I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 170

I’ll Stick a Straw In

If you were to summarize American history in a single phrase, it would be “conflict and compromise.”

While compromise is often touted as a strength of American politics, it also highlights the constant conflicts that necessitate such compromises.

Among these, the most contentious issue was undoubtedly slavery.

No other conflict, not even the question of independence itself, could compare to the gravity of the slavery issue.

Slavery was a political hot potato from the very beginning of the United States.

The Founding Fathers generally agreed that slavery was morally wrong.

However, abolishing slavery was complicated by practical considerations.

“What? Abolish slavery? Then you can declare independence on your own. We won’t participate.”

The states that primarily produced tobacco and cotton maintained this consistent stance.

From their perspective, their economy depended on slave labor for crop cultivation, so moral or ethical concerns were secondary.

Due to these practical issues, the federal government continually postponed addressing the slavery question.

They delegated the decision to each state, allowing them to decide independently.

Still, during Washington’s administration, the conflict remained largely under the surface.

The problem escalated after Jefferson took office.

Until then, there was a fragile balance between the anti-slavery North and the pro-slavery South.

However, as the United States expanded its territory east of the Mississippi River, beyond Louisiana, and into southern Texas, the situation shifted.

The newly acquired territories were ideally suited for cotton production due to their climate.

The slave plantations that had flourished in Georgia and South Carolina rapidly spread to Alabama and Louisiana.

The voices advocating for slavery grew louder, and the anti-slavery North became the minority.

“If there are no slaves, who will separate the seeds from the cotton? Will you do it yourselves?”

“Idealists are all talk and no action. They only spout empty rhetoric without offering any real solutions.”

“You guys can’t handle slaves, so you preach morality. We’ll manage our slaves and prosper. Hehehe.”

This situation put the U.S. federal government in a difficult position.

In Europe, both the slave trade and slavery itself had been abolished, yet the United States seemed to be regressing.

Moreover, neighboring Nouvelle-France [New France] was not only abolishing slavery but also actively integrating black people into society.

Jefferson could almost hear the jeers from Europe, branding America as a backward, second-rate nation.

This was an unbearable insult to intellectuals who prided themselves on having contributed to human progress with the Declaration of Independence.

The recent incident of insulting black soldiers in Nouvelle-France only worsened the situation.

Initially, it seemed like an innocent American had been unfairly assaulted, but suddenly France was being lauded as a nation that valued human rights, while America was portrayed as a backward, racist country.

The relatively anti-slavery North seized the opportunity to criticize the South through editorials.

[The tragedy caused by the outdated system of slavery.]

[How long will the United States continue to ignore the trends of the times!]

[The voices of black slaves are beginning to rise. Only the Southern plantation owners refuse to listen.]

Americans, despite their outward appearances, are highly sensitive to European opinions.

Conversely, being labeled as a country with no history, tradition, or roots was always a trigger that provoked a strong reaction.

For Americans so conscious of foreign opinions, the ridicule pouring in from Europe was a profound humiliation.

“Aren’t you angry that we’re being lumped together with those Southern *******s with terrible personalities?”

“How long will the Federation remain silent! State your position!”

“Ban slavery completely!”

Citizens in the Northern states took to the streets daily to denounce the uncivilized Southerners, while Southerners were outraged by what they saw as an ignorant suppression of their freedom.

However, in terms of moral justification, the South was clearly losing ground to the North.

Cornered, the South eventually resorted to conspiracy theories to defend their position.

“The North doesn’t really want to abolish slavery! They’re just using a plausible excuse to monopolize power within the Union!”

Currently, the United States guaranteed one vote per white male, but slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for representation purposes [a compromise known as the Three-Fifths Compromise].

Compared to the majority of states that had been established before independence, the South still had a smaller population.

Without this kind of adjustment, it was difficult for the South to counterbalance the North’s influence.

What would happen if slavery were abolished?

Naturally, the slaves would flee en masse from the South, which had oppressed them for so long.

Even if that didn’t happen, they certainly wouldn’t vote for Southern politicians.

The influence of the current ruling party, Jefferson’s faction, would increase dramatically, and the opposition’s approval ratings would plummet.

It wasn’t just a matter of simple ideology; political interests were also deeply intertwined, making it a seemingly hopeless situation.

After a long silence, President Jefferson spoke with gravity.

“I will state my exact position after the summit with France.”

It would be problematic to prematurely reveal their position and show weakness in the talks with France.

The governors responded that they understood the government’s announcement for the time being.

At the same time, interest in the upcoming summit soared.

Amidst this turmoil, the historic moment finally arrived when the French Prime Minister and the American President met.

※※※

“It’s been a while.”

“It has been a while. Congratulations on your historic victory. You’ve managed to achieve both the reform of France and your inauguration as Prime Minister.”

“I was fortunate. I heard that the President is also running the country smoothly. If things continue like this, wouldn’t you win re-election without difficulty?”

“That would be the case if the Prime Minister could assist me with this particular issue.”

Jefferson made this pointed remark with a wry smile.

He must have been under a lot of stress recently, as the dark circles under his eyes were quite pronounced.

I intentionally caused all of this, so I feel a little sorry… Nah, it’s not like I’m the one suffering, so why should I care?

“Are you referring to the assault case involving our general? I take full responsibility for that. I sincerely apologize. I will ensure the businessman receives medical expenses and generous compensation.”

“No, no… Frankly, I don’t care about that issue anymore. You know what I’m talking about, Prime Minister.”

Jefferson then dismissed even his own staff and sighed deeply.

“Prime Minister, let’s skip the formalities and get straight to the point.”

He really seems to be at his wit’s end.

Or is this a smokescreen to gain sympathy?

Considering Jefferson’s political acumen, the latter seems more likely.

“Alright. Since it’s just you and me, Mr. President, let’s speak candidly.”

“To be honest, I’m having a terrible time. You’ve stirred up public opinion too much. What was your purpose in doing this?”

“If you put it that way, it sounds like I orchestrated this entire situation. I was simply doing my best to protect my subordinate.”

“…I see. Thanks to you, the assault case has been completely overshadowed. I understand your intentions. But because of that, we’re about to be in deep trouble.”

A large map of North America was spread out in front of me and Jefferson.

Jefferson drew a line across the border between the North and South with his finger and continued.

“The territorial negotiations with Nueva España [New Spain]… no, they say they’re changing their name to the Mexican Empire, haven’t even been completed yet. Isn’t the same true for Nouvelle-France?”

“That can be quickly resolved if the United States and France cooperate. We can recognize all the land currently under your effective control as your territory, and the land south of that as the territory of the Mexican Empire.”

“I don’t think Mexico would accept that, as it seems like they’re bearing too much of the burden.”

“If they refuse… we can subtly remind them that they might see Spanish troops crossing the Atlantic and landing again.”

If they don’t like it, they can try fighting Spain again.

With that one sentence, Mexico would shut up and eagerly accept the agreement.

In the Americas, no force can simultaneously defy both France and the United States, now or in the future.

If the interests of both countries align, the discussion ends there.

Jefferson, having quickly concluded one agenda item, returned to the original topic.

“Then all that’s left is to resolve the slavery issue. Actually, I’m secretly viewing this as an opportunity.”

“…An opportunity?”

Is this wishful thinking, or does he have something else in mind?

His reaction was different from what I had expected, and I waited for Jefferson’s next words with anticipation.

“Outdated practices like slavery should naturally disappear. I was a plantation owner who owned slaves, but if slavery is abolished, I will gladly free all of them.”

Ah, come to think of it, Jefferson was rumored to have a mixed-race slave, about 30 years younger than him, as his mistress.

It was said that they had a relationship after his wife died, so it wasn’t adultery, but it was still an interesting piece of gossip that was even made into a movie.

“Since public opinion has been appropriately shaped, you’re going to actively promote the abolition of slavery.”

“But if I do that, there will be a strong backlash from the South. The Southern states are already threatening to secede from the Union if the abolition of slavery is forced.”

In the original timeline, the Civil War unfolded in a similar way.

Of course, that happened more than 50 years later than now, and the North had far superior national power to the South.

“But can the North realistically suppress the South?”

“…That’s the problem.”

Currently, the United States hasn’t yet experienced the rapid industrialization that significantly boosted the North’s power in the original timeline.

Not enough time has passed, and above all, I control the Great Lakes region, which is crucial for industrialization.

Objectively speaking, the power of the North and the South is so evenly matched that it’s difficult to predict the outcome of a conflict.

If the Southern territory acquired by the United States is stabilized, the South may even become stronger.

This means that a completely different scenario from the original timeline could unfold.

Is the reason Jefferson is trying to abolish slavery now, even by force, because he has foreseen this possibility?

“Since slaves from Europe are no longer arriving, the value of slaves in the South will increase over time. This means that the gap between those who own slaves and those who don’t will widen, and a distorted ideology will begin to corrupt people’s minds. If the future is only going to get worse, I think we should resolve this now, even if it means bloodshed.”

“That’s an excellent decision. Our France is a country that values freedom, equality, and fraternity. Naturally, we fully support the President’s decision and will offer our full cooperation.”

“Can I interpret that cooperation to include military cooperation?”

I knew it. This was his true intention from the beginning.

Since the possibility of armed conflict cannot be ruled out, is he trying to secure an overwhelming advantage by bringing in French troops?

No, perhaps he wants to send a clear message from the outset that France supports them, discouraging any thoughts of starting a civil war.

“That’s not something that I, as a mere Prime Minister, can definitively answer. The deployment of troops requires the approval of the parliament and His Majesty the King. However, I promise to do my best to persuade the parliament. But in the worst-case scenario, I don’t think it’s a good idea to involve foreign troops if a civil war breaks out.”

No matter how morally justified you are, relying on foreign troops opens you up to criticism.

And above all, there’s no reason for my soldiers to shed blood when I can benefit from the situation.

I could extract concessions in exchange for dispatching troops, but if I did that, public opinion in the United States toward France would likely deteriorate in the long run.

“Then what kind of cooperation are you suggesting?”

“To wage war, you need weapons and soldiers. Even if we can’t directly send soldiers, we can dispatch officers to train your soldiers. Of course, we will supply the materials to make weapons as cheaply as possible.”

Even now, there are rumors that there’s an overabundance of iron ore being mined near the Great Lakes, and it’s difficult to sell it all.

If we can sell this at a reasonable price and even gain recognition for our assistance, it would be a win-win situation.

Jefferson’s face, having received a promise of definite support, brightened considerably.

Seeing the smile on his face, I smiled back and nodded.

“France and the United States will continue to walk together as staunch allies. Mr. President, pursue your goals. We will support you every step of the way.”

I was wondering where to find the money needed for the industrialization of Nouvelle-France, but this solves the problem.

I’m sorry, but I’m going to exploit this situation to the fullest.

But the North will win the war anyway, so it’s not a loss, right?

I’ll Stick a Straw In End