American Empire

Introduction

The Revolution was even bleaker a fight at the outset than in OTL. The Americans took two extra years to bounce back, but in doing so, had amassed more power and popularity internally and externally. This led to a more expansionist and imperialist American outlook. Eventually, the rights and freedoms were wrapped in the idea of spreading them not though inspiration, but rather through integration and union within the United States.

The American Revolution
1776, Philadelphia, the Declaration of Independence is proclaimed.

''Fighting goes on well into 1784. The number of British troops sent to crush the American Rebellion is nearly doubled, and since the occupation and battles are more fierce, the fight simply takes longer. This also changes the playing field, as Canada is now also feeling more sympathetic to their southern neighbors. By 1782, Canada, Quebec, Acadia, Labrador, and Newfoundland join in with the 13 colonies. The Flag of the United States is amended to 18 stars''

1785, The Treaty of Paris is signed.

''All North American possessions of Great Britian become American possessions. This includes all the land up to the Mississippi, and the expanse to Oregon and (British) Colombia. Britian attempts to keep Bermuda. During negotiations, the search and seizure of newly American vessles is attempted (which was a cause of the War of 1812) from bases in Bermuda, and with egg on their face, the British hand that over as well.''

''George Washington's Farewell address does not have the admonishment to avoid being entangled in foreign affairs. Instead, he challenges "this new people that have united to unify all peoples of the world and to grant newer liberties and freedoms in peace and cooperation."''

Early Expansion
1798, The French Revolution.

1800 ''Inspired by the freedoms of the new Republic, French revolutionaries are inspired to cut the Americans a deal to exit the Western Hemisphere in their attempt to remove the Imperial vestages of the now executed king. Louisianna, Haiti, French Carribean Islands, and Guyana become U.S. possessions. St. Pierre and Miguelon are incorporated into Newfoundland.''

1812 ''Due to British impressment of American sailors, Congress declares war on Great Britain. The British try to invade Boston and New York but are stopped. The British take Washington, D.C. that next year, but are annihilated at the Second Battle of Ft. McHenry. The British surrender Canada to the United States, but keep Newfoundland and the Labrador coast.

1817 ''President Monroe orders General Andrew Jackson to conquer Florida from the Spanish in retaliation for Indian raids into Georgia. After the Massacre of Pensacola and the destruction of the Spanish fleet in Havana Harbor, Spain cedes Florida to the United States. The defeat causes widespread revolts in Spanish America

Manifest Destiny
1836 ''Texas declares independence from Mexico. The United States intervenes on the side of the Texans, forcing Mexico to accept the Rio Grande as Texas' southern and eastern border.

1845 ''America annexes Texas. Mexican Civil War begins 1846 ''In the absence of British interests, Russia takes a much more active exploration of North America. In exchange for American support in any future war with the Ottomans, Russia agrees to American control of all areas south of 53'40'', with a co-occupation of the rest of the continent.

The Mexican Conquest
1847 ''Mexico has lost control over several of its states. California secedes and immediately asks to be annexed to the United States. Mexico, fearing another Texas incident, declares war. U.S. forces quickly drive out the Mexican garrison in California and make an amphibious landing at Veracruz on Christmas Day.

1848 ''Mexico City falls, and the Mexican army flees to the Yucatan. U.S. annexes California and all of Mexico. Because of the large number of Free States represented in Congress, the Wilmont Proviso passes, banning slavery in all of the former Mexico.

1850 ''The U.S. army destroys the Mexican remnant in the Yucatan. A successful filibuster by William Walker brings all the Central American countries except for British Honduras and Costa Rica under American rule

1851 ''All the Mexican territories are organized as free. Missouri passes a law for gradual manumission of slavery.

The Spanish-American War
1853 ''The United States gives Spain an ultimatum, demanding all of Spain's colonial empire: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, the Philippines, all other Pacific Islands, and the Canary Islands. Spain refuses. America allies itself with France. Spain's Caribbean Islands are quickly secured. The Canary Islands put up a harsh resistance but are crushed.

1854 ''France completes its conquest of Catalonia. Manila surrenders to Americans forces without bloodshed. As the French Army nears Madrid, the government sues for peace. Spain gives America all of its demands, and gives independence to Catalonia. Commodore Perry opens Japan to American trade. He holds the Emperor hostage and forces him to sign a treaty making Japan a virtual protectorate of the United States.

The Great American Union
1860 ''Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States. His harsh anti-slavery stand drives the states that still have broad support for slavery to secede.

They are the Deep South States of


 * South Carolina
 * Georgia
 * Alabama
 * Mississippi
 * Louisiana
 * Arkansas
 * Florida
 * Cuba

And the anomaly


 * Indiana

Lincoln makes it clear he will tolerate no rebellion. He orders General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant to subdue the rebels. Grant goes from St. Louis to New Orleans, to reopen the nation's most important waterway. Lee marches through South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, razing Montgomery, the Confederacy's capital.

1861 ''Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. It frees all slaves owned by rebels and creates a nationwide reimbursed manumission process. All slaves are free by 1870.

1863 '' It is apparent the old Constitution cannot be stretched to cover America's vast empire. The Radical Republican Congress calls on the states to form a national convention to rewrite the Constitution.

1864 ''After months of debate, the new Constitution of the Great American Union is ratified by the required states. It is organized as follows...

Colonization
1870 The United States purchases Dutch colonial possessions in the Caribbean and annexes Santo Domingo.

1876 The United States begins a program to send blacks back to Africa along the Liberian Coast. Over 50,000 African-Americans migrate here.

The World Wars
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The Soviet War
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The Islamic War
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The Global Union
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