alternatehistory.com

Ok so after my first ASB TL which had a slightly(very) unrealistic premise I'm going through to revise alot of it and establish a new TL. In this one I'm basically writing speculatively to see what might happen if Anglo-American relations had gone as badly as possible. Much different from OTL. Writing this I've come across a very interesting set of alternate history scenarios. I'm hoping to write this one to every ones enjoyment.

This is the premise Time Line.

I encourage comments.


1865 – US – British relations remain tense after the civil war. Britain refuses to pay the Americans 15 million for building Confederate warships and only agrees to 6 million. This does little to resolve the smoldering American tempers.

1866 – Fenian raids begin across the Canadian border leading to intense border clashes. Fenian incursions go on for four years. America is notably lax in dispersing the raiders. Though they intervene and catch large war parties they often turn a blind eye to smaller groups that gather then attack en masse.

1869 – Alabama Claims cause Canadian American relations to suffer. American expansionists make a strong alliance with Canadian separatists. Pro separatist riots break out in Red River Colony only to be dispersed by the British. After Britain stalls the idea and increases troop concentrations the claims break down in 1870.

1871 – The Fenian raids stop and Canadians become wary of their southern neighbors.

1889 – The Republican coup in Brazil is thwarted as forces loyal to Pedro II crush the mutineers and Pedro stays on the throne in order to ensure the golden age of his country continues.

1894 – First Sino-Japanese War.

1895 - Venezuelan border dispute is not ended on favorable terms as Britain rejects the American pressure to mediate the dispute internationally. America abiding by the Monroe Doctrine sends warships to the coast. Britain still refuses to back down. After an intense two month stand off both sides agree to international mediation after French intervention.

1896 – France rules in favor of the British claim, much to the consternation of the US which leads to a series of anti-French riots on the East Coast. The civil disturbances pale in comparison to the fall in relations between the European powers and the US.

1898 – Spanish American War breaks out. Due to bad blood between the US and Great Britain the British offer military assistance to the Spanish with British weapons entering Spanish hands and Royal Navy aggressive ship movements cutting off the Americans from Cuba and allowing the Spanish Fleet to stay moderately safe. Cuba remains a Spanish possession.

The Philippines however are not so lucky. With no immediate British support the Spanish fleet is destroyed by the Americans who occupy the Philippines. Interestingly German ships in Manila Bay reacted as to block Spanish naval movements and cut off a French Fleet being dispatched to the area. Germany seemed interested in the American capabilities. After destroying the Spanish Fleet the US was forced to advance on Manila as the Spanish were still launching guerilla attacks. Teddy Roosevelt and his ‘Rough Riders’ proved themselves to be a formidable force by riding down a Spanish infantry company that was aiming to ambush the main American advance. After a short siege Manila fell to superior American forces. Despite still having a Caribbean fleet and despite British pressure to continue the Spanish fearful of losing all of their empire, sued for peace.

This would mark a further deterioration in British-American relations as the Americans came to resent the British interference. They begin a more aggressive military policy and shortly thereafter began the construction of The Great White Fleet.

1901 – President McKinley shot. Dies of his wounds on site. Succeeded by Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s aggressive foreign policy became obvious right away. The Great White Fleet under him navigated the globe and returned home to heroes acclaim in 1909.

1902 – American-German cold war over Caribbean ports ends with Germany agreeing to lend America safe ports. Teddy Roosevelt threatens force in the Alaska border dispute. Britain displays aggressive stance in the Caribbean prompting Roosevelt to back down since this threatens his plans for a canal in Panama.

1903 – Unwilling to pay higher rates in the construction of the Panama Canal Roosevelt ‘engineers’ a rebellion in Panama freeing it from Columbian influence. Both France and Great Britain refuse to recognize the new state. This is violently opposed by Nicaraguan President Jose Santos Zeleya. His attempts to send troops to the area are blocked by American warships which shell the region.

International mediation on the Alaska border dispute ends with Britain not recognizing the American claim and appeasing its Canadian citizens by letting the town of Haine stay within Canadian borders. This gives them access to the gold fields and the sea, leading to an economic boom in British Columbia. Americans smolder.

First flight made at Kitty Hawk.

1904 – Popular uprising in Cuba put down, rebels found to have been supplied by the United States. Spain refuses to trade with the US.

Russo-Japanese war breaks out. Japan crushes the Russian fleet and lays siege to Port Arthur.

1905 – Russo-Japanese war ends and the Japanese are acknowledged as a world power. Roosevelt helps negotiate an end to this war putting him on good terms with Russia who were able to save face, but leaving him on somewhat somber terms with the Japanese whom he criticizes for being barbaric.

Norwegian Parliament rejects full independence and remains unified with Sweden.

Zeleya attempts to negotiate with Japan and Britain to create a canal in Nicaragua. Britain shows some interest but Japan takes little note having just finished a war with Russia and has other items on its mind.

1906 – San Francisco devastated by earthquake, will go on to become one of the greatest tragedies in American history. British surveyors begin checking the area for the Nicaraguan canal. It will take more foreign investment to get the canal going. France shows some interest.

1907 – Great White Fleet launched. While in harbor in Japan the Japanese take notice of the ship designs.

1908 – Roosevelt declines to run for re-election and opts to go on safari in Africa. During this time he also makes a trip to Germany putting him on good relations with the Kaiser. Kaiser Wilhelm II and President Taft meet in the White House for an informal lunch.

President Zeleya campaigns across Central America with promises of a canal that will bring them all together again. There is little interest however as progress appears slow. Zeleya convinces the French to begin investing.

1909 – Closer German-American relations result in friendly trade agreements between the two countries. German industry booms under increased trade with the United States.

Germans begin arms race with Great Britain over Navy.

1910 – Mexican Revolution breaks out. President Taft who sees Zeleya as a threat to American interests in the Caribbean attempts to have him overthrown. This is botched as it leads to Spanish and French intervention. In the resulting ‘Battle of Managua’ three American ships are damaged and one sunk with the loss of two Spanish ships and one French ship sunk. Britain mediates to avoid larger conflict and Taft goes along with the mediation being a big believer in peace. Americans are outraged at this and Taft’s popularity plummets.

1911 – Taft attempts to negotiate a free-trade treaty with Canada in an attempt to foster better relations, but is poorly received by the Canadian government which still harbors poor feelings against the Americans. The deal is ultimately rejected. Taft’s popularity further sinks.

1912 – Roosevelt regains control of the Republican Party from Taft and beats Woodrow Wilson in the Election on a pro-American platform.

Zeleya holds the Guatemala City Conference which officially begins construction on the Nicaraguan Canal with British and French backing. A pan-Central American alliance is declared as the nations all agree they want to share in the profits.

America reacts strongly and pressures the Spanish to not back the construction of the canal. Britain sends warships, remembering the beating taken in the battle of Managua the American Navy is reluctant to engage in aggressive maneuvers. A war of words ensues between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Asquith. Asquith fully backs the construction of the canal as Americans solely control the businesses behind the Panama Canal and he assumes that they will charge extra for British shipping use. Roosevelt in an effort to destroy the Nicaraguan Canal idea assures Asquith that he will not be troubled when using the Canal. Asquith is skeptical and the talks remain stalemated.

1913 – Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II intervenes on behalf of the talks. Talks begin to break down as Wilhelm makes aggressive posturing for the Americans threatening war. Roosevelt backs him. Great Britain while aggressive does not want war with America right away. They agree to pull out of the canal project while the French remain belligerent. French warships remain in defense of the canal area project. This serves to unite the New Federal Republic of Central America with Zeleya as its first President. It is recognized internationally by Japan, France, Spain and Great Britain. The US refuses to recognize the nation followed by Germany.

1914 – Panama Canal completed. First use in November. The Nicaragua Canal question is rendered moot as on the 28th of June 1914 Franz Ferdinand heir to the Austro Hungarian throne is blown apart by a bomb in the town of Sarajevo. Thanks to the magic of European alliances the crisis escalates quickly and by July the nations of the Entente and Central Powers are at war.
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