Alternate Great War?

Are there any pre-1900 events that could've become World Wars? If so, what are they, and how would they've played out?
 
Are there any pre-1900 events that could've become World Wars? If so, what are they, and how would they've played out?

Well, the War of Austrian Succesion and the Seven Years' War (which are really one long war) both can be considered as such. Its possible they might have actually been referred to that if they had been destructive enough.
 
Well, the Crimean War could have turned into a World War had additional nations entered the war on either side as countries that remained neutral then were leaning towards supporting one side or the other.

For instance, I've read in some books about the Crimean War that the Americans were becoming sympathetic towards the Russians in that conflict. It's even been suggested that had the war gone on long enough, the Americans may have entered the war on Russia's side. If that had happened, then I could easily see the U.S trying to make a grab for British Canada.

In turn, the Swedish just MIGHT have seen the war as a opportunity to seize part of if not ALL of Finland from the Russians and joined the British/French side.

Basically, the Crimean War had in my opinion, the potential to become a true world war.
 
The US Civil War very well could have as well.

Britain and France were both sympathetic to the Confederacy while Russia was sympathetic to the Union.
 
The US Civil War very well could have as well.

Britain and France were both sympathetic to the Confederacy while Russia was sympathetic to the Union.
Interesting. Just wondering, what was Prussia/Germany's stance on this. (I don't remember when it became just Germany)
Anyone think the ARW could become a world war?
 
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The Crimean War certainly has the potential - if it went on another year, seeing the entry of Austria and Sweden, and Anglo-French forces in the Caucasus it would become basically a death struggle for Russia. This could well have the effect of ennervating other fronts, eg the Sea of Okhotsk which saw some sporadic major action, maybe dragging in China and Japan, and possibly also Alaska if the N American agreement were broken

The main problem in all this is that Russia has no allies, so faced with the prospect of overwhelming odds it would do what it did historically - negotiate for the best possible peace. Its vaguely possible to drag the USA in (Anglo-British relations were at a great low, whilst US-Spanish relations weren't great) and maybe the ACW would coalesce into the overall war. Britain could then be distracted by the Indian Mutiny which would receive some outside support

etc

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Interesting. Just wondering, what was Prussia/Germany's stance on this.
Anyone think the ARW could become a world war? XD Washington's march to London, sounds like a good TL idea

"Prussia/Germany" is an anachronism at this point. "Germany" was the German Confederation, a loose union covering the better part of Central Europe and under permenant Austrian presidency. The very year after the ACW ended was the year Prussia destroyed the confederation and re-ordered it as a much smaller Prussia Deluxe.

Yeah, the Crimean war has the potential to become extensive, but not dramatic, since the more extensive it gets, the more Russia is being owned. One could argue that the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars counted. They were of course many wars, but there was like a week when the Anglo-French Ultimate Doom Battle wasn't ongoing and so if we treat it as an Anglo-French war with a short truce and very fluid alliances, it would count (1812 as a North American Theater, early South American revolutions as another, both being directly caused by the European war. Universal European war, actions in Africa and the East Indies, world-wide naval struggle).
 
How bout the Russo-Ottoman Wars of 1878 & similar such wars ? Or maybe if the Great Game turned into open warfare between British India & Tsarist Russia during the 1880s ?
 
How bout the Russo-Ottoman Wars of 1878 & similar such wars ? Or maybe if the Great Game turned into open warfare between British India & Tsarist Russia during the 1880s ?

Yes, I was thinkiing similar things...

How ya doin' ?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Interesting. Just wondering, what was Prussia/Germany's stance on this. (I don't remember when it became just Germany)
Anyone think the ARW could become a world war?

randomideaguy

I think you need to decide what you mean by a world war. Several conflicts had fighting across much of the world and could be defined as world wars. As mentioned the 7 Years War would definitely qualify as would the Napoleonic conflicts and the Wars of Spanish and Austrian Succession. The ARW could also possibly qualify as Britain was fighting France Spain and the Netherlands and clashing with the Baltic powers, with fighting in much of western Europe, N America, the Caribbean and India.

There are a number of other conflicts that could also have esculated given the right [or wrong] circumstances. Possibly the ACW, although if both Britain and France were drawn in on the same side its unlikely anyone else would support their opponents. Ditto with what I Blame Communism said about the Crimean. However something like the Fashoda Incident, or a number of other potential clashes, might have done so, although this example is only just inside the time period.

Steve
 
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