You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
I'm thinking of writing a TL with a POD based around the ACW which ends in and independent CSA and a more expansionist USA but I’d like some help in analyzing its plausibility.
In my TL I’d like to include longer ACW which lasts into Lincoln's 2nd presidency and ends with the CSA keeping independence. Then once his Lincoln’s presidency ends he supports William H. Seward's run in 1868 which helps him win office. Due to the loss of the southern states in my TL I want to make Seward put more effort in expanding the USA's boarders than he was in OTL.
From what I've been studying over the past couple of weeks Seward arranged the purchase of Alaska from Russia as a precursor to annex the colony of British Columbia and expand the USA’s Pacific coast line. He planned on gaining BC through negotiating with Britain over the so called "Alabama Claims". These claims dealt with the USA's desire for reparations from Britain due to the aid they gave the CSA. The CSA does not win with Britain's aid in my TL so the USA still feels able to hold the claims as in OTL. Instead of settling the claims for money like in OTL Seward negotiates the annexation of British Columbia and Nova Scotia, which had a big anti-Canadian Confederation movement at the time, which is what he wanted to do in OTL. The then also arranges the purchase of Greenland from Denmark. I will of course include that some will argue it is a waste of the USA’s resources to annex and purchase these territories when they have already lost a lot of resources due to losing the ACW. I plan on simply covering this by making Seward able to either overrule them or convince them that the long term benefits the territories will provide are in the USA’s best interests.