Monarchism in the United States

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During the American Revolution, A significant element of the population of the Thirteen Colonies remained loyal to the British crown. However, since then, aside from a few considerations in the 1780s, there has not been any serious movement supporting monarchy in the United States although a small number of prominent individuals have, from time to time, advocated the concept.

Contents

Revolutionary period

The Flag of British America. Used by the Thirteen American Colonies under British rule. Red Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800, square canton).svg
The Flag of British America. Used by the Thirteen American Colonies under British rule.

During the American Revolution, those American colonists who stayed loyal to the British crown were termed "Loyalists". Historians have estimated that between 15 and 20% of the 2,000,000 whites in the colonies in 1775 were Loyalists (300,000–400,000). [1] The revolutionary war officially ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. This marked the official end of monarchy in the American states with George III of the United Kingdom being the last monarch. [2] [3]

Confederation period

In the 1780s, in the period between the American Revolution and the ratification of the United States Constitution, several propositions for creating an independent monarchy were considered.

George Washington

On May 22, 1782, the Newburgh letter was sent to George Washington who was camped at Newburgh, New York; written for the army officers by Colonel Lewis Nicola, it proposed that Washington should become the King of the United States. [4] Washington reacted very strongly against the suggestion, and was greatly troubled by it, turning it down in favor of a republican government. [5] [6] [note 1]

Prussian Scheme

Prince Henry of Prussia Prinz heinrich von preussen 00.png
Prince Henry of Prussia

In 1786, the President of the Continental Congress, Nathaniel Gorham, acting in possible concert with other persons influential in the government of the United States, is reported to have offered the crown to Henry of Prussia, a prince of the House of Hohenzollern and brother of Frederick the Great, possibly with the aim of resolving the ongoing political crises occurring during the last days of the Articles of Confederation. [10] According to Rufus King, Gorham secretly corresponded with Prince Henry of Prussia for this purpose. [11] The attempt may have died due to a lack of interest on Henry's part, popular opposition to a rumored proposal involving a different potential monarch, the convening of the Philadelphia Convention, or some combination thereof.[ citation needed ]

Constitutional Convention of 1787

Alexander Hamilton argued in a long speech before the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that the President of the United States should be an elective monarch, ruling for "good behavior" (i.e., for life, unless impeached) and with extensive powers. Hamilton believed that elective monarchs had sufficient power domestically to resist foreign corruption, yet there was enough domestic control over their behavior to prevent tyranny at home. [12] Hamilton argued, "And let me observe that an executive is less dangerous to the liberties of the people when in office during life than for seven years. It may be said this constitutes as an elective monarchy... But by making the executive subject to impeachment, the term 'monarchy' cannot apply..." [13] His proposal was resoundingly voted down in favor of a four-year term with the possibility of reelection.

In his later defense of the Constitution in The Federalist Papers , he often hints that a lifetime executive might be better, even as he praises the system with the four-year term. Political scientist Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn wrote that Hamilton "regretted that the United States could not become a monarchy." [14]

Modern monarchism

Since the ratification of the constitution, support for monarchy has possessed a generally low popularity, though it has increased slightly over time. In 1950, 3% of Americans said it would be a good idea for America to possess a royal family, while 93% thought it would be bad. This question was re-asked in 1999, where 11% of Americans answered that in favor of a royal family would be good for the United States and 87% against. [15] A 2013 CNN poll found that 13% of Americans would be open to the United States possessing a royal family again. [16] A 2018 poll asking if America would be better or worse if it possessed a constitutional monarchy had 11% of Americans answering better and 36% answering worse. [17] A 2021 poll by YouGov found that 5% of Americans would consider it a good thing for the United States to have a monarchy (7% support among men and 4% support among women), with 69% answering that it would be a bad thing. In the YouGov poll, African-Americans were most likely to answer positively in favor of a monarchy at 10% support. [18] In 2023 another poll was conducted which found 12% of Americans favored monarchy in the United States while 63% remained opposed. [19]

The Constantian Society, founded in 1970 by Randall J. Dicks, was a political group devoted to promoting the system of constitutional monarchy as a superior form of government, though its activities ceased with its founder's death in 1999. [20] [21]

Some notable American monarchists include:

Alexander Hamilton proposed that the United States should be an elective monarchy. Alexander Hamilton portrait by John Trumbull 1806.jpg
Alexander Hamilton proposed that the United States should be an elective monarchy.

Notes

  1. ↑ There are multiple disagreements on who would have been the "king of the United States" today if George Washington had become king and passed the crown to his descendants. The general consensus among historians and genealogists would give the title to Richard Washington of Texas. [7] [8] [9]
  2. ↑ In 1859, Joshua Abraham Norton, a resident of San Francisco, California declared himself "Norton I., Emperor of the United States". [28] He possessed no formal power during his self-declared reign, but citizens of San Francisco celebrated his presence and imperial proclamations regardless. He was never recognized as a valid monarch by the United States government, but King Kamehameha V of Hawaiʻi chose to officially recognize Norton as the valid leader of the United States. [29] [30]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newburgh letter</span> Letter proposing George Washington as king of the United States

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The Prussian scheme refers to the rumor about a supposed suggestion in 1786 by Massachusetts politician Nathaniel Gorham that if the country adopted a constitutional monarchy like England it ought to invite Henry of Prussia, a German prince of the House of Hohenzollern, as the new king.

References

  1. ↑ Calhoon, "Loyalism and neutrality", p. 235; Middlekauff (2005) pp. 563–564; Thomas B. Allen, Tories: Fighting for the King in America's First Civil War (20176) p. xx
  2. ↑ Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. "Treaty of Paris, 1783". 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  3. ↑ "Revolutionary War". HISTORY. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  4. ↑ Nicola, Lewis. "To George Washington from Lewis Nicola, 22 May 1782". Founders Online. U.S. National Archives. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Washington, George. "To Lewis Nicola from George Washington, 22 May 1782". Founders Online. U.S. National Archives. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. ↑ Auslin, Michael. "America Needs a King". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  7. ↑ Soller, Kurt (7 October 2008). "America's 'Lost Monarchy': The Man Who Would Be King". Newsweek.
  8. ↑ Roberts, Michelle (2008-10-08). "Texan is George Washington's closest kin". msnbc.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  9. ↑ "Who Would Be King of America if George Washington had been made a monarch?" on YouTube
  10. ↑ Kuehnelt-Leddihn, Erik von (2007). Liberty or Equality: The Challenge of Our Times (PDF). Mises Institute. p. 317.
  11. ↑ Krauel, Richard. "Prince Henry of Prussia and the Regency of the United States, 1786".
  12. ↑ Hamilton, Alexander (1962). The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Volume 9. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN   0-231-08903-1
  13. ↑ Madison, James (2005). Larson, Edward J.; Winship, Michael P. (eds.). The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison. New York: Modern Library. pp. 50–51. ISBN   978-0-8129-7517-8.
  14. ↑ Kuehnelt-Leddihn, Erik von (1974). Leftism Revisited: From de Sade and Marx to Hitler and Marcuse (PDF). Arlington House. p. 62.
  15. ↑ Carlson, Darren K. (6 February 2002). "Queen Elizabeth: 50 Years of Public Opinion". Gallup.
  16. ↑ NCC Staff (22 July 2013). "Despite royal buzz, Americans would still pass on a monarchy". Yahoo News.
  17. ↑ McCullogh, J.J. (22 May 2018). "Americans Are Royally Confused about Monarchy". National Review.
  18. ↑ "American Monarchy a Good Thing" (PDF). YouGov. 10 April 2021. p. 110.
  19. ↑ "Three in five Americans say it would be bad for the U.S. to have a monarchy | YouGov". today.yougov.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  20. ↑ "Constantian Society - Newsletter About Monarchy". Morning Edition via NPR Transcripts. January 9, 1991. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  21. ↑ Ferrick, Thomas Jr. (July 18, 1983). "Less Than Regally, Monarchists Convene". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  22. ↑ Auslin, Michael (2 January 2014). "America Needs a King". Politico.
  23. ↑ Coulombe, Charles A. (2016). Star-Spangled Crown: A Simple Guide to the American Monarchy. Tumblar House. ISBN   978-1-9443-3905-0.
  24. ↑ "A King for America; THE END OF DEMOCRACY. By Ralph Adams Cram". New York Times. 19 September 1937.
  25. ↑ Hertz, Solange. Democracy, Monarchy, and the Fourth Commandment.
  26. ↑ Livingston, Michael (2022). Origins of the Wheel of Time. Tor. p. 28. ISBN   9781250860545.
  27. ↑ William S. Lind (2006). "The Prussian Monarchy Stuff". LewRockwell.com . Center for Libertarian Studies.
  28. ↑ Weeks, David; James, Jamie (1996). Eccentrics: A Study of Sanity and Strangeness. New York: Kodansha Globe. pp.  3–4. ISBN   978-1-56836-156-7.
  29. ↑ Forbes, David. Emperor Norton & Hawaii.
  30. ↑ "The Emperor of the United States". The New York Public Library. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  31. ↑ Yeager, Leland B. (12 July 2011). "A Libertarian Case for Monarchy". Mises Institute. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022.
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