Great What-Ifs of Canadian History Pre-1900
- Thread starter sampleswift
- Start date
A commander with greater initiative, like Brock, could probably capture Fort Meigs in 1813. Then it's the Americans doing the sieging while the Indians erode their lines of communication and supply. Definitely not a happy time. But it might not matter if Lake Erie goes the same way (unless Barclay catches Perry crossing the bar).
Prime Minister John Thompson does not die at Windsor Castle in December 1894. He is young, somewhat popular and the best natural talent the Conservative Party has at this time. Can he beat Wilfrid Laurier in 1895 (probably wouldn't wait like Bowell and Tupper did til the last possible moment in 1896) and would the Conservatives be the natural governing party in the 20th century as they still had in the 19th.
Lusitania
Donor
The best scenario for alternative Canada is where BNA gets all land north of Ohio River as part of the ARW. The French snd Spanish did not want a supercharged USA. Their interest had been only to weaken Britain. So have the British, French, Dutch and Spanish all agree that US size become curtailed.
1) BNA get all land north of Ohio River.
2) Spain and France get same territory as iotl.
Britain with huge BNA offers all to buy out loyalist property in USA and help pay their move to BNA. Instead of 75,000 BNA gets 175,000 loyalist.
USA and Britain are trading nations but not buddy buddies as iotl.
Investment by British firms and investors in BNA. Large track of lands sold for little $ to British citizens who agree to settle in BNA.
Catholics given same rights as Protestants in BNA.
From 1790-1810 several canals and locks built along st Lawrence and great lakes so that direct access to all lakes possible by ocean going ships.
Peace established with natives who get 20% of all lands and provide BNA troops with auxiliary support against American intrusions.
Americans allowed to settle in BNA in small scattered groups mixed in with British, Irish, German and French Canadians.
Limited skirmishes between British/natives and Americans as they spread out west of Appalachia mountains and south of Ohio River.
When British hear that Napoleon going to sell French Louisiana they order Troops in BNA to seize it. British navy shells and captures New Orleans.
War of 1812-14 results in America not able to dislodge British troops from occupied territory although New Orleans is destroyed in fighting.
Peace treaty between US and Britain divided French Louisiana with all lands south of St. Louis belonging to USA. New Orleans becomes international city guaranteeing british right to navigate the Mississipi.
Following napoleonic wars British offers thousands to veterans large tracts of land in BNA if they move there. From 1815-1850 BNA population grows 4 fold. in size.
With St. Louis and all lands around it under British control less than 20% of Americans able to make trek to west coast. British claim all land now part of Washington and Oregon.
USA fights Mexico and gains Texas, Santa Fe snd California.
In 1850s British seize Russian Alaska during Crimea war.
1860 BNA unites as kingdom of Canada with Queen Victoria second son as Canada’s first king.
1) BNA get all land north of Ohio River.
2) Spain and France get same territory as iotl.
Britain with huge BNA offers all to buy out loyalist property in USA and help pay their move to BNA. Instead of 75,000 BNA gets 175,000 loyalist.
USA and Britain are trading nations but not buddy buddies as iotl.
Investment by British firms and investors in BNA. Large track of lands sold for little $ to British citizens who agree to settle in BNA.
Catholics given same rights as Protestants in BNA.
From 1790-1810 several canals and locks built along st Lawrence and great lakes so that direct access to all lakes possible by ocean going ships.
Peace established with natives who get 20% of all lands and provide BNA troops with auxiliary support against American intrusions.
Americans allowed to settle in BNA in small scattered groups mixed in with British, Irish, German and French Canadians.
Limited skirmishes between British/natives and Americans as they spread out west of Appalachia mountains and south of Ohio River.
When British hear that Napoleon going to sell French Louisiana they order Troops in BNA to seize it. British navy shells and captures New Orleans.
War of 1812-14 results in America not able to dislodge British troops from occupied territory although New Orleans is destroyed in fighting.
Peace treaty between US and Britain divided French Louisiana with all lands south of St. Louis belonging to USA. New Orleans becomes international city guaranteeing british right to navigate the Mississipi.
Following napoleonic wars British offers thousands to veterans large tracts of land in BNA if they move there. From 1815-1850 BNA population grows 4 fold. in size.
With St. Louis and all lands around it under British control less than 20% of Americans able to make trek to west coast. British claim all land now part of Washington and Oregon.
USA fights Mexico and gains Texas, Santa Fe snd California.
In 1850s British seize Russian Alaska during Crimea war.
1860 BNA unites as kingdom of Canada with Queen Victoria second son as Canada’s first king.
Thomas1195
Banned
You have guarantee a Northern Secession down the road. The Free States would be locked in the Northeastern seabed, while the Slave States are free to expand westwards (and possibly make all the new territories slave states).
History Learner
Banned
The U.S. is able to get all territory West of the 90th Meridian as part of the Alabama Claims/Metis Revolt. The Metis did have extensive contact and ties to Pro-Annexationist elements, while British Colombia had a large, active element too.
Which, sorry to quote myself, then receives some "Spanish Empire Royalists" during the Wars of Independence...
Thomas1195
Banned
@History Learner Surviving and successfully democratizing Commonwealth of England (and eventually Great Britain) manages to retain all of its North American colonies (POD: Cromwell is butterflied away early and the Republic is instead run by Fairfax and Vane the Younger).
Fast forward to the 19th century, Southern colonies secede during the 1800s-1830s as the Commonwealth (with greater Puritan influence) tries to abolish slavery.
Fast forward to the 19th century, Southern colonies secede during the 1800s-1830s as the Commonwealth (with greater Puritan influence) tries to abolish slavery.
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I think more provinces is key to a collective TL. Splitting the Canadas into 5 provinces at Confederation could easily be done; the capitals would be Hamilton (or London), Toronto, Ottawa (or Kingston), Montreal and Quebec.
Cape Breton could've stayed separate from Nova Scotia and entered with Gaelic as an official language!
Northern Sask & Alberta could've been a Metis province.
Heck, there could've been a Yiddish Pale on the prairies after WWII.
And of course, 'Quadra' could be Spanish
