Here's a thought......Texas becomes an independent state in 1836. This fledging Republic with Legations in both London and Paris, as well as Washington has mounting debts of over $10,000,000. Instead of looking towards the USA and accepting the annexation of 1845 and the American offer of taking on these debts .....looked towards Britain and accepted Britain's (and France's) offer to guarantee Texas' borders with the USA thus preserving it's integrity as an independent state; and, in the process becomes a market for british goods and capital.
Now, I know much British investment went into the USA during the 19th Century, but you could never say the USA was part of this informal empire concept. The mid-19th Century saw the growth of Britain's 'informal empire' with British investment streaming across the world to places not directly under British rule. Argentina, Greece, Egypt (before it became a possession) Chile, Peru, Brazil, Portugal, Mexico, the eastern Meditterranean, Spain, Siam and China were all part of Britain's 'informal empire' based on the merits of Free Trade and Investment. Britain invested heavily in all these areas in railways, mining, shipping, machinery, floating Governmental loans, underwriting insurance and developing agriculture and industry. Apparently, only one sixth of British credit abroad went into the Empire between 1815-80, the rest....went everywhere else.Texas was seen by British businessman and investors as a new market.....a prime candidate for this growth of investment abroad, another way in which those chaps in the City of London could make lots more pots of cash. Britain did make overtures towards the Texans in regards to loans and investment but, the Texans, by and large, resisted and threw in their lot with the US.
But what would the world be like with an independent Texas heavily supported by Britain, her biggest creditor....a Texas under British influence, politically, financially and economically. What would the United States have become and how would it have affected the American Civil War, if at all.
Now, I know much British investment went into the USA during the 19th Century, but you could never say the USA was part of this informal empire concept. The mid-19th Century saw the growth of Britain's 'informal empire' with British investment streaming across the world to places not directly under British rule. Argentina, Greece, Egypt (before it became a possession) Chile, Peru, Brazil, Portugal, Mexico, the eastern Meditterranean, Spain, Siam and China were all part of Britain's 'informal empire' based on the merits of Free Trade and Investment. Britain invested heavily in all these areas in railways, mining, shipping, machinery, floating Governmental loans, underwriting insurance and developing agriculture and industry. Apparently, only one sixth of British credit abroad went into the Empire between 1815-80, the rest....went everywhere else.Texas was seen by British businessman and investors as a new market.....a prime candidate for this growth of investment abroad, another way in which those chaps in the City of London could make lots more pots of cash. Britain did make overtures towards the Texans in regards to loans and investment but, the Texans, by and large, resisted and threw in their lot with the US.
But what would the world be like with an independent Texas heavily supported by Britain, her biggest creditor....a Texas under British influence, politically, financially and economically. What would the United States have become and how would it have affected the American Civil War, if at all.
