Or even more ironically; Happy Dependence Day!
Prompt/Idea for the People!
What if in the aftermath of the 7 years war, when the colonists loyalty to the mother-country was greater than ever, and the camaraderie and celebratory feelings it brought about along with the use of colonial soldiers but British money were enough that a shared identity and bond was created?
In the aftermath of the 7 years war the British elite at home and the colonials both thought they bore the brunt of the burden, the strategy of using colonial soldiers but funds generated from taxation at home though successful lead to disgruntlement and was itself, along with the response to it, a leading cause of the American Revolution. The British elite though they payed too much tax (they were apparently the highest taxed group in Europe during it) and the colonials didn't pay enough which eventually lead to the acts and laws passed which brought large tariffs and taxes on the 13 colonies, while the colonials thought they fought and died in a war they served European interests more than their own, ultimately contributing to a separate 'American' identity.
What if that loyalty shown, camaraderie, and good feelings lead to pretty much the exact opposite outcome happening?
What if both sides acknowledged the part the other played and started to see each other as brothers and equals under the crown proper? The colonists agreeing they should have been taxed the same as those at home while the elite at home agree the interests of the colonists should have a place in parliament being all equal and valued subjects of the crown as they all contributed to it's victory and and it's strength.
So the colonials start being taxed the same amount while having the ability to vote for a 'colonial representative' or some such each to a seat in parliament (which would still mean they are under-represented, but the colonists would be mostly happy they get at least some say but it would cater to the more conservative among the elite) years pass and the relationship progresses (i.e the number of rep they get grows as they get more influence and are seen as more equal and valued) to the point that eventually the lined is blurred enough between the 'special' 13 colonies of eastern america and the homeland that Acts of Union are proposed that would make each colony an official part of the United Kingdom, so on the 4th July 1776 the 13 Acts of Union are passed together that make original 13 colonies part of the UK proper, so they become true counties and are split into appropriate constituents same as the ones back home. With a caveat set that as further colonies are created and developed they eventually have the chance to join, basically a mirror of the US process of going from unincorporated territory to Statehood, but for settled crown colony to constituent part of the United Kingdom - Colony to County.
So basically an 'Act of Union' starts to mean an area that is subject to the British crown but without representation in parliament being made a part of the UK proper, and like territories in the US process such areas can apply for 'Countyhood' and parliament debates the merit of the area being granted it through an Act of Union.
History takes it's course from there.
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia follow, then the former french areas of Canada, then places like Ohio and Florida etc etc as settlements spread up to the border with Spanish/French Louisiana.
If the French Revolution still happens then I imagine the UK would quickly take Louisiana, as Napoleon knew he couldn't defend it hence why he sold it to the US in OTL to at least get money from it. The Napoleonic Wars themselves wouldn't be affected to much I would think, Britain would probably handle it slightly better given it'd still have the food and money from Eastern America, but it wouldn't massively effect the outcome.
I think the biggest effects of it would come as the 19th Century comes around, as the population of the new world start to take off properly and it's resources are exploited, the vast resources that would have fueled the US' rise instead goes to the UK, especially if Texas rebels against mexico like OTL and joins the UK like it did the US and so brings all of it's oil.
Honestly it would have made so much sense, to me anyway, for the parliament to have granted the colonies at least some representation in the immediate aftermath of the war, they've just proved themselves so important in a massive war and so they'd be having more positive feeling towards them than they did before, it would neatly solve the colonials problems with not having a say in parliament and parliament being able to go over their heads and not caring for their interests, while actually also solving their problems with the colonials as with representation they could levy the same taxes on them as everyone else and they would, by accepting the representation, tacitly back any law made by parliament and so would forfeit any excuse they have for not following UK laws i.e. they can't say they had no say in them and so refuse to follow them. It'd also reinforce the colonials loyalty at the perfect time, they'd showed great loyalty and willingness to make sacrifices for the crown and then were rewarded for it, their decision was vindicated, they'd probably become the most loyal and un-rebellious part of the country, which would be important for the distances involved.
As for the the difficulties the distance would bring, it could be managed with for a while, at least until technology advances and the telegraph arrives, which would probably be sooner given the combination of UK's vast resources and great need to be able to communicate easily with a massive part of it's electorate.
Potential timeline for a world like that in 'Hail, Britannia' with the UKE.
Prompt/Idea for the People!
What if in the aftermath of the 7 years war, when the colonists loyalty to the mother-country was greater than ever, and the camaraderie and celebratory feelings it brought about along with the use of colonial soldiers but British money were enough that a shared identity and bond was created?
In the aftermath of the 7 years war the British elite at home and the colonials both thought they bore the brunt of the burden, the strategy of using colonial soldiers but funds generated from taxation at home though successful lead to disgruntlement and was itself, along with the response to it, a leading cause of the American Revolution. The British elite though they payed too much tax (they were apparently the highest taxed group in Europe during it) and the colonials didn't pay enough which eventually lead to the acts and laws passed which brought large tariffs and taxes on the 13 colonies, while the colonials thought they fought and died in a war they served European interests more than their own, ultimately contributing to a separate 'American' identity.
What if that loyalty shown, camaraderie, and good feelings lead to pretty much the exact opposite outcome happening?
What if both sides acknowledged the part the other played and started to see each other as brothers and equals under the crown proper? The colonists agreeing they should have been taxed the same as those at home while the elite at home agree the interests of the colonists should have a place in parliament being all equal and valued subjects of the crown as they all contributed to it's victory and and it's strength.
So the colonials start being taxed the same amount while having the ability to vote for a 'colonial representative' or some such each to a seat in parliament (which would still mean they are under-represented, but the colonists would be mostly happy they get at least some say but it would cater to the more conservative among the elite) years pass and the relationship progresses (i.e the number of rep they get grows as they get more influence and are seen as more equal and valued) to the point that eventually the lined is blurred enough between the 'special' 13 colonies of eastern america and the homeland that Acts of Union are proposed that would make each colony an official part of the United Kingdom, so on the 4th July 1776 the 13 Acts of Union are passed together that make original 13 colonies part of the UK proper, so they become true counties and are split into appropriate constituents same as the ones back home. With a caveat set that as further colonies are created and developed they eventually have the chance to join, basically a mirror of the US process of going from unincorporated territory to Statehood, but for settled crown colony to constituent part of the United Kingdom - Colony to County.
So basically an 'Act of Union' starts to mean an area that is subject to the British crown but without representation in parliament being made a part of the UK proper, and like territories in the US process such areas can apply for 'Countyhood' and parliament debates the merit of the area being granted it through an Act of Union.
History takes it's course from there.
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia follow, then the former french areas of Canada, then places like Ohio and Florida etc etc as settlements spread up to the border with Spanish/French Louisiana.
If the French Revolution still happens then I imagine the UK would quickly take Louisiana, as Napoleon knew he couldn't defend it hence why he sold it to the US in OTL to at least get money from it. The Napoleonic Wars themselves wouldn't be affected to much I would think, Britain would probably handle it slightly better given it'd still have the food and money from Eastern America, but it wouldn't massively effect the outcome.
I think the biggest effects of it would come as the 19th Century comes around, as the population of the new world start to take off properly and it's resources are exploited, the vast resources that would have fueled the US' rise instead goes to the UK, especially if Texas rebels against mexico like OTL and joins the UK like it did the US and so brings all of it's oil.
Honestly it would have made so much sense, to me anyway, for the parliament to have granted the colonies at least some representation in the immediate aftermath of the war, they've just proved themselves so important in a massive war and so they'd be having more positive feeling towards them than they did before, it would neatly solve the colonials problems with not having a say in parliament and parliament being able to go over their heads and not caring for their interests, while actually also solving their problems with the colonials as with representation they could levy the same taxes on them as everyone else and they would, by accepting the representation, tacitly back any law made by parliament and so would forfeit any excuse they have for not following UK laws i.e. they can't say they had no say in them and so refuse to follow them. It'd also reinforce the colonials loyalty at the perfect time, they'd showed great loyalty and willingness to make sacrifices for the crown and then were rewarded for it, their decision was vindicated, they'd probably become the most loyal and un-rebellious part of the country, which would be important for the distances involved.
As for the the difficulties the distance would bring, it could be managed with for a while, at least until technology advances and the telegraph arrives, which would probably be sooner given the combination of UK's vast resources and great need to be able to communicate easily with a massive part of it's electorate.
Potential timeline for a world like that in 'Hail, Britannia' with the UKE.