American Orange Free State

Let's say in the early-1880's, an American organization launches a fillubuster expidition into the Orange Free States. The expdidition succedes, and the Oragne Free States are annexed by the United States. How plausible is that, and if not, waht sort of PoD would be needed so that it is?
 
The US gets involved in its own Boer War, I can't see the Afrikaners welcoming the US either, and the US suffers its first defeat by a foreign power. Can't particularly see why they would become involved in South African affairs, Latin America is so much more a typical American theater of intervention.
 
In 1884, the Afrikaners come under brutal oppresion of the British. The Orange Free States are still 'independent', but they are all most completley run by the British. In 1885, the Afrikaners contact Washington for aid. Seeing pictures and accounts of the brutal oppresion, President Cleveland orders a filubuster expidition into the Orange Free States. It is succesful, and the British oppresors are booted out. Slowoly, the US annexes the Orange Free States, and they eventually are admitted to the Union. How plausible is that?
 
It's the Orange Free State (singular), not "Orange Free States."

There were two independent Boer states in the late nineteenth century: The Orange Free State and its northern neighbor, the South African Republic (a.k.a. the Transvaal). Of the two, the Orange Free State was probably the more successful and stable.

There are a couple of reasons why this is completely implausible:

1) The sheer distances involved. The US would not be in any position to support the efforts of its filibusters (who could probably not do much to help the Boers, anyhow).

2) The US wouldn't want to piss off the British. Even the Germans didn't want to make the British mad by helping out the Boers. (BTW, if you want foreign intervention, that is a much better POD: have the Germans come crashing into the party during the Second Boer War around the turn of the century.)

3) Lastly, the Orange Free State was completely landlocked (with the exception of a couple of rivers, obviously). All the ports around it were controlled by the British, who weren't about to let anyone enter the area who were looking to help the Boers.
 
King Citrus

How about if Spain never gets around to selling Florida to the US in the early 1800s. By the mid-1800s a group of filibusters invade Florida and throw out the Spanish, but the US hesitates in annexing it. The filibusters, all abolitionalists, don't want annexation to the slave holding South so they decide to grow oranges instead of cotton. Thereby they establish, by 1866, the Orange Free State.
 
Another Orange Free State

How about two Orange Free States. Say California stays independent, then Emperor Norton successfully corners the rice market and is able to rule California. Norton actually lived in South Africa for a while (although, presumably, Cape Colony) so he has a link there and he establishes an Orange-alliance with Florida, the Orange Free State and the Kingdom of the Netherlands (House of Orange) (which has Boer connections). :p
 
If you stop at one of the Welcome Centers in Florida (along I-10, I-75 or I-95) you can get a complimentary glass of orange juice.

That would make Florida (my birthplace!) the Free Orange State, as well.
 
I have a better idea (IMHO).

The Dutch encourage farmers (voors) to settle in New Amsterdam, like they did in the Cape. When the British take the colony, some of the more nationalistic Boers travel inland and, after a series of running battles with the Iroquois, settle down on the Susquehanna. When the area is later given to William Penn and his tolerant pacifist Friends (just about the antithesis of their Calvinism), the Dutch move even further West. They settle near Pittsburg, with the vain hope that they can keep the Ohio between them and the English.

That's what I was expecting when I clicked on this thread. And it would make a decent timeline, I imagine.
 
Admiral Matt said:
The Dutch encourage farmers (voors) to settle in New Amsterdam, like they did in the Cape.

Was New Amsterdam under the control of the Dutch government or the VOC? IIRC, the VOC wasn't really too enthusiastic about settlers- if not there might have been many more boers in South Africa.
 

Baskilisk

Banned
I doubt Americans would support a state in Eurasia/Africa under any circumstances. Hawaii was bad enough.
Though it could set a precedent...
 
Top