The Drake Presidency (1881–87) pushed the idea of small government hard: cutting federal power, privatizing services, and fast-tracking western statehood. The result? Labor unrest, strikes, health crises, and political backlash. The stage was set for a Federalist comeback. #alternatehistory

Practicing with Inkscape: Classroom-style poster showing the expansion of the USA in Washington Burns. Special thanks to @ynot1989.bsky.social for the basemap. #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Washington Burns 1874 election map & wiki box, with Horace Littlefield (F, NY) beating out Austin Campbell (D, PT), and Preston McCleary (R, FL). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Littlefield's election in '74 marked the end of the post-war era. The first Federalist POTUS since the 1830s, he was known as the "traveling president," touring the USA by rail for the centennial, and going to Canada in 1880. His VP was also the first black man to hold that office #alternatehistory

Washington Burns 1868 election map & wiki box, with John P. Quincy (D, MO) beating out Victor Roland (F, CT), and Orville Kent (R, JE). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

After the scandals of the John P. Quincy, Bradley Kinder's short time in office was what the country needed it to be: forgettable. He oversaw the admission of a new Western state, continued to encourage westward settlement, and quickly bowed out of the 1874 race before it started. #alternatehistory

John P. Quincy entered Washington House in 1869 with high hopes, viewed as a continuation of the successful Brandt Presidency. The early days were good, with the end of Reconstruction and the completion of the transcontinental railroad. But by the end: scandal & disgrace. #AlternateHistory

As always, Sean nailed this map for the WB project. Was great to bring the city of Franklin, which is at the heart of the Washington Burns world, to life. #alternatehistory #maps

In 1863, Hugo Brandt became the first president under the new Constitution. He worked to reunite the country, expanded civil rights, opened the West to homesteaders, established Lakota Territory, pushed railroads—and named Abraham Lincoln to the Supreme Court. #AlternateHistory

Washington Burns 1862 election map & wiki box, with Hugo Brandt (D, OH) beating out Ulysses Portman (F, ME), and Peter Doyle (R, VA). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

It's 1862, and the USA prepares for its first post-war election, with Brandt running for a full official term. The new constitution is fully implemented, Oregon joins the Union, and the country grapples with how much punishment is appropriate for the South. #alternatehistory

While the delegates worked on a new post-war constitution, the rest of the country began the long process of rebuilding, with Acting President Brandt and his cabinet proposing bold new reforms for reconstruction. #alternatehistory

"We, the People of the United States, in the firm pursuit of liberty, justice, and equality for all men, do...establish this Constitution to secure the Union, provide for the equal protection of the laws, and ensure the blessings of freedom and self-government for...our posterity" #alternatehistory

At the 1861 gathering in Philadelphia, 484 delegates from 25 states debated the future of the republic and how it would be structured. On May 15th, the convention adopted the new constitution and sent it out for ratification, with a slew of new reforms. #alternatehistory

This amazing map shows the political divisions of the United States by the end of the War Between the States - a much messier situation than our OTL Civil War. #alternatehistory

From October 17th, 1860, up through the election and inauguration of the next President in 1863, America was in flux, a period that historians from this alternate refer to as "The Interregnum." Central to this period would be the demand for constitutional overhaul. #alternatehistory

1860 - The Slaver Union falls, and the War Between the States ends. The real question remains: what will the peace ultimately look like? #alternatehistory

In 1859, the tone of the war shifts. The two northern rebel groups plan on liberating Franklin and New York City, and by year's end, the British had been dragged into the fight against the "old Union." Hawthorne's days seem numbered. #alternatehistory

In 1858, the War Between the States escalated: Northerners outside New England were appalled by Hawthorne's heavy-handedness, and by the end of the year, 10 more states had seceded, forming the separate Free State Alliance. Hawthorne flees to Atlanta, with Ohio now hostile. #alternatehistory

Hawthorne's 1857 crackdown on the abolitionists in New England triggers "The Crisis," and by year's end, Boston and New York City have been shelled by the Union Navy, and secession has begun. #alternatehistory

James Hawthorne becomes the 13th US president in the Washington Burns TL. His unabashedly pro-slaver stance and his heavy-handedness on so-called "abolitionist-radicals" puts the nation on the precipice of violence. #alternatehistory

Washington Burns 1850 election map & wiki box, with Robert Lee (R, VA) beating out Hiram Calloway (D, IL), Jacob North (F, PA), and Tim Goodman (LIB, NY). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Robert Lee, the 12th president in the Washington Burns TL, entered Washington House vowing to keep the Union together—but instead lit the spark that would ignite civil war. From court battles over slavery to Southern infrastructure booms, his presidency shaped a nation on edge. #alternatehistory

Map of North America in the Washington Burns TL after the 1848 Boston Accords, which established the modern boundaries of the continent. #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Washington Burns 1844 election map & wiki box, with Wilbur Haines (D, KY) beating out William Rutherford (R, VA) and Victor Lang (F, RI). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Wilbur Haines, 11th President of the United States in the Washington Burns TL, led the nation into war with Imperial Mexico and laid the groundwork for the Boston "Border" Accords of 1848. His presidency deepened the slavery crisis—and lit the long fuse to civil war. #alternatehistory

Washington Burns 1838 election map & wiki box, with Victor Yates (D, PA) beating out Giles Brandon (R, GA) and Peter Gallup (F, MA). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Victor Yates, 10th President in the Washington Burns TL, seeks national unity after war—but unrest in Texas, a bold anti-slavery tariff in Massachusetts, and rising tensions with Imperial Mexico keep the nation on edge. Railroads expand, but the future feels anything but settled. #alternatehistory

After tragedy strikes, Giles Brandon becomes the 9th President in the Washington Burns TL. He leads the nation through war, forces a new Native treaty, expands the railways—and defies critics by running in 1838, only to face a political reckoning at the ballot box. #alternatehistory

As my alt-USA expands westward in different ways, it's ended up with different states. The first is an alternate Iowa, admitted in 1830. The map here was made by the ever-talented @ynot1989.bsky.social #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Washington Burns 1832 election map & wiki box, with John C. Calhoun (R, SC) beating out Samuel Luther (D, IN) and Hiram Gillett (F, NH). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

John C. Calhoun, 8th President in my TL, enters office pushing for pro-slavery policy, Indian removal, and quiet support for rebellion in Texas. But as war erupts in Mexico and draft riots rage at home, national tensions boil over—culminating in a shocking act of violence. #alternatehistory

Washington Burns 1826 election map & wiki box, with Alexander Hamilton (F, NY) beating out John C. Calhoun (R, SC) and Thomas Worthington (D, OH). Note: winner takes all is on its way out #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymaps

Alexander Hamilton, Jr., the 7th President in the Washington Burns TL, takes office in the unfinished capital of Franklin, eager to expand the nation. But a tainted election, bitter political battles, and a showdown over Native lands threaten to derail his plans. #alternatehistory

I had a creative afternoon yesterday on Canva, made a cool in-timeline poster, and then felt it needed a short story to go with it, so I wrote one. 😄 #alternatehistory sites.google.com/view/washing...

Washington Burns 1820 election map & wiki box, with Henry Clay (D, VA) beating out John C. Smith (F, CT) and James Monroe (R, VA). Oh look, a three-party system! #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

Henry Clay is the 6th President in "Washington Burns," and he's all about building - the new capital, a national university, and, under the auspices of the Federal Bureau of Improvements (yes, the FBI 😉), new national roads linking to the interior. #alternatehistory

Washington Burns 1816 election map & wiki box, with William H. Crawford (D-R, GA) beating out Rufus King (F, NY). #alternatehistory #alternatehistorymap

In "Washington Burns," the War of 1812 is an out-and-out "L" for the US. There are minor ripples from this, leading to the election of W. H. Crawford as president in 1816. From there, changes ramp up, with the capital moving inland and the presidency becoming a single 6-year term. #alternatehistory

Washington Burns is my long-term alternate history/world-building project. What if the British thoroughly destroyed D.C. in August of 1814, and the Americans moved the capital? That's what happens in this TL. Here's the teaser: sites.google.com/view/washing... #alternatehistory #althistory