WI the US had to repurchase the Louisiana Territory from Spain after the war of 1812

After a bit of searching, I couldn't seem to find any threads talking about this idea, so I apologize if has been discussed already. Let's assume that, following a US defeat in the war of 1812, the British force the Americans to repurchase the Louisiana Territory from Spain [As the British saw the original sale as illegal]. What would be the effects of Spain suddenly having access to such a large sum of money? What might this change as far as European history is concerned?
 
My gut tells me very little changes. America might do some financial restructuring and a little belt tightening. Crawford did an excellent job running the treasury so I'm sure he could get America through the crisis. Maybe Ferdinand doesn't need the French to bail him out in 1823?
 
My gut tells me very little changes. America might do some financial restructuring and a little belt tightening. Crawford did an excellent job running the treasury so I'm sure he could get America through the crisis. Maybe Ferdinand doesn't need the French to bail him out in 1823?

Yeah, I know this likely will not have much effect at all, I was just wondering if the influx of money would affect the next Spanish conflict
 
isn't the purchase amount rather small in the grand scheme of things? maybe a nice find, but not going to be a game changer. I found a site that puts the US budget in 1813 at 32 million. I imagine Spain, with a global empire, and a traditionally much larger gov't, and a lot of rebuilding, and global troubles, is going to have a much higher budget.

I think it's going to be more likely to have Britain force France to pay the money they got from the US to Spain.
 
I think it's going to be more likely to have Britain force France to pay the money they got from the US to Spain.

It's more directed at America than France though. If Britain makes America pay for it, it's because she won 1812 and wants to rub America's nose in the fact that they lost without it seeming like it was all Britain's doing.
 

The Avenger

Banned
It's more directed at America than France though. If Britain makes America pay for it, it's because she won 1812 and wants to rub America's nose in the fact that they lost without it seeming like it was all Britain's doing.
If Britain wins, though, why not outright take Louisiana Territory for itself?
 
If Britain wins, though, why not outright take Louisiana Territory for itself?

I don't think Britain would take it unless it's a massively decisive victory that has America collapsing near the end. Border adjustments, portions of the Old Northwest, and Florida will be the prizes they desire. Louisiana would be a huge drain to protect.
 

The Avenger

Banned
I don't think Britain would take it unless it's a massively decisive victory that has America collapsing near the end. Border adjustments, portions of the Old Northwest, and Florida will be the prizes they desire. Louisiana would be a huge drain to protect.
What would make Florida attractive? Its strategic location?
 
I don't think Britain would take it unless it's a massively decisive victory that has America collapsing near the end. Border adjustments, portions of the Old Northwest, and Florida will be the prizes they desire. Louisiana would be a huge drain to protect.
Why not make the Americans pay massive compensation to themselves then?
 
After a bit of searching, I couldn't seem to find any threads talking about this idea, so I apologize if has been discussed already. Let's assume that, following a US defeat in the war of 1812, the British force the Americans to repurchase the Louisiana Territory from Spain [As the British saw the original sale as illegal]. What would be the effects of Spain suddenly having access to such a large sum of money? What might this change as far as European history is concerned?
I don't see them being able to do this, nor wanting to do it. Besides, if they reverse those various treaties, then they are going to have to remove the Bourbons form Tuscany, which they were given as part of the deal.
 
What would make Florida attractive? Its strategic location?

It's easier to defend from the sea, and they had been heavily involved in politically there since prior to the revolution. They were all over Florida mucking about with the Spanish, the Indians, the slaves, etc. for decades.

Why not make the Americans pay massive compensation to themselves then?

Because Britain can't really justify a $5 million payout to itself, and this way Spain gets something out of the fighting (in a war they were tangentially involved in).
 
What I don't get it- why would they do this? They decisively pwned the US in a short war and kinda had them over a barrel. While their regulars were busy fighting France. If they wanted to do this, they'd have done it OTL.
 
What I don't get it- why would they do this? They decisively pwned the US in a short war and kinda had them over a barrel. While their regulars were busy fighting France. If they wanted to do this, they'd have done it OTL.

The end of the war was pretty well a draw. Britain didn't have anything to bargain with, and neither did America. You have to envision a war where Britain holds onto Michigan, sacks Baltimore and wins at Plattsburgh (making it appear as though Albany may fall). In such a war Britain can make bigger demands, and this is a fairly plausible one.
 
It's easier to defend from the sea, and they had been heavily involved in politically there since prior to the revolution. They were all over Florida mucking about with the Spanish, the Indians, the slaves, etc. for decades.



Because Britain can't really justify a $5 million payout to itself, and this way Spain gets something out of the fighting (in a war they were tangentially involved in).
Yes it can,because it beat the crap out of the US.Might equals right man.On the other hand,if it forces the US to give a massive payout to Spain,it cannot justify to the British public why is British tax money and blood spent on enriching the Spanish without the Spanish even contributing to the war.
 
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Yes it can,because it beat the crap out of the US.Might equals right man.On the other hand,if it forces the US to give a massive payout to Spain,it cannot justify to the British public why it is British tax money and blood’s spent on enriching the Spanish without the Spanish even contributing to the war.

Yeah, might makes right, but Britain wasn't all that concerned with an indemnity. What they wanted was physical land, they didn't feel at Ghent they needed extra cash, it never came up OTL. But this would just be a bonus for Spain and an embarrassment for America for literally no effort on Britain's part.
 
Britain at the end of the war had virtually no US land to use as leverage- it had lost at Plattsburgh, it’s Indian allies had been been defeated in the Midwest, and the invasion at Baltimore was thwarted. New Orleans hadn’t happened yet, but if the negotiations had gone on for longer, they would have had that on their plate as well.

However, the US didn’t hold any significant Canadian territory either (maybe something on the border, but I’m not sure). So if one or two of the British campaigns had been more successful, maybe they could have asked for concessions in Maine or even Louisiana. With how the war went historically, though? They were just happy to be done with it, which was doubly true for the US.
 
It's kind of a "f*ck you" to America at the bargaining table. Britain looks good for Spain, Spain gets paid, America gets humbled and Britain gets to rub America's nose in its loss.
And has an enemy for the next hundred years, in addition to setting an awful precedent.
 
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