George Benckendorf

***George Benckendorf***

**George Benckendorf** was an early Republic's politician and general. Little is known about Benckendorf's early childhood, but Benckendorf had been a member of the military since the age of 23. in 1760 Benckendorf joined the military as a private, over the years he'd work his way up, and by the Revolutionary War Benckendorf had become a First Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Militia. During his time in the war he'd become a Captain, and would fight in several battles across Pennsylvania. Following the war he'd retire from the military for a while, representing Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention. After a short stint out of the Military and Politics, Benckendorf would be elected to the position of Pennsylvania Governor following Benjamin Franklin's retirement. Finally in 1800, Benckendorf would be elected President, but he would be removed a little over a year in due to a massacre of aboriginals who were legal citizens.

## Military

In 1760 Benckendorf would join the Military as a private, and over the years he'd fight in several battles with natives in western Pennsylvania. Benckendorf would be promoted to Second Lieutenant in 1769, First Lieutenant in 1772.

In 1774 the Revolutionary War broke out, Benckendorf would join the Continental Army, and soon would be promoted to a Captain. While descriptions and scriptures are scarse of his time in the Continental Army, he would fight in several battles, including being present at the surrender of the British in Charleston in 1778. Following the war Benckendorf would retire from the military and pursue politics in his home state of Pennsylvania.

In 1789 on the breakout of the War of 1789, Benckendorf would once again bring up arms to defend his nation, rejoining as a Captain in the Republic's Army. Benckendorf would lead men into Delaware and eastern Maryland during the war, and would with intimidation manage to force the Delaware State Government to surrender. He would also be involved in the Middleton Protest Scandal where an unrelated and unarmed man was gunned down on accident by Benckendorf's men while chasing a would-be assassin. Benckendorf would also secure Norfolk from some militia men after the city was abandoned by Governor Erler's downright treasonous Maine Army. Benckendorf would be promoted to Brigadier General during the war.

Entering into the Green Mountain-Canadian War, Benckendorf would be the Secretary of War. Over the last 10 years Maine had been highly disputed by the Great Britain and the Republic, it would be years long of unofficial battle by Maine and Canadian forces. Finally in 1795, after the Benckendorf-Martial Scandal, Benckendorf would march troops into the disputed territory, and spark a several years long war with Great Britain. Benckendorf would fight in the Battle for Quebec in 1795, and would in late 1795 sail onto New Foundland, and would get beaten in the Battle of Mainland, which would leave Benckendorf captured for the duration of the war.

## Governorship

In 1790, George Benckendorf would run for Governor of Pennsylvania to replace outgoing Governor Benjamin Franklin, a great founding father; Benckendorf ran as a Democratic-Republican, beating Arthur St. Clair of the Federalist Party. It would be no contest, and Benckendorf would win by a safe margin in a swing state, solidifying a new era of Democratic-Republican/Democratic Control in Pennsylvania.

At the start of his first term, Benckendorf would make slander illegal in a controversial move that would limit the 1st Amendment. Following that he would make it legal for all people of Pennsylvania to vote, and would focus mainly on major domestic agenda in the state.

Benckendorf would run for President in 1792, losing, but coming back after with several bills.

Benckendorf would repeal the unfair electoral system that lowered the value of a vote depending on gender and race, replacing it with universal suffrage in 1793, and would put senate elections up to popular vote in Pennsylvania soon after. Going into the later half of his first term, Benckendorf would push heavily into education.

Benckendorf would win in his 1794 election against Frederick Muhlenberg with 53% of the popular vote, which is significantly lower than in his previous one. And later, would order a draft for a defense of Pennsylvania in the Green Mountain-Canadian War. However, he would demobilize right after the war. Perhaps the most important achievement of Benckendorf is the foundation of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Bank, the first statewide bank. During both of his terms, Pennsylvania remained one of the most important states.

## Presidential Runs

In 1792 George Benckendorf would run for the Presidential Election. Benckendorf would push hard on campaigning, something never done before nationally, pioneering the prospect. Benckendorf's campaign would mainly focus on the benefits of the Democratic-Republicans for the future of the country. Near the end of the election season he would start attacking the Federalists for their partisanship. He would go on to lose the election to Vice President John Berkman, but would remain in the public spotlight going forward as Berkman's Secretary of War.

In 1796 Benckendorf would campaign and announce candidacy for the Presidency, but would drop out after being captured by the British shortly following the Battle of Mainland.

In 1804 following his removal from office, Benckendorf would run a write-in campaign. Benckendorf would mainly kill the hopes to continue a Democratic Presidency, threatening to split the vote, even though he would be unable to serve. Eventually President Fring Gus would drop out, but Benckendorf would still lose to former Chief Justice Gerald Smith.

## Presidency

In 1800 George Benckendorf would finally be elected President, but would serve a short term. Within it he would serve as a progressive, pushing through educational reform, and gender rights, making the 19th Amendment. In late 1801 Benckendorf would fight the Battle of Burning Woods, which Benckendorf would finish by burning the woods around their positions, not only scorching them, but nearly the entire forest. For mass destruction of public property, Benckendorf would be impeached and removed from office, being succeeded by his Vice President Fring Gus on June 29, 1802.