AHC: Siege of Boston ends in a successful assault

raharris1973

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New England Pats say mission accomplished after taking Boston (no aircraft carrier to land on) and go back to being farmers in 1775. British build up in Halifax, strike back in 1776 by strangling NE by capturing Hudson line and NYC. ..... Revolution peters out.

I have doubts that successfully occupying the Hudson is really such a master stroke having such great effect on colonial resistance. The New England countryside can provide for itself, the British probably couldn't stop Continental infiltration across the river completely, and so on.

This could shift the post-war politics too. OTl, the Federalist core were the Continental Army officers who thought a real defense was needed, because the militias were crap. TTL, if the war drags on, that probably still happens. But a successful militia victory at the beginning could change that, especially if the war ends relatively early compared to OTL.

Indeed the effects could be further reaching than that -


One thing that interests me about early AmRev victory scenarios is what differences it makes for postwar American society and politics.




In John Shy's anthology "A People Numerous and Armed" multiple articles refer to the American Revolution starting with enthusiasm and idealism, peaking in 1776, which was quickly dissipated by the experience of actual war and turned into cynicism and realism.




So what of American politics if the Americans win much earlier, without so many hard knocks and lengthy economic disruptions from the war? Would those who might have become United Empire Loyalists in exile have not bee n outed, remained in place and become part of the American party system?




Would there have been political experimentation and projects in the states that could have gone in either a very enlightened and productive direction, or instead into radicalism and fissures leading to civil war?




What about slavery as an institution, fewer slaves would have been touched by battle and had opportunities to escape?




The Indians - more tribes may have finished the revolutionary war without having had to choose sides. Had the Iroquois federation already split over the war by 1775-1776 or not?

These questions apply, albeit perhaps with not as much force on scenarios based on other PoDs suggested in the past, mainly by Faeelin I think, regarding early Revolutionary victories at Brandywine, Newport or Savannah.



Edit: Never mind. If the war ends early, it probably ends without independence. If it drags on, you get the same dynamic as OTL.

I have some doubts about that, but even within a continued imperial framework, without independence it seems like the sons of liberty, continental congress and whole revolutionary elite would have a lot of cockiness and optimism about being effecting desired political change. The sequel to this could be quite interesting.


The Peace Terms offered in 1778 to the Americans by the King's Representatives probably would have sufficed, except with some additional measures like perhaps a repeal of the Proclamation Line of 1763 and some specific redresses that the people of New England had, like reparations for the burning of Falmouth, loosening of the trade laws, etc.

Did these terms basically involve recognizing a Continental Congress as a distinct parliament for America.

Repealing the Proclamation Line could only relieve tensions with the English speaking colonists in my view. Reversing Quebec's territorial gains on the other hand, does not seem likely to stir Quebecois to rebellion. After all, they accepted the opening of Ontario to Anglo Loyalists and re-shrinking of their province without much of a fuss.

Still, this would lead to interesting questions about who pays for the Indian wars and how.


If Boston is for some reason stormed and taken in 1776, but before Independence, the British fight on, as they have already paid for a massive expedition of Hessians and troops from around the Empire to embark for America, and by this point, it is too late.

TinyTartar - this is an interesting point. I suppose the British-Hessian main target would still be New York city.

The Colonists would certainly feel like they are getting "mixed messages" from Britain, if the British offer the Galloway concessions but simultaneously occupy New York City (hey, if we are to have peace and reason here, while all these troops?)

Does American victory in Boston mean the French go all in from early 1776?
Or does at least it bring them to the point of saying - we *will* go all in if you declare independence? Must their entry wait on a "Saratoga" or something similar, or will the Boston victory give France confidence, even if there is a later successful British conquest of New York city?
 
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