Nova Scotia joins the Union.

WeisSaul

Banned
After the Canadian Confederation was established in 1867, Nova Scotia elected separatist parties to 36 of its 38 representatives in the Canadian Parliament. In OTL Britain just said shut up and deal with it. Let's suppose Nova Scotia went for US statehood instead, hoping for greater autonomy as an American state than a Canadian province.

Do we end up with a repeat of what happened with Texas? Would a hardened US that had just emerged from civil war be tough enough to have the British back off?

Also, in order to give the US a strategic bonus in any physical conflict, let's suppose the US kept North Borneo in 1865.
 
I doubt very much that the US would go to war with Britain in order to annex Nova Scotia, even assuming the Nova Scotians are overwhelming in support of joining the US.

By 1867 most of that "hardened" US Army was already disbanded. The nation needed to heal its wounds, and people were war weary.

At best, the US might try to negotiate diplomatically with Britain to come up with a face saving measure for Britain to release Nova Scotia so the US could annex it. I don't think Britain would even consider that unless the Nova Scotians are very seriously about leaving the British Empire to the point that war may break out. More likely, the US and Britain never even talk about.

At best, Nova Scotia may be able to stay out of Canada much like Newfoundland did. I don't see the British letting go of any part of their empire at the time, and the US did not have the power or will to force them to do it.
 
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