If you could change history

[The Archregimancy]

Frederick II. Wellington (Spanish campaigns).

for wellington again lucky if it wasn't for the fact that Ney jumped the gun at Waterloo, he wouldn't be considered good.

Yes he would.

NiS was specifically referencing the Peninsular War, not Waterloo.

Nothing lucky about the Peninsular War.

[Of the Free Socialist Territories]

Frederick II. Wellington (Spanish campaigns).

Alfred the Great. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck.....

To a lesser extent, Napoleon Bonaparte.

[Linkazonia]

I would change history by making Lenin to live for longer than he did, as to make sure Stalin wouldn't gain power and eventually kill millions because of paranoia. However if Lenin did live longer there's no guarantee Stalin wouldn't attempt to get power and possibly end up doing something worse.

[United Kingdom of Poland]

for wellington again lucky if it wasn't for the fact that Ney jumped the gun at Waterloo, he wouldn't be considered good.

Yes he would.

NiS was specifically referencing the Peninsular War, not Waterloo.

Nothing lucky about the Peninsular War.

yes but most people only know him for waterloo, not for spain, so if he would have lost Waterloo, bye-bye good rep.

[Of the Free Socialist Territories]

Yes he would.

NiS was specifically referencing the Peninsular War, not Waterloo.

Nothing lucky about the Peninsular War.

yes but most people only know him for waterloo, not for spain, so if he would have lost Waterloo, bye-bye good rep.

Not necessarily, given that my rather limited understanding of the Hundred Days has it that Napoleon would just have been wiped up by Bluecher and/or the Russians at a slightly later date. He'd still have been able to go on about how he was critical in draining Napoleon's military strength in the Peninsular War, and then there's his Indian campaigns as well.

[Conscentia]

I would change history by making Lenin to live for longer than he did, as to make sure Stalin wouldn't gain power and eventually kill millions because of paranoia. However if Lenin did live longer there's no guarantee Stalin wouldn't attempt to get power and possibly end up doing something worse.

Then why not do what I would do? (Remove Stalin from history entirely.)

[Czechanada]

I would change history by making Lenin to live for longer than he did, as to make sure Stalin wouldn't gain power and eventually kill millions because of paranoia. However if Lenin did live longer there's no guarantee Stalin wouldn't attempt to get power and possibly end up doing something worse.

Then why not do what I would do? (Remove Stalin from history entirely.)

Killing Stalin isn't necessary. All you need to do is to convince the admissions board of the Orthodox seminary he studied at to reject his application.

[Conscentia]

Then why not do what I would do? (Remove Stalin from history entirely.)

Killing Stalin isn't necessary. All you need to do is to convince the admissions board of the Orthodox seminary he studied at to reject his application.

Killing him? I didn't say I'd kill him. I'd remove him from history. Put him in a different part of history.
I have a time machine - I can take him as a child, and drop him in an orphanage in modern Georgia.
Problem solved. No one has to die. Who knows, he could even turn out to be a rather decent guy. (I've heard that he was beaten as a child by his father... perhaps his problems stem from childhood. In which case, I'm both him & the future a favour.)

The Stalin you know would cease to exist (hence "removed" from history). Instead there'd by a different Stalin.

[Czechanada]

Killing Stalin isn't necessary. All you need to do is to convince the admissions board of the Orthodox seminary he studied at to reject his application.

Killing him? I didn't say I'd kill him. I'd remove him from history. Put him in a different part of history.
I have a time machine - I can take him as a child, and drop him in an orphanage in modern Georgia.
Problem solved. No one has to die. Who knows, he could even turn out to be a rather decent guy. (I've heard that he was beaten as a child by his father... perhaps his problems stem from childhood. In which case, I'm both him & the future a favour.)

This reminds me of the plot of Witcher 1, except in reverse.

[Blakullar]

I'd get a degree in computing and information technology, use a time machine to travel back to April 3 1975 and found a company called "Microsoft".

And then world domination.

[Conscentia]

I'd get a degree in computing and information technology, use a time machine to travel back to April 3 1975 and found a company called "Microsoft".

And then world domination.

What if it turns out that you're rubbish at business?

[Blakullar]

I'd get a degree in computing and information technology, use a time machine to travel back to April 3 1975 and found a company called "Microsoft".

And then world domination.

What if it turns out that you're rubbish at business?

I am rubbish at business.
Curse you, semi-reticulated capitalist algorithms!

[Nazis in Space]

What if it turns out that you're rubbish at business?

I am rubbish at business.
Curse you, semi-reticulated capitalist algorithms!

Start an IT company not called Microsoft right before the IT bubble starts to inflate. Wait until a few days before it bursts. Sell ALL the shares. Flee back to the future.

No business acumen required.

[Serrland]

Calling it luck does a disservice to Washington's personal politicking ability within the Continental Congress.

I meant on the battlefield how many other generals do you know that are considered good even after losing most of a countries big cities.

There was no way the Americans could have held all the major cities. It was simply an impossibility - and to have thought otherwise, even at the time, would have been silliness.

Was there some luck involved in Washington's success? Yes, there was. One might look to the escape from Brooklyn - had there not been heavy fog, it would have been impossible. That should not diminish, however, from the incredible organization that such a retreat required. The Battle of Brooklyn was a disaster, but given the British naval presence in the rivers, that was to be expected. Not to mention, disease was ravaging the American garrison, which was already facing a British invasion force greater than the total population of the city.

And Washington was hamstrung by Congress. John Adams provides a clear example of this in his 6 Jan. letter to Washington:

Watertown Jan. 6. 1776
Dr Sir
As your Excellency has asked my Opinion of General Lees Plan, as explained in his Letter of the fifth instant, I think it my Duty to give it, although I am obliged to do it in more Haste than I could wish.

I Suppose the only Questions which arise upon that Letter are whether the Plan is practicable; whether it is expedient; and whether it lies properly within your Excellencys Authority, without further Directions from Congress.

Of the Practicability of it, I am very ill qualified to judge; But were I to hazard a conjecture, it would be that the Enterprise would not be attended with much Difficulty. The Connecticutt People who are very ready upon such occasion in Conjunction with the Friends of Liberty in New York I should think might easily accomplish the Work.

That it is expedient, and even necessary to be done, by Some Authority or other, I believe will not be doubted by any Friend of the American Cause, who considers the vast Importance of that City, Province, and the North River which is in it, in the Progress of this War, as it is the Nexus of the Northern and Southern Colonies, as a Kind of Key to the whole Continent, as it is a Passage to Canada to the Great Lakes and to all the Indians Nations. No Effort to secure it ought to be omitted.

That it is within the Limits of your Excellencys Command, is in my Mind, perfectly clear. Your Commission constitutes you Commander “of all the Forces now raised or to be raised, and of all others, who shall voluntarily offer their Service, and join the Army for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof: and are vested with full Power and Authority to act as you shall think for the good and well fare of the service.”

Now if upon Long Island, there is a Body of People, who have Arms in their Hands, and are intrenching themselves, professedly to oppose the American system of Defence; who are supplying our Enemies both of the Army and Navy, in Boston and elsewhere, as I suppose is undoubtedly the Fact, no Man can hesitate to say that this is an hostile Invasion of American Liberty, as much as that now made in Boston, nay those People are guilty of the very Invasion in Boston, as they are constantly aiding, abetting, comforting and assisting the Army there; and that in the most essential Manner by supplies of Provisions. If in the City a Body of Tories are waiting only for a Force to protect them, to declare themselves on the side of our Enemies, it is high Time that City was secured. The Jersey Troops have already been ordered into that City by the Congress, and are there undoubtedly under your Command ready to assist in this service.

That N. York is within your Command as much as Massachusetts cannot bear a Question. Your Excellencys Superiority in the Command, over the Generals, in the Northern Department as it is called has been always carefully preserved in Congress, altho the Necessity of Dispatch has sometimes induced them to send Instructions directly to them, instead of first sending them to your Excellency, which would have occasioned a Circuit of many hundreds of Miles, and have lost much Time.

Upon the whole sir, my opinion is that General Lee's is a very useful Proposal, and will answer many good Ends. I am with great Respect, your Excellencys most obedient humble Servant
John Adams

This sort of situation is not unusual when it comes to Washington's military record - his hands were often tied, be it by disease, Congress, or the overwhelming numbers and skills of the British and Hessian troops he was facing.

That he even managed to overcome this by winning some fantastic victories - like those at Trenton (which was really a tactical masterstroke, involving crossing the Delaware in several places and making a long night march, which ended up in a battle that saw the American's take 900 Hessian prisoners and scatter 500 more. The only casualties? Two Americans who succumbed to the cold)[1], or at Princeton a short while later (which forced the British out of much of New Jersey and ensured that momentum would be in the American's favor heading into the winter cool-down)[2].

His recapture of Boston without significant loss of life or damage to the city was a magnificent victory - made possible by the flexibility and judgement of character that allowed Knox to go north to Ticonderoga to recover artillery. Over the course of a single night - with Washington's oversight - the Americans moved to take the Dorchester Heights and rapidly construct enough breastworks to ensure that the British would not attempt another assault.

The loss of Philadelphia was made inevitable by British naval superiority and their ability to move troops at will along the Chesapeake - after Howe decide he'd land close to Philadelphia (~50 miles), and with the numerical supremacy he had, the loss of the city was all but certain. Even if Washington had won at the Battle of Brandywine the city would likely have eventually been taken, and probably not much later than it actually did.

The fall of Charleston was so far removed from Washington's area of control that the fault cannot possibly be put on him.

[1]McCullough, 1776, p.281
[2]Morris, Encyclopedia of American History, p.94

[Nova Nacio]

- My Changes (Response to OP):

Free healthcare and education for all American citizens (but people who work in these spots are decently paid for those that go into the field).

Religion wouldn't be a stain on America's existence, like it is now to things like minorities, women and the LGBT...

Dialed-down, non-imperialistic behaving military that actually does its job, along with a Gov't that looks out for who elected them, as in no lobbying or special interests - under penalty of exile, or better yet, death - for letting said constituents down!

Basically, anything to make America suck less is what I'd aim to do to change history - and in one of few ways... Make the world a better place for everyone else!

[DrakoBlaria]

The 30 year war never happened. This means that the crusade against the Ottomans actually happens and Charles Gonzaga with the help of the Maniots and other Greeks become the new Emperor of Constantinople.

ROOOOOAAAAAAAR, I KNOW HISTORY!

I know the chances of the crusade being succesful were slim but let me dream . And well, if I remember correctly he had the support of the Pope (but then that Pope died I believe), of the Danes and some other powers. The chances of him getting Constantinople would be in no way possible but getting a chunk of Greece are

[The Archregimancy]

Yes he would.

NiS was specifically referencing the Peninsular War, not Waterloo.

Nothing lucky about the Peninsular War.

yes but most people only know him for waterloo, not for spain, so if he would have lost Waterloo, bye-bye good rep.

Nonsense; all you're demonstrating is that anyone who argues that Wellington's historical reputation rests solely on Waterloo is historically illiterate.

For one, he was made Duke of Wellington on the basis of his Spanish accomplishments, not his Belgian campaign; and as Of the Free Socialist Territories pointed out, even if he'd lost Waterloo, chances are the allies would have eventually won the war anyway. It was only ever going to be a terminal loss for one side.

[The Archregimancy]

ROOOOOAAAAAAAR, I KNOW HISTORY!

The chances of him getting Constantinople would be in no way possible but getting a chunk of Greece are

No they weren't; not in 1619.

I gently remind you that the Venetians lost Crete to the Ottomans, despite having Maniot support in mainland Greece, a few decades after Gonzaga's quixotic little fantasy fell apart, and the Venetians were considerably better equipped than Gonzaga.

Still, I'll give you points for actually coming up with a historically aware scenario based on impressively obscure events.

[DrakoBlaria]

Morozini stays the f**k of Athens.
The Spartans DO NOT allow Alexander believe he is God and he attacks them (nerd joke is nerdy)

[EnragedMaldivians]

ROOOOOAAAAAAAR, I KNOW HISTORY!

I know the chances of the crusade being succesful were slim but let me dream . And well, if I remember correctly he had the support of the Pope (but then that Pope died I believe), of the Danes and some other powers. The chances of him getting Constantinople would be in no way possible but getting a chunk of Greece are

Okay, not taking part in the debate, but that is a wonderful summary of Arch's posts. Genuinely made me laugh. My flatmates probably think I'm psychotic now.

[DrakoBlaria]

The chances of him getting Constantinople would be in no way possible but getting a chunk of Greece are

No they weren't; not in 1619.

I gently remind you that the Venetians lost Crete to the Ottomans, despite having Maniot support in mainland Greece, a few decades after Gonzaga's quixotic little fantasy fell apart, and the Venetians were considerably better equipped than Gonzaga.

Still, I'll give you points for actually coming up with a historically aware scenario based on impressively obscure events.

It is not like the Maniots were elite warriors who could defeat all Turks. Thank God for our rought terrain and poor land.

Also, it is not like Gonzaga would invade on his own. Which is why he didnt at all. He travelled all over Europe to get support and who knows who could help him (not many I guess ).
Also, the Ottomans did invade and imposed taxes, but we never paid them

[DrakoBlaria]

I know the chances of the crusade being succesful were slim but let me dream . And well, if I remember correctly he had the support of the Pope (but then that Pope died I believe), of the Danes and some other powers. The chances of him getting Constantinople would be in no way possible but getting a chunk of Greece are

Okay, not taking part in the debate, but that is a wonderful summary of Arch's posts. Genuinely made me laugh. My flatmates probably think I'm psychotic now.

Meh, it is not really a debate. I honestly do not have a good picture in my mind on how Europe was before the 30 year war started, and I doubt anyone would support a noble man who wants to become 'Emperor of Constantinople' without having something to gain. So yeah, Arch is right.

[EnragedMaldivians]

Okay, not taking part in the debate, but that is a wonderful summary of Arch's posts. Genuinely made me laugh. My flatmates probably think I'm psychotic now.

Meh, it is not really a debate. I honestly do not have a good picture in my mind on how Europe was before the 30 year war started, and I doubt anyone would support a noble man who wants to become 'Emperor of Constantinople' without having something to gain. So yeah, Arch is right.

That's all well and good.

I just found the whole "ROOOOOAAAAAAAR, I KNOW HISTORY!" bit to be quite amusing.

[Farnhamia]

Meh, it is not really a debate. I honestly do not have a good picture in my mind on how Europe was before the 30 year war started, and I doubt anyone would support a noble man who wants to become 'Emperor of Constantinople' without having something to gain. So yeah, Arch is right.

That's all well and good.

I just found the whole "ROOOOOAAAAAAAR, I KNOW HISTORY!" bit to be quite amusing.

That could be Arch's motto on his escutcheon.

[Czechanada]

Okay, not taking part in the debate, but that is a wonderful summary of Arch's posts. Genuinely made me laugh. My flatmates probably think I'm psychotic now.

Meh, it is not really a debate. I honestly do not have a good picture in my mind on how Europe was before the 30 year war started, and I doubt anyone would support a noble man who wants to become 'Emperor of Constantinople' without having something to gain. So yeah, Arch is right.

The Thirty Years' War is one of my favourite things to study in history. I'd rather you not prevent it even if you disproved Arch's point with some arcane knowledge from Sigil, the City of Doors.