The State of Vandalia

In the early mid-Eighteenth century, the British tried establishing a colony Called Vandalia. It was located south of the Ohio River, and Encompassed most of Modern West Virginia, and some of Eastern Kentucky. The establishment of this colony was prevented by the French-Indian War(1756-1763) and Pontiac's Rebellion (1763-1766).
I don't want to eliminate the French and Indian War, but what if Pontiac's Rebellion was butterflied away. The British could establish the colony of Vandalia, and this would probably lead to a 14th colony in the American Revolution. What do any of you say?
 
Vandalia is a nice name, but newer colonies might suffer from "Loyalty Syndrome" that younger and or less populus colonies "demonstrated."

Exs: Georgia, Nova Scotia, ect, etc,...
 
Vandalia is a nice name, but newer colonies might suffer from "Loyalty Syndrome" that younger and or less populus colonies "demonstrated."

Exs: Georgia, Nova Scotia, ect, etc,...

Georgia had loyalty problems because of the dependence the colony had on the British army for protection from Natives. Nova Scotia actually did have a revolt, but it was unable to capture British garrisoned towns and sputtered.

Vandalia might suffer from Georgia's problem.
 
Georgia had loyalty problems because of the dependence the colony had on the British army for protection from Natives. Nova Scotia actually did have a revolt, but it was unable to capture British garrisoned towns and sputtered.

Vandalia might suffer from Georgia's problem.

Aye.

I believe some sort of 'Westsylvania' also tried to become independent during the Revolution but didn't get recognized by a Continental Congress wary of aggravating the existing states' territory. Sort of like an earlier Franklin.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westsylvania
 
Last edited:
I take exception to characterizing Vandalia as a British enterprise. Various American businessmen, IIRC Benjamin Franklin was in on it, were buying land in areas the British government had reserved for Indians and trying to get those purchases legally recognized. The nature of that encroachment meant that some sort of conflict vs. the natives was inevitable, e.g. Dunmore's War. That kind of stuff was why the British weren't keen on allowing settlement. But i see no reason why a delayed Pontiac's Rebellion wouldn't help.

So, finally getting to the point, er, two points.
There were several other hopeful colonies in that area, Charlotiana and Transylvania were the two most likely, if Vandalia is formed those two are close behind. Arguably, successful Vandalia could lead to succesful state of Franklin.

IMHO, earlier settlement of the Old Northwest would lead to an earlier, possibly more devastating, Northwest Indian War. Could be that could become part of the American Revolution.
 
Top