AH Challenge: World War in the 1860's

In the third quarter of the 19th Century, all over the world, there were a number of wars which saw a number of similarities. Here's what I'm primarily talking about:

The Crimean War (1853-56) saw Russia decline as a major power, the rise of France in the ME, and also an impetus for a number of reforms in the Ottoman Empire weakening slavery.

Indian Rebellion of 1857 -- British Empire establishes direct colonial rule in the sub-continent

Taiping Rebellion (1850/60-64)* -- Question of whether Qing Dynasty could survive their defeat in first Opium War, and subsequently how China would enter the modern age

Wars in Japan (1860/63-69)** -- Similar issues following Perry's opening, including wars against foreign powers and civil wars, including the Boshin War which ended the Shogunate

Italian Wars of Unification (1859-70) -- a new nation, with the chief military hero being one Guiseppe Garibaldi

US Civil War (1861-65) -- created Modern US; ended US slavery

January Uprising (1863) -- following the Russian Emancipation of 1861, a Polish revolution by the political and military class; as I understand, in large measure they opposed the reform, and managed to blunt the effect within the partition

Paraguayan War (1864-70) -- the bloodiest war ever fought on South American soil, also played heavy role in abolition of slavery in Brazil

Austro-Prussian War (1866) and Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) -- A industrial and military new power in Europe

And those are the big ones I could think of -- there's also smaller wars that might have been bigger (like the Second Anglo-Ashanti War turning into something like the Third Anglo-Ashanti War), and there's all kinds of other conflicts that could have tied these together (like Mexico, between France and the US).

In common between these conflicts was modernity -- from the battlefield, where in many of the conflicts, it was becoming apparent that technology had made Napoleon's tactics obsolete; to fundamental moral, political, and economic issues like slavery and serfdom.

So here's the challenge: starting no earlier than 1845 (or, ideally, than 1848) how do these conflicts -- and really, feel free to add more -- get moved around, tied together, and condensed into a single, global conflict.

I have a feeling this will get interesting.

*Rebellion began 1850, turned to all out war with siege of Shanghai 1860

**1860, riots broke out against Shogun, military conflict with foreign powers started 1863
 
I guess I'll start -- say first POD is in 1848 Revolutions: the Frankfurt Parliament successfully unites Germany (Fredrick William IV accepts, or dies earlier, leading his brother, Wilheim to accept). Meanwhile in France, Napoleon III goes on to achieve a much more successful first decade or so of rule, with more rampant industrialization and finding a diplomatic solution to Russia's interventions in the Ottoman Empire, delaying the Crimean War.

This could have the effect of putting France in a stronger position militarily by 1860, while making Germany less likely to pursue a divide and conquer approach to its power plays. We could see a French-Austrian alliance opposed to an alliance of fledgling German and Italian nations.

And if Napoleon is feeling more confident, he may decide to look upon the American Civil War as an opportunity to solidify Maximillian's reign in Mexico and open all kinds of opportunities for France in the Hemisphere -- meaning the CSA could enter into a French alliance as well.

What if, while all of this is happening, the Ottoman question comes back up, somehow? And, building on this, while France fights Russia over the Ottomans, the Polish elite rises up over fears of serf emancipation? Now you've got France allying with Austria and supporting two rebellions -- not counting the times they got involved in two others of OTL, in China and Japan.

Any thoughts?
 
I did some googling and found some examples on this site:

https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=143486

https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/archive/index.php/t-127689.html

https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/archive/index.php/t-20376.html

Is there anything else? Does anybody have any other ideas for how such a war could come about?

What I'd also like to get at is, if several wars are tied into one and have the effect of abolishing or restricting slavery and serfdom across the world -- from the Western Hemisphere to the Middle East to Asia -- how does that affect the international order that emerges? (e.g. does this affect the Scramble for Africa?)

Any thoughts?
 
Though it's been done before countless times, the ACW is a great starting point.

OK, so something like the Trent Affair escalating into a world war (like what Onkel Williams was getting at).

UK recognizes CSA, gets dragged into ACW. How do the other powers respond?

I'd still think France, under Napoleon III, would see an opportunity to solidify his puppet Mexican regime, so he may ally with Britain.

If Onkel is also right about Russia taking advantage by taking another swing at Ottoman controlled regions, and if UK and France try to get involved there as well -- while also, mind you, intervening in China and Japan, as in OTL -- they might be so overextended that Italy tries to make a final push at annexing the Papal State. (It may also, as I mentioned, give them incentive to help out the Polish rebels.)

Maybe then France calls in Austria to help reign in Italy and protect the Pope -- and this just proves too much a temptation for Bismarck, who hits both Austria and France at their most vulnerable.

And then what of British and French interventions in East Asia -- do the US, Russia, Italy, and Germany just look away from an opportunity to eat up some of their enemies precious resources? Might they be tempted, for example, to provide similar aid to the Taiping rebels?

Any thoughts on all this? If it works, I'd love an idea for how to drag in Brazil and Paraguay.
 
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