A timeline in which New Netherland is never taken over by the English colonists in 1664 and turned into New York.
Timeline[]
Background[]
New Netherland was founded by Dutch colonizers who attempted to find the Northwest Passage. In the 1650s, New Netherland captured New Sweden and incorporated it into the colony.
Point of Divergence[]
In this timeline, New Netherland was never conceded to the British colonies.
1700s[]
New Netherland was a relatively low-populated colony, and relied heavily on trade with the English colonies around it. When the French and Indian War broke out, New Netherland fought alongside the English colonies to have good relations with them.
War of Independence[]
When the American War of Independence broke out in 1775, New Netherland remained neutral. However, the war inspired more efforts for revolution, which was a growing popular political position. In 1780, George Clinton, the governor of New Netherland ordered the colony's militia to attack several Dutch forts housing soldiers that oversaw the colony. This was the beginning of the New Netherland War for Independence. Although the Dutch had greater firepower and manpower, the revolutionary effort took them by surprise, and when New Amsterdam was taken, the Dutch conceded the war. New Netherland declared independence on November 24th, 1779. George Clinton was inaugurated as President of New Netherland in 1780. In 1795, he abolished slavery in the country.
1800s[]
Due to fear of another loss, the Netherlands did not try to recapture the colony, which had formed a treaty with the United States of America to fight against any European Power that threatened them.
War of 1812[]
New Netherland, honoring the 1807 alliance, chose to support the United States in the War of 1812, sending limited amounts of troops to the site of battles such as New Orleans.
Virginia War[]
The two countries temporarily broke their alliance in 1835, when the New Netherland military invaded the Delmarva Peninsula, which they believed they had the rights to own according to the nation's constitution. The United States declared war, beginning the Virginia War. The war ended quickly when the US conceded the Eastern Shore of Virginia, believing the war was too costly for such a small region.
Participation In American Civil War[]
When the American Civil War broke out in 1860, New Netherland supported the Union, but did not fight in the conflict, simply providing arms to the North.
Dakota Secession[]
In 1887, South Dakota and North Dakota seceded following a brief conflict to form the Dakotan Union.
Colonization Period[]
After assisting the United States in the Spanish-American War, New Netherland was given the eastern half of Puerto Rico as a colony.
1900s[]
After a national referendum, the eastern half of Puerto Rico was admitted as a state into New Netherland in 1908. In 1918, the country joined the United States in entering the First World War. Approximately 10,000 soldiers were sent to France to help defend the French lines. After the war, unlike the United States, New Netherland joined the League of Nations. It was discovered after the war that President Walter Evans Edge had been communicating in secret with Germany to join them in the fight against the United States. Edge was promptly impeached.
Walter Evans Edge in 1918
Because of its close economic ties with the United States, the country was greatly affected by the Great Depression. After its economy recovered, the country decided to stay neutral in the Second World War. In 1955, president Dwight D. Eisenhower was assassinated by a New Netherland nationalist who believed the entire state of Pennsylvania and Maryland should belong to New Netherland. This led to the New Netherland Civil War, which lasted for five years and was mostly carried out through terror attacks on New Amsterdam. The nation received help from the US President Richard Nixon.