The Bahamas join Canada in 1911

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_proposed_provinces_and_territories_of_Canada: "In 1911, at the request of the Bahamian House of Assembly, the Canadian and the Bahamian governments began serious negotiations for Bahamian accession to the Canadian confederation. However, a racial panic ignited by the migration of over one thousand African-Americans fleeing violence in Oklahoma derailed the discussions. Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier turned against the idea, citing incompatible "ethnical origin". After Laurier lost the September 1911 federal election, Bahamian Governor William Grey-Wilson travelled to Canada to reopen accession talks with newly elected PM Robert Borden. In a meeting between Grey and Borden on 18 October 1911, Borden rejected the possibility of taking the Bahamas into the Canadian confederation. His reasoning was that the events of the past year had proved that Canadian public opinion would not countenance the admission of a majority-black province. The British Colonial Office concurred: "No doubt for the moment the Dominion government would safeguard their interests, but there are signs of the rise of a colour question in Canada and in any case it cannot be long before U.S. opinion gives the tone to Canada in regard the Negro.""
So what if the African-Americans of Oklahoma did not migrate to Canada and the Bahamas successfully joined Canada? What effects would this have on the Bahamas and Canada?
 
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Lusitania

Donor
If the Bahamas had been able to successfully negotiate then yes Canada could of had its first southern province. What US reaction, British reaction and even other British colonies reaction would of been interesting.

Would USA look at Canada going south as a hostile act? How would the British look at it, would they for example encourage other British colonies to join and make British North America a single commonwealth?

How would Canadians react, there was a lot of prejudice in Canada at time. We even had our own segregation laws. So what would of required to make it happen?
 
If the Bahamas had been able to successfully negotiate then yes Canada could of had its first southern province. What US reaction, British reaction and even other British colonies reaction would of been interesting.

Would USA look at Canada going south as a hostile act? How would the British look at it, would they for example encourage other British colonies to join and make British North America a single commonwealth?

How would Canadians react, there was a lot of prejudice in Canada at time. We even had our own segregation laws. So what would of required to make it happen?

Are you Canadian?
 
If the Bahamas had been able to successfully negotiate then yes Canada could of had its first southern province. What US reaction, British reaction and even other British colonies reaction would of been interesting.

Would USA look at Canada going south as a hostile act? How would the British look at it, would they for example encourage other British colonies to join and make British North America a single commonwealth?

How would Canadians react, there was a lot of prejudice in Canada at time. We even had our own segregation laws. So what would of required to make it happen?

Negotiations were serious. They collapsed because of a racial panic in Canada due to the immigration of Afro-Americans from Oklahoma.
 

Lusitania

Donor
Are you Canadian?
Yes I am.

Yes they were and unfortunately prejudice and on going racial problems did kill the negotiations. But there was reluctance on the Canadians side before the Oklahoma incident. While they were open to the idea there were those against it for simple fact of race issues.
 

Lusitania

Donor
Negotiations were serious. They collapsed because of a racial panic in Canada due to the immigration of Afro-Americans from Oklahoma.
But my points were genuine. The movement of Canada south to Bahamas could of been seen by US as hostile act. Regardless if people in Bahamas were for it.

How would the British view it and would they encourage other colonies to follow suite?

Would Canada screw it up and turn othe colonies against Canada?

All these real questions that be interesting to explore further.
 
Much I think would depend on the initial representation. Although large areas of Canada had minority populations -Chinese/First Nation/Black most local representation was still dominated by the Anglo Saxon WASP type. So if this is what is presented there would possibly be a different acceptance than if highlighted as a black province

The other question is what else would be coming with the Bahamas ...I.e. would the RN be transferring ships to assist in patrolling which has possible major implications if a more modern experienced RCN started ww2
 
Much I think would depend on the initial representation. Although large areas of Canada had minority populations -Chinese/First Nation/Black most local representation was still dominated by the Anglo Saxon WASP type. So if this is what is presented there would possibly be a different acceptance than if highlighted as a black province

The other question is what else would be coming with the Bahamas ...I.e. would the RN be transferring ships to assist in patrolling which has possible major implications if a more modern experienced RCN started ww2
Started Ww2?
 
At the 1919 Peace Conference Borden approached Lloyd George about transferring Belize and at least some of the British Caribbean to Canada. If Canada already has the Bahamas, then it could be an easier sell.

Turks and Caicos would be an easy get, for example.

The idea of MP Marcus Garvey is a fun one.
 
But my points were genuine. The movement of Canada south to Bahamas could of been seen by US as hostile act. Regardless if people in Bahamas were for it.

How would the British view it and would they encourage other colonies to follow suite?

Would Canada screw it up and turn othe colonies against Canada?

All these real questions that be interesting to explore further.
Re the possible U.S. reaction in 1911. I have my doubts that the U.S. would have viewed a transfer of the Bahamas to Canada as making much difference in the big scheme of things.
 
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