Would an independent New England establish overseas colonies?

[Ellie]

If New England became a country with whatever PoD (before 1830, of course), would there be an incentive for overseas colonization?

What made me think about this was the geographic setting of New England. It's small, and has little land for large farming, and has a northern Continental climate. Would it make sense for New England to establish some sort of foothold in Africa or Asia? Perhaps of the African West Coast?

I'm assuming this would be the result (and likely result in) poorer US-New England relations?

 

[NHBL]

Colonies?

If New England became a country with whatever PoD (before 1830, of course), would there be an incentive for overseas colonization?

What made me think about this was the geographic setting of New England. It's small, and has little land for large farming, and has a northern Continental climate. Would it make sense for New England to establish some sort of foothold in Africa or Asia? Perhaps of the African West Coast?

I'm assuming this would be the result (and likely result in) poorer US-New England relations?

If the POD is early enough, New England might well have the western territories--which could make New England a more viable nation.

New England might establish colonies--or might simply become a major trading nation, with ships everywhere. Of course, if it does this, then the advent of steamships might become a problem, as New England can build anything that floats from wood, but will have to buy raw materials to construct iron ones...

 

[TFSmith121]

It is overlooked somewhat today, but New England was

It is overlooked somewhat today, but New England had an overwhelmingly maritime focus to its economy for much of the past several centuries - look at where the New England fishing, whaling, and trading enterprises conducted their business, and you'd have a decent idea of what areas might come to their attention.

Couple that with a robust, evangelizing Protestantism, and there's definitely the possibility for a "the flag follows trade (and missions)" type dynamic.

Hawaii is the obvious model - "they came to do good, and ended up doing well"...

Best,

 

[Simreeve]

Already independent during the Napoleonic Wars they side with Britain and -- for control of the local fishing/whaling rights -- seize Iceland & Greenland from Boney's Danish allies?

 

[Iori]

Assuming an entity not much larger than the modern definition is what you're meaning, then I suppose perhaps gaining a few Caribbean island either through politics/diplomacy or being on the winning side of a war between coalitions of countries; aside from that I guess maybe some South Atlantic islands and maybe establishing some trading posts that develop into a colony or three somewhere between (mainland) Equatorial Guinea to Liberia in size on the Atlantic coast of Africa.