The OLD Philosopher – John M. Miller
Apropos of nothing in particular, a thought occurred to me yesterday. What would have happened if the thirteen American colonies had failed to win their independence from Britain? Obviously by its very nature that is an entirely hypothetical and speculative question. But, for the sake of discussion, where would “Americans” be now if we were like a Canada, but with ten times the population? Here are five issues to think about.
One. Britain would have been the prime mover in the economic development of the British Commonwealth state eventually known as “America.” The British imperial way of doing business was quite different from what evolved as the American way of doing business. Would we be as powerful as we became, less powerful, or about the same?
Two. Slavery would have been abolished much sooner, and without a terrible war. The British abolished slavery with little fuss, although it took quite a while from the start of their abolition process to its conclusion. Almost certainly we would not have the residue of racism we now have, had we not issued a Declaration of Independence which falsely proclaimed that all men are created equal, nor would we have had a Constitution that clearly decreed Black people are only three-fifths of a person, while deliberately lessening the status of Blacks in other more subtle and less specified ways.
Three. Immigration patterns would likely have been quite different. British subjects and residents of other far-flung British colonies would have been given higher preference as immigrants to America, and other nationalities would have been more hampered. Thus we would not be the truly worldwide melting pot that we are. By way of verification of this thesis, only in the past forty years has Canada opened its borders to a large variety of nationalities. But then, because of its climate and geography, not nearly as many immigrants ever sought to become Canadian citizens as those who wanted to come to America. However, climate change may prove very beneficial for our northern neighbors.
Four. If America had lost its war of independence, the British Empire would have lasted far longer. Winston Churchill found it intolerable to admit that the Empire was kaput by the time World War II ended. Were the USA still in the Empire during the war, Hitler and the Axis Powers would have been defeated much sooner, and the Empire might have survived for a few decades longer.
Five. Had we failed in our revolution, America might have become the “kinder, gentler nation” George H. W. Bush pleaded for us to become, and which Canada has always been, at least to a much greater degree.
Five and a Half. This idea just smote me. Had 1776 never happened (so to speak), the French never would have launched their own revolution, and then there would have been no Napoleon, no Napoleonic wars, a long period of European peace, and everyone would have lived happily ever after.
However, we did defeat the Redcoats, we did become who we became, and such notions as these are merely exercises in historical futility. But then, what else do you have to do in a pandemic other than to think some cockamamie thoughts?
John Miller is Pastor of The Chapel Without Walls on Hilton Head Island, SC. More of his writings may be viewed at www.chapelwithoutwalls.org.