AHC: British colonization of Chiapas coast

Either in the 17th or 18th centuries think of a remotely plausible way in which the coast of Chiapas (and hinterland if you'd like, but it doesn't need to be the entire state) could conceivably be colonized by the British. It doesn't have to be peaceful, it could be obtained by force against whomever controls it.

You can then feel free to speculate on what sort of colonial policy the British might enforce (personally I'd wonder how multicultural it could end up as, e.g. like Belize or Guyana) and what effects it might have on neighboring countries, but the main thing is the AHC. :p
 
It's very implausible under Spanish rule, as it's a chokehold for land routes and a utilizable port which an enemy could use, so let us posit an independent New Spain/Mexico as the victim.

I could see a weaker US, or a less interventionist US not being able/willing to enforce a *Monroe doctrine, with Britain and France, and possibly others carving spheres of influence for themselves. In this scenario, The British would probably set the Natives/mestizos against the Whites/mestizos ala divide and conquer, which could result in a more culturally impoverished Chiapas, as the landed whites and mestizos take care to stamp out native culture except where it's useful to their interests. Similarly, British merchants and de facto domination of the economy wouldn't be very fortunate for the natives who often were not well off financially to begin with. Few Massacres, but certainly a different kind of slower destruction for the Natives of Chiapas.
 
It's very implausible under Spanish rule, as it's a chokehold for land routes and a utilizable port which an enemy could use, so let us posit an independent New Spain/Mexico as the victim.

I could see a weaker US, or a less interventionist US not being able/willing to enforce a *Monroe doctrine, with Britain and France, and possibly others carving spheres of influence for themselves. In this scenario, The British would probably set the Natives/mestizos against the Whites/mestizos ala divide and conquer, which could result in a more culturally impoverished Chiapas, as the landed whites and mestizos take care to stamp out native culture except where it's useful to their interests. Similarly, British merchants and de facto domination of the economy wouldn't be very fortunate for the natives who often were not well off financially to begin with. Few Massacres, but certainly a different kind of slower destruction for the Natives of Chiapas.

The US was (pre-1890) unable to enforce Monroe Doctrine and as a matter of practicality it didn't apply to Great Britain (and in most cases France and Spain) which means these European powers could muck about in the region at their leisure. The RN was more often than not the one enforcing Monroe Doctrine.

The British could have probably dominated the region if they so desired, but it would have to be well after Spain had declined as a power for them to risk the intervention in what was generally considered Spanish territory.
 
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