Not to go into too much preamble but it has occurred to me that the break in time for the United States comes with our involvement in World War One. Nothing was ever the same after that point and nearly a century and a half of tradition and neutrality were shunted aside. The US was irrevocably committed to internationalism and intervention. I have tried to imagine how affairs may have been managed differently. The timeline is not near complete but the POD is clearly indicated. Only the entries which refer to Bryan are points of departure. The rest is part of the historical record. I will add to the timeline as I go along.
Please feel free to play with this, add to it or critique it mercilessly. Soren
Timeline:
1912
June 25 to July 2
At the Democratic Convention held in Baltimore, former Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan threw his support to Woodrow Wilson in order to defeat Missouri Representative Champ Clark. Clark had received much support through the newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst, but because William Jennings Bryan gave Wilson his Democratic votes, Wilson received the nomination on the 46th ballot. He then went on, with his Vice Presidential nominee Thomas Riley Marshall to win the election.
1914
April 14
United States President Wilson announces his intention to send troops to Mexico and make a naval demonstration against Huerta.
April 27
The US flag was formally raised in the Mexican port city of Veracruz.
August 1
War erupts in Europe. Mobilization notices are posted in France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Serbia. Italy declares its neutrality.
August 5
J.P. Morgan and Company appointed purchasing agent in the US for French government.
August 15
Panama Canal opened to commercial traffic.
August 20
British order in council declares food to be a contraband under the theory that Germany has nationalized its food supply to ensure that its armies are fed and thus food is become a weapon of war. Cotton is also included as contraband because of its use in manufacturing gun cotton.. Food and cotton are two of the largest US exports to Europe. Mild US protest leads to modification of the Order in Council on August 29th but no relief is granted and further conditions added. The US protest has been effectively ignored.
September 4
POD -While returning to the White House in an open car from an address to a joint session of Congress on the need of additional revenue to offset the economic effects of the war in Europe, Wilson and Vice President Marshall are killed in the explosion of an anarchists bomb.
September 5
William Jennings Bryan take the oath of office and becomes the 29th president of the United States. It is a pleasant Saturday.
September 8
President Bryan addresses a joint session of Congress declaring his intention of following through on the martyred Wilsons ideas and policies. He reiterates the need for a strict neutrality and the observation of neutral rights by all belligerents and the need for raising additional revenue.
September 17
The Hopwood Committee appointed by the PM issues its recommendation that oil be declared contraband. Foreign Secretary Grey amends the report to include zinc, copper and nickel. Later rubber is added.
October 14
President Bryan, prodded by southern Democrats representing agricultural interests and whose political support he needs, issues a sharply worded protest at the new orders in council. The British reply is bland and non-committal.
1915
January 3
At last a real test was made of the possibility of provisioning Germany. In January a St. Louis firm tried to get a cargo of foodstuffs to Germany on the American steamer Wilhelmina. The provisions were consigned to no one in Germany but to a member of the American firm who went to Hamburg to receive the cargo and distribute it to the civilian population. The British stopped the vessel. Unable to find any law for continuing the detention, they made law through a new Order in Council, enabling England to requisition, without trial, the cargo of any neutral ship brought into port. The Wilhelmina's cargo was so requisitioned.
February 4
Germany, claiming that its act was a reprisal against an unlawful British attempt to starve a civilian population, declared the waters around the British Isles a War Zone where British merchant ships would be destroyed by German submarines---if necessary, without search---and where the submarines might endanger neutral vessels by mistake. Neutrals were warned to keep away. It was stated that it might be impossible to provide for the safety of passengers or crews of the British steamers destroyed.
February 8
When the War Zone was announced, Bryan recognized the danger, and addressed a sharp note to Germany, warning that country to be careful not to strike at American vessels or American lives. At the same time, he recognized in degree the German point of view and sent a joint note to Britain and Germany suggesting that Britain give up its policy of stopping foodstuffs for German civilians, that Germany abandon its submarine warfare, and that both belligerents desist from mining the high seas.
March 1
With certain reservations Germany accepted the proposal. Great Britain rejected it and proceeded to more radical measures than before. On March 1, stating its action to be a retaliation against the submarine war and other breaches of international law by the Germans, England instituted a "blockade" of Germany. The authorities at London announced that all vessels carrying cargoes to or from Germany, whether direct or via neutral ports, would be subject to seizure. This was the culmination of the British lawlessness. The culmination of the German lawlessness was the Lusitania sinking.
March 8
Responding to the British announcement of a blockade against Germany, President Bryan contends that the US will not recognize as legal any blockade that does not accord with the definition of a close blockade as set forth in Article one of the Second Hague Convention which Great Britain, Germany and the United States are signatories. The right of the British government to redefine clauses of international treaties to fit its particular case after the fact is denied by the US government.
Please feel free to play with this, add to it or critique it mercilessly. Soren
Timeline:
1912
June 25 to July 2
At the Democratic Convention held in Baltimore, former Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan threw his support to Woodrow Wilson in order to defeat Missouri Representative Champ Clark. Clark had received much support through the newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst, but because William Jennings Bryan gave Wilson his Democratic votes, Wilson received the nomination on the 46th ballot. He then went on, with his Vice Presidential nominee Thomas Riley Marshall to win the election.
1914
April 14
United States President Wilson announces his intention to send troops to Mexico and make a naval demonstration against Huerta.
April 27
The US flag was formally raised in the Mexican port city of Veracruz.
August 1
War erupts in Europe. Mobilization notices are posted in France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Serbia. Italy declares its neutrality.
August 5
J.P. Morgan and Company appointed purchasing agent in the US for French government.
August 15
Panama Canal opened to commercial traffic.
August 20
British order in council declares food to be a contraband under the theory that Germany has nationalized its food supply to ensure that its armies are fed and thus food is become a weapon of war. Cotton is also included as contraband because of its use in manufacturing gun cotton.. Food and cotton are two of the largest US exports to Europe. Mild US protest leads to modification of the Order in Council on August 29th but no relief is granted and further conditions added. The US protest has been effectively ignored.
September 4
POD -While returning to the White House in an open car from an address to a joint session of Congress on the need of additional revenue to offset the economic effects of the war in Europe, Wilson and Vice President Marshall are killed in the explosion of an anarchists bomb.
September 5
William Jennings Bryan take the oath of office and becomes the 29th president of the United States. It is a pleasant Saturday.
September 8
President Bryan addresses a joint session of Congress declaring his intention of following through on the martyred Wilsons ideas and policies. He reiterates the need for a strict neutrality and the observation of neutral rights by all belligerents and the need for raising additional revenue.
September 17
The Hopwood Committee appointed by the PM issues its recommendation that oil be declared contraband. Foreign Secretary Grey amends the report to include zinc, copper and nickel. Later rubber is added.
October 14
President Bryan, prodded by southern Democrats representing agricultural interests and whose political support he needs, issues a sharply worded protest at the new orders in council. The British reply is bland and non-committal.
1915
January 3
At last a real test was made of the possibility of provisioning Germany. In January a St. Louis firm tried to get a cargo of foodstuffs to Germany on the American steamer Wilhelmina. The provisions were consigned to no one in Germany but to a member of the American firm who went to Hamburg to receive the cargo and distribute it to the civilian population. The British stopped the vessel. Unable to find any law for continuing the detention, they made law through a new Order in Council, enabling England to requisition, without trial, the cargo of any neutral ship brought into port. The Wilhelmina's cargo was so requisitioned.
February 4
Germany, claiming that its act was a reprisal against an unlawful British attempt to starve a civilian population, declared the waters around the British Isles a War Zone where British merchant ships would be destroyed by German submarines---if necessary, without search---and where the submarines might endanger neutral vessels by mistake. Neutrals were warned to keep away. It was stated that it might be impossible to provide for the safety of passengers or crews of the British steamers destroyed.
February 8
When the War Zone was announced, Bryan recognized the danger, and addressed a sharp note to Germany, warning that country to be careful not to strike at American vessels or American lives. At the same time, he recognized in degree the German point of view and sent a joint note to Britain and Germany suggesting that Britain give up its policy of stopping foodstuffs for German civilians, that Germany abandon its submarine warfare, and that both belligerents desist from mining the high seas.
March 1
With certain reservations Germany accepted the proposal. Great Britain rejected it and proceeded to more radical measures than before. On March 1, stating its action to be a retaliation against the submarine war and other breaches of international law by the Germans, England instituted a "blockade" of Germany. The authorities at London announced that all vessels carrying cargoes to or from Germany, whether direct or via neutral ports, would be subject to seizure. This was the culmination of the British lawlessness. The culmination of the German lawlessness was the Lusitania sinking.
March 8
Responding to the British announcement of a blockade against Germany, President Bryan contends that the US will not recognize as legal any blockade that does not accord with the definition of a close blockade as set forth in Article one of the Second Hague Convention which Great Britain, Germany and the United States are signatories. The right of the British government to redefine clauses of international treaties to fit its particular case after the fact is denied by the US government.
