Sabotaging the rising powers

Ah, the 18th century. Industrialization and the rise of the new powers. Could these new powers have been crippled in the crib?

Read Alison Brook's "An Evil British Empire" and discuss whether or not such plans born of iniquity to hurt the U.S., Germany, and Russia would have worked. Bonus points if you mention something about The Difference Engine and how in that story steampunk Britain is somehow able to instantly subvert every single possible threat.
 
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