I'm reading this article from the writer Caleb Carr (The Alienist & Angel of Darkness). He's really a historian. Link to who he is: http://home.netcom.com/~tloneditions/id12.html
He proposed a few ideas which I find interesting.
The only thing that might have prevented the war was British Imperial Reform. Meaning: the American Colonies and the East India Trading Company were used to repay massive war debts, and the colonists were more aggressively taxed than citizens in England, plus there was corruption. For Americans, the additional tax did not get them "better" service from the government, so the taxes were termed unfair - Americans were British subjects after all. British politics decided to attempt to repay the debt faster increasing the current living standard in England, instead sucking it up and knowing future generations will reap the rewards.
Assuming British Imperial Reform occurred, there would be no American revolution and the US would still be British. What he supposes is as follows:
1) The colonies prosper at an accelerated pace, because they know their place.
2) Some of the influential British landowners who were removed from power during the war had good experiences with Native Americans. There are no "Land Grabs" and a lot of violence is prevented (like what happened in Canada).
3) The South was less imperial minded than the North. The Civil War was based on the South wanting to retain state autonomy instead of a more authoritarian central government. If Imperial, the South would have been less likely to resist the British government, given they had equal rights. Therefore, no Civil War.
4) Slavery is abolished earlier, as it is in England. The South does not rise up because it would be fighting the North, Canada, and England at the same time.
5) More nations look to the English empire as a sucessful model, some even join it...except for the French. Because the Bill of Rights/Constitution is never written, the French do not have a model for ideals of their revolution. The dogma of the rebel leaders lacks a "proven" philosophy, and instead the insurrection doesn't gain enough momentum to revolt. Instead, the French leaders see the progressive changes in the English empire and eventually reform without violence. So no Napolean.
6) The Spanish holdings were violent conquests, and the economy was based on servitude. Spanish communities trading and mingling with the Empire begin to see the potential reforms. Eventually, the English instigates revolts in Central America, and it flows Southward. The Empire publically supports these revolts - Spain can in South America, but doesn't face down Britain and the new American industrial empire. It sells or cedes all of South America or at least a big chunk of it is now British.
7) The Prussian war still flares which includes grabbing France and a lot of Russia. Instead of fighting, British and Germany diplomacy works (stay away from our interests and we'll stay out of yours)...British and Germany begin working together.
8) World War I does not occur - Germany covets what the British have, but decide not to challenge the largest Empire the world has ever known.
9) British & Germany unite to fight the uprising to destroy a small Bolshevik army - no Russia.
10) And finally, eventually pieces of the Empire begin to request for more autonomy. Eventually, since the relationship with Germany has actually provided a greater benefit than thought before, the commonwealth system is loosened up, much like Canada and Austria today.
I thought it was an interesting enough idea to post.
Anyone else think of any other re-writes due to this scenario?
He proposed a few ideas which I find interesting.
The only thing that might have prevented the war was British Imperial Reform. Meaning: the American Colonies and the East India Trading Company were used to repay massive war debts, and the colonists were more aggressively taxed than citizens in England, plus there was corruption. For Americans, the additional tax did not get them "better" service from the government, so the taxes were termed unfair - Americans were British subjects after all. British politics decided to attempt to repay the debt faster increasing the current living standard in England, instead sucking it up and knowing future generations will reap the rewards.
Assuming British Imperial Reform occurred, there would be no American revolution and the US would still be British. What he supposes is as follows:
1) The colonies prosper at an accelerated pace, because they know their place.
2) Some of the influential British landowners who were removed from power during the war had good experiences with Native Americans. There are no "Land Grabs" and a lot of violence is prevented (like what happened in Canada).
3) The South was less imperial minded than the North. The Civil War was based on the South wanting to retain state autonomy instead of a more authoritarian central government. If Imperial, the South would have been less likely to resist the British government, given they had equal rights. Therefore, no Civil War.
4) Slavery is abolished earlier, as it is in England. The South does not rise up because it would be fighting the North, Canada, and England at the same time.
5) More nations look to the English empire as a sucessful model, some even join it...except for the French. Because the Bill of Rights/Constitution is never written, the French do not have a model for ideals of their revolution. The dogma of the rebel leaders lacks a "proven" philosophy, and instead the insurrection doesn't gain enough momentum to revolt. Instead, the French leaders see the progressive changes in the English empire and eventually reform without violence. So no Napolean.
6) The Spanish holdings were violent conquests, and the economy was based on servitude. Spanish communities trading and mingling with the Empire begin to see the potential reforms. Eventually, the English instigates revolts in Central America, and it flows Southward. The Empire publically supports these revolts - Spain can in South America, but doesn't face down Britain and the new American industrial empire. It sells or cedes all of South America or at least a big chunk of it is now British.
7) The Prussian war still flares which includes grabbing France and a lot of Russia. Instead of fighting, British and Germany diplomacy works (stay away from our interests and we'll stay out of yours)...British and Germany begin working together.
8) World War I does not occur - Germany covets what the British have, but decide not to challenge the largest Empire the world has ever known.
9) British & Germany unite to fight the uprising to destroy a small Bolshevik army - no Russia.
10) And finally, eventually pieces of the Empire begin to request for more autonomy. Eventually, since the relationship with Germany has actually provided a greater benefit than thought before, the commonwealth system is loosened up, much like Canada and Austria today.
I thought it was an interesting enough idea to post.
Anyone else think of any other re-writes due to this scenario?
