How would the Pacific and surrounding countries be affected if the USA never expanded west to reach it?
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One (Edit: not very) plausible POD I've considered is the British Empire strongly backing Mexico during the "Texas Crisis," starting around 1835. It is resolved a few years later by an independent Texas. A decade later gold is found in California prompting mass immigration. Under British supervision it too goes independent, with it's southern border slightly north of San Diego and including parts of Nevada.
Because of British interference in North America tensions remain high between them and the Americans. Fewer Americans are allowed into Oregon Territory, and it remains British, later to join the new country Canada, which forms around 1860.
As Russia and Britain play the great game in Asia Russia fears that its vast but nearly useless North American territory will be taken by force. The new country of Canada is eager to expand and to decrease the number of borders it needs defend. Russia sells Alaska for the equivalent of OTL US $1 000 000 and small concessions in Persia or Afghanistan. Alaska is later added to Canada, most of the panhandle is annexed to BC, Yukon Territory gains a small Pacific Coastline.
The USA might buy or otherwise gain small amounts of additional territory, but it's western border remains far from the Pacific.
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I'm sure there are problems with this timeline, and other plausible ways the USA is kept from the greatest ocean. California remains Mexican, or Alaska remains Russian, or a resurgent Roman Empire annexes Louisiana territory. The main thing I wish to discuss is how the Pacific would develop without the American West Coast.
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The most obvious changes are a weaker USA and a stronger Britain. I expect The British empire will take over most of the USA's role OTL in the Pacific, especially with Hawaii, which will probably end up an independent state in the commonwealth. I expect France, and maybe Russia, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands to end up with a few of the USA's OTL islands as well.
It seems to me that whatever butterflies occur in the 20th century; some Asian power, maybe Japan, China, or Thailand will take advantage of war in Europe to forge their own empire halfway around the world from the old powers. Would a declining British Empire be able to stop the Japanese as effectively as the USA did OTL?
I'd appreciate thoughts from those much more knowledgeable about history than I am. Thanks.
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One (Edit: not very) plausible POD I've considered is the British Empire strongly backing Mexico during the "Texas Crisis," starting around 1835. It is resolved a few years later by an independent Texas. A decade later gold is found in California prompting mass immigration. Under British supervision it too goes independent, with it's southern border slightly north of San Diego and including parts of Nevada.
Because of British interference in North America tensions remain high between them and the Americans. Fewer Americans are allowed into Oregon Territory, and it remains British, later to join the new country Canada, which forms around 1860.
As Russia and Britain play the great game in Asia Russia fears that its vast but nearly useless North American territory will be taken by force. The new country of Canada is eager to expand and to decrease the number of borders it needs defend. Russia sells Alaska for the equivalent of OTL US $1 000 000 and small concessions in Persia or Afghanistan. Alaska is later added to Canada, most of the panhandle is annexed to BC, Yukon Territory gains a small Pacific Coastline.
The USA might buy or otherwise gain small amounts of additional territory, but it's western border remains far from the Pacific.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sure there are problems with this timeline, and other plausible ways the USA is kept from the greatest ocean. California remains Mexican, or Alaska remains Russian, or a resurgent Roman Empire annexes Louisiana territory. The main thing I wish to discuss is how the Pacific would develop without the American West Coast.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The most obvious changes are a weaker USA and a stronger Britain. I expect The British empire will take over most of the USA's role OTL in the Pacific, especially with Hawaii, which will probably end up an independent state in the commonwealth. I expect France, and maybe Russia, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands to end up with a few of the USA's OTL islands as well.
It seems to me that whatever butterflies occur in the 20th century; some Asian power, maybe Japan, China, or Thailand will take advantage of war in Europe to forge their own empire halfway around the world from the old powers. Would a declining British Empire be able to stop the Japanese as effectively as the USA did OTL?
I'd appreciate thoughts from those much more knowledgeable about history than I am. Thanks.
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