alternatehistory.com

American Manifest Destiny was peculiar among historical conquests. Excepting other settler colonies, most conquests did not see such large-scale settlement. There are a number of demographic, political, and logistical factors as to why the U.S. conquered and then settled native land, instead of only establishing a vassal, client state, or tributary relationship. Yet, there is precedent for acquisitions of land similar to the U.S. westward expansion happening prior to large-scale settlement. Who else has conquered their way to the Pacific? The Russian Empire. Who else has conquered a continent's worth of land in the Americas with a small number of soldiers? The Spanish Empire.

Thus, what if the early U.S.--long before they have a demographic majority west of the Mississippi--takes a page from the book of the Russian Cossacks and the Spanish Conquistadors, and expands "faster than the frontier"?

The year is 1804. The United States of America has purchased Louisiana Territory, and as such, has acquired a claim to the Pacific. Now, the U.S. seeks to secure its claim to the continent.

But instead of sending Lewis and Clark on an expedition to survey the land, the U.S. assembles an army of 2,000-4,000 American troops, mostly cavalry, who are sent to conquer their way to the Pacific, building forts and demanding tribute from native confederacies.

As unlikely as this might be, what would happen in this scenario? How far would they get? And how would Manifest Destiny and the status of Native tribes be affected?
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