Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:29:59-2:30:29

What if Britain had taken Hawaii first?

An established British possession in Hawaii would probably have been accepted, pushing later American Pacific ambitions toward other islands.

British EmpireHawaiiMonroe DoctrinePacific Strategy
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Question

What if Britain had taken Hawaii as a coaling station or protectorate?

Short answer

The United States probably would have accepted an established British possession and redirected its Pacific ambitions elsewhere.

Notes

The counterfactual assumes Britain took Hawaii during the decades when it had the opportunity. Established British possession would probably have been accepted by the United States. American interest could then have shifted to Guam or another Pacific location. The Galápagos provide another suggested destination for those ambitions.