The Age of Plenty
The completion of the Dutch war gave Britain the Dutch trading post of Amami, close to the nation of Japan. Amami and neighbouring islands then became the crown colony of Okinawa. This move apparently angered the Japanese however, who for unknown reasons felt threatened by Britain’s selfless efforts to promote free trade, as they had done in China. Small conflicts quickly turned to violence, as a naval squadron under Tryon sought to negotiate trading rights with the Shogun of Japan, leading to an escalation of hostilities early in 1861. Britain was sadly forced to dispatch several divisions to negotiate trading rights with the Japanese.
The Invasion of Japan begins
Britain’s major acquisitions during the period following the Dutch war was the South West of North America. This was a large territory, which the Mexican government, suffering enormous financial difficulties was ill equipped to administer. Britain had allowed the Mexican government to borrow large sums with which to develop this region, and improve their economy. However, corruption and mismanagement soon squandered these sums. In exchange for emergency loans to bale out the Mexican government, the British government purchased the lands of California, New Mexico, Utah and several other territories, in a series of treaties that became known as the Gadsden-Hutchison-Smythe purchases. Although under Mexican management these lands had been poor, under British management things began to improve, although the West remained a wild semi-frontier town.
Sadly, the honeymoon of Mexican-British relations soon soured, after the United States government, in the last act of the outgoing administration of President James Buchanan declared war upon Mexico, to attempt to force the Mexican government to pay its debts. Britain was again called upon to comply, which they did, although it would be some time before troops were available for a campaign.
American gains, soon to be part of Britain
In any case, events moved too fast- before British troops were engaged, on December 22nd civil war broke out in America. President Lincoln, the new President had attempted to increase the size of the army for the 3rd Mexican war, but met with sharp resistance from many of the state governments, who saw an army as a potential instrument of tyranny. Numerous governments of the southern states, especially those who depended upon slaves, seceded. However, to claim that the American civil war depended solely upon slavery is false- corruption, economic difficulties and the obvious inferiority of US institutions as opposed to British were contributing factors.
In any case, with Lincoln’s army in Mexico, it proved exceedingly difficult for him to attempt to bring the wayward states back into line, especially as supply routes through the confederate states were essential for continuing the war, and without which the US army would starve. Faced with multiple wars, President Lincoln appealed to Great Britain for help- however, the government of Palmerstone offered very little support, apart from vague commitments to intervene in Mexico. The continuance of slavery in both Americas, a practice absolutely abhorrent to all decent Britons, meant that support to fight America’s wars was non-existent. In any case, Britain itself would face the beginnings of its greatest crisis since 1688.
Crisis
The last public outing of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, as they present a bible to the ruler of the savage !Xhosa.
The marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had been uniquely happy and fruitful, despite Albert’s obvious Teutonic nature. Alas, in 1861 Prince Albert passed away, a victim of typhoid fever. Queen Victoria was distraught with grief, and totally cut herself off from public life. The link between the nations and the monarchy, the symbol of order and justice, had been broken.
Between 1861 and 1870, Her Majesty’s Government was effectively on autopilot, without effective direction. Of course, the business of government had to continue. The 3rd Mexican war was again brought to a favourable conclusion for Britain and America- Britain received substantial indemnities for the unpaid loans, whilst the US received a thin strip of Mexico in the Texas border region. However, Lincoln, attempting to juggle the Mexican war and the fight the Civil War, was forced to make peace the Confederates, and did so on January 5th 1861, the war lasting a bare 3 weeks.
(Note: Some events screwed up here- the civil war was over in the flash of an eye)
Without Royal Direction, the business of government continued as best it could. The war in Japan continued. British troops occupied all the territory of the shogun, and the waited for Royal instructions, which did not come. A brief war against the Russians was fought again to protect the Balkans from Russia’s designs. This war ended very quickly when a force of Bengali regulars commanded by General Gray captured St Petersburg and the Tsar. The Tsar was again forced to cede territory in the Caucasus to the Ottomans, whilst paying indemnities to Britain.
Though vastly outnumbered, the heroic Gray captured St Petersburg with minimal losses
Research proceeded- British industry continued to lead the world, and eventually, the army got a bit better as well.
The UK’s technological achievements in 1863. The army’s not too good.
The Foreign Office continued to organise deals to help usher in peace and stability in the world. To this end, Angola and Mozambique were purchased from Portugal, the Philippines from Spain, Northern Italy and Croatia from Austria, Albania and Bosnia from the Ottomans, and finally, the Mexican territory taken by the US from Mexico, now worthless as it was cut off from the rest of the US by the Confederate states of America.
Liberating Albania
Africa in 1867
But a great pall hung over Britain. With Victoria shut off from all public appearances, the ship of state was without a captain, and was entering treacherous waters.
The completion of the Dutch war gave Britain the Dutch trading post of Amami, close to the nation of Japan. Amami and neighbouring islands then became the crown colony of Okinawa. This move apparently angered the Japanese however, who for unknown reasons felt threatened by Britain’s selfless efforts to promote free trade, as they had done in China. Small conflicts quickly turned to violence, as a naval squadron under Tryon sought to negotiate trading rights with the Shogun of Japan, leading to an escalation of hostilities early in 1861. Britain was sadly forced to dispatch several divisions to negotiate trading rights with the Japanese.
The Invasion of Japan begins
Britain’s major acquisitions during the period following the Dutch war was the South West of North America. This was a large territory, which the Mexican government, suffering enormous financial difficulties was ill equipped to administer. Britain had allowed the Mexican government to borrow large sums with which to develop this region, and improve their economy. However, corruption and mismanagement soon squandered these sums. In exchange for emergency loans to bale out the Mexican government, the British government purchased the lands of California, New Mexico, Utah and several other territories, in a series of treaties that became known as the Gadsden-Hutchison-Smythe purchases. Although under Mexican management these lands had been poor, under British management things began to improve, although the West remained a wild semi-frontier town.
Sadly, the honeymoon of Mexican-British relations soon soured, after the United States government, in the last act of the outgoing administration of President James Buchanan declared war upon Mexico, to attempt to force the Mexican government to pay its debts. Britain was again called upon to comply, which they did, although it would be some time before troops were available for a campaign.
American gains, soon to be part of Britain
In any case, events moved too fast- before British troops were engaged, on December 22nd civil war broke out in America. President Lincoln, the new President had attempted to increase the size of the army for the 3rd Mexican war, but met with sharp resistance from many of the state governments, who saw an army as a potential instrument of tyranny. Numerous governments of the southern states, especially those who depended upon slaves, seceded. However, to claim that the American civil war depended solely upon slavery is false- corruption, economic difficulties and the obvious inferiority of US institutions as opposed to British were contributing factors.
In any case, with Lincoln’s army in Mexico, it proved exceedingly difficult for him to attempt to bring the wayward states back into line, especially as supply routes through the confederate states were essential for continuing the war, and without which the US army would starve. Faced with multiple wars, President Lincoln appealed to Great Britain for help- however, the government of Palmerstone offered very little support, apart from vague commitments to intervene in Mexico. The continuance of slavery in both Americas, a practice absolutely abhorrent to all decent Britons, meant that support to fight America’s wars was non-existent. In any case, Britain itself would face the beginnings of its greatest crisis since 1688.
Crisis
The last public outing of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, as they present a bible to the ruler of the savage !Xhosa.
The marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had been uniquely happy and fruitful, despite Albert’s obvious Teutonic nature. Alas, in 1861 Prince Albert passed away, a victim of typhoid fever. Queen Victoria was distraught with grief, and totally cut herself off from public life. The link between the nations and the monarchy, the symbol of order and justice, had been broken.
Between 1861 and 1870, Her Majesty’s Government was effectively on autopilot, without effective direction. Of course, the business of government had to continue. The 3rd Mexican war was again brought to a favourable conclusion for Britain and America- Britain received substantial indemnities for the unpaid loans, whilst the US received a thin strip of Mexico in the Texas border region. However, Lincoln, attempting to juggle the Mexican war and the fight the Civil War, was forced to make peace the Confederates, and did so on January 5th 1861, the war lasting a bare 3 weeks.
(Note: Some events screwed up here- the civil war was over in the flash of an eye)
Without Royal Direction, the business of government continued as best it could. The war in Japan continued. British troops occupied all the territory of the shogun, and the waited for Royal instructions, which did not come. A brief war against the Russians was fought again to protect the Balkans from Russia’s designs. This war ended very quickly when a force of Bengali regulars commanded by General Gray captured St Petersburg and the Tsar. The Tsar was again forced to cede territory in the Caucasus to the Ottomans, whilst paying indemnities to Britain.
Though vastly outnumbered, the heroic Gray captured St Petersburg with minimal losses
Research proceeded- British industry continued to lead the world, and eventually, the army got a bit better as well.
The UK’s technological achievements in 1863. The army’s not too good.
The Foreign Office continued to organise deals to help usher in peace and stability in the world. To this end, Angola and Mozambique were purchased from Portugal, the Philippines from Spain, Northern Italy and Croatia from Austria, Albania and Bosnia from the Ottomans, and finally, the Mexican territory taken by the US from Mexico, now worthless as it was cut off from the rest of the US by the Confederate states of America.
Liberating Albania
Africa in 1867
But a great pall hung over Britain. With Victoria shut off from all public appearances, the ship of state was without a captain, and was entering treacherous waters.
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