November 9th, 2005
in the period between 1788 and 2000, a cascading failure in the membrane separating alternate dimensions results in all elections in the United Soviet Confederated North American States of America Confederation Commonwealth being held at once. An astonishing 332 candidates of various political parties, ethnic groups, genders and species win the office of First Prime Presidential Chancellor Minister. Unsurprisingly, no one is really happy with the results.
in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte names himself Emperor of Italy. Under his brilliant lead, Italy conquers most of Europe. After a disastrous winter campaign in Russia, Bonaparte’s empire begins to fall apart; he is finally defeated by the Swedish in 1814 at the battle of Copenhagen.
in 1890, Colonel Beauregard T. Jackson executes three of rebel Mormon Charles Brigman's followers in Salt Lake City's town square. At the execution, he makes an announcement to those assembled that every time Brigman attacks a farm, he will execute three of Brigman's associates. Word filters back to the hunted Latter-Day Saint, and the attacks on farms cease.
in 1906, the first foreign visit by an American president begins as Theodore Roosevelt boards the battleship Louisiana and sails for Panama. It is also the last for some time, as the Louisiana is ambushed off Panamanian waters by Columbian ships and forced to retreat to the U.S. Columbia, which still claimed Panama, felt that a visit by the man who had encouraged the Panamanian revolt against its rightful rulers was too hard a slap in the face to ignore.
in 1934, Rabbi Carl Sagan was born in Brooklyn, New York. The spiritual leader of the Semitic-African Resistance in the northeastern United States, he led the non-violent movement through most of his life; after his wife and son were lynched in 1977, he began advocating more direct action against the worldwide Nazi movements.
in 1938, painter Adolf Hitler sold his famous Kristallnacht to the Berlin Fine Arts Museum. The painting, portraying angry Germans smashing a Jewish section of Berlin, has been an enigma since the day it was first shown; many feel it is Hitler’s cry against anti-semitism, while others declare it a glorification of Germany’s historic hatred of the Jewish people. The artist himself never spoke to the meaning of the work, but it is his acknowledged masterpiece.
in 1940, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain died in London. His successor, Oswald Mosley of the British Union of Fascists, brings about peace in his time with a treaty of alliance with Germany.
in 1956, French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, long an advocate of the Soviet American cause among the European monarchies, renounces communism after the suppression of the brief Guatemalan freedom movement by American troops. He said, “I condemn the Soviet invasion wholeheartedly and without any reservation. Without putting any responsibility onto the American people, I nevertheless insist that its current government has committed a crime.”
in 1993, Vice-President Al Gore and former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot kick off a series of debates about the North American Free Trade Agreement. Although Gore initially supports NAFTA, Perot's arguments and pressure from several labor unions eventually forces him and the Clinton administration to back down, and NAFTA is defeated in Congress.
in 2002, Professor Thomas and Air Force Captain Trent Laughlin escape from the cell they are being held in on the robot ship and attempt some sabotage. They are able to communicate back with the other ships, and Dr. Courtney sends some suggestions as to what they can break to halt the robot ship.
Christmas Day Contest! Following up on our Halloween contest, you can enter our next contest, which will be alternate histories for Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. Enter early and often - entries must be received by December 20th, 2005! Email us up to 3 entries of your best alternate Christmas Days!
We still have our standard offer - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site. When you donate, I will email you asking your preference for a day & timeline; if you don't reply to me, I'll place you in a day that seems to fit your name :) Thanks for your continued support!
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Fresh New Poll - Shall we use future dates in our entries?
Warp and Protocols still available; also, see the script I submitted for Bravo's Situation: Comedy. Speaking of which, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com
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