What if Newfoundland had entered into an economic union with the United States, as an independent protectorate? How would life on Newfoundland have been altered? An just for the fun of the question, what if the West Indies Federation had become Canada's newest province?
Newfoundland joins with the United States?
- Thread starter Enigmajones
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Tallest Skil
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Why would they want to?
Because in the… when was it, early '40s, they seriously considered it. Whenever their status in the British Empire was changing. Maybe more than once they considered it.
Why would they want to?
Because during the war Newfoundland had unprecedented prosperity, and they seriously considered an economic union with the United States. It would be a major home to a US Naval and Air Force bases.
Tallest Skil
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I'm not sure myself, but I've heard that as a valid possibility in years' past, so it probably has some historical foundation.
For most of the first half of the 20th century the British and Canadians had various serious proposals to unite the rest of Britain's American posessions (excluding the Falklands and South Georgia & Sandwich islands) with Canada, even today their's popular support in Canada and some of the remaining islands of a Union.
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Hmm. Would they ever want statehood, and with such a low population (given the desire) would they about to get it?
Well, the population of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1950 stood at 351,000. That would put it ahead of three existing American states - Nevada (162k), Wyoming (292k), and Delaware (321k). When Alaska became a state 1959, its population was only 228,000.
Fair enough; I was only looking at current population levels and not historical ones.
Yes.
From the mid 20th century to now the places with the highest likelyhood have been Bermuda, Barbados and Tuks and Caicos Islands (90%+ support in the 1990's).
During the mid 20th century their was some consideration of the former West Indies Federation joining Confederation, however things fell through when no one could agree on the exact nature of the Union.
Incidentally, at the time their was a high degree of interest in Belize (higher than in the WEI) in Union with Canada as well.
Well I was thinking that would be a funny add on.
Oh I didn't mean statehood. More of like an independent Puerto Rico with a military protection deal with the United States.
Yeah I figured you meant that; I was wondering if they would ever get a statehood-movement in this scenario.
I could see a PR type relationship, or a FSM/Palau/Marshalls type association.
TranscendentalMedication
Banned
I was under the impression that some folks in Newfoundland wanted it, but the U.S. wasn't really interested in it, and the U.K. wasn't gonna let it happen.
Well thats the basic premise the US wants it. Also this is post 1945, if the US wants something, its getting it and the British can go suck an egg as far as America is concerned.
Phyrx
Banned
Wait - does this include Belize? Guyana? Jamaica?
Because frankly a Canadian Jamaica would be awesome.
Belize and Jamaica (though as part of the WEI, not seperately), yes, I'm not sure about Guyana.