Strength of an alternative state - USA + Canada without California and alaska?

How strong would a North American nation which has the borders of USA (without california and alaska) and Canada be?
 
So something like this?
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no reason it couldn't be as powerful as OTL USA. There's plenty of mineral riches and agricultural land in Canada to make up for loss of such in California/Alaska, and Oregon still gives it a west coast. Even taking Canada out of the equation, you could still have a USA as powerful as OTL. The only question is whether entering Canada into the political equation somehow impedes the growth of the nation. there's bound to be hiccups, but I can't see anything which would obviously monkey up the situation.
 
no reason it couldn't be as powerful as OTL USA. There's plenty of mineral riches and agricultural land in Canada to make up for loss of such in California/Alaska, and Oregon still gives it a west coast. Even taking Canada out of the equation, you could still have a USA as powerful as OTL. The only question is whether entering Canada into the political equation somehow impedes the growth of the nation. there's bound to be hiccups, but I can't see anything which would obviously monkey up the situation.
The formation of the nation itself would have some bearing on its growth: Napoleonic US, Anglo-French Dominion, Empire of Vinland, etc will all have different economic priorities and ideals.
 
I think the biggest change would be that unless it finds some way of dealing with this alternate California, you are going to see less US influence in the Pacific, which could have some interesting butterflies; However, this US could always focus even more than OTL on Latin America to make up for that loss of influence in the Pacific.
 
The formation of the nation itself would have some bearing on its growth: Napoleonic US, Anglo-French Dominion, Empire of Vinland, etc will all have different economic priorities and ideals.
True.

I assumed, based on the name of this country of "USA", that the country would be reasonably like the OTL USA, or formed from it. Easiest method of formation is having Canada rise up with the revolution, or conquered in 1812, or possibly even purchased. Getting half of the Mexican land grab (Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico) but not California makes for a bit of head scratching. But, yes, formation scenario makes a big impact on how the growth goes. I would have to think, though, that any road that leads to that large a domain has to include massive power formation.
 
True.

I assumed, based on the name of this country of "USA", that the country would be reasonably like the OTL USA, or formed from it. Easiest method of formation is having Canada rise up with the revolution, or conquered in 1812, or possibly even purchased. Getting half of the Mexican land grab (Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico) but not California makes for a bit of head scratching. But, yes, formation scenario makes a big impact on how the growth goes. I would have to think, though, that any road that leads to that large a domain has to include massive power formation.
Good point, though I'm unclear where you got that it is called the USA from since that is in none of Thane's posts.
 
Good point, though I'm unclear where you got that it is called the USA from since that is in none of Thane's posts.

I'm assuming from the title which has USA + Canada in it. But I'm having trouble imagining this state that wouldn't force its way to the Pacific for the obvious economic benefit having a coastline there would bring. Because with all that territory it must have an economy and population strong enough to force its way to the Pacific coast. There is a very good reason the US went to war with Mexico to acquire California.
 
How strong would a North American nation which has the borders of USA (without california and alaska) and Canada be?
What? No Manifest Destiny? No 'From Sea To Shining Sea'? Will this country even have any strength, other than being the world's breadbasket?
 
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