AHC: Canadian-American War

The idea is that instead of having the war with Mexico and taking control of all that territory it happens to Canada. POD must be after June 18 1812 bonus points if it happens during James K Polk's Presidency.
 
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Problem is there's a tad bit of difference in attacking a weak independent nation that has suffered through civil wars and corrupt dictators for nearly its entire history and going up against a colony of the world's most powerful nation.

Of course as 67th Tigers loves to say..."America's victory over Britain anytime prior to 1900 is pretty much a sure thing."

Benjamin

P.S. - I love to heckle the Tiger.

@67th - Any interest in discussing the upcoming version of 2300AD from Mongoose Publishing? If so let me know and I'll start a thread in non-Political Chat.
 
I can think of only one way for the US to win this, have a perfect storm of crisis to have Britain at war with two or more major powers simultaneously, then have the US take advantage of this

Otherwise draw at best for the US, more likely minor defeat (US loses some territory but nothing critical)
 
You could have America and Britain/Canada go to war over the Oregon Country. After all, there was a slogan in the USA along the lines of "54'40 or Fight". That would be your most likely plausible POD and if Britain were to win (which it probably would have), they would only ask for the part they initially wanted whcih would've been the areas north and west of the Columbia River. This would probably be the only territory America would have to cede, but America could also potentially negotiate Britain's removal from the America's outside of Canada depending on how well the war went outside of North America.
 
This requires the USA to have an idiot ball the size of a beachball. At this point in time a US-British Empire war is like the USA and Japan going to war all on their lonesome without WWII: one-sided curbstomp. At least if we're talking a before 1900 scenario. After 1900, the USA invading Canada is as likely as Mexico going to war with Kazakhstan.
 
The US might be able to take advantage of a combined Canadian Rebellion / Carolina Affair / Total mishandling of the Chartists / Belgian Crisis gone bad to catch the UK at a temporary nadir. Most likely though the UK will, seeing the writing on the wall, accept a negotiated settlement that avoids war. This will be a version of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty that is far more conciliatory towards the US. I'm guessing the St. Lawrence River valley will stay British while those worthless acres of snow west of the Great Lakes will be sold to the US.

I know this isn't really what the OP had in mind, but Canada is NOT Mexico so drawing parallels is really difficult.

Benjamin
 
The other problem with this scenario is that it ignores one of the main OTL motivations for the war with Mexico: expanding slavery. Mexico was down south just next to Louisiana; slavery was already (illegally) in place in Texas. Canada, on the other hand, is stubbornly free soil and up north. I wouldn't call it ASB, but it's quite unlikely.
 
The other problem with this scenario is that it ignores one of the main OTL motivations for the war with Mexico: expanding slavery. Mexico was down south just next to Louisiana; slavery was already (illegally) in place in Texas. Canada, on the other hand, is stubbornly free soil and up north. I wouldn't call it ASB, but it's quite unlikely.

at the time of the Mexican war, TX was already in the Union and had slavery legally. And that was the only territory taken from Mexico that did have slavery. The main reason for war with Mexico wasn't expanding slavery, but simple Manifest Destiny... basically, the USA wanted to expand to the Pacific coast (they really wanted CA), and the territory in between. There was already a fair sized expatriate American population in CA who were enthusiastic about the place...
 
The main reason for war with Mexico wasn't expanding slavery, but simple Manifest Destiny... basically, the USA wanted to expand to the Pacific coast (they really wanted CA), and the territory in between.

I agree that was the main reason that most Americans supported the war. OTOH, many Americans believed it was an attempt to expand slave power and opposed the war.
 

67th Tigers

Banned
@67th - Any interest in discussing the upcoming version of 2300AD from Mongoose Publishing? If so let me know and I'll start a thread in non-Political Chat.

Yeah, okay. I'll certainly be buying a copy. I got a free copy of 2320, but never really used it.

PS If the US attack Canada we'll use this to deliver ortillery:

NelsonK.jpg
 
James Polk was one of the most successful presidents of the United States in terms of fulfilling his campaign goals and therefore probably highly intelligent so there isn't the slightest chance of his going to war with Canada and Great Britain, least of all when the war with Mexico is going on.
 
@ 67th - I'll meet you over at non-political chat. And yes, the Nelson class is wicked cool. Laurent's work is top notch and I here he's doing some stuff for Mongoose. I just wish the U.S. hadn't been stuck with the thin skinned Kennedy and Columbia classes. Though if the Columbia was able to stand up to a Kafer Delta for 2 hours than it was probably better than what the 2300 AD Resource said. But 2300AD canon has always been really iffy.

BACK ON TOPIC - To get a war you really need the Webster-Ashburton Treaty to fail big time and perhaps a continuation of the Carolina Affair and Aroostock War. Combine this with 54'40" or Fight and you just might have a war on your hands, but it won't end up like the Mexican-American War. Hopefully, though both sides come to their senses before long term harm is done and a treaty is worked out that is comparable to the W-A Treaty of 1842.

If it's the US that's dumb enough to start the war than expect a smaller Maine and British Columbia to extend further south to the Columbia River.

Benjamin
 
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