The Plot Against America | Althist Lore

In today's video, we take a look at The Plot Against America, a novel by Philip Roth which explores an alternate timeline wherein Charles Lindburgh becomes President of the United States. We'll not only explore the worldbuilding of the novel, but suggest our own alternate endings to the book!

Featuring Jakub Pedersen as Monsieur Z

#alternatehistory #history #worldwar2 #ww2 #wwii #usa

[MonsieurDean]

But what if Lindbergh did a 9/11 on the Eiffel Tower?

[jimryan]

The thing you have to keep in mind about Roth and his work: Roth did THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA more as a reflection on anti-Semitism than as a real AltHist exercise. None of his other works like PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT or GOODBYE, COLUMBUS were anything like this one, and he really didn't care about what happened to the world, only to his fictionalized version of hos own family.

At one point, Roth suggested that no one had ever done a novel like PLOT AGAINST AMERICA before, but he backtracked pretty quickly when other such works like this were brought up to him. (Rumors that a visit from the ghost of Philip K. Dick can't be verified, but not out of the realm of possibility...)

Bottom line was, Roth tried to do something in an area he neither really understood or gave that much thought to, and it painfully shows in his novel.

[johnwright]

In order to have Japan attack Pearl Harbor, there needs to be a reason for it. Based on what information you gave from the novel, there would be no reason for Japan to attack. Likewise, if the US wasn't giving material help to the Brits and Soviets, Germany would have zero reason to back Japan after the attack, and an indifferent US towards Germany would also keep them from declaring war.

[Mcfunface]

Philip Roth was Jewish. The bias of this on his alternate history is going to be massive, especially in american context.

[Huesmann]

What if Edward VIII, the later Duke of Windsor, didn't abdicate shortly before WWII?

[AlexS-zrnb]

I mean does an attack on pearl harbor by the Japanese even make sense if America never placed an Oil embargo on Japan?

[whitehawk]

Why not remove the Japanese attack on Pearl Habour? Because frankly, without the embargo, it makes no sense whatsoever.
In the lend lease scenario, why would an anti-communist president refusing to supply the Soviet Union delay D-Day? If anything, it would speed up the timetable, as they would have all the materials that were sent to the Soviet Union available to be used for preparing for D-day.
Historically, Stalin preferred lend lease being sent to the Soviet Union, and was willing to delay the invasion of Normandy to accomplish this.

[RightCenterBack]

The most history-illiterate aspect of "The Plot Against America" was, how he characterized the South as supportive of fascism, even though the South was strongly pro-Britain and America First didn't have much support in the region.

I think Philip Roth assumed that because of Jim Crow and racism, Southerners would be pro-fascism. Of course, you can't expect someone like him to appreciate the complexity and multi-layered nature of history.

[danielsantiagourtado]

Suggestion: What if Carlos II of Spain was born healthier

[AmericanImperium]

Oh Charles Lindbergh and Herman Goering. Lindbergh went to Germany and looked over the Luftwaffe and I believe the medal he received I believe had something to do with aviation.

P.S. Great video 👍 Can you do one on the Business Plot and I have an idea for you for sometime in the future:

What if MacArthur became an American Shogun of Japan ruling in the Emperor’s Name. This new Japan would be a mix of Traditional Japanese culture and American Military & Industrial might/Americana.

[danielsantiagourtado]

Keep up the good work! Loving this channel 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[rokball]

Suggestion: What if North Korea set up a provincial government in Manchuria when they loose in Korean War?

[dino-bkvh]

Idea: what if instead of Andrew Johnson Abraham Lincoln kept Hannibal Hamlin as his vice president until he was

[klauslandlicht]

What if Strom Thurmond won the 1948 United States presidential election?

[ParkerHayden-sxtv]

What if the eastern Roman Empire, instead of trying to reunite the Roman Empire, tried expanding east in the 6th century, attempting to mirror Alexander’s conquest.

[れいい-qm]

I was like wow this is an interesting alternate history and then Jesus Christ who the fuck ruins a story like that

[isaiahslack]

Suggestion: What if the Nepalese Royal Massacre never happened?

[TheNathanacer]

I really liked the Tv series. Was hoping for more

[Ayala_]

Absolutely no reason for Japan to attack, what trash writing lol.

[notsostealthmission]

Why would Japan attack without the oil embargo?