WI: Hemmed in US

I read recently that during 1780, the French were considering suggesting a peace that left the British with control of Northern Maine, South Carolina, Georgia, the Floridas and New York City. What if a Spanish naval defeat meant they exited the war and this was agreed as a peace treaty?
 
This would be interesting.
New York City would become something like Hong Kong, built up and major trade city.
The other states would likely form one colony with a lot of autonomy, and Northern Maine would go to Nova Scotia.

Without New York City would Boston become the major port of call for immigrants and trade?
 

mowque

Banned
New York would eventually have been brought it. How could it not?


North Maine, of course, is easy to see. Not much lost, to be honest.

Losing the South would sure change the dynamics. I think Glen explores that in his TL.
 
New York would eventually have been brought it. How could it not?

I'm not following you. Do you mean the US would have bought it? I'm not sure. It could be like a Western hemisphere Hong Kong.

North Maine, of course, is easy to see. Not much lost, to be honest.

Losing the South would sure change the dynamics. I think Glen explores that in his TL.

The difference here is that the the US is surrounded on both sides.
 
I feel like in the long run, a British NYC is still going to end up economically tied to the US. And it will probably still be a gateway for immigration--the US got a fair number of immigrants via British-controlled Canada in OTL, after all.
 
Whilst it is an interesting thought, why would the British want to give up the 13 colonies just because France was out of the war?

Given George III's mind set (or at least his governemnts mind set) I can't see them agreeing to surrenduring all the colonies so easily, especially as they had not really suffered a major defeat (well not for a year or so).

The Brits must have realised (as would many Americans) that without the backing of the French Navy the congressional army had no real hope. I can see Washington having his much wished for do or die battle with the Brits. If he lost then the 13 colonies becomes a new Irish problem for the Brits, if he wins then possibly we will get a senario with the Brits holding some areas of the US in a peace treaty.
 
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