I like this map a lot. Let me understand it:
Red: British posessions
Pink: British protectorates
Purple: United States
Light purple: US territories, including western New York
Orange: Virginia
Light orange: Virginia territories
Blue: French
Light blue: French protectorates in OTL Georgia?
And what is the area that intrigues me the most, the brown area centered on OTL Wisconsin and Illinois?
Let's see... I didn't envisage this as much later than 1810 -15.
Mostly because I wasn't sure how the Trans - Mississippi would actually look.
Lets see first...the light purple yes... some NE claims sold off to the US, so that they will get something for their state coffers...but I saw the claims to the far NW as a step too far. Neither the rump USA, NY or NE can project into the area with effect, especially if they are at loggerheasds with each other. Add to that Virginia's claim and their head start at getting boots on the ground and the probable opposition of the British and of course the natural hostility of the Native coalition, thus I didn't see Philadelphia as being interested in the ephemeral more distant claims of either of their Northern neighbours. the first two though are immediately adjacent and their is the prospect at least that the NE states will be able to actually aid in securing Western NY...For the record I assumed that the smaller NY would be annexed directly by NE, or their would be regime change that would seek greater co-operation and eventual union later...Hence you see even rump NY subdivided. As to the Western reserve
thats more in the end through diplomatic endeavours and recognition as part of one of the Anglo- Virginian treaties.
Pink + Brown are actually the envisioned protectorate, but divided into two distinct zones. The pink is an area of more direct British Activity and governance. The control of these assures British contol of the Upper lakes and the routes to the further NW of Western Rupertsland. the brown much looser control and more a wilderness buffer for the natives. A few Br. Garrisons...and a number of trading posts. Any White European settlement would be among the native villages or small scale around those trading posts and forts only.. The majority of the ter. though would be dominated by the native villages of the various tribes. Of the pink only the lower part would be of immediate interest, and I call it the District of Huron ( The upper being Chippewa). The south border dividing those two parts being
from the point on the west shore of Lake Erie at 42 degrees N following a surveyors line directly to the southern most headwaters of the Grand River and then down its south shore to is exit in Lake Michigan.
The Borbon Blue is actually envisioned as Spain not France. the light blue... a loss by SC/Ga to Spain in the aftermath of tryng to force the issue of the Florida border (back to the 31st at least instead of the Spanish insistence on the old British border) during the late 1790's while Virginia is more directly preoccupied to the North and while Spain is technically not allied to the Br. and not at war with France in the aftermath of the First coalition. Spain is disadvantaged at first and the colonials have the advantage of proximity..But the Spanish Empire still has considerable muscle to bring to bear. The colonials really don't have a chance. I'd actually considered the terr. west of teh Tombigee as well, but I that might push it. they will play the natives off against the Settlers in the east. that bordr being an extension eastward of the WEst Florida border to the Eastern Continental divide beyond the Flint and then either directly to the head of the St. Mary's or along the divide to same. This makes sense from the point of view of enlarging and reinforcing the historical position of Spain in Florida, its going to have a number of Anglo settlers though. Where as the West would only be the Choctaws and Chickasaws. Now I am thinking that that might actually be the better course.
Spanish entry into the second coalition is then either prevented or at least delayed significantly. No immediate retrocession of Louisiana, or perhaps its just later...depends on events.
NC is of course yellow to show its close association with Virginia and I envisioned an eventual ascension to the same coalition once Virginia transcends to some kind of confederal commonwealth
Beyond the Mississippi, even if taken by Britain from France, following a retrocession, Spain if allied with France, or a second alliance of both France and Virginia. I could see it returned in most cases back to Spain if Spain eventually ends the Great French War as a anti-French Ally. As some kind of joint protectorate within or simply with the Spanish Empire. It may or may not devolve to Mexico after 1820..depends on circumstance. If Ferdinand was to actually agree to the personal Union that was originally proposed say....b/n the Mexican and Spanish Empires. Louisiana might be carved off for the Spanish and/or British in the old expanses of the French domain as a Northern version of Argentina. New Orleans part of the terr, but actually a freeport by treaty ( At least until the advent of the railroads anyway).
Last edited: