I've wondered whether maybe an earlier gold rush in California or the Rockies would help this? Maybe during the mid-late 1700s, so that Yankees can't wander around and just populate the area more than OTL?
Err. Russia, which collapsed in revolution and fell behind? And was clearly not the greatest power on the continent?
I've wondered whether maybe an earlier gold rush in California or the Rockies would help this? Maybe during the mid-late 1700s, so that Yankees can't wander around and just populate the area more than OTL?
Iturbide is the tail end of the Revolution.I always liked the idea of a Spanish prince or Agustin de Iturbide doing it...
Then New Spain/Mexico runs into conflicts with the British and Russians, both of whom had claims in the area at the time and neither of which would hesitate to back up those claims with gold at stake. The Russians could barely hold out against the Native Americans in the area, but the British could do some serious damage.
Railroads will be necessary to hold onto distant California, but Mexico at it's greatest extent has a whole lot of resources and excellent land.
given how overextended Mexico was in more power.
Not necessarily Spanish and Italian immigrants, though - there could also be the possibility of major waves of immigration from Central and Eastern Europe, as with the rest of North America around that time.