When the US Almost Split in Three or More

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In summary, the conversation revolved around various proposals for dividing the United States into multiple nations just before the Civil War. These proposals included the Central Confederacy, which would have consisted of mid-Atlantic and northwestern states, and the Free City of Tri-Insula, a proposed independent city-state in New York City. However, the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861 put an end to these proposals. The conversation also touched on alternate history scenarios, such as the potential capitals and territories of these divided nations and their involvement in World War I.
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lpetrich
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This subject was inspired by When the USA Two Party System Broke Down, but I didn't want to clutter that thread with it. Like that breakdown, it was in the years just before the US Civil War.

The Central Confederacy was a proposed nation consisting of the mid-Atlantic and northwestern states, the states between New England and the Deep-South states. One proposal mentioned New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, and Missouri.

So the US would have gotten split into a layer cake: New England, the Central Confederacy, and the Southern Confederacy.


Around then, New York City mayor Fernando Wood proposed that that city secede and become an independent city-state, the Free City of Tri-Insula. Latin for "three islands": Staten Island, Manhattan, Long Island.

Even more nations: the layer cake with a city-state.


But on April 12, 1861, the Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston SC's harbor. That was the end of such proposals.


But alternate-history buffs might find it interesting to consider what would have happened if these proposals had succeeded.

What would their capitals have been? The Central Confederacy would likely have had Washington DC, New England Boston, and the Southern Confederacy Atlanta or Houston.

As to the western-US territories, the Central and Southern Confederacies would likely have divided it up between them.

The Southern Confederacy would likely try to conquer Mexico and Cuba and various other Central American and Caribbean territories.

Would Europeans meddle in the three nations?


World War I would likely have happened much as in our timeline, except for NE, CC, and SC likely getting involved on different sides. That would have helped the Central Powers, and either Germany would have won or else the war would have gotten stalemated. Not long after the Bolsheviks took over in Russia, they ended Russia's involvement in WWI with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, giving the westernmost territories to the Central Powers. Germany and Austria would likely have set up some puppet states, but when their inhabitants decide that their new masters are not much better than their old masters...


Refs:
Central Confederacy - Wikipedia
THE PROPOSED CENTRAL CONFEDERACY. - Letter - NYTimes.com
A Great Central Confederacy
http://historians.org/projects/secessioneditorials/Editorials/TroyDTimes_12_19_60.htm
Secession in New York - Wikipedia

Colin Woodard, American Nations
 
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Sorry but alternate history speculation is not appropriate at PF
 

1. What event almost caused the United States to split in three or more?

The event that almost caused the United States to split in three or more was the American Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865.

2. Why did the United States almost split in three or more during the Civil War?

The main reason for the potential split was the issue of states' rights and the disagreement over slavery. Southern states believed in the right to secede from the Union, while the federal government and northern states believed in maintaining the unity of the country.

3. How close did the United States come to splitting in three or more during the Civil War?

The United States came very close to splitting in three or more during the Civil War. Eleven southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America, leading to a four-year-long war that resulted in over 600,000 deaths.

4. What were the consequences if the United States had split in three or more during the Civil War?

If the United States had split in three or more during the Civil War, it would have had significant consequences for the country's political, economic, and social landscape. The southern states would have likely continued to practice slavery, while the northern states would have pursued a different path without the southern states' influence.

5. How did the United States avoid splitting in three or more during the Civil War?

The United States avoided splitting in three or more during the Civil War through the Union's victory. President Abraham Lincoln's leadership and the Union's military strength played a significant role in preserving the country's unity and ultimately ending slavery through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

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