horsemen in small numbers could swim the river most places above DC]. War peters out into endemic banditry and mutual reprisals.
~ The trouble with this bright idea is that the "hills" that Lee's men would have been heading for were the part of the Confederacy _least_ gung-ho about the whole "Confederate States of America" thing. Not to mention, food was tight up there at the best of times, and the locals would not have appreciated this bunch of flatlanders moving in on them, hogging the food, and bringing Yankee retribution down on their heads. Pretty soon the ANV would have had the options of surrendering to the Union or being shot to pieces one unit at a time by angry mountaineers.
~ Another problem is Lee's heart condition, alluded to in this post. In our history, it killed him in 1870, the same year he dies in this scenario--but somehow, I find it hard to believe that he'd have lasted so long under the rugged conditions imposed by guerrilla warfare.
And the death of Lee would have been a heartbreaker for any unified Confederate resistance. I believe that as word of it spread, the rebel forces would have dissolved (the CS Army's desertion rate was staggering in any case long before the war ended).
This doesn't preclude the persistance of isolated terrorist bands. But it's worth remembering that such bands existed in our history too (notably those of the Reconstruction-era KKK), yet failed to reverse the verdict of the war. (What they did do, with the help of obdurate Southern white resistance to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and the U.S. government's lack of enthusiasm for continuing Reconstruction after the mid-1870s, was win the peace: between 1876 and 1890, Southen blacks were essentially returned to serfdom, though not outright slavery.)
Comment from David Reynolds on Facebook: Interesting to say the least, but Lee wouldn't have been Lee if he had authorized this! He WAS a Gentleman soldier and was probably as tired of war as everyone else and would have definitely know about Shermans' March to the Sea and the great swathe of devastation left in his wake. Total War wasn't a concept anyone knew in 1861 but they sure understood it in 1865!!
~ Except in the frontier regions where men like Jesse James operated, the south's war would not have lasted very long. THey were already broken. Men were deserting in great numbers. Many sou thern whites were actually joining the Northern army in growing numbers. Except for South Carolina there was not a southern state that did not contribute at least a batallion of whitle soldiers to the Northern army, and that is not counting individuals who enlisted directly into nothern units. Sherman's march to the sea already broke them. Except for a few diehards, most of the south was too tired to fight. And where they would have fought, the North would have sent forces to ruthlessly crush them with savage reprisals.
~ Eric Lipps raises an interesting point by mentioning Lee's medical problems.
Comment from Jon Calico Jack Marshall on Facebook: Completely antithetical to Lee's personality.
Comment from Robbin Francis on Facebook: The worst thing that could have have happened at the end of the civil war almost came true.Many Confederate hot head generals wanted to go "underground" and continue the fight indefinately.
They had a meeting with Robert E.Lee, pleading and begging him to lead them on in this endless blodshed.But Robert E. Lee had an almost god-like aura about him.... See MoreHe rarely raised his voice or lost his temper but on this occasion he did both,actually getting in the face of several hot head generals.He told them to lay down their arms and go home "It is time for the healing to begin" he told them.Because of the enourmous respect he comanded the generals backed down and meekly left the room to seek surrender and to pay the unknown consequences of their actions at the hands of the Union authorities.
There is a great book on this subject called "April 1865" by Jay Winik.Fascinating book about almost history.
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Editor says, what if the ideology of the Worker's Party and it's military wing, the Official IRA, was the most popular amongst nationalists during "the Troubles"? 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 April 2010 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1981, on this day Robert Sands was elected as Member of Parliament in a by-election for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone district of Northern Ireland, on a ticket for "The Worker's Party of Ireland".
"Our revenge will be the laughter of our children" by Gerry ShannonSands' election is historical for several reasons. At age 29, he is the youngest MP ever elected in the United Kingdom, but he is yet another electoral success for the Marxist-Leninist Worker's Party - a further vindication of the far left strategy persued by party leaders Cathal Goulding and Sean Garland following the split in the republican Sinn Féin party in 1970. The party most notably has a parliamilitary wing, the Official Irish Republican Army, of which Sands was a member until it's permanent ceasefire in 1972.
In his victory speech, Sands claims: "Our revenge will be the laughter of our children". In this oft-repeated phrase by his admirers in the decades after, Sands made clear his intention to destroy the inequality amongst the working class of the Unionist-dominated state forever when he took his seat in the power-sharing government in Stormont. (The power-sharing executive had been in place since the Sunningdale Agreement of 1973).
He would keep his seat through subsequent elections until resigning to become a candiate in the 1990 presidential election for the twenty-six counties of the Republic of Ireland. Sands was the shared nominee for the Worker's Party and Labour. Sands would win, and would serve the fourteen years of two terms as President until leaving office in 2004 - quite possibly the most popular holder of the title of President thus far in the history of the Irish Republic. Outside of political life, Sands would also become a semi-regular author of several collections of short stories and poetry, mostly written in Irish.
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Gerry Shannon
© Gerry Shannon, 2008-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Ireland, IRA, Troubles, Bobby Sands, Britain. Editor says, of course, "Our revenge will be the laughter of our children" is a quote from Sands' prison diary which he kept during his imprisonment as a member of the Provisional IRA. The prison diary was published years after his famous (and fatal) hunger strike for "political status" by the British government. During the hunger strike, Sinn Féin, the political wing of the Provisional IRA, put him forward as a candidate for the Fermanagh-Tyrone by-election - which he won. "The People's Own MP" is an Irish rebel song by Christy Moore, about Bobby Sands.
~ You could make a whole book out of this...
~ I never did understand the logic of hunger striking, but then, I _looooved_ Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." A persistent hunger striker might wake up to find me happily bricking up the door to his cell...
~ FF is not the same party in Donegal as it is in Cork.
OIRA was discredited in the early days of the troubles. ``Irish (I) ran away=IRA''
Officials were a Dublin based party.
You need the British to break the UUCW strike. To save sunningdale, and then a good chance a large part of the Unionist votes to wreck it
Unlikely that a northern socialist would hold office
Comment from Gerry - Completely agree with the guy's POV, as that's what happened. But this is a historical fantasy after all.
~ Though Bobby Sands was elected to Parliament in OTL, he would not have been permitted to take his seat even had he not been in prison, unless he swore allegiance to the Queen - which as an IRA member he would have refused to do. Possibly in this scenario he would have taken the same steps as a member of the Scottish National Party (whose name escapes me) when she was elected to the first Scottish Parliament in 1999 - she swore allegiance with her fingers crossed!
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In 1859, the first edition of Charles Darwin's satirical novel Planet of the Apes is published.The Darwin Laws by Eric LippsDarwin, an amateur naturalist, had sailed on the second voyage of the HMS Beagle in 1831-'32. At one point, the Beagle, having sustained damage in a storm off the Horn of Africa, had put in at Cape Town, South Africa, where Darwin had observed captured specimens of orangutans and chimpanzees and heard travelers' rumors of another, larger ape native Africans called a gorilla, which white Europeans then believed to be mythical. Darwin conceived the idea for a satire imagining a future in which intelligent, civilized apes of several types, corresponding to the three recognized human races, ruled over speechless primitive humans. Although a rough draft was completed in 1835, Darwin, fearing it might anger the Church of England, delayed for many years seeking its publication. In the meantime, he refined the novel, drawing on ideas obtained from correspondence with fellow naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.
Darwin's book instantly became a controversial success. Nineteenth-century racists such as England's Houston Stewart Chamberlain and Frenchman Charles de Gobineau praised it as a vivid warning of what might happen if 'the lesser races' prevailed, and especially if there were interbreeding between whites and non-whites. In the United States, the book played a substantial role in the emergence of the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan. Later, however, several U.S. states would pass laws aimed at banning
any text suggesting that the supremacy of the white race should, will or can be overthrown in favor of rule by a nonwhite race 
.
In 1925, high school English teacher John Thomas Scopes would be prosecuted in Dayton, Tennessee for assigning Darwin?s book to his students. Billed as a major First Amendment case, the Scopes trial would end in conviction; Scopes would be fined 100 USD. The fine would be paid by the Chicago Tribune, whose acerbic reporter H. L. Mencken would be among the journalists covering the proceedings. The conviction would be overturned later on a technicality, but Scopes would be forced to leave Tennessee following a barrage of death threats. 'Darwin laws' such as the one under which Scopes was tried would finally be ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Epperson v. Arkansas.
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Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Beasts Source: News Daily Labels: Planet of the Apes, Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, Scopes Trial, Genesis.comments powered by Disqus
This story was published in the May 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1483, King Edward IV of England recovered from a debilitating illness that had threatened to kill him.
King Edward IV SurvivesAn extremely capable and daring military commander, he had destroyed the House of Lancaster in a series of spectacular military victories; he was never defeated on the field of battle. Despite his occasional (if serious) political setbacks - usually at the hands of his great Machiavellian rival, Louis XI of France - he was a popular and very able king. While he lacked foresight and was at times cursed by bad judgement, he possessed an uncanny understanding of his most useful subjects, and the vast majority of those who served him remained unwaveringly loyal until his death.
With his daughter's marriage to Henry Tudor of the Lancastrian branch of the Plantaganets, King Edward brought an end to the War of the Roses between the Yorkists and Lancastrians. He continued to rule Britain until his death in 1511.
Entry posted by Alternate Historian Robbie Taylor
© Robbie Taylor, 2004-Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Edward IV of England, War of the Roses, York, Lancaster, Premature Death. ~ Interesting, if he reacts differently to the proposals from Christopher Columbus for funding the new world might be much more English and much less Spanish. Both England and Portugal were firmly Catholic so when the Pope is asked to partition claims he might go south for Portugal and north for England instead of east/west as he did OTL.
~ So he survives long enough for Edward V to take the crown as an adult? That would be an interesting POD. Would Edward V be a creature of the Woodvilles, or would he be able to shake his mother's family off and be his own man and king? And, I take it that the bishop who knew about the plight-troth between Edward and that other woman died quietly without sharing his secret. Would Richard of Gloucester's descendants continue to be magnates in the North of England?
~ Cassandra, Henry Tudor wouldn't have been king because of the sexism of the time - as long as a son was available, it didn't matter how many daughters were born before him. So, Elizabeth would remain a princess and little brother Edward would be king. The marriage to the Tudors would serve the purpose of allying them to the Yorkist Plantagenets. Richard, as good a king as he would have been without the Lancastrians screwing him over, died without legitimate issue, so his living descendants would be denied their rights because of bastardy.
Man, Edward really simplified history by dying.
~ We'd see a very different world if a united England struck out against France. We might not see Louis XIV become so powerful.
~ We'd probably see the French take up nationalism, making a "French Revolution" something like the wars of indepedence for Scotland or Ireland (tho who knows when it would be in this TL). Maybe the English would try to pit them against each other, as they did with the Burgundians and Armagnacs anyway in our TL.
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On this day in 2001, President Colin Powell was confronted with the first major diplomatic crisis of his administration when the crew of a US Navy P-3C surveillance plane was incarcerated by the Chinese government shortly after their plane collided with and destroyed a Chinese J-8 fighter jet. | US President |
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| Colin Powell |
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Chris Oakley
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On this day in 1959, the Boston Celtics completed a sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers to clinch their second straight NBA league championship. | |
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| Sandy Koufax |
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Chris Oakley
© Chris Oakley,2008-.Story Tags
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On this day in 1504, Leonardo da Vinci demonstrates the first practical steam engine to his patron. | Inventor |
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| Leonard Da Vinci |
DaVinci wills his notebooks to the Vatican. However, by the tie he dies in 1519, copies of most of them have been secretly prepared by an assistant in exchange for large bribes. Their contents, which include a full description of da Vinci's engine, will inspire a wave of experimentation. Improved versions of the engine are put to work in such applications as pumping water from flooded mines. |
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On this day in 1958, Sandy Koufax racked up 28 points and 17 rebounds as the Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks 99-92 to clinch the first of their nine consecutive NBA league championships. | |
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| Sandy Koufax |
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Chris Oakley
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On this day in 1974, Stephen King started his second draft draft of Jerusalem's Lot. | |
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Chris Oakley
original content has been repurposed to celebrate the author's genius © Stephen King, Salem's Lot, 1976.Story Tags
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In 1985, thirteen years into his life prison sentence for espionage and attempted hijacking, Dmitri Kaprinsky, alias D.B. Cooper, died of a heart attack in his cell. | |
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| D.B. Cooper |
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Chris Oakley
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On this day in 1912, the Royal Mail Steamer Titanic was gutted by fire just 24 hours before she was scheduled to depart on her maiden voyage from Ireland to New York City. Initially the arson was blamed on Irish terrorists, but British authorities learned otherwise when an anonymous letter mailed by a staffer at the German embassy in London linked the fire to agents of the Imperial German intelligence service and suggested the fire had been set as a warning to the British government not to intervene in the ongoing diplomatic standoff between Serbia and Germany's main foreign ally, Austria-Hungary. | |
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In 1957, following a court order, nine black students attempt to register at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They are turned away at gunpoint by the National Guard, which has been called out by Arkansas governor Orval Faubus to prevent 'violence' by 'extremists' whom he claims are converging on Little Rock in 'caravans.' Asked his opinion on the matter, Senator Joseph McCarthy piously asserts that Governor Faubus 'has acted responsibly to maintain order.' | |
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Eric Lipps
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© Today in Alternate History, 2013-. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
