William H. Crawford
William H. Crawford was an American politician who served as the sixth Chancellor of America from 1814 to 1818, defeating incumbent William Short, riding off the back of the recession left by Elbridge Gerry and Short. He played himself as more of the common man's Chancellor, placating to the "hard hit" white population. He further distanced his office from that of the king , and attempted to govern solely to the annoyance of Augustus II. He and the Republicans were elected in a wave of new support as the Libertarians are seen as too idealistic and the Unionists too aristocratic. He packed his cabinet with pro-slavery and anti-British politicians of the time, most are at the very least sympathetic of the pro-slavery rebellion about a decade earlier.
While SCOTUS ruled the legislation of abolition was Constitutional, it did not make it to Constitutional amendment. In such, Crawford attempted measures to block further enforcement of it. In the meantime, he implemented orders for the spread of American style serfdom and indentured servitude. Crawford extended this to not just the freed blacks, but natives and immigrants as well, particularly from east Asia, but also the Jewish and the North Africans.
This governing caused issues with the natives and the rising of Tecumseh. Tecumseh did not agree with the terms of treaty from the American government in regards to the Huron Territory and furthers negotiations with Canada. This was seen as turning over American territory to the British. Crawford sought to overturn the previous treaties with the natives and push them out of the territory completely, granting the land to loyal supporters. He wished to conquer and annex all of Canada. In this measure, he pressured Northwest Territory Governor Arthur St Clair, a Unionist, out of office to replace him with William Henry Harrison, a Crawford Republican.
During the ensuing war, Crawford was unable to utilize the federal forces, as Augustus II blocked their usage. With a militia force, led by the previously pardoned Andrew Jackson, the natives were fought in Huron, with Tecumseh's Prophetstown being razed. Following that, a superior American militia force was completely crushed by a smaller force of Canadian regulars.
King Augustus eventually took control of the situation in 1816 away from Crawford upon the approval of Congress. America won the war in the end, but Crawford's political career never recovered. He was defeated in an attempt for re-election to Unionist Rufus King.
After his term as Chancellor, Crawford was an outspoken supporter of state's rights and a proponent of slavery. He supported the relocation of freed persons of color to the island of Haiti and the territory of Freeman. Less controversially, he was also a promoter of the arts and sciences, having become an advocate of an American cultural advancement.
Comments