Alternative History:Hinge moments

Following are a few possible Points of Departure. These represent specific events without prior certainty as to their resolution ("hinge moments") and avoid those which would require ABS (which is why the justification is included for each) or those which are based on difference in trends.

The ramifications are meant to represent various possibilities, not a group of related results.

These are posted to give ideas to others so feel free to contribute your own to this page.

French Revolution Era

 * Louis XVI manage to escape to Belgium
 * Justification : No one knew where he was until he got out of the coach and was seen by a civil servant who recognised him and warned the Gendarmes.
 * Ramifications :
 * - The king serves as a unifying symbol for the royalists who do not become fractioned and manage with foreign help to regain the throne. No napoleonic Era.
 * - He stays in exile until the restoration when he comes back to the throne.

Napoleonic Era

 * The french landing in ireland (1798) is a success
 * Justification : The only problem *here* was bad weather which damaged a few ships and dispersed the rest.
 * Ramifications :
 * - Ireland becomes one of the "sister republics" of france. Laters become a kingdom under one of Napoleon's siblings
 * - No clear resolution is achieved by either side. British involvement in the defence of ireland reduce its ressources during later napoleonic wars.
 * - Ireland becomes independent and declares neutrality during French Imperial era (claiming that they have a debt of gratitude to the republic, not the empire). Manage to make a large profit as a neutral trader. Becomes a world power in the late 19th or early 20th century.

World War I

 * Death of Adolf hitler during WWI.
 * Justification : he was badly wounded at least once
 * Ramifications :
 * - The weimar republic end up controled by The steel helmets (right wing but more conservative then fascistic and not particularly antisemitic).

World War II

 * France is occupied by the Allies after the normandy landing and treated in a manner similar to Italy.
 * Justification : a plan to do this had been drafted before the normandy landing. Only De gaulle's actions prevented its application
 * Ramifications :
 * - Resentment push it eventualy in the communist camp
 * - Various groups including maquisars, communists and former military under de Gaule keep up a guerilla warfare.


 * The murder attempt on hitler is a success
 * Justification : Its only the fact that the bomb was moved that probably saved him
 * Ramifications :
 * - Germany sue for an end to the war.
 * - Germany sign a peace treaty with the allied countries minus russia.
 * - the government fracture into factions and this lead to a civil war.

- Germany go ahead with operation sealion (invasion of great-britain)
 * Justification : Plans were drafted and at one point were set to go.
 * Ramifications :
 * - the various government in exiles have to relocate once more. Britain and allies move to Canada, others to the USA
 * - The US concentrate all its ressources on the pacific conflict
 * - A few governments sue for peace