President Bonaparte — Robert Blumetti

The Italian city-state of Genoa ruled Corsica for 2 centuries. In 1755 the Corscians rebelled. In 1768 France bought the island defeated the rebels. They were defeated by the French who offered the rebels citizenship. 340 Corscians refused and went into exile, first to London and then they settled in New York City in July 1769. One of the rebels, Carlo Buonaparte accepted citizenship at the urging of his pregnant-heavy wide Letizia. On August 15, 1769, she gave birth to a son and named him Napoleon, who went on to become the Emperor of France. This is real-time history. But what would have happened if Carlo and Letizia had joined their fellow rebels in exile in New York City. We know that the 340 Corsicans became friends with Alexander Hamilton, who organized them into the Corsican Brigade and fought in the American Revolution. What would have happened if Napoleon was born in New York City as an American? How would he have changed the course of American history?