What is the most fragmented that North America could have been? There are several plausible scenarios (some based on different patterns of settlement from Europe, others on different fracture lines) but I chose 1787 as the point of divergence from real history. In this alternate reality, the westward expansion of the Anglo-American people proceeded pretty much as it did in our reality, but the United States government just couldn't keep up. Every national identity crisis resolved itself in favor of the separatists instead.

Although this is an extremely unlikely scenario to begin with, I didn't want to just randomly subdivide the continent. I looked for regions which either ...

1. administered themselves as autonomous nations at some point in American history, or ...
2. shed blood to achieve or maintain their independence, or at least ...
3. threatened to.

Of course, the Native American tribes throughout the continent fit all these criteria, but I limited myself to only three native enclaves.

Chronology:

1775-1783

The American Revolution procedes on schedule, and the 13 colonies form the United States of America.

1787

A fire at the State House in Philadelphia kills several members of the Constitutional Convention, including Washington, Madison and Franklin, and the new nation is forced to pass its early turbulent years without its most important leaders. After new delegates are chosen to replace the old ones, the convention votes to scrap the constitution that was about to be approved, and comes up with another one instead.

1791

Annoyed at the way the new federal government under John Adams is shaping up, Vermont refuses to join the Union, declaring itself an independent republic instead.

1800

France acquires Louisiana from Spain.

1803

Annoyed at the way the USA under President Aaron Burr is treating France, Napoleon refuses to sell Louisiana to them. Burr plans an invasion.

1804

After President Burr is killed in a duel by Alexander Hamilton, Vice-President Jefferson takes over, and the USA shifts from a pro-British to a pro-French foreign policy.

1812-15

The USA goes to War with Britain and unsuccessfully invades Canada. In opposition to the war, New England secedes, but Napoleon, grateful for the assistance, agrees to sell the relatively empty Upper Louisiana to the US. The area around New Orleans, however, has a large French population by now, and it remains a French colony.

1815

Refusing to recognize the restored Bourbon monarchy of France, Lower Louisiana declares itself an independent republic. A British force attacking New Orleans is slaughtered by the defending French.

1819-37

After many border incidents, the US occupies Florida. Pockets of Seminole Indians and runaway slaves put up a stiff resistance in Peninsular Florida, eventually driving out the Americans.

1820

Without New England, the free states cannot get enough votes to stop slavery from being allowed throughout Upper Louisiana.

1821

Mexico declares its independence from Spain.

1830

The US expels the eastern Indian tribes to lands west of the Mississippi, settling them in what will later become the Five Nations area.

1835

American settlers in Texas declare their independence from Mexico. Louisiana intevenes because they are afraid that Texas will join the USA if left on their own, which would leave Louisiana utterly encircled. Cajun militia reinforces the Texans at the Alamo, stops the Mexican Army and secures independence for Texas, on the condition that it not join the USA.

1837

The Mormons settle on the Great Salt Lake and found the semi-autonomous state of Deseret within Mexican territory.

1837-41

Rebellions in Quebec and Upper Canada establish independence from Great Britain.

1846

American settlers in Oregon petition for annexation to the US, but the slave states vote the request down. Instead, the Oregonians establish a sovereign government themselves.

1849

Gold is discovered in California. Immigrants from all over the world pour in.

1852

Working in secret alliance, California and Deseret declare their independence from Mexico, while Texas pushes its border from the Nueces to the Rio Grande. Three armies (one from each ally) converge on Santa Fe, but Mexico manages to beat back these amatuer militias, holding onto New Mexico. Mexico, however, is forced to recognize the new nations.

1860

Although the free state voting block had been weakened by the secession of New England, the slave state voting block had not been boosted by the addition of Texas, Louisiana and Florida. As most of the new states carved out of Upper Louisiana (Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota) had been settled by free-soilers, the southerners are only one state away from losing control of the Senate. The House of Representatives has already shifted to a free state majority, and with the election of Abraham Lincoln of the abolitionist Republican Party to the presidency, the south fears that slavery may soon be abolished altogether. The South secedes.

1861-63

Lacking the manpower and industrial muscle of New England, the USA fails to reconquer the South. In fact, New England is selling the CSA all the weapons it wants. Taking advantage of the crisis, the Five Nations of Indian Territory also declare their independence from the USA.

1870-2

Heavy-handed attempts by the Canadians to assert control over the interior provoke a revolt among the metis, the French/Native inhabitants of the Red River region.

1876

Custer's command is wiped out by the Sioux and Cheyenne at the Little Bighorn River.

Last modified: November 12, 1996

© 1997 Matthew White

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