WI: British Rio de la Plata

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
In 1806 and 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars (and labeled as the Anglo-Spanish War of 1796 for the conflicts between Britain and Spain), the United Kingdom of Great Britain launched 2 invasions on the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Rio de La Plata. The attempts made on the colonies were a failure in the short term for Britain, but was one of the major causes of the May Revolution and the subsequent independence movement for Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.

So what if the British succeeded in taking Rio de La Plata (or to be more realistic, the Viceroyalty's capital of Buenos Aires and the major port of Montevideo), would the British assume control of the region as a colony/protectorate/dominion? Would there still be an independence movement directed against the British? Also, would the Spanish be able to retain a part of the old viceroyalty? (say Bolivia, since it was closer to Peru than to Buenos Aires)
 
not really sure about the 1796 war, but I was wondering about something similar in Cartagena in 1740-1741 and it seems to me that the British wanted all of the Spanish Americas, or at least New Granada and Peru, and in this case maybe Rio de la Plata and Peru instead (although I am not sure if after American independence they would still be so interested). So maybe a protectorate mght work, although I doubt that Spain could retain Bolivia or Peru.
 
I could see the British less supportive of Canada for starters - Rio de la Plata would be a far more valuable colony, in terms of territory and resources, so they may sell thier claims to Canada to the US at some point, or at the very least give the USA better claims to the Pacific and Prairie provinces.

As for South America, with Argentina/Chile/Uruguay/Paraguay under the control of a British settler colony on the Southern Cone, This may see a more stable/developed Brazil and Peru-Bolivia - with colonies, stability will be as important as trade, thus the British supported independance movements may not come to fruition.

Also, with the Southern Cone and Australia/New Zealand, we may see the British attempt to take Polynesia, making a nice swath of the Pacific a 'British lake'. At the vey least, butterflies may effect Australia and New Zealand.
 
In 1806 and 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars (and labeled as the Anglo-Spanish War of 1796 for the conflicts between Britain and Spain), the United Kingdom of Great Britain launched 2 invasions on the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Rio de La Plata. The attempts made on the colonies were a failure in the short term for Britain, but was one of the major causes of the May Revolution and the subsequent independence movement for Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.

So what if the British succeeded in taking Rio de La Plata (or to be more realistic, the Viceroyalty's capital of Buenos Aires and the major port of Montevideo), would the British assume control of the region as a colony/protectorate/dominion? Would there still be an independence movement directed against the British? Also, would the Spanish be able to retain a part of the old viceroyalty? (say Bolivia, since it was closer to Peru than to Buenos Aires)

Bolivia won't be taken, not from Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires couldn't take it IOTL in the 1810s*, even if it had local support, and was formerly a part of the Vicerroyalty. The British wouldn't be able to take if, it's too far from their supply line, and they won't have any support thoughout the way. I am not even sure they will be able to take Cordoba. Paraguay is also out of the question, unless they send ships suited for the Parana River up to asunción, and even so...

*More precisely, the May revolution did occupy OTL bolivia for a while, in its first campaign, but wasn't able to hold it. Loyalist Perú was much closer...
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Well, the 1796 war I'm referring to was essentially the early wars between the Kingdom of Great Britain (later the UK of GB & Ireland) and the Kingdom of Spain during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. In OTL, and at the point of this possible PoD, Britain was already confirmed control of the island of Trinidad, while the Spanish regained Minorca after about a century of British occupation.

I don't think that Britain would want to or have the manpower to conquer all of Spanish South America. (Though to be fair, I kind of find it weird how European states managed to conquer lands ten times their size IOTL anyway.)
 
Bolivia won't be taken, not from Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires couldn't take it IOTL in the 1810s*, even if it had local support, and was formerly a part of the Vicerroyalty. The British wouldn't be able to take if, it's too far from their supply line, and they won't have any support thoughout the way. I am not even sure they will be able to take Cordoba. Paraguay is also out of the question, unless they send ships suited for the Parana River up to asunción, and even so...

*More precisely, the May revolution did occupy OTL bolivia for a while, in its first campaign, but wasn't able to hold it. Loyalist Perú was much closer...

I really doubt the British would limit themselves to a single viceroyalty. Sure, Rio de la Plata is very wealthy (as is New Granada and Cuba btw, as well as the Capitaincies in Venezuela and Chile) and Peru might be more loyal, but the silver and other metals production in Peru would be worth the attempt at taking it.
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
I don't think they would either, but the logistics and supplies of the time means they wouldn't have much of a choice in that either.
 
I really doubt the British would limit themselves to a single viceroyalty. Sure, Rio de la Plata is very wealthy (as is New Granada and Cuba btw, as well as the Capitaincies in Venezuela and Chile) and Peru might be more loyal, but the silver and other metals production in Peru would be worth the attempt at taking it.

They might try, obviously. But taking OTL Bolivia, then part of the Vicerroyalty of River Plate, from buenos Aires is extremely hard, that was what I was saying.

They might of course try to take Perú, and if like they might conquer Lima (doubtful still, cause it was a heavily defended city). But then what? They need to cross two mountain ranges to get to the mines. And I don't think the Indians would be very helpful. IOTL they didn't rebel and side with *Argentinean armies proclaiming the abolition of serfdom. Would they join the British, who are not only foreign, but from another brand of Christianity (remember most Indians saw themselves as Catholics, even if they preserved part of thei pre christian andean believes)?
 
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