We the States: An Alternate History Novel

by Adam Sivitz

With a cast of famous characters from our textbooks, We the States presents an alternate history of the United States. Author Adam Sivitz creates a vastly different, yet plausible course of events, driven by America's deep divisions of the early republic.


After the Constitutional Convention, George Washington returns to his Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia, where he waits for enough state governments to ratify the United States Constitution. His wife, Martha, secretly hopes for the constitution's failure, so that her husband will stay home in retirement. Martha's emotional turmoil leads to the mistreatment of her personal slave, Ona Judge. Young Ona plans an escape that depends on the aid of Hercules, Washington's enslaved cook. Privileged among the house slaves, Hercules remains hesitant to join in Ona's mischief.


At the Virginia Ratifying Convention, Patrick Henry tries to persuade the other delegates to reject the constitution. His success would spell disaster for Washington and the young nation that adores him, but also present new opportunities for ambitious statesmen like Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Ona and Hercules must find a path to freedom through a shifting political landscape with new borders to cross.


Will Ona and Hercules make their escape? What new national leaders will emerge? And most importantly, will good overcome the many evils of their world?

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2018

Reviews

[Marvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fascinating novel has a counterfactual premise: The U.S. Constitution proposed in 1788 is not approved, and the states divide into three nations–the Confederation of Columbia (the southern states) with Patrick Henry as the first president; the National States of America, with Alexander Hamilton as its supreme leader with a lifetime appointment, “who somehow becomes more beloved as he abuses more power”; and New England, with John Adams as prime minister (which gets short shrift in the plot’s developments). The point seems to be the disastrous unintended consequences of each section getting what it most desired without the necessary compromises with other sections. To the author’s credit, he gives slaves as much attention as the Founding Fathers, and also gives due attention to the native inhabitants of the interior, though mostly as unfortunate victims. Ironies abound. For example, after Hamilton acquires the Louisiana Territory for the National States of America, Jefferson calls it “the most reckless, unconstitutional abuse of executive power imaginable” (263). And near the end of the book, Hamilton reflects, “What in God’s name were Madison and I thinking? I mean no offense to your former master, of course, but it just wasn’t possible. All thirteen states united as one nation? Just think of it. A nation, half slave and half free. Half federalist, half Whig. Half agricultural, half industrial. No, it just wasn’t possible. Had we been successful in realizing our dream of a United States Constitution, we would have only delayed an inevitable Civil War” (264). Intentionally (I assume), the author employs anachronistic terms to draw attention to the contemporary relevance of certain issues: President Patrick Henry of Columbia insists on maintaining the “constitutional right to bear arms” in the face of demands to create a standing army; Alexander Hamilton is designated the Supreme Leader of the National States of America, and he is quick to create a standing army but declines to provide the “boots on the ground” that an ambassador from Spanish Florida requests in their dispute with Columbia; Aaron Burr, after his defeat in his campaign to become governor of New York, charges that “the recent election was riddled with fraud, in a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government, including the supreme leader of the National States of America” (the book was published in 2018 so the author must have been prescient with this one, as he was in having one character call Hamilton’s propaganda efforts “the big lie”); soldiers sent by Hamilton to arrest Burr for his opposition are “Blackshirts.” There are lots of good moments–the times when various titans of early America share their insecurities with George Washington’s horse, Nelson, for example. And what seem to be outlandish plot developments seem plausible in the context the author sets. It’s just too bad that the author couldn’t have found a real publisher for this self-published book; a good editor might have prevented some awkward prose and dialog as well as some questionable scenes.

[Matt Mitrovich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had interesting ideas for a balkanized North America alternate history (for example showcasing multiple African American POV characters and not shying away from the negative traits of America's founders), but poor writing, info dumps and other issues made this story a slog to get through.

[Jerry Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting alternative history.

A lot of, I think, accurate accounting of both the political struggles and the society of the late 18th century in North America.

[Michele Kinsey Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting "what if" novel!!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best since "For Want of a Nail"