WI: Napoleonic Canadian Expedition

Could Napoleon or revolutionary France have launched a reconquest of Canada? As this would be before the Monroe doctrine how would the US respond? Would they help France or even ally with them or would this result in a American entry into the Coalition?
 
Well, if something like this were to happen (which I doubt it'd be successful, but I'll admit I'm rather ignorant on this general subject) I can't imagine the US would be particularly happy about it. If it happens after the Louisiana Purchase, I think the Americans would be rightly concerned about whether or not Napoleon would look to "reconquer" that territory as well. And if it were to happen beforehand, they'd be rather unhappy about losing out on the real estate deal of the century, as I can't see Napoleon selling that territory here.
 
Highly unlikely, given the deterioration of the French navy during this period, but from what I've gleaned around here, there was a better chance of them regaining it during the American Revolutionary War, in exchange for returning captured Caribbean islands. In that case, however, I wonder what would have become of them during the French Revolution.
 
The French population of Canada is incredibly small, sparse, and not too wealthy. Perhaps they would be more likely to invade Mexico to attempt to hijack the Spanish colonial empire, using New Orleans as a base (if before the purchase), or a reconquered (or never lost) Haiti. There is a lot more money there, without necessarily alienating a possible ally against the British (not that the US is incredible valuable as an ally yet).
 
I think France had all but given up on a trans-Atlantic empire at that point. Besides, why go after "a few acres of snow" when it seemed like Europe was ripe for the plucking?
 
I think France had all but given up on a trans-Atlantic empire at that point. Besides, why go after "a few acres of snow" when it seemed like Europe was ripe for the plucking?

The 75,000 casualties in Haiti speak to the contrary. But as I alluded to above, the Caribbean was seen as more valuable than Canada at this time.
 
France in this era generally agreed with Voltaire's assessment of Canada as "a few acres of snow".
 
The 75,000 casualties in Haiti speak to the contrary. But as I alluded to above, the Caribbean was seen as more valuable than Canada at this time.

Haiti, valuble sugar bowl and coffee cup that it was, was supposed to be the financial lynchpin of France's 2nd Trans-Atlantic Empire. stevej713 is reading a few years into the future: once Haiti was lost, that's when France gave up on the idea of a New American Empire, since Lousianna and Quebec woulden't be very profitable.
 
Haiti, valuble sugar bowl and coffee cup that it was, was supposed to be the financial lynchpin of France's 2nd Trans-Atlantic Empire. stevej713 is reading a few years into the future: once Haiti was lost, that's when France gave up on the idea of a New American Empire, since Lousianna and Quebec woulden't be very profitable.

I don't see the rationale for "reading a few years into the future," as it were, when the OP specified "Napoleon or revolutionary France," which certainly seems to include the time period of the Haitian Revolution.
 
I don't see the rationale for "reading a few years into the future," as it were, when the OP specified "Napoleon or revolutionary France," which certainly seems to include the time period of the Haitian Revolution.

Neither do I. I was just clarifying that he seemed to be reading French policy backwards from the Post-Haitian Revolution period into the Pre-Haitain Revolution period. Now, if you can butterfly away the rebellion or crush it, there MIGHT be some motivation to try to get Canada back; if only to secure Lousianna as a source of foodstuffs for the real colonial moneymakers, but given the short span of time you have and the difficultly in crushing that large of a gurellia movement halfway across the world with early 19th century tech, that's a big might.
 
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