1st World Caribbean?

What are some ways to make the Caribbean primarily what we would today consider 1st world with a POD sometime after 1500? Bonus points if the majority of the Caribbean is Anglophone
 
Have the British colonize it more extensively at the expense of Spain. Cuba would be the 14th colony to rebel and so on with the rest of the islands. They develop along with the rest of the US IOTL.
 
The Mayan civilization gets alotta money an then they settle in the Carribbeeaans becuz the beaches are so nice. Then, they see floating clouds one day, and make their own ships and sail to england and conquer them. But then adopt English because no one can decode the Mayan language and all it's symbols.
The end.

But no, seriously, something along the lines of closer attention paid by the British. They were always unnaturally enthusiastic about taking Florida instead of the Spanish, maybe here they do and it becomes the key to their Caribbean colonies.
 
These are decent ideas, but they need POD. What would be the driving force in the United States annexing the Caribbean in full or in part? What POD would make the British take greater interest in Florida or any other nearby territory? What would the butterflies do down the line?
 
These are decent ideas, but they need POD. What would be the driving force in the United States annexing the Caribbean in full or in part? What POD would make the British take greater interest in Florida or any other nearby territory? What would the butterflies do down the line?

Have another war between the United States and Britain, with the former winning and annexing British Caribbean islands. Jamaica becomes something like modern-day Puerto Rico.
 
POD
?Battle of Cowpers? Spainish win [OTL English win] during the War of Jenkins Ear. [OTL this was the last major attack by Spanish to try to reclaim Georgia]
They move north and attack New Colony of Savannah. Lord Opthople [Patron] talks King George II into stationing Troops in the Colony.
Not having any spare English troops He sends Hanoverian Troops.

By 1760 there are thousands of German Troops that had done their 6 years and been Discharged [Milita] living along the Florida Border.
When Spain joins the 7 year war they move south and take Florida.
In 1762 Britain Takes Cuba and the Georgia Militia takes New Orleans [planned OTL, but Britain never raised enuff troops]

In 1763 Spain doesn't have Florida to trade to get Cuba Back. Britain keeps both Cuba & Florida.
To Control the Straits of Florida Britain builds Forts at Miami, Lauderdale and Key West.
Despite agreeing to withdraw from these in the Jay Treaty, it would not be till 1814, when Captain Zachary Taylor attacked Lauderdale and Miami, that this withdraw would take place.

In 1780 when Spain Enters the ARW, She doesn't have any Cuban Troops to move to New Orleans to Attack Florida, In fact Britain attacks/captures Hispaniola and Porto Rico.
Britain Gains Porto Rico in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.

In 1792 Britain occupies the French Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, and following the 1795 sale of Hispaniola to the French the British in 1796 occupy the entire Island.
On all 3 Islands the British keep the Revolutionary anti Slave Governors.

In 1803 Britain return the Islands to France in the Treaty of Ameins. Napoleon removes the Revolutionary Governors, and reimposes Slavery.

In 1805 Britain reoccupies the Islands, Restoring the Revolutionary Governors. [Basically OTL except the addition of Hispaniola]
In 1815 at the Congress of Vienna, Britain is given the Three Islands.

In the 1870's following the Formation of the Dominion of Canada talks started about forming a Dominion out of Britain's Caribbean Holdings.

This came to pass when the Dominion of the Antilles was formed in the 1890's.

In 1919 The Bahamas Joined the Dominion.

Today the Antilles Dominion is considered one of the Shining Examples of a Functioning 1st world Multi Cultural Nation.
 
Oh yes, British influence would solve everything. Because Belize, Jamaica, and Guyana are such shining examples of First World economies.

I'd prefer the Japan solution: Keep everything European out except technology. The best way would be a military defeat killing either Columbus or Cortes, followed by an Aztec or Taino nation that only allows skilled Europeans to immigrate there.
 
Oh yes, British influence would solve everything. Because Belize, Jamaica, and Guyana are such shining examples of First World economies.

I'd prefer the Japan solution: Keep everything European out except technology. The best way would be a military defeat killing either Columbus or Cortes, followed by an Aztec or Taino nation that only allows skilled Europeans to immigrate there.

And the Aztecs adopt English because?
 
And the Aztecs adopt English because?

The english oppose the spanish?

He wasnt suggesting that the aztecs adopt english practices. He is merely saying that they might prosper by allowing the immigration of Europeans with technical skills. They could be english, but need not be.

That said, though, you would probably need to keep european adventurers from trying to conquer again to make a surviving native state become what we would consider a first-world state.
 
Oh yes, British influence would solve everything. Because Belize, Jamaica, and Guyana are such shining examples of First World economies.

I'd prefer the Japan solution: Keep everything European out except technology. The best way would be a military defeat killing either Columbus or Cortes, followed by an Aztec or Taino nation that only allows skilled Europeans to immigrate there.
+1

Yeah, Anglophone doesn't mean superior economy. However an Aztec or Taino nation is not the solution to a better Carribbean. The best solution for the caribbbean is two fold:

Stop the Plantation Economy: Jamaica had every inch of it turned into sugar plantations. Relying on the profit of only one crop is bad for the economy. If the US conquers or it is part of the US from the beginning the plantion economy will continue. Because these island states would be natural slave states I wouldn't see the US breaking off the institution of slavery for some time. The Caribbean would not be better off owned by the US. If the islands didn't revolve around one crop and instead grow multiple crops so that the islands are slightly more self sufficient and won't rely on slaves to cut sugar.

Stop Slavery: if 75% of the population of these Caribbean islands are treated as the enemy and enslaved, how could they seek to survive as nations? This seems like a tall order but is possible.

My POD is thus:

1560
population of the carribbean islands of all of spain's empire are hugely majority Black. 5:1 the population would be secure. England makes an attack freeing the slaves (an actual fear of the Spanish Monarchy), and bringing it into England's sphere.

Black and free these Caribbean islands would be much better off.
 
For most of the colonial period, the Caribbean was was considered the most valuable real estate in the Americas by most colonial powers. Why? Because the cash crops being grown there, particularly sugar, were so incredibly valuable. Now, this offers both problems and AH potential.

The problems are those inherent to an economy based entirely around agriculture, particularly a single cash crop. Namely, the region is dependent on said crop, and in the event of some change, is not really capable of responding. For the caribbean, as other markets develop, new crops (and substitutes for their products) emerge, and as economic systems change (industrialization, end of slavery, etc...), the system isnt terribly well prepared to cope. Simply put, once the sugar trade isnt producing the same profits, there isnt a whole lot left.

Now, there is an upside to this. remember, the caribbeanwas, in european eyes, prime real estate. So, in theory, were a european nation to invest in the islands, and see them as something beyond a source of cash crops, then the region could diversify, and thus weather changes better. The problem is, what do they add? there isnt a whole lot of land or resources, so many industries or large-scale immigration are out. But having the european nations focus on developing the islands, not just the crops, might be the best bet.

One other thing. If the POD is a relativly late one, and involves at least partial de-colonization, the region has to be kept safe from foreign meddling, particularly that of the united states. it isnt good for independence, stability, democracy, or a high standard of living.
 
I had this old idea about a political ideology concerning overseas colonies/posessions/protectorates... This "Developmentalism" basically would mean that, in order to minimize long-term resource expenditure in administration and in order to maximize prestige on the world stage, colonies would be provided with infrastructure including transportation, education, healthcare, and self-governing ability. Perhaps if something like this did arise, it would mean far greater standards of living and stability not only in the Caribbean but in other ex-colonies that are OTL not known for their high standards of living and stability...
 
DuQuesne, you might also need one more thing: an earlier antiracism campaign. Otherwise, it'd all be a bunch of little South Africas.
 
Only to counter the annoying levels of britwank present in this thread (because, as we all know, speaking english magically makes you smarter, richer and more developed than your dago neighbors, as the fellows in Jamaica and Guyana can attest): No war of 1898, Cuba and Puerto Rico remain as autonomous parts of the spanish crown. Without the backlash of the 1898 debacle, Spain does not attempt to conquer Morocco and has a much more stable 20th century without Republic, Civil War or Franco dictature. Despite being the sick man of Europe in 1900, Spain reaches the same levels of development as the rest of western Europe by 1960. Cuba and Puerto Rico, thanks to increased trade with Europe and the United States, and having avoided the political instability of OTL, reach 1st world levels by 1980 at the latest.
 
England makes an attack freeing the slaves (an actual fear of the Spanish Monarchy), and bringing it into England's sphere.

Black and free these Caribbean islands would be much better off.

Kinda like Haiti then?
 
Kinda like Haiti then?

Well Haiti defeated all attempts of reconquest after Independence until 1915. If we were to apply that to Pueto Rico, Cuba, and all of Hispanolia that would be quite a independent force. Likely it wouldn't be just one nation, but by killing the plantation system in it's crib it would be vastly different.

1560 and on words as indepent nations would be quite something. The whole history of slavery would be altered, considering the success of the great slave revolt.
 
Oh yes, British influence would solve everything. Because Belize, Jamaica, and Guyana are such shining examples of First World economies.

I'd prefer the Japan solution: Keep everything European out except technology. The best way would be a military defeat killing either Columbus or Cortes, followed by an Aztec or Taino nation that only allows skilled Europeans to immigrate there.

I like this one, this is going on TL to do list after "Time of Crows" (and that Black Punk one)

Well Haiti defeated all attempts of reconquest after Independence until 1915. If we were to apply that to Pueto Rico, Cuba, and all of Hispanolia that would be quite a independent force. Likely it wouldn't be just one nation, but by killing the plantation system in it's crib it would be vastly different.

1560 and on words as indepent nations would be quite something. The whole history of slavery would be altered, considering the success of the great slave revolt.

I have something like this occur in my TL
 
Well Haiti defeated all attempts of reconquest after Independence until 1915. If we were to apply that to Pueto Rico, Cuba, and all of Hispanolia that would be quite a independent force. Likely it wouldn't be just one nation, but by killing the plantation system in it's crib it would be vastly different.

1560 and on words as indepent nations would be quite something. The whole history of slavery would be altered, considering the success of the great slave revolt.

Maybe one day I can get time to do that Haitiwank I had planned. ;)

Short and dirty was a Greater Haiti thanks to luck, playing off the Great Powers' rivalries, the sheer cost of trying to take, hold and occupy any islands the blotters have claimed, and a few Convinient Contrived Coincidences (it IS to be a wank, after all) holding at least most of the Greater Antilles and a few/bunch of Lesser and Cays and slowly diversifying from Cash Crops to a more diverse economy. Eventually to become at least Second World if I couldn't pull off First.
 
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