Manifest Destiny...to the North and South

Somehow, make United States 'manifested her destiny' to the north toward Newfoundland and to the south toward Caribbean Sea, instead of to the west toward Pacific Ocean like in OTL. By 1860 US have acquired control of Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, and most of Caribbean Islands. (but never acquired Lousiana, Texas, and other territories west of Mississippi River)
Is this too implausible? What is the most plausible way to do this? What would be the consequences to the ARW? And the rest of American history?
 
For one thing you would need a sizeable deterent West of the Mississippi to halt westward expansion or otherwise make it unwanted. If something ASBish like the Great Plains was a sea or all mountains then perhaps or otherwise beef up Mexico or have a Burr-pire staand in the way.
 

Typo

Banned
The "manifest destiny" before the war of 1812 was aimed towards the north as much as the west.

The thing is the west has loads of land that can be easily taken from Indians, while the north has less land that is not so easily taken from the British, it really just make sense to go west.
 
The "manifest destiny" before the war of 1812 was aimed towards the north as much as the west.

The thing is the west has loads of land that can be easily taken from Indians, while the north has less land that is not so easily taken from the British, it really just make sense to go west.

Yes, particularly due to the Pacific and access to Far Eastern trade. What would they gain from a North-South empire? I don't know how doable it is in avoiding the Louisiana Purchase.

If you can found a way for the Americans to desperately want access to the Hudson Bay, or total control over the St Louis and the Great Lakes, then sure. But what's south? Sugar crops, yes, but also tropical diseases and more Europeans. Can America go to war with Spain early? If so then they may have a stab at taking some of Mexico and the Caribbean a bit earlier.
 

Kharn

Banned
You would need it to restart in the late 1800s when the power balance between America and Britain was slowly turning our way. Of course, Mexico would be the first target, obviously, and after this a naval build-up that is mostly in-line with National Dickwaving for Manifest Destiny and all of a sudden Britain can't stay the premier Naval power anymore. Britain would have to strike well before the build-up got totally under way and before it reached HSF levels.
 
The thing is the west has loads of land that can be easily taken from Indians, while the north has less land that is not so easily taken from the British, it really just make sense to go west.

How about a stronger Spanish presence in territory west of Mississippi? Just like what happened in Robert's excellent TL 'Guns of Tawantinsuya'...
 
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