Historian Thomas Fleming wrote a short article in the book "What If? II" about the possibility of France holding on to Louisiana if the Napoleonic invasion of Haiti hadn't been decimated by disease. I offer a timeline in which the initial French success results in most of Louisiana falling into British hands and the potential superpower Canada that results...
This is definitely a rough timeline, one I threw together without serious research, so feel free to pick it apart.
1803: France declines to sell Louisiana to the United States following the re-conquest of Haiti. At some point the British will feel compelled to seize New Orleans.
1809-1812: The United States declares war upon the British Empire due to grievances on the high seas and in Louisiana; despite giving their full effort, the States are unable to decisively dislodge British control of the mouth of the Mississippi.
1815: The British Empire annexes all Louisiana and New Spain east of the Red River boundary in North America, leaving them with almost half of the entire continent.
View attachment 64890
1819-1822: Spain refuses to sell peninsular Florida to the United States, who then invade the territory; aware that the United States covets much of Canada and will ever be an increasing threat, the British Empire narrowly decides to declare war upon the United States.
Overwhelmed by superior British forces, the United States loses the Florida War and with it Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois; all of East and West Florida remain with Spain.
View attachment 64892
1828: Great Britain coerces Spain into selling the Floridas to them.
1833-1855: Several endemic rebellions convulse the Canadian colonies, with Québécois, Irish, Scots-Irish, and autonomists in turn rebelling against perceived persecution, corruption, neglect, condescension, ad nauseam. Each rebellion is put down through both military strength and diplomacy.
1844: The Republic of Mexico and the British Empire sign the Oregon Treaty granting the disputed Oregon Country north of the 42N latitude to the Canada territories.
1853-1856: The United States erupts into Civil War over perceived ANorthern@ domination of the government prompting eight ASouthern@ states to secede; despite nearly four years of horrific fighting and over four hundred thousand deaths, the industrial might of the North is unable even to subdue Tennessee and Virginia; following the election of a new President, the United States signs an armistice with the newly recognized Confederate States; a plebiscite held in Kentucky results in that state joining the South.
1856: At the end of the Crimean War, the British Empire annexes Russian Alaska to Canada.
Canada is reorganized as the autonomous Dominion of Canada, under a democratic constitution moderated by a Crown-appointed Governor General.
1866: The United States amends its constitution for the direct election of the President since the original electoral college system currently made it possible to win the national election with 1/4 the national vote Bhalf the popular votes in the three largest states. The amendment stipulates that a candidate must win 40% of the total popular vote or the decision will be sent to the House of Representatives.
1873-1874: Mexico and the British Empire go to war over California and Texas, two territories of Mexico with large Anglo populations and a Gold Rush; the British win the Baja peninsula and all of Mexico north of the 30N Latitude.
View attachment 64894
1881: Canadian Parliament issues a statement politely demanding autonomous status as an independent member of the British Empire; under pressure the British Parliament acquiesces by rescinding the office of Governor-General and allowing for separate foreign relations for Canada, but maintaining a binding alliance. As part of earlier negotiations, the administration of the Bahamas, Jamaica, and other Carribean Islands transfers to the Dominion of Canada.
This is definitely a rough timeline, one I threw together without serious research, so feel free to pick it apart.
1803: France declines to sell Louisiana to the United States following the re-conquest of Haiti. At some point the British will feel compelled to seize New Orleans.
1809-1812: The United States declares war upon the British Empire due to grievances on the high seas and in Louisiana; despite giving their full effort, the States are unable to decisively dislodge British control of the mouth of the Mississippi.
1815: The British Empire annexes all Louisiana and New Spain east of the Red River boundary in North America, leaving them with almost half of the entire continent.
View attachment 64890
1819-1822: Spain refuses to sell peninsular Florida to the United States, who then invade the territory; aware that the United States covets much of Canada and will ever be an increasing threat, the British Empire narrowly decides to declare war upon the United States.
Overwhelmed by superior British forces, the United States loses the Florida War and with it Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois; all of East and West Florida remain with Spain.
View attachment 64892
1828: Great Britain coerces Spain into selling the Floridas to them.
1833-1855: Several endemic rebellions convulse the Canadian colonies, with Québécois, Irish, Scots-Irish, and autonomists in turn rebelling against perceived persecution, corruption, neglect, condescension, ad nauseam. Each rebellion is put down through both military strength and diplomacy.
1844: The Republic of Mexico and the British Empire sign the Oregon Treaty granting the disputed Oregon Country north of the 42N latitude to the Canada territories.
1853-1856: The United States erupts into Civil War over perceived ANorthern@ domination of the government prompting eight ASouthern@ states to secede; despite nearly four years of horrific fighting and over four hundred thousand deaths, the industrial might of the North is unable even to subdue Tennessee and Virginia; following the election of a new President, the United States signs an armistice with the newly recognized Confederate States; a plebiscite held in Kentucky results in that state joining the South.
1856: At the end of the Crimean War, the British Empire annexes Russian Alaska to Canada.
Canada is reorganized as the autonomous Dominion of Canada, under a democratic constitution moderated by a Crown-appointed Governor General.
1866: The United States amends its constitution for the direct election of the President since the original electoral college system currently made it possible to win the national election with 1/4 the national vote Bhalf the popular votes in the three largest states. The amendment stipulates that a candidate must win 40% of the total popular vote or the decision will be sent to the House of Representatives.
1873-1874: Mexico and the British Empire go to war over California and Texas, two territories of Mexico with large Anglo populations and a Gold Rush; the British win the Baja peninsula and all of Mexico north of the 30N Latitude.
View attachment 64894
1881: Canadian Parliament issues a statement politely demanding autonomous status as an independent member of the British Empire; under pressure the British Parliament acquiesces by rescinding the office of Governor-General and allowing for separate foreign relations for Canada, but maintaining a binding alliance. As part of earlier negotiations, the administration of the Bahamas, Jamaica, and other Carribean Islands transfers to the Dominion of Canada.
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