A View Of Alternate History

Well,this is something that I have thought about for a long time. As I can imagine there are other people who look at history of the world,or of countries...and think "that shouldn't have happened" or "this was something that could,should have happened..but did not". I'm not going to say that this is a timeline or scenario that I came up with,I'm sure others have thought of these things before and I'm not the first or the last. I won't be bias and favor one country over another,I will put up information given..and pick a choice that has not happened in real life..and had a reasonable chance of happening.

Also,I won't be like some..who can exactly say dates or places or people. I think that people here know their history to a degree,but don't want to feel left out if there's too much information for them to take. I will give detail,but anyone can read and think..or ask questions,or post to what others have said. Also,I've read some replies in other threads like this..and they can be pretty harsh. I'm open to critics,but if some really don't like it..then don't reply.

Now then,let us begin..to where things started. When I can,I will give dates..places and people. With that in mind...it's going to start where it mostly does...the United States Of America...or should I say shortly before the revolution begins.

*Part 1~Before The Revolution*


France and Great Britain both had valuable holds in the new world,this was the time of colonialism and it was key to expand empires for the glory of the homeland and for geo-political reasons also. Resources for the Empire,and to show off how powerful you were. At the time,British holdings were most of the East Coast of modern day America..with slight holdings else ware. France had basically half of modern day Canada,and some of the mid-west of America. Spain also had the southwest,but tensions were high between the French and British because they were so close to each other. As time went on,the British extended it's boarders past what belonged to the French.


Queen Anne's War~1702–1713
The French and British would fight,the outcome would be that trade and territory would favor Britain. This would be also one of the first times the French would loose land to the British.
Britain gained the French land of Acadia,renamed Nova Scotia, the island of Newfoundland, the Hudson Bay region, and the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. France was also forced to accept the British authority and somewhat partnership with the Iroquois Native Americans.

French and Indian War~1754–1763
This outcome would have New France conquered by the British and assimilated into the British Empire.
New France east of the Mississippi River ceded to Great Britain, Louisiana ceded to Spain, Spanish Florida ceded to Great Britain. This basically stopped the French hold of power in the New World,with basically most of what would be Canada to the British. What remained in French control would be Saint Pierre and Miquelon, two small islands off Newfoundland. But in a way,it's not worth mentioning since we are only speaking of North America at this time.

Why so important? Because this is what I would deem important,if we are to look at alternate views of history..especially in the reasons for the American Revolutionary War. Now,we diverge from fact..into what could have been.

Effectively shut out of the realm of domination in America,France as well as the French colonies would be upset with this. Having no choice but to accept the flag of the United Kingdom,the colonists would remain under the British rule..while the disdain for the British would not go away with some. As many would think of ways to get out of this situation. There would be a way out,very soon..almost a little bit over 10 years later.

Being in debt,the British choose to tax the American colonies to pay for war debt,and other things. This would not exactly bode well for the lower colonies,as restrictions on colonial expansion and concessions given to Quebec's Catholic population all contributed to the beginning the American Revolutionary War.
 
*Part 2~The Revolution*

At the start,the colonies would not have much. Everyone knows of the ragtag Militia that was organized to fight the British. Seeking to establish a foothold and to start things off, they would head north to Quebec. The First Congress had previously invited the French-Canadians to join the American Revolution as the fourteenth colony by addressing to them a public letter on October 26, 1774. The Second Congress sent a second such letter in May 1775, but there was no substantive response to either one. Therefore, a plan was devised to drive the British Empire from the primarily Francophone colony of Quebec. There was no reply,but as the plan continued,slowly..support would begin to gather. Some in the colony would think this be a good time to revolt against the British rulers,and try and salvage the French hold in America.

Long story short,the Americans would have more resistance than first realized. Indeed French Militia would gather to assist the Americans,but the battle would be harsh. Riots would break out,and fighting would be in Montreal and then Quebec City. The Battle of Quebec was thought to be doomed,and a defeat at the outset of the war was likely apparent...even with support from French Militia.

Most did not like the American presence in the French territory,but support slowly gained them favor as those who supported the Americans would have them be reminded of the French defeat..and the British control they were under. Eventually there would be reinforcements to aid all those fighting for the cause,but eventually with all factors known..the Americans with the French Militia would gain control of Quebec..and a key ploy of George Washington was realized who had supported the first invasion.

The overall cost,was almost not worth the battle as there were more casualties than realized. The British view toward the Americans was that they would do anything to win,even control a territory in which they were not viewed upon with friendly interests..but views from the French were modest at best. Quebec was inducted as The Fourteenth Colony after the battle.

Loyalists would flee Quebec to friendly Nova Scotia,and Newfoundland. There were even reports of Tories fleeing to distant outposts in Rupert's Land. Wanting to continue but also wary of loosing what they have gained,it was decided that Richard Montgomery who was critically wounded in the Battle of Quebec,stay and be in charge of maintaining and defending the land from British recapture.

Emboldened by the victory at Quebec,Washington would set his eyes forward..taking more land from the British and bringing more to the cause. Even with the Fourteen Colonies,it would not be likely that they would win the War. Word would be sent out to France and Spain to help,which they would..but with alternative motives in mind.

With the war over in 1781,with a deceive victory for the Americans and the French who aided them. A new country was carved out of the territory gained by the Americans and a chuck was lost by the British..but by no means were the British shoved out of the struggle for power in North America. Those loyal to the British Crown were forced out of the Fourteen Colonies and a treaty of peace (Treaty Of Paris) was signed,with the ideal of both the Americans and the British living on the same continent.

A map shows from left to right,how things were..basically before and after the war.

na17th1.gif
 
This is very interesting and seems to be well-researched TL so far. I often wonder what the United States would be like with a fourteenth colony... hope to see this continued.
 
I can't help noticing that the USA's territory after the war is mostly pre-war French. Why would the French hand this territory over to them?
 
The alternate view is that,as shown above..what is fact,could be the basis for the French colony having resentment against France basically handing over it's territory to Britain.

What if that resentment more or less stayed with the people,and by the time of the American Revolution..a good number of the Quebec citizens decided to side with the Americans when given the chance?

It's also the fact that I wanted to make this idea as real as possible,they would gain Quebec,but not much. Due to the fact that there were also loyalists there too,basically that's the Quebec that would have joined America..more or less.
 
With the Fourteen Colonies now lost to Britain,the Empire would shift it's focus to it's colonies and Territories else ware in the world. Since 1718, transportation to the American colonies had been a penalty for various criminal offences in Britain, with approximately one thousand convicts transported per year across the Atlantic. Forced to find an alternative location after the loss of the Fourteen Colonies in 1783, the British government turned to the newly discovered lands of Australia.

Even though the western half of the country had been found by the Dutch,and claimed for the Netherlands..there was hardly any presence of them there. In 1770 explorer Captain James Cook would discover the eastern side of the country, during a scientific expedition and claim it for Britain. It was named New South Wales,along the route,Captain Cook would also discover the island that would later be called New Zealand (the natives called it Aotearoa). These new lands,would be a fair addition to the British Empire...almost making up for the loss of the American colonies.

But there would be far more important problems for the British,more so Europe as a whole. Trouble in Europe was coming to a head,with the British's age old rivals..the French.

Part 3~ The Napoleonic Wars:Between Britain,France and Portugal

The French Revolution occurred shortly after the American Revolution,the King and Queen of France..loosing their heads to the Guillotine and France was in chaos. A coalition of European powers conspired to crush the new French Republic,and to divide up the country among themselves. The conflict would spread all over Europe,and else ware..including Northern Africa and even America itself.

Unlike its many coalition partners, Britain remained at war throughout the period of the Napoleonic Wars. Protected by naval supremacy the United Kingdom maintained low-intensity land warfare on a global scale for over a decade. Hostilities between Britain and France renewed on 18 May 1803. The Coalition war-aims changed over the course of the conflict: a general desire to restore the French monarchy became closely linked to the struggle to stop Bonaparte.

Having lost most of its colonial empire in the preceding decades, French efforts were focused mainly in Europe. The Louisiana Territory was also in the process of being of sold to the United States of America, France planned a invasion of Britain,but the British would rise up to defeat Bonaparte and his army. Deciding to concentrate on the European continent instead.

After the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807, now free from obligations in the east, Napoleon decided to capture the Iberian ports. Later that year, Spain and France would sign the Treaty of Fountainbleau. Splitting Portugal into 3 smaller kingdoms, Spain had requested help from Portugal to help defend against the advancing French forces..but secretly made a deal with France,that they would mutually cooperate..and the payment for this "alliance" would be the land of Portugal itself.

Under the explanation of fortifying their ranks,French forces would slowly seep into Spain. Once inside the country,Napoleon would turn on Spain..and take control of key military fortresses. However there would be chaos inside Spain,some of which was not really France's doing. Including the deposing of the current Spanish king,and the putting in of another. But eventually,the French would succeed..over forced and facing instability French forces would occupy Portugal in 1810.

Having no choice,the Portuguese Royal Family did what few monarchies in Europe could do. Flee,seeing how the French would dominate the continent..Brazil would be the new seat of power for Portugal. Rather than be under power by France,or Spain..that was the choice they made. But this choice would haunt all Portuguese,seeing their nation fall under the power of France and Spain.

Part 4~The Napoleonic Wars:The War Of 1812


The British were heavily engaged against Napoleon and sought to stop America from possibly becoming a ally of the French and hindering them even further. The British sought to stop American trade,and seized American ships. The American Government would pass the Embargo Act Of 1807,effectively barring any British ship from coming into any American port.

The French also took this chance to try and goaded the Americans to try and support their cause. While many in Quebec would slowly begin to accept,and support intervention in Europe. The Government did not want to get caught up in European conflict again so soon,and eventually lifted the bill. But warned both countries to leave their ships alone regarding trade.

Napoleon, seeing an opportunity to make trouble for Great Britain, promised to leave American ships alone, and the United States reinstated the embargo with Great Britain and moved closer to declaring war. American sailors and ship would continue to be sacked,and along the eastern coast of the United States and the Hudson Bay along Quebec,as some sailors were even forced to work on British ships in the fields of war near or in the American country.

The war was essentially a nuisance in which the British hoped to pressure the Americans into coming into their way of understanding,and some would think it was a way that the British still thought America was under their control. Britain,who's main power was fighting in Europe..did not make much effort against the Americans. America,who was still reeling from the Revolution..was not at full strength to begin with.

The war would continue,but it seemed useless now..as time went on,the reasons for war..disappeared. America,nearly bankrupt from constant war..demanded reprisals and the people were tired of the British presence.
 
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