DBWI Challenge: Turn the United States of America into a strong, stable country

In 1776 America delcared independence and fought a war against their colonial masters to get it. With the help of France and Spain they achieved it.

They had a high quality of life, a booming population, a gigantic country and possibly the most raw material in the world. They were the only true democracy in the world. As we all know, after Thomas Jefferson bought Louisiana(An area larger then France, Spain and Germany combined) things went south do their repartions to Britain, defeat by Mexico, Indian guerilla attacks that still go on to this day and their successionist movement.

Your challenge is to turn America into a prosperous nation. At least a second tier great power(Think Italy, not Britain or France) which is NOT impossible. Bonus points if they expand to the West coast or are a Super Power.
You had a POD of 1783.
 
Well, say that the a war broke out on Europe, a huge war, some time after independence. Britain is too distracted to care much what the Americans do (barring some stupid move by the latter), America's finances are more stable and can properly fund their armies. Boom, Indians are no problem and they can get a status quo with Mexico.

Not too sure what can stop the secessionists; they were some problems between the factions that predated independence.
 

Jasen777

Donor
This is tough they simply don't have the leadership. You probably need a pre-Revolution PoD. Maybe if they had stayed under Britain longer the would have developed a society could be successful on its own.
 
Maybe if the US had been able to avoid war with Britain a sucessful America could have defeated the Mexicans who were worthless as proved in the Mexican-German War of 1901 when the Old Man of America was forced into submission. A tactiful US Military could have outclassed the Mexicans on the battlefield.
 
Well if they had repaid the money borrowed from British banks to pay for the Lousiana Purchase it would have helped. Instead they refused, claiming damage for the burning of Washington DC in a war that they started. It broke down the peace talks and extended hostilities for another four years.
 
The best way would be to make them lose the Revolution-- maybe a PoD that prevents French intervention, I dunno. If British colonial administrators, rather than a clique of slave owners and tea-smuggling Boston merchants, had their steady hands on the rudder of America, and followed a gentler path to self-government, they'd be a Great Power on the level of Canada... maybe even bigger, since the American climate was so much milder before the fallout fucked it all up.
 
Top