Riker, William H. "What If Elbridge Gerry Had Been More Rational and Less Patriotic? (1787)."
Divergence: 1787 CE
What if: Massachusetts delegate Gerry voted against a Constitutional proposal, causing the entire convention to collapse.
Comments: Speculation on the Balkanization of North America, begun by armed conflict between New York and New England for Vermont.
Published: In What If? Explorations in Social-Science Fiction (ed. Nelson W. Polsby), q.v.