AHC: Prussia joins Alliance during the American Revolution

Minty_Fresh

Banned
The Franco-American alliance put Britain on the defensive almost everywhere in the world except for maybe India when you think about it. This is because the Dutch and Spanish were also involved.

Essentially, Britain had never before fought a major European war by itself, and this created a challenge for them in defending the empire.

What if Frederick the Great decided to take advantage of that and try to impose his will on some of Britain's Germanic allies? Say he decides that he wants to take over Hannover or Hesse-Kassel or any of the tiny principalities that sent troops to Britain (remember, OTL he banned the German states that provided Britain with mercenaries from crossing Prussian territory, and he hated George III with a passion). These states fought with Prussia during the Seven Years War, alongside Britain as well, but Frederick was nothing if not land hungry. I find it hard to believe that Britain could have sent troops to Germany and staved off a Prussian attack on their relatively puny allies.

Does anyone see this as plausible? And what would Maria Theresa and the Austrians make of all of this?
 

Minty_Fresh

Banned
Frederick and Maria Theresa were ether occupied with the whole War of the Bavarian Succession.
Which didn't last an entire year with hardly a battle fought. It might make Prussia hesitant to join in 1778 or 1779, but by 1780, they would be in position again to fight against a pretty weak coalition against them, unless the Austrians got involved, which would go against their French alliance.
 
Although relations between Britain and Prussia weren't at their greatest during the 1770s, they were not at all enemies. They had been allied not long ago during the Seven Years War, and would ally again soon again in the Triple Alliance of 1788 against Russia and Austria, and later in the French Revolutionary Wars. I don't see much reason for Prussia to go to war with Britain in the American Revolution.
However, if Prussia did join the alliance, I don't think it would have much affect, as Prussia and Britain would still be allied during the French Revolutionary Wars (which were probably inevitable at that point), which left the petty conflicts before them irrelevant.
 

Minty_Fresh

Banned
Although relations between Britain and Prussia weren't at their greatest during the 1770s, they were not at all enemies. They had been allied not long ago during the Seven Years War, and would ally again soon again in the Triple Alliance of 1788 against Russia and Austria, and later in the French Revolutionary Wars. I don't see much reason for Prussia to go to war with Britain in the American Revolution.
However, if Prussia did join the alliance, I don't think it would have much affect, as Prussia and Britain would still be allied during the French Revolutionary Wars (which were probably inevitable at that point), which left the petty conflicts before them irrelevant.
I agree that Prussia would line up against the French Revolutionaries regardless, as it was a threat they could not ignore.

But the antipathy between Frederick and Britain was huge during the period. Britain massively profited from the 7 Years War, while Prussia was on the winning side and had little to show for it other than scores of dead soldiers. Frederick personally detested the House of Hannover and resented that they had land and influence in Germany while ruling Britain. I could easily see Frederick committing to war against British aligned principalities, and winning quite easily. He was not above bullying smaller German states as his treatmeant of Saxony showed.

But you are probably right that he wasn't going to do this with the last war that recent. Is there anything that you think would entice Prussia to join up? Maybe guaranteed rule over Hannover and Brunswick?
 
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