Alternate History

Well, I have good news regarding my laptop... I am now dual booting between Windows XP Media and XP 64bit. The wireless internet is even working in XP64 (thanks to a driver from Gigabyte). Also, it seems Acer's Europe site has a ftp link to a better supply of drivers than their U.S. site ( I am still exploring it a bit though). But this is not my planned blog today so...
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As some of you already know, I am reading a series of alternate history books by Harry Turtle dove.

The series is really a trilogy of three trilogies (what does that make it?). To be even more correct there is a single novel to begin the series. But I am jumping ahead...

Imagine what the world would be like if the Confederacy had won the American Civil War. That is exactly what the author does in the Great War Series. A few minor points before the great war itself:

• The South won the Civil War.
• After a second loss in a major war, the republican party is in turmoil... Abraham Lincoln breaks off and forms the Socialist Party. Making the major parties in the U.S. the democratic and socialist parties.
• Most of Europe backs the C.S.A. so when the Mexican War breaks out the U.S. loses again.
• The major parties in the south are the Whigs (similar to republicans) and the Radical Liberals.
• General Custer is the oldest officer in the U.S. Army (Yes, he is still alive!)
• Philadelphia is the de-facto capital of the U.S.
• The Statue of Liberty was never built, rather Remembrance was built. A female figure holding a scale and sword. Remembrance Day is celebrated in the U.S. to remember the two losses to the C.S.A. U.S. citizens are ashamed of the past losses.
• Teddy Roosevelt (Dem) is the president of the U.S. to start the great war and Woodrow Wilson (Whig) is president of the Confederate States.
  

Borders at the breakout of the Great War.

At the breakout of the great war (WWI and it is started the same), the U.S. allies with Germany, etc. while the C.S.A allies with England, France, and Russia. Canada is a British province, so the U.S. and Germany are faced with two front wars. Let me not forget that Japan is also allied (loosely) with England, etc.

In Europe things, progress (early on) as they really did. Germany invaded France, but slowly through trench warfare. In America, the Confederates quickly took Washington D.C. But it is nothing to look at after relentless shelling from both sides. The U.S. pushes into Kentucky, Texas, and even Sonora. In the Great White North (hehe), The U.S. pushes into Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba.

The story of the war is told from various perspectives... soldiers for both the U.S. and C.S.A. Also, politicians and women behind the lines.

As you may have guessed, the U.S. and Germany prevail and win the war. Kentucky is forced back into the Union, Houston is a new state in the U.S., Sequoyah (Oklahoma), Quebec is now the Republic of Quebec, and Canada is occupied by the U.S.

Post-Great War Map

A few things that occurred during the war:

• The U.S. squashed a Mormon uprising in Utah.
• The C.S.A squashed a Red revolution attempts by blacks all over the C.S.A but primarily in South Carolina.
• Russia withdrew from the war due to a Red Revolution.
• Ireland is freed from British control.
• Custer finds the best use for barrels (tanks). Rather than just one or two used with infantry, Custer lined up numerous barrels and had infantry follow them as they 'charged' (rolled?) forward.

After the war, the second trilogy begins (I am currently reading this one).

• The heavy reparations forced upon the C.S.A. destroys their economy. A new political party, blaming incompetent whigs and Red blacks for the loss, emerges in the C.S.A..
  
• Upton Sinclair wins the U.S. presidency for the Socialist party.
• U.S. economy is booming.
• Canadian Uprising squashed by the U.S.
• Northern Ireland uprising squashed by the U.S.
• Military occupation of Utah (to prevent another Mormon uprising).

As I continue to read i will ry to add more tidbits from this series for everyone.