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11/02/2006 Entry: "Mexico the Crown Jewel of the British Empire? Alternate history questions"
Reading the excellent Rise and Fall of the British Empire (part of my allowed quota of 2.9 books per year as a resident in Mexico), I learned about an intriguing scheme from colonial Britain to conquer the Spanish Americas via a pincer attack on Mexico and Chile.
This audacious late 18th century plan was a reflection of the British Empire's disarray after losing its North American colonies during the War of Independence. With Spain a declining colonial power, Britain sensed that an opportunity existed to bring under the enlightened and paternalistic protection of Britannia the under-developed yet rich Spanish colonies of the Americas.
The expedition was to set sails from India and land British/Indian troops on Mexico’s Pacific Coast . The expeditionary force was committed to another theatre of operations and the attack on Mexico never took place.
For fans of alternate history novels this episode of British imperial expansion holds many savory questions! Britain was a far different colonial power from Spain, with different moral values, commercial objectives (as opposed to outright plundering), development plans (exemplified by the laying of railway tracks throughout the Empire), religious dogma, etc.
What would have happened to Mexico if it had become a British Dominion by 1795 for example? Would social and economic development have taken a different path? Would tobacco and cotton fields have flourished on Mexican soil and steel tracks crisscrossed the country? Would the catholic religion have been uprooted? Would the relationship with USA been substantially altered? Would Mexicans have embraced the British as liberators or rejected them as invaders?
I simply cannot devote time to explore all the ramifications of this alternate history, although my gut feeling is that Mexico would have been better off under the British yoke than the Spanish crucifix. Too late, we’ll never get to taste a delicious Indian curry served in Mexico City by a Punjabi grand-grand-children of the valiant expeditionary force that would have conquered Mexico on the behalf of the Crown. Rule Britannia!
Replies: 14 comments
Ah! But would teeth of this fine tropical nation have turned out so straight? I think not!
Dr. John sent me by to tell you I'm of British descent, so I can say that...
Posted by Cuppojoe @ 11/09/2006 04:23 AM MEX
Just passing through on Dr John's blogging marathon, I think your site is more suited to my hubby, who has already visited.
Posted by Tina Dray @ 11/08/2006 10:59 PM MEX
2.9 books a year, do you have to wait until the following year to finish your third book. Dr John sent me
Posted by Bazza @ 11/08/2006 07:43 PM MEX
I am on the Dr John marathon. I have found your post very interesting. I can now think of many questions about how history would have changed.
Posted by bettygram @ 11/08/2006 05:41 PM MEX
The first thought that came to mind when I saw the title of your blog and read your blog of a "European in Mexico" was "An American in Paris." Hmmm.
I have one more question, vis-a-vis if the British Dominion had occurred - would the Mexicans be reading more than 2. 9 books per year?
I stumbled here by way of Dr. John.
Posted by Sunflower Optimism @ 11/08/2006 05:05 PM MEX
running with dr.john's marathon!
Posted by andrena @ 11/08/2006 04:18 PM MEX
Very thought provoking. Not only might it have changed Mexican history, but what about the American West?
Here from Dr. John's marathon.
Posted by Stacy @ 11/08/2006 03:54 PM MEX
Interesting blog.
Really makes me think. Dr. John sent me here!
Posted by Artsy @ 11/08/2006 12:37 PM MEX
Sounds like a great read. I love History and Latin American history is something I haven't had a fair dose of yet.
-Margie
(Stopping by via Dr. John's mini-marathon today.)
Posted by Margie @ 11/08/2006 10:21 AM MEX
Interesting question here. It is hard to say what Mexico would be today if part of the Former British Empire. I can only imagine how the United States would have felt with British Influence North and South of them if Mexico was part of the Empire.
Stopping by to say Hi
Dr John has sent me your way.
Posted by The Old Fart @ 11/08/2006 08:45 AM MEX
hum considering the legacy the brits left in the middle east(ever read a peace to end all peace by fromkin), not sure about your ponderings on mexico.
dr.john sent me your way and I enjoyed your post, it was thought provoking.
Posted by jafabrit @ 11/08/2006 08:10 AM MEX
Dr. John says hi.
Posted by jan @ 11/08/2006 06:59 AM MEX
This blog is reaching the limits of my cultural brain. I can only say that there is a very nice live-history museum in Tallahassee, FL, called Mission San Louis where the history of Spain vr.Britain still remains and you can walk through it.
Posted by J @ 11/05/2006 07:54 AM MEX
Good post Serge. Remember that to the war cry "Britannia Rules the Waves" there is the spin "Britannia Waives the Rules"
Your article makes one think of many other possible alternate scenarios. Remember the "Zimmerman Telegram" of World War II when Nazi Germany sent a telegram to Mexico asking for their help in invading the U.S. from the south, and they would get back the territories taken away by Americans back. (The telegram was intercepted by the Americans). Or, what if Napoleon's puppet government of Maximilian had flourished? In the 2 short years of Napoleonic rule in Mexico we got our copy (literally) of Chapms Elysees (Reforma), the word "Mariachi" (From French "mariage") and several Francophonisms in Mexican Spanish that are not present in other forms of Spanish. Such as Mexican coloquial "Volar" for "To Steal" (From French "Voler" = "To Steal")
The fate of the British colonies went in proportion to how long Britain held on to them. The colonies that the British held on to the least (The USA) is the most prosperous country of the world. The colonies that Britain held on to the most (Like India) have their populations living in the most abject poverty that makes the Mexican poor look like rich financiers. Britain plundered their colonies as much or even more so than Spain did. In fact, when the Americans were running around chasing turkeys in the 1600 Mexico City had a university and the forst printing press of the Americas.
Britain was present in Latin America, my good Serge! Look at Jamaica and Belize (The former "British Honduras") two of the poores countries of the Americas. Britannia Waived the Rules! (Ask the Cypriots of EOKA, or make a visit to Belmopan to verify)
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 11/03/2006 12:21 PM MEX
