Great War of 1862 (Greater Colombia)

The Great War of 1862 was the global escalation of several wars, in both Europe and the Americas.

Some of these wars include:
 * A confrontation between Prussia and Austria
 * A confrontation between the USA and the UK in the Oregon Territory.
 * A confrontation between Colombia and the UK in the West Caribbean.
 * A confrontation between Colombia and Peru.
 * A confrontation between the UK and the Dutch settlers in South Africa.
 * The French invasion of Mexico.
 * The French opportunistic attack on Austria.

When France allied with Prussia against Austria, Britain allied with Austria and decided to attack France worldwide. This set the USA as cobeligerant with France and the Caribbean, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico became a battle ground.

Cobeligerant Colombia and her protectorates Cuba and Puerto Rico, allied with the USA against the United Kingdom.

In Europe, soon each German state has taken part on either Prussian or Austrian bands. Britain commited troops in all Austrian allies, and a manouver war took place. The Netherland allied against Britain and sent a fleet to support the Boers in South Africa.

The Prussian war machine and manouver was far better than the Austrian, but Britain got a supperiority in the sea. In order to contest this superiority, France asked the USA to support the fighting in Europe.

In 1865, Russia entered the war for the Austian-British side.

In the armistice in 1867, Britain lost her Caribbean territories to the United States and Colombia. The USA kept Jamaica, British Honduras, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda and the Virgin Islands. Colombia grabed the Miskito Coast, San Andres, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

The USA also demanded the independence of Canada, which Britain accepted under a commonwealth status. On the other hand, Britain gained control of the Oregon Territory.

In Europe, both Prussia and Austria were devastated, and none of them was in a winning position. The Netherlands became the most influencial power over the German states. Austria granted independence to the North of Italy, but managed to keep most of her empire.

France was okay. No big loses, neither big gains, but her status in Europe was severed. France had to abandone the adventurism in Mexico.

Probably the major looser in the War was Mexico. The civil uproar that lead the Mexicans to call the French, desintegrated Mexico during the war. All the powers used Mexico as a playground. The serparatists in Texas gained their independence during the war. British supported California, invaded Sonora and Baja, and let British troops to land in Mexico, and several local warlords opposed either the French, the Americans, the British, the Dutch and the Colombians.

The powers retired from Mexico at the armistice of 1867, but the fight lasted.