US loses ARW

[tom]

What is the smallest POD that loses the Revolutionary War? What would the world be like now?

[Beck Reilly]

A young child dies in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1742. His name: Benedict Arnold.

Flash forward 35 years. Without Benedict Arnold, the Americans lose the Battle of Saratoga. Burgoyne continues south, seizing Albany and continuing south. New England is cut off from the rest of the colonies. France does not join the Americans.

Despite furious fighting from other great American generals (i.e. Nathanael Greene, Daniel Morgan, Anthoy Wayne, George R. Clark), the Americans lose the war. Almost all of the revelutionaries either: A) leave the American colonies, heading west (like in For Want of A Nail) or B) are granted amnesty. A couple, like George Washington, are executed.

Probably a later, successful rebellion in the early 1800s. Anti-British feelings abound in the American Republic of today. Probably closer allies with, say, Germany or Russia, rather than Britain or France.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Smallest POD, or the one that is least divergent from OTL?

[tom]

Amerigo:
Smallest POD.

[tom]

BTW, GURPS covered this in Alternate Earths 2 (IIRC) as "Cornwallis".

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Okay, how about this... a single gust of wind clears the fog enough to allow a British sentry standing watch over the colonial positions a glimpse of the colonial army retreating back to the shores of Brooklyn. He alerts his superiors, who, realizing the importance of this information, launch an immediate attack, catching the defences vacant. They sweep down upon the fog-enshrouded beaches, capturing 12,000 colonial soldiers and their general, George Washington.

[tom]

Amerigo:
Want to speculate on the second question (what would world be like now)?

[DuQuense]

Dec 24 1777 Trenton NJ. General Gages batman is headed towards the general's tent to annouce dinner. Half way there he trips and knocks the wind out of himself. While he is picking him self up, a messanger arrives at Gage's Tent, with a letter. General Gage opens the Letter and reads all about Washington's Xmas eve attack. Several Hours later as the Continital Army aproaches the Shore, British Cannon loaded with Grape open up. Three months later the rebellion is over. In OTL the batman arrived first and Gage told the messanger to put the letter on his desk, where Washinton found it, the next morning.

[Kurt_Steiner]

Would the revolution end so easily? How long would take until another revolution erupts?

[Straha]

we end up like canada with better climate

[Kurt_Steiner]

I always believed that you were very stubborn....

[Xen]

Would the revolution end so easily? How long would take until another revolution erupts?

There could be another revolution a couple of generations later, say in the 1840's how it would go is up for speculation. Alot of depends on British actions in North America after the first Revolution. They could improve relations with America and make them like they are with Canada or they could really screw things up and make the second revolution successful. Lets say there are some minor rebellions in the early 1800s-1820's that looks like they could lead to another full scale war. Lets say an American colonist, the son of a British soldier who was killed in OTL Revolution (obviously not this one) comes up with an idea that allows for a Canadian like system to be used and allow people to remain loyal to the monarch but still have self rule.