American Civil War-West Vs. East
- Thread starter Nymphaion
- Start date
Eh, I can't think of any possible reason no matter how plausible. I mean, Western seccession doesn't strike me as particularly smart. There's not a lot of development there, even compared to the South. And cause aside, that war would end as fast as it was declared. The West would be like, "Screw you feds, we're independent now!" and the Federal government could just pay the Sioux, Cheyenne, etc. in land to go and do whatever they please until they beg for forgiveness. And the navy can take care of California.
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You would need a very viable reason. Plus you may need to choose a specific date for this to take place. Only viable thing I can even possibly think of would involve very high taxes on crops raised in the west (and maybe the government taking all gold mined out of the west.)
Course, you'd need a good reason for the government to do that in the first place.
Course, you'd need a good reason for the government to do that in the first place.
I could maybe see it if the POD were in the mid to early 19th century and the Civil War, or at least West vs East Civil War, didn't happen until the 20th century. Perhaps California and Texas both develop stronger 'national' identities, and then somehow becoming more culturally and economically linked. Maybe there's more immigration, further conquests in Mexico, or earlier western railroad and irrigation development? Maybe you could also see all of the Pacific Northwest develop into a super-state of Oregon along the lines of California and Texas. Then if you had enough population and cultural/economic independence, they lead the rest of the West-of-the-Mississippi in a revolt, maybe over TTL's equivalent of socialism, or because of some corruption seen in the national government.
Not easy, but perhaps imaginable.
Not easy, but perhaps imaginable.
How about Henry Clay wins the Presidential Election in 1844? He isn't as expansionist as Polk so win the Mexican War rolls around he takes care of Santa Anna and lets the California Bear Republic retain its independence. Then, somehow, the Oregon territory becomes independent (they had their own government while Britain and America argued over who was the rightful owner). The two territories are later incorporated into expanding America but secede a few years later.
The only other thing I can think of is the Gold vs Silver debate of the late 19th century gone horribly wrong. Maybe the Bourbon Democrats retain control of the Democratic Party and the Populist Party swells in strength in the west. After that, though, I draw a blank.
The only other thing I can think of is the Gold vs Silver debate of the late 19th century gone horribly wrong. Maybe the Bourbon Democrats retain control of the Democratic Party and the Populist Party swells in strength in the west. After that, though, I draw a blank.
Well, the revolution fails, British America is made a domonion - the settlers in the west (east of Mississippi) are mostly illegal squatters to the government and are treated harshly. The settlers have lots of land and attract lots of illegal immigration and the government is usually powerless to stop them - they arrive the New Orleans and travel north. Soon they start to settle across the Mississippi. Tensions rise as the government refuse to protect the settlers against indian raids. The settlers start forming their own militias - unrecognised by the government. Things escalate, and soon a government army heading west to "restore order" is attacked. Things go wrong and the western settlers, seeing no use in the American Dominion, secede, form their own government and starts building an army. The civil war is on!