A British California, what happens to British Columbia?

In this timeline, the Mexicans sell the California Territories (Baja and Alta) to the United Kingdom in the Mexican-American war. Sort of an "If I can't have it, neither can you" type idea. Additionally, the British also have control over the Oregon county.

As I was developing this concept, I began to wonder, would we see the area of The Oregon county (including OTL British Columbia) join an alternate Canada, or join British California?
 

Skallagrim

Banned
...why wouldn't British California simply join alt-Canada as well? The Mexican-American is well before Canadian confederation, so at this point, we're just tal;king about the various parts of British North America. No doubt the British would consider a California that they own to be one more part of BNA. When the time comes - as it almost inevitably will - for these British possessions in North America to start banding together and seek greater autonomy, there's a good chance that Canada is simply swept up into alt-Canada.

On the other hand, the fact that the west coast and east coast are both rather populated, while the inland regions between are not, might lead to BNA ultimately evolving into two successor states. The question is: do the British also gain all of OTL Oregon and Washington?

If that's the case, the western country will no doubt consist of California, Oregon, Washington, BC, Yukon and possibly (if the British buy it, since a USA without California certainly will not) Alaska. So perhaps that answers your question: if the acquisition of California leads to a separate West Coast country, and if the British control the entire Pacific coast, BC is going to be part of that country, and not part of east coast-focused alt-Canada. Bit if the USA retains Oregon and Washington, those will clearly separate California from BC.
 
...why wouldn't British California simply join alt-Canada as well? The Mexican-American is well before Canadian confederation, so at this point, we're just tal;king about the various parts of British North America. No doubt the British would consider a California that they own to be one more part of BNA. When the time comes - as it almost inevitably will - for these British possessions in North America to start banding together and seek greater autonomy, there's a good chance that Canada is simply swept up into alt-Canada.

On the other hand, the fact that the west coast and east coast are both rather populated, while the inland regions between are not, might lead to BNA ultimately evolving into two successor states. If that's the case, the western one will no doubt consist of California, BC, Yukon and possibly (if the British buy it, since a USA without California certainly will not) Alaska. So perhaps that answers your question: if the acquisition of California leads to a separate West Coast country, BC is going to be part of that country, and not part of east coast-focused alt-Canada.

Thanks, however I disagree with the common "Yukon is separate from Canada" idea. The Yukon was split from the rest of the Northwest Territories in 1898, well after it was part of Canada.

I didn' have it as California joins Canada as hat felt like a hardcore Canada wank
 

Skallagrim

Banned
Thanks, however I disagree with the common "Yukon is separate from Canada" idea. The Yukon was split from the rest of the Northwest Territories in 1898, well after it was part of Canada.

I didn' have it as California joins Canada as hat felt like a hardcore Canada wank

Yukon doesn't have to be exactly OTL Yukon, of course. I'm thinking more of a roughly continental divide-based border.
 
If it is when the war is declared... then it is implausible. The Yanks in California will declare independence or the US Army will militarise the area. The British can consider it worthy to wage war. A joint alliance is will help Mexico to lose less. But if the Yanks are willing to give up California? No.
 
I do think, based on the Cascadia movement, that a Canada with California almost guarantees two large population centres with differing interests.

Probably a continental divide. However, I think the best PoD would be Britain showing great interest in Mexico, and wanting to help stabilise it. It'd be another good location to invest in like America, and it allows the British to expand their soft power, perhaps creating a North Atlantic Sphere between itself, Mexico, the USA, and later on, Canada.

With Britain help, influence, and arguably protection as a soft-deterrent for the USA, Texas will likely still secede (although British influence in the area make leave it independent, who knows.)

As part of that process, Britain can offer to buy the West Coast and Rockies territories that would have been lost in a Mexican-American war, establishing it as a British colony, giving Mexico a further huge influx of money, helping stablise Mexico permanently.

That is more likely to be accepted than a random sale during the middle of a war.
 
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