French troops in Texas, 1841

From here:

"And in 1840, the Republic was financially broke. Again, de Saligny appeared upon the scene to assist the beleaguered Texans. This time he was to lobby for a piece of legislation known as the Franco-Texian Bill. This bill, properly titled, "An Act to Incorporate the Franco Texian Commercial and Colonization Company", if passed by the congress in Austin, would charter 8,000 French families onto three million acres of Texas with French military rights to establish and maintain twenty military forts and garrison ten thousand French troops tax-free for twenty years."

Ex-President David Burnet, always opposed to anything involving Sam Houston, had also grown tired of the pompous Frenchman. The fact that Houston was backing the Franco-Texian bill in Congress was enough to cause Burnet to get involved. Bail for Bullock was immediately posted by John Chalmers, who also happened to be the Texas Secretary of the Treasury. Bullock used the occasion to attempt an assault on de Saligny himself and the situation was really turning ugly.

Convinced that crude Texas law was an affront to the dignity of France, de Saligny left Austin for New Orleans effectively suspending diplomatic relations between the Republic and France for a year.
De Saligny, true to his word, used his influence with his brother-in-law to defeat the French loan to Texas. The Franco-Texian Bill, after passing the Texas House on January 23, 1841 was never addressed by the Senate and died through inaction. No French soldier ever was garrisoned in the Republic of Texas as a result of de Saligny’s initiative.
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I've copied and pasted selected bits, if you want the whole thing, follow the link. Long story short, the Franco-Texas bill fell through due to a "Pig War", one of those silly diplomatic disputes that erupt between nations. But what the Texan and the French diplomat are able to work out their problems, and the act doesn't fall through? A substantial number of French troops will be in Texas, decreasing the chance of US annexation and making it a de-facto French client. How will this effect US and Texas history?

 

Cook

Banned
A substantial number of French troops will be in Texas, decreasing the chance of US annexation and making it a de-facto French client. How will this effect US and Texas history?



Wouldn’t a French presence accelerate US efforts to Annex Texas into the United States as per the Monroe Doctrine?
 
I've had a half-written TL lying around with this premise for ages. ONE DAY *goes back to playing Minecraft*
 
Cool WI! A French-backed Texas would have some interesting ramifications, particularly if it means continued independence. I'd LOVE to see this TL (Sicarius, step away from the Minecraft!).

Points of interest:

- Is there a Mexican War ITTL? What happens to California and New Mexico?

- How do Catholic Tejanos fare ITTL? With French Catholics proping up the place, does this mean that the Tejanos have more influence and face less overt prejudice?

- How DOES the US deal with this? Is this an affront to the MD, or does the official Texian independence change that?

- What happens if/when Mexican debts stack up? Assuming that France would want to try for a New Empire ala Maximillian does Texas help? Does Texas officially take over as front men for the French as a band aid agaisnt the MD?

- How does the Slavery debate proceed in the US without the Texas annexation?
 
What happens if/when Mexican debts stack up? Assuming that France would want to try for a New Empire ala Maximillian does Texas help? Does Texas officially take over as front men for the French as a band aid agaisnt the MD?


Iirc, the Texas Congress at some point passed a resolution "annexing" New Mexico, California and a good deal else besides. Their French patrons might intervene to enforce that claim.

Incidentally, France had been at war with Mexico as recently as 1838, which was how Santa Anna lost his leg, so firther hostilities are entirely possible.
 
Iirc, the Texas Congress at some point passed a resolution "annexing" New Mexico, California and a good deal else besides. Their French patrons might intervene to enforce that claim.

Incidentally, France had been at war with Mexico as recently as 1838, which was how Santa Anna lost his leg, so firther hostilities are entirely possible.

Lord I REALLY want to read this TL now. :(
 
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