Canada and America in World War I.

Okay, I was thinking about a whole bunch of alt-WWI scenarios, and inevitably this one came up. Let's say the British Empire and the United States end up on opposing sides in the war.

This is the scenario I envisioned:
After the declaration of war, the United States deploys troops to Europe. However, there is also a large arms build-up at the Canadian border by both sides - the build-up prevents the United States or Canada from sending too many resources or troops overseas. Soon enough, things get very tense on the border. There is the occasional border or naval skirmish, but nothing too significant. Eventually, after the war and the signing of the peace treaties, a few border territories of the losing side are annexed by the victorious power, but nothing significant.

Would such an "America declares war on Britain" scenario be likely?
 
Okay, I was thinking about a whole bunch of alt-WWI scenarios, and inevitably this one came up. Let's say the British Empire and the United States end up on opposing sides in the war.

When you say the British Empire are you including Canada in that ... as in Canada and the USA are at war? (Not simply Britain and the USA?)


After the declaration of war, the United States deploys troops to Europe. However, there is also a large arms build-up at the Canadian border by both sides - the build-up prevents the United States or Canada from sending too many resources or troops overseas.

I'm not sure how large portions of Canada are not immediately overrun. The Border is much to long, and the US population much to large. The middle provinces would be like an open door for an American army to push North and then turn left/right and encircle the entire populated areas of the Canadian east and west. Obviously a north/south line would be created as a front moves to the coasts but such a line(s) could always been flanked around the north side as long as the forces were prepared for some cold fighting. I don't see what prevents the US from entering and attacking Canada? I suppose if such an alliance is in place that Britain might have been forced to deploy tons of forces and men 'over here' which should buff up the defense. That creates a lovely (for the imagination) scenario for some uber naval battles in the Atlantic.

Would such an "America declares war on Britain" scenario be likely?

Need some more parameters on the situation and diplomacy you are painting here. What is the UK's strategic position? Is she in the Triple Alliance or Entente? Is she hostile to the US or is the DoW simply due to some alliance the US might have? Perhaps if the British are raiding or sinking US ships in droves something like this could happen but Britain would have to be in an incredibly powerful position to risk such action.
 

MrP

Banned
There are a few threads like this about - thanks to Turtledove - and they all hinge on the PoD. OTL's American army is tiny. OTL's USA provided much of the high explosive the Entente used against Germany and A-H. Canada IOTL provided some excellent soldiers and other warriors to the war in Europe. All this is going to be different in such an ATL as this, and so it's important to define terms. When's the PoD? How badly do relations sour pre-ATL outbreak of war? Is the border between Canada and America heavily militarised? What's the status of British financial investment in the USA in the late-nineteenth century ITTL? &c, &c. All those and more are questions that need answering before we can say what a war and post-war situation could be like.
 
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Would such an "America declares war on Britain" scenario be likely?[/quote]

Very unlikely as although there was some pro German feeling in America and some anti-British feeling there was more pro British feeling. The most Germany could expect would be neutrality. President Wilson wanted to stay out of it and Teddy Roosevelt was pro-British.

However let us suppose there was another President

"After the declaration of war, the United States deploys troops to Europe"

This would probably be impossible as the Royal Navy would have prevented it as any American ships would have to pass North of the Shetlands to reach a friendly port and they would not have reached Germany. The Royal Navy had abandoned the two power standard and might have had problems facing an enemy on two fronts but the United States navy would have been more effective blockading Canada where the focus would be. Canada would be a drain on Britains resources resulting in troops being diverted to Canada and no Canadian troops being available to fight in Europe plus the cutting off of wheat and other resources. There would be no support for an American invasion in Canada as Quebeck would support France. Britain would be unlikely to be able to spare battleships to break any blockade of Canada. The United States could have a decisive effect without the need to cross the Atlantic

The net effect would be that Germany would win without the United States becoming involved in Europe and maty gain a small amount of Canada. American support for Germany would be decisive as it was arguably for Britain and France.
 
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