Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:22:33-2:23:41

A British Hawaii redirects American expansion elsewhere

The islands might develop like a British Caribbean colony while the United States concentrates more heavily on Central America and Spain's Caribbean possessions.

Alternate HistoryBritish EmpireHawaiiPanama CanalUS Navy
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Question

What changes if Britain keeps Hawaii after the Paulet affair of 1843?

Short answer

Hawaii likely becomes a British colony while American expansion shifts toward Central America and the Spanish Caribbean.

Notes

The United States would be unlikely to fight Britain immediately for Hawaii in the mid-nineteenth century. American expansion could instead turn more strongly toward Nicaragua, perhaps reviving an alternative canal route, and toward Spanish possessions in the Caribbean. Hawaii would likely follow a British colonial path comparable to Caribbean islands. Britain itself had limited need for the islands, which is why the historical opportunity did not become a permanent annexation.