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My apologies if this has been discussed somewhere before; please direct me if so. I see at least two previous threads on whether the US could have won the war of 1812, but my question is a little different. Suppose that, however it could have happened (possibly involving more than just better US strategy, but something like the French doing better and pinning down British troops in Europe), the US did conquer and incorporate Canada around 1814-15. My next question is, how might that have affected the future course of US history?

In particular, concerning slavery. My first thought is: no destination for the underground railroad, which would somewhat support its continuation. But perhaps far more significant is that if the region got admitted as one or more states, the Missouri Compromise would have been impossible, and free states would decisively outnumber slave states. While the population of Canada (then as now) was low compared to the US, the balance was so fragile that it wouldn't have taken much to tip it. Might we have had an earlier Civil War? Or might the country not have been sufficiently ready to fight that war until the abolitionist movement developed further? Please share your thoughts.

Scott
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