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It seems to be a common theme in many alternate history scenarios about North America that if Britain and the USA ever went to war in the late 1800's then the Americans would drive the British out without any trouble and conquer Canada.
But is this kind of scenario actually viable?
You may be able to argue that the USA could call on hundreds of thousand on men towards the end of the 1800's and that they could easilly create anything they needed for a war because of their powerful industry but doesn't Britain have the same advantage?
The Empire after all controlled about a third of the population of the world and was the premier industrial power of the day. Admittedly it would take a while to call upon the full might of the Empire but Britain is hardly likely to just let the American invade her territory and get away with it.
Any war between the British Empire and the Untied States of America in the 1800's is likely to be a long drawn out affair in which two powerful industrial and military countries clash.
I suppose that the USA has the advantage of being on the same continent as Canada but they cannot hope to prevent Britain landing troops somewhere on Canada's large coastline.
So, realistically speaking, was it ever possible that America could conquer Canada or is it just a impossible dream?