1. William Walker gets his Republic of Sonora
2. Sonora develops as partial US satellite but also becomes home for fleeing Mexicans under Juarez escaping Mexican Empire, acquiring Chihuahua in the process
3. Playing both powers off of one another the region of Baja is left to languish until early 1880s
4. Ironically notes from Thomas Jefferson inspire development of solar desalinization systems that make fresh water cheap and easily available
5. Development of these systems and their isolated location in a (prosperous) Third World nation encourage commercial development of those who want a presence in the Americas but not to be headquartered in the United States
6. Development of the solar desalinization (and soon after power) systems allows for widespread production of salt, wine, and agriculture.
7. Exploration of minerals and materials by
various international firms allows the development of a means of purifying titanium in the early 1910s via the Hernandez process and, along with other research in the area, leads to development of a chemistry/material science focus in the National University System (Sistema Nacional de Universidades or SNU).
8. Using it's edge in materials science research and the inherent paranoia of various other nations, the Republic of Sonora develops advanced aerospace airframes and other useful projects while advancing in naval design (in this case making their fishing industry much more efficient), aircraft engines, industrialization, and a host of other areas.
9. Offering to absorb 'talented' refugees from Europe and incurring more than a few diplomatic slaps when names like Manfred von Ardenne and Kurt Tank appeared on citizenship applications.
10. Profiting from World War developments and determined to try to keep from being an American satellite, the Sonorans build the first of two dams, this one between just north of Bahia de Los Angeles and Punta Cheques via Isla Tiburon and Isla Angel de la Guardia. Playing the USA and USSR off of each other the nation accepts different forms of aid from both and declares itself neutral in the emerging Cold War.
11. Another dam begins a very gradual construction at Puerto Augusto Verde and the delta of the Rio Guerre. This one is much more gradual and designed to allow silt to accumulate gradually over time as three large bridges form the beginnings of a backbone for the super-dam.
12. Using the drained land from the Gulf of California combined with improved solar energy and desalinization techniques, the former Gulf gradually becomes an agricultural boon focusing on oranges, pineapples, and vegetables. Water from the sea is used to create hydroelectricity for export and rapidly desalinated for domestic use and sale to an ever-drier US California.
13. When a suspected coup attempt has indications of US involvement in 1971 the Republic and its (actually somewhat benevolent yet hereditary) plutocracy shut off water and electricity exports for three days. NO more coup attempts are reported.
14. Sonora and Baja continue to develop but with more focus on microelectronics and with tax structures favoring research and development. Using the environmental movement and influence in California to their advantage they negotiate very favorable trade terms with the US, allowing third parties to build factories there for wages at half the rate but all the benefit of being on US soil.
15. By 2000 Baja California has a population of over 20 million and is a leader in export manufacturing with a self-sufficient food production base. Sonora is a world leader in material science and agricultural engineering along with desalinization, ironically fostering cooperation with a formerly hostile Israel.
16. By 2015 the standard of living in Sonora exceeds that of the seven poorest US states and it's social support system is the envy of the Western Hemisphere for over 30 years. As a result enough retiring Americans move there to boost the population of the entire (expanded) peninsula to over 30 million.