The last best chance - French invasion of Britain, 1779

Idk what the French plans where at that point in time but regaining lost colonies in India would make sense....Maybe potentially splitting off Ireland under a cadet branch of the Bourbons? Would a Stuart restoration been plausible? As as far the return of French North America...I'm pretty sure there wasn't much interest in regaining those colonies. I mean the whole reason they where lost in the 7 Year's War was because the French didn't invest much in their defence....
 
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I think we have to of the settlements in stages. Each stage corresponds to a different level of defeat for the British, and so how much bargaining power the French have.

Stage 1: Ireland is granted independance under a Catholic monarch, Quebec is ceded to France, Britain pays a sum of money to France

Stage 2: As above, but also The Anti-Catholic laws are repealed, mainland Canada is ceded to France, a larger sum of money is paid by Britain

Stage 3: As above with France gains the Channel Islands and a couple of Carribean Islands, Britain is forced to relenquish control of Bengal, Orissa and the Ganges.

Stage 4: As above with France gains Bengal, Orissa and the Ganges, and Britain withdraws militarily from N India, Hannover is transferred to Cadet branch ensuring that Britain cannot interfere with France on the Continent.
 
As as far the return of French North America...I'm pretty sure there wasn't much interest in regaining those colonies. I mean the whole reason they where lost in the 7 Year's War was because the French didn't invest much in their defence....
But the very fact that they were lost made them important to France.
Having done some more research though, I do not think Canada would be returned to France. Vergennes recognized that doing so would drive the Americans back into the arms of Britain, so to speak. But India is another question - quite a bit of negotiation would be undertaken, but I could see things being shifted to France's advantage.

I think we have to of the settlements in stages. Each stage corresponds to a different level of defeat for the British, and so how much bargaining power the French have.
Interesting. When writing those stages, did you have in mind what particularly happened in the invasion (which cities fell, etc)?
 
one thing for sure it woud be the end of british domanace

Depends. If totally battered and leading to a prolonged occupation, very likely Britain would not re-emerge as a major power for at least a while. Although I think this level of defeat would be unlikely. Talk of dominance is inaccurate as it was only after the Napoleonic wars that Britain became economically and financially dominant.

If a lesser defeat and some negotiations which sees Britain lose a number of colonial lands then less significant. Especially since a sharp shock can prompt major reforms and make the state even more formidable. Think of what happened after the relatively small and moribund Prussian state was shattered and occupied by the French after 1806 for instance. Not to mention a partial invasion of Britain would drastically increase the preceived power of France. That could well result in both France over-extending itself further and a new anti-French coalition to peg it back. [Thinking both in the immediate period during the invasion and longer term in the following years].

One other factor to be considered? What happens in N America? An earlier British defeat due overhwlemingly to French intervention could weaken the US. It doesn't have the same influence in many areas that it did in 1783 OTL. Also if the French are grabbing territory from Britain Britain in turn is likely to be less generous to the states so it doesn't hand over southern Canada say. Also, with no clear victory for the rebels what happens to all the loyalists? Are they still moving to Canada or staying inside the US, possibly forming a 5th column which might cause the US problems later. Also without the length of the conflict the states are probably less willing to sacrifice power to the centre so you might get no unioon or a partial one that collapses later.

Steve
 
Bump for more discussion.

have you read the other armada on ah derctory it covers this senario
I read that, but it seems to go a little overboard in screwing Britain over in the post-invasion treaty. The TTL treaty is much harsher than what the French probably would actually have forced the British to sign.
 
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