World Affairs Board - View Single Post - What if America Had Remained Part of the Crown?

JAD_333 · 07-05-2007, 17:38 PM

When I think of the revolutionary period I find it hard to imagine the loyalists turning back the tide of independence. But there was a period where the hotheads were held in check by practical men like Franklin and Adams, who believed some connection with England was still possible.

The first Continental Congress was formed with exactly that in mind. It drafted a petition to the King for redress of grievances and waited and waited. When colonial patience ran out, a second Continental Congress was formed to pave the way for independence. It also served as the central government of the colonies. One of its first acts was to create the Continental Army.

Had the king wanted to ease tensions up to that point he might have succeeded, and the course of US history would have been different. But after hearing that Congress was debating independence, he reacted belligerently. First he declared the colonies to be in open revolt and then passed an act confiscating all American-owned shipping. I think he was sick too--pissing blue was it?

The king also signed a deal with the German states to hire mercenaries to help subdue the colonialists. The mood in Congress changed rapidly. At that point only 2-3 diehard loyalists were left in Congress. The declaration was drafted in June 1776 and passed a few weeks later.

So, if you were to frame the question in light of the times, the question might be, 'what if the king had consented to have a delegation come to London to discuss the grievances of the colonies'? Had he met the colonists halfway and bestowed on them a dominion-like status, the world would be very different today.

Maybe Canada might stretch from the artic to the tip of Florida and include what is today most of the eastern and midwestern US. Maybe other nations would share the North American continent, such as a vastly larger Mexico stretching all the way to the Pacific and comprising much of the southwest. Also there might be a larger Russia comprising Alaska down as far as the territory that is now the upper tier states of Washington and Montana.

Damn, dale, you picked a lulu.

07-05-2007, 17:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
JAD_333 *Defense Professional* Join Date: 04-15-07 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,117 Country:	When I think of the revolutionary period I find it hard to imagine the loyalists turning back the tide of independence. But there was a period where the hotheads were held in check by practical men like Franklin and Adams, who believed some connection with England was still possible. The first Continental Congress was formed with exactly that in mind. It drafted a petition to the King for redress of grievances and waited and waited. When colonial patience ran out, a second Continental Congress was formed to pave the way for independence. It also served as the central government of the colonies. One of its first acts was to create the Continental Army. Had the king wanted to ease tensions up to that point he might have succeeded, and the course of US history would have been different. But after hearing that Congress was debating independence, he reacted belligerently. First he declared the colonies to be in open revolt and then passed an act confiscating all American-owned shipping. I think he was sick too--pissing blue was it? The king also signed a deal with the German states to hire mercenaries to help subdue the colonialists. The mood in Congress changed rapidly. At that point only 2-3 diehard loyalists were left in Congress. The declaration was drafted in June 1776 and passed a few weeks later. So, if you were to frame the question in light of the times, the question might be, 'what if the king had consented to have a delegation come to London to discuss the grievances of the colonies'? Had he met the colonists halfway and bestowed on them a dominion-like status, the world would be very different today. Maybe Canada might stretch from the artic to the tip of Florida and include what is today most of the eastern and midwestern US. Maybe other nations would share the North American continent, such as a vastly larger Mexico stretching all the way to the Pacific and comprising much of the southwest. Also there might be a larger Russia comprising Alaska down as far as the territory that is now the upper tier states of Washington and Montana. Damn, dale, you picked a lulu. __________________ To be Truly ignorant, Man requires an Education. (Plato) Last edited by JAD_333 : 07-05-2007 at 17:44 PM.