Timeline

Shadow Over America takes place in a scenario where the Confederate States of America won the American Civil War, or as they called it, the Confederate War for Independence against the United States.

1860s: The Civil War and its Immediate Aftermath

 * 1862: Special Order 191 is delivered successfully. As with most Civil War alternate histories, this is the main point of divergence.
 * The Confederates launch a surprise attack at Antietam and South Mountain, destroying the Union armies posted there, and moving closer to Washington DC.
 * 1863: General Robert E. Lee sends his army to the north to fight George G. Meade's army at Gettysburg; the attack is successful, and Robert E. Lee encircles Washington DC.
 * Seeing the Confederate States as the obvious winner, the United Kingdom and other European powers choose to recognise the legitimacy and the independence of the Confederates. The Appomattox Court House Agreement is signed, with the British mitigating. The United States would keep Missouri, but would cede Kentucky and the New Mexico regions to the Confederates, formed into the State of Stonewall.
 * President Lincoln surrenders, seeing no reason for the war to drag on. Disgraced, he does not run for a second term.
 * The Republican Party is blamed for the failure of the war, and largely dissolves from American politics.
 * 1864: The 1864 United States presidential election votes for the Democratic Party, with Thomas H. Seymour elected President. George H. Pendleton is elected Vice President.
 * Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens are re-inaugurated as President and Vice President respectively of the Confederate States.
 * 1865: Jefferson Davis is assassinated, pushing Alexander Stephens into the Presidency.
 * 1866: Disagreements between President Stephens and his Congress divides the Confederates into political parties. Stephens' supporters form the Loyalist Party, while his main opposition form the Southern Democratic Party.
 * 1867: Robert E. Lee describes Stephens as a 'tyrant' over his political and economic reinvigoration plans that would give ultimate power to the executive. He announces his intention to run for the Southern Democrat nomination.
 * Britain buys Alaska from the Russian Empire, annexing it into their Canadian provinces. Canada is founded as a Dominion in July.
 * 1868: Thomas H. Seymour wins the Democratic primary, but dies soon after. George H. Pendleton becomes the new primary, choosing Horatio Seymour as his running mate. Both are once again elected in a near-uncontested election.
 * Alexander Stephens is beaten by Robert E. Lee to become the next Confederate President. His political ally, Alexander H. H. Stuart, is elected as his Vice President.
 * 1869: Robert E. Lee's inauguration results in violence between Southern Democrats and Loyalists. The United States observes the chaos, with President Pendleton stating the Union would remain out of Confederate affairs. There is a wave of paranoia in the Confederate States in believing the Union might attempt a second war.
 * Fears of another war with the Union, in which the Confederates would be unable to win, results in the Confederates adopting 'Cotton Diplomacy' with Europe, in other words continuing extensive cotton trading in exchange for foreign support. With Britain firmly on the Confederate side, the United States feels vulnerable, and any idea of invading the South diminishes.

1870s: Confederate Imperialism Begins

 * 1870: President Lee dies of a stroke. His Vice President, Alexander H. H. Stuart, becomes President. The event results in another bout of violence between Southern Democrats and Loyalists. In response to the violence, Britain states its position on Confederate legitimacy is 'wavering'. The United States sees this as a potential opportunity, and President Stuart becomes paranoid.
 * 1871: In an attempt to regain legitimacy, President Stuart launches an invasion of Mexico. The war results in Mexico ceding northern regions of Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon to the Confederates. The war also has its intended political and diplomatic effect, with the United States backing down and the Confederates regaining British trust.
 * Violence between the Southern Democrats and the Loyalists diminish, as the successful war against Mexico spurs widespread national pride.
 * President Pendleton's decision not to take advantage of the Confederate position results in his reputation being tarnished.
 * 1872: President Stuart wins another term largely uncontested, selecting Thomas A. Hendricks as his Vice President.
 * Vice President Horatio Seymour betrays Pendleton, winning the 1872 Democratic primary to become President. He selects Charles Francis Adams as his Vice President. Once again, the Democrats are uncontested.
 * 1873: Following the political stabilisation of the Confederates, many Union conservatives migrate South. It becomes a crisis for the Union, as many of the conservative statesmen are granted congressional positions under President Stuart. The migration makes a huge impact on President Seymour's administration, as many government positions are left vacant as a result.
 * 1874: Socialist parties and coalitions begin to form, as a result of the migration crisis. President Seymour sends an ultimatum to President Stuart, demanding the return of the statesmen. Both armies are put on the border under military preparedness. The crisis de-escalates when Britain threatens to join the conflict on the side of the Confederates, leaving America isolated and threatening a war on two fronts.