Here is a rough skeleton of a Prelude to a new Timeline...Based on an Idea of when we could have possibly had our 1st Black President, I came up with this...All comments are welcome and I hope you enjoy
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His “Accidency”…A Negro?
The Presidency of Blance Kelso Bruce
An Alternate History Timeline
Written By
Austin Ross
March 1880: POD. The State Legislature of Mississippi narrowly votes to re-elect Blanche K. Bruce as US Senator against Democrat James Z. George.
June 2nd to the 8th 1880: The Republican National Convention. With the rejection of the nomination by standing President Hayes, former President Ulysses S. Grant is seen as the Frontrunner to many inside the Convention itself. However, many of his opponents throw their support behind such individuals including James Gillespie Blaine of Maine and John Sherman of Ohio. A member of the Ohio Delegation a James Garfield makes himself known after giving a rousing speech in support of Sherman. With 399 delegate votes, Garfield is able to best Grant, Blaine and Sherman, to win his party’s nomination for President.
However, for his choice of running mate in the fall, Garfield chooses Chester A. Arthur a fellow Stalwart at the final day of the Convention. More significantly, an African-American US Senator from Mississippi…Blanche Kelso Bruce (39 at the time) receives Eight Delegate votes for the Vice Presidency. This accomplishment, becoming the first Black to win any votes at a major party’s convention, garners Bruce much more popularity with the party bosses and citizens across the United States
July-November 1880: Sen. Blanche K. Bruce vigorously campaigns for his candidate James A. Garfield all across the nation against Democratic nominees Winfield S. Hancock of Pennsylvania. He becomes renown for starting massive voter registration drives in the south targeting blacks as well as poor whites to much of the dismay of the reinvigorated former “planter” class.
November 2nd 1880: US Presidential Election. With a difference of 59 Electoral Votes Republican James A. Garfield defeats Democrat Winifred S. Hancock. The Republicans unlike OTL due to Bruce’s efforts are able to win a majority in both the Senate (It was 37 to 37 in OTL, I figure that in this ATL its about 40 GOP to 37 DEM) and the House of Representatives.
February 1881: Kansas becomes the first state to prohibit alcohol
March 4th 1881: James A. Garfield is sworn in as the 20th President of the United States of America.
March-September 1881: The Presidency of James A. Garfield. The Nation’s 20th President will have an unremarkable and unfortunately short reign. His cabinet was carefully constructed that balanced all of the Republican factions including Abraham Lincoln’s very own son Robert Todd Lincoln who would serve as Secretary of War. Attempts made by James G. Blaine of the State Department to better relations with latin America are overshadowed by a squabble between Garfield and his old friend Roscoe Conkling consume the interests of the administration. However, nothing more than a tiny piece of metal would cause his eventual triumph against Conkling and his faction of the Republican Party to abruptly end.
March 1881: President Garfield offers the post of Register of the Treasury to Sen. Blanche K. Bruce who gracefully does not seek the nomination. Bruce reportedly told President Garfield that “My Duty and My Heart… Mr. President lies with the People and the State of Mississippi.” In response…This will have tremendous aspects later on.
July 2nd-September 19th 1881: The Assassination of President Garfield. A disgruntled man by the name of Charles J. Guiteau after failed efforts to secure a federal post shoots President James A. Garfield as he was walking through the Sixth Street Station. “I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts! I did it and I want to be arrested! Arthur is President now!” Guiteau excitedly said. Due to incapable doctors, Garfield became increasingly ill over a period of six weeks with infection. Bedridden, racked with fever, extreme pains…With a Massive Heart Attack, James A. Garfield died on September 18th. 1881.
September 20th 1881: Chester A. Arthur is sworn in as the 21st President of the United States of America
October 1881: The 47th Congress narrowly elects the popular Sen. Blanche K.Bruce into to the position President Pro Tempore over David Davis of Illinois
November 18th 1881: The Death of President Arthur. Like Garfield before him, Chester A. Arthur’s presidency will be unremarkable and unbelievably short. Due to rumors of Arthur’s involvement in Garfield’s assassination (Due to him being a Stalwart which opposed Garfield’s Half-Breed’s) and fears of a larger conspiracy involving Guiteau against Arthur causes the 21st President much distress. On the morning of November 18th 1881 (Five years earlier than OTL) Arthur is found dead in his bed at the age of 52. It seems he suffered a massive Cerebral Hemorrhage. Historians will later discover that Arthur suffered from Bright’s disease and his death was probably caused by a history of hypertension.
November 20th 1881.Due to the Constitutional line of Succession to the Presidency and since there was no Vice President under President Arthur it moves to the Senate Pro Tempore. Blanche K. Bruce is sworn in at the White House as the 22nd President of the United States of America. He is not only the first African American President but he is also the youngest president upon the ascension of Office at the age 40.
**********************
His “Accidency”…A Negro?
The Presidency of Blance Kelso Bruce
An Alternate History Timeline
Written By
Austin Ross
March 1880: POD. The State Legislature of Mississippi narrowly votes to re-elect Blanche K. Bruce as US Senator against Democrat James Z. George.
June 2nd to the 8th 1880: The Republican National Convention. With the rejection of the nomination by standing President Hayes, former President Ulysses S. Grant is seen as the Frontrunner to many inside the Convention itself. However, many of his opponents throw their support behind such individuals including James Gillespie Blaine of Maine and John Sherman of Ohio. A member of the Ohio Delegation a James Garfield makes himself known after giving a rousing speech in support of Sherman. With 399 delegate votes, Garfield is able to best Grant, Blaine and Sherman, to win his party’s nomination for President.
However, for his choice of running mate in the fall, Garfield chooses Chester A. Arthur a fellow Stalwart at the final day of the Convention. More significantly, an African-American US Senator from Mississippi…Blanche Kelso Bruce (39 at the time) receives Eight Delegate votes for the Vice Presidency. This accomplishment, becoming the first Black to win any votes at a major party’s convention, garners Bruce much more popularity with the party bosses and citizens across the United States
July-November 1880: Sen. Blanche K. Bruce vigorously campaigns for his candidate James A. Garfield all across the nation against Democratic nominees Winfield S. Hancock of Pennsylvania. He becomes renown for starting massive voter registration drives in the south targeting blacks as well as poor whites to much of the dismay of the reinvigorated former “planter” class.
November 2nd 1880: US Presidential Election. With a difference of 59 Electoral Votes Republican James A. Garfield defeats Democrat Winifred S. Hancock. The Republicans unlike OTL due to Bruce’s efforts are able to win a majority in both the Senate (It was 37 to 37 in OTL, I figure that in this ATL its about 40 GOP to 37 DEM) and the House of Representatives.
February 1881: Kansas becomes the first state to prohibit alcohol
March 4th 1881: James A. Garfield is sworn in as the 20th President of the United States of America.
March-September 1881: The Presidency of James A. Garfield. The Nation’s 20th President will have an unremarkable and unfortunately short reign. His cabinet was carefully constructed that balanced all of the Republican factions including Abraham Lincoln’s very own son Robert Todd Lincoln who would serve as Secretary of War. Attempts made by James G. Blaine of the State Department to better relations with latin America are overshadowed by a squabble between Garfield and his old friend Roscoe Conkling consume the interests of the administration. However, nothing more than a tiny piece of metal would cause his eventual triumph against Conkling and his faction of the Republican Party to abruptly end.
March 1881: President Garfield offers the post of Register of the Treasury to Sen. Blanche K. Bruce who gracefully does not seek the nomination. Bruce reportedly told President Garfield that “My Duty and My Heart… Mr. President lies with the People and the State of Mississippi.” In response…This will have tremendous aspects later on.
July 2nd-September 19th 1881: The Assassination of President Garfield. A disgruntled man by the name of Charles J. Guiteau after failed efforts to secure a federal post shoots President James A. Garfield as he was walking through the Sixth Street Station. “I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts! I did it and I want to be arrested! Arthur is President now!” Guiteau excitedly said. Due to incapable doctors, Garfield became increasingly ill over a period of six weeks with infection. Bedridden, racked with fever, extreme pains…With a Massive Heart Attack, James A. Garfield died on September 18th. 1881.
September 20th 1881: Chester A. Arthur is sworn in as the 21st President of the United States of America
October 1881: The 47th Congress narrowly elects the popular Sen. Blanche K.Bruce into to the position President Pro Tempore over David Davis of Illinois
November 18th 1881: The Death of President Arthur. Like Garfield before him, Chester A. Arthur’s presidency will be unremarkable and unbelievably short. Due to rumors of Arthur’s involvement in Garfield’s assassination (Due to him being a Stalwart which opposed Garfield’s Half-Breed’s) and fears of a larger conspiracy involving Guiteau against Arthur causes the 21st President much distress. On the morning of November 18th 1881 (Five years earlier than OTL) Arthur is found dead in his bed at the age of 52. It seems he suffered a massive Cerebral Hemorrhage. Historians will later discover that Arthur suffered from Bright’s disease and his death was probably caused by a history of hypertension.
November 20th 1881.Due to the Constitutional line of Succession to the Presidency and since there was no Vice President under President Arthur it moves to the Senate Pro Tempore. Blanche K. Bruce is sworn in at the White House as the 22nd President of the United States of America. He is not only the first African American President but he is also the youngest president upon the ascension of Office at the age 40.