State of New England

[DominusNovus]

Lets say that, however it happens (by the Confederation of New England, or the Dominion of New England), the various New England colonies are united into one Commonwealth of New England (I like the word Commonwealth) by the time of the American Revolution. The capital being Boston, of course. This new state, by the way, would be the most populous state of its time, but not an absurd amount higher than Virginia.

Now, how do things proceed from here? I imagine that this would, for the most part, have little effect on the Revolution and the Articles of Confederation. But when we get to the Constitution, things get interesting. Several of the smaller states are gone now, so there might not be a Senate as we know it. Or perhaps Delaware and Maryland are able to whine it through. Assuming we even get to the Constitution. Maybe things derail on the way there.

[David S Poepoe]

Okay, so we have:

Commonwealth of New England (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire). Don't know about Vermont.

New York

Pennsylvania

Dominion of Virginia

Georgia

North Carolina

South Carolina

Delaware

Maryland


I think having no House of Representatives would be better, tho much can seen as having its roots in Franklin's Albany Plan. Maryland and Delaware may just be forced into a compact of sorts.

[Thande]

It gets rid of a lot of the 'defend small states' interests' fears that dominated the American constitutional convention and the early Congresses. The only small states with no room for expansion left are Delaware and Maryland. The question is whether a united New England will be politically powerful enough to push for Connecticut and Massachussetts' western claims at the expense of New York.

[Max Sinister]

I think it could well be.

@David: Did you forget New Jersey?

[David S Poepoe]

I think it could well be.

@David: Did you forget New Jersey?

Well, it is kind of small.

[Atreus]

Maybe there is more force to push north during the revolution, with all the states united into one commonwealth. So Canada may fall.

[Keenir]

Okay, so we have:

North Carolina

South Carolina

at this point, weren't they still one state?

[Thande]

at this point, weren't they still one state?

Nope, they were split in the early eighteenth century IIRC.

[Othniel]

Vermont didn't exsist until after the Revolutionary War.It kinda arose when New York and New Hampshire's claim conflict caused the area to be seeing themselves as Independant.

[Thande]

Vermont didn't exsist until after the Revolutionary War.It kinda arose when New York and New Hampshire's claim conflict caused the area to be seeing themselves as Independant.
But in TTL it'll be New York and New England's claim, as I mentioned, so does that make a difference?

[Othniel]

But in TTL it'll be New York and New England's claim, as I mentioned, so does that make a difference?
Vermont's in much the same postion, only this time with NE to worry about as well as New York. Personally I think it goes as OTL. The colonies can't afford to fight amongst theirselves.

[Justin Green]

Another big change will be the confrontation between North and South over the expansion of Slavery into the west.

South has alot longer to keep power in Congress. Perhaps Missouri could be free?

[Sgt Detritus]

I have a Republic of New England being set up in the aftermath of a War of 1812 where the Brits are completely victorious.

It originally consists of the New England states but is eventually joined by New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania

[Max Sinister]

So has Jared, in his great TL Decades of Darkness. (Where's the update, BTW?) His New England includes core Michigan, NY and NJ, however.

[Sgt Detritus]

So has Jared, in his great TL Decades of Darkness. (Where's the update, BTW?) His New England includes core Michigan, NY and NJ, however.

My Republic of New England with a couple of exceptions consists of the states that voted for DeWitt Clinton, the Federalist candidate in the presidential election of 1812

[DominusNovus]

Well, you guys are talking about a *Republic* of New England, not the same. I want one unified polity, before the colonial period ends.