Forget Quebec...what about Halifax.

The only way this would work out, IMO, is for the Continental Congress to approve more soldiers for an invasion of Nova Scotia instead of Quebec. Somehow, Congress is going to need to convince the populace that going for Nova Scotia, a British colony and therefore much more closely related, is more beneficial to the US than taking Quebec.

The main problem here, once the decision is approved, is going to be taking and holding Halifax. Halifax is the main port for the Royal Navy on the North American continent, so no sea-based attack is going to work. Instead, the Americans are going to have to team up with France and go for a blockade that will hold long enough for the Continental Army to take Halifax through a siege. Once this is done, the colonials simply need to hold the city long enough for negotiations, which the British are much more likely to start with the loss of their most important military port.

Quebec isn't likely to join the union, especially after the passage of the Quebec Act, which guaranteed the French Canadians their religion, their form of government, and general habits of life. Any attempt into Quebec is going to end in disaster, just like it did OTL.

Once Halifax is taken, Britain is going to fall back to either Louisborg, Quebec, or Montreal. Falling back to Quebec is likely, especially with the dangers of the Americans invading Quebec. I guess falling back to Newfoundland is possible, though with invested resources in Quebec, it's far less likely.

Once the war is over, I can see the Americans incorporating Nova Scotia and St. John's Island into one state, Nova Scotia, and making that the 14th state. Britain still gets to keep Quebec, or at least part of it, with part of it perhaps going to the French, and Newfoundland becomes the British base of power for a while until expansion into the west. Loyalists are going to end up heading back to Great Britain, to Quebec, or to Jamaica or the Caribbean. We're going to most likely see further loss of French identity in Quebec as Loyalists pour in and make the territory their own, and earlier expansion into the west. Rupert's Land is probably going to be taken over by the monarchy and expanded into. Overall, we end up with a nice ATL.

Hey there, this is my first post; I've been lurking here for a while, but never bothered posting until now. This post is perhaps hastily thought out, but it's the first one nonetheless. Comments welcome.
 
The only way this would work out, IMO, is for the Continental Congress to approve more soldiers for an invasion of Nova Scotia instead of Quebec. Somehow, Congress is going to need to convince the populace that going for Nova Scotia, a British colony and therefore much more closely related, is more beneficial to the US than taking Quebec.

The main problem here, once the decision is approved, is going to be taking and holding Halifax. Halifax is the main port for the Royal Navy on the North American continent, so no sea-based attack is going to work. Instead, the Americans are going to have to team up with France and go for a blockade that will hold long enough for the Continental Army to take Halifax through a siege. Once this is done, the colonials simply need to hold the city long enough for negotiations, which the British are much more likely to start with the loss of their most important military port.

Quebec isn't likely to join the union, especially after the passage of the Quebec Act, which guaranteed the French Canadians their religion, their form of government, and general habits of life. Any attempt into Quebec is going to end in disaster, just like it did OTL.

Once Halifax is taken, Britain is going to fall back to either Louisborg, Quebec, or Montreal. Falling back to Quebec is likely, especially with the dangers of the Americans invading Quebec. I guess falling back to Newfoundland is possible, though with invested resources in Quebec, it's far less likely.

Once the war is over, I can see the Americans incorporating Nova Scotia and St. John's Island into one state, Nova Scotia, and making that the 14th state. Britain still gets to keep Quebec, or at least part of it, with part of it perhaps going to the French, and Newfoundland becomes the British base of power for a while until expansion into the west. Loyalists are going to end up heading back to Great Britain, to Quebec, or to Jamaica or the Caribbean. We're going to most likely see further loss of French identity in Quebec as Loyalists pour in and make the territory their own, and earlier expansion into the west. Rupert's Land is probably going to be taken over by the monarchy and expanded into. Overall, we end up with a nice ATL.

Hey there, this is my first post; I've been lurking here for a while, but never bothered posting until now. This post is perhaps hastily thought out, but it's the first one nonetheless. Comments welcome.

Hello, and sounds reasonable, and welcome. Well-thought-out!

Just one comment:

Once Halifax is taken, Britain is going to fall back to either Louisborg, Quebec, or Montreal.

angry-smiley-1430.gif
angry-smiley-1430.gif
angry-smiley-1430.gif


THERE WAS NO LOUISBOURG IN 1776! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS! THE BRITISH BURNED IT TO THE GROUND! THEY SALTED THE FIELDS! THEY WRECKED THE PLACE AND LEFT NO STONE UPON STONE!

Erm... Good post, otherwise. :eek:
 
Hello, and sounds reasonable, and welcome. Well-thought-out!

Just one comment:



angry-smiley-1430.gif
angry-smiley-1430.gif
angry-smiley-1430.gif


THERE WAS NO LOUISBOURG IN 1776! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS! THE BRITISH BURNED IT TO THE GROUND! THEY SALTED THE FIELDS! THEY WRECKED THE PLACE AND LEFT NO STONE UPON STONE!

Erm... Good post, otherwise. :eek:

Upon doing further research, I concede that Louisbourg was destroyed after the siege of the Fort Louisbourg. I blame outdated maps for my error. :D

Well, with no Louisbourg then, the British are most likely going to fall back to Quebec City. By seeing how easily Montreal got invaded in OTL, Quebec City is probably a better choice to retreat to. It's also fortified. :)

In any case, as previously said, the borders of the United States are going to be the Mississippi River to the west and the St Lawrence River to the north. Without control over Quebec or Newfoundland, the US won't be able to control access to the St Lawrence, so Britain should be fine.
 
Well I'm thinking that Jonathan Eddy could've approach Arnold during the siege of Boston, and Arnold could've approached Washington about Halifax, and a command of his own. Western Nova Scotioa was pretty much undefended in Sept. 1775, so once ashore Arnold could quickkly move on Halifax and attempt to storm the city from the landward side. He has nearly 1000 men and in much better condition as his march against Halifax would'nt be as ardious as to Quebec.

The main problem I think would come when Howe so up outside the city in April 1776 with 8,000 some odd men. Howe undoubtedly retakes the city quickly and Arnold probably retires to western Nova Scotia. I'm thinking that Howe wouldn't try to drive the Americans completely from Nova Scotia, leaving the Americans in control of the Cumberland basin as that would also entail garrisoning the western portion of that province in addition to garrisoning Halifax.
 
Top