What If The Imperial Federation Was Established?

Watch next: "Every Significant Mongol Successor State; How The Mongols Fell in 1857"
#history #whatif #alternatehistory #britain #imperialfederation #possiblehistory
What if in the 19th century a proposal was accepted that gave the British settler dominion more autonomy on some matters, and more influence in others, binding the British settler dominions together in one big Imperial Federation. Other colonies would not be able to join the Federation as they would not have a large enough white population, and the dominant anglo-saxons would not be willing to give up power.

The Imperial Federation would fight in the first world war and the second world war, which would not drastically change. Germany would lose both in a similar way as our timeline. During the cold war the Imperial Federation would be the most important American ally against global communism, especially with their outposts in South Africa and Australia being essential for linking Asian and African nations to the United States.

Another amalgamation of a thumbnail!

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[possiblehistory]

Thank you for watching! This was a remake of an old video with - questionable - audio and video. If you enjoyed consider subscribing for more, and leave a like and comment to help the video against the algorithm!

[michaelthomas]

No Canadians would die for the Aussies in their Emu wars. Those things scare the maple syrup out of us.

[willbentley]

Expected some cringe powerpoint about how Britain would be a superpower in 2022. Got a really intelligent, well-reasoned analysis. This is the kind of alt-history I love. You deserve way more subs.

[Mrdude]

Then somewhere in the 21st century there’d be a video of “what if the British federation broke up”

[Bojaxs]

Most realistic "what if" scenario I've seen. Good job!

[mappingshaman]

I hope its possible to form the imperial federation in vic 3. My requirements would be number 1 GP, year is 1900, several million £ and an ungodly amount of prestige.

[thsealord]

Interesting idea. In a very real sense, it is a scaled-up version of what happened with Australia. During the 19th century, Australia was made up of six separate British colonies, each with its own taxation, military, etc.. The concept of a union (called 'Federation') was an extremely hot political topic in the latter half of the century - much arguing, several referendums, and so forth. Federation finally took place in 1901, with each of the colonies becoming a State of the new nation.

It is worth noting that New Zealand was a participant in the talks but opted to remain independent. Australia's Constitution allows for NZ to join if it ever chooses to. The closeness and kinship between Australia and NZ remains, but nobody expects a union anytime soon. Likewise, Western Australia almost stayed separate, and Fiji was, at one stage of talks, seriously proposed as a member.

Not that these alt-Australias would be likely to have a HUGE impact on subsequent world history, but you never know. :)

[-.blake.-]

I love the idea of the federation so much. I’m a big fan of multiethnic empires so projects like Poland-Lithuania and the Imperial Federation or even the integration of the French African colonies are all very exciting to me.

I just wish they had worked :/

[gabrielgalindo]

Interesting take, The Imperial Federation was always an interesting What If scenario when I first found out about it, I always imagined Australia, New Zealand, and Canada as being part of it but your explanation for South Africa's inclusion seems plausible if it had happened that way.

[echidnanatsuki]

And ngl, I prefer this remastered one over the original one you made months ago.

Can't wait for you to also do the same thing with the others.

[ScuffTuff]

It’d be really interesting to see which smaller colonies would end up joining. The Bahamas, West Indies, Straits Settlements, Northern Borneo, and Hong Kong especially would be interesting. Given how long Hong Kong remained part of Britain before being turned over to China, I can’t imagine it wouldn’t become fully integrated well before then, leading to a potential conflict between the Federation and China over Hong Kong. Something I do want to point out though is that although the GDP figures would be vastly different, the Federation would emerge today as still the third largest economy on Earth at least. Japan and the Soviets would have briefly overtaken it but Russia isn’t even a question today, being smaller than 2 of the members while adding up those same 2, the UK and Canada, dwarf Japan’s current GDP figures by over $1 trillion. Depending on if or how a potential conflict went between China and the Federation over Hong Kong which could also carry heavy implications for Taiwan or the Korean Peninsula, it’s possible China wouldn’t be the second largest economy today as well. The west would be far less likely to massively invest in Chinese manufacturing if a war was fresh in their minds, especially if it devastated Chinese coastal infrastructure.

[echidnanatsuki]

Oh and since South Africa, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Gambia would also be in the Imperial Federation, then this would also have a major change over the African Union.

There would be 2 possibilities:
- The African IF Members would not join the African Union, the same way the UK would not join the EU.
- The entire IF might join due to either wanting to benefit from African Resources or the AU itself would beg the IF to join in order to make the AU grow faster with the IF's help

There could be more possibilities that I haven't thought of yet, but you who is reading this might. So feel free to share me what you think would actually happen on this African Scenario.

[EarlJohn]

The Imperial Navy would be a similar size to the USN.
But, probably, with more (smaller) carriers to allow for the ships to be dispersed to various ports.
Which would provide for a more rapid response time to regional issues.

[MotionSickness]

I got to tell you, it was perfect. Perfect. Everything, down to the last minute details.

[thealmightyaku-]

This would also have made the proposed Imperial Airship Network viable - perhaps even vital and necessary for 'rapid' travel.

[Robert_L_Peters]

Would love to see greater unity between contemporary English-speaking speaking countries

[davidpowell]

A another way to organize the government would be an Imperial Senate, which function like the US Senate. Split the Federation into Imperial States, and have local legislatures. This would allow the integration of India and more in my mind, but maybe I’m missing something. Just a shower thought

[britaniondragon]

I imagine that some places would want to remain or rejoin e.g. Singapore when they were kicked out of Melissa also i emagin that the federation intentionally or otherwise would inspire further unions such as a scandanavion union and raise the opinion on the idea of super states

[korakys]

Nice video. The biggest question you didn't address though, IMO, was the Boers.

Honestly I'd see the seat proportions being negotiated prior to every election, changing each time based on perceived power of each member as the most likely way it would work (EU parliament does something a bit similar today). Splitting South Africa and admitting only the Cape Colony would work the best.

[janvanhoyk]

Love your attempt at realism, and not editing what you think may happen for our modern day more pc ears. Good channel, man!