Best way to cripple the US?

[Gurkhal]

I am trying out Spain with the intention to return the Spanish crown to the Americas and as such obviously the US is perhaps the single largest obsticle in my way, as they are like to meddle in my plans of conquest. Hence I want to relatively early attack the US, possibly during the American Civil War, and cripple and exhaust them for the rest of the game if possible.

What I am asking for is how to best cause a de-industrialization, a de-population and perhaps most importantly, a balkanization of the former US?

Other tips on how to pave the way for the return of the Spanish crown to the Americas would also be welcome.

 

[Amtep]

During the ACW, the most efficient thing to do is not to attack the USA but just to ally the CSA and maintain that alliance as much as you can. (the CSA will often break it, stupidly). Sphere them if you can.

Balkanisation is difficult because most of the breakaway states (other than CSA obviously) will voluntarily rejoin the USA.

Also consider an alliance with the UK, especially if a crisis around British Columbia is brewing. The UK is the most likely check on USA power, but on the other hand the UK is also a rival in South and Central America so it depends.

Sphere or conquer Hawaii early. Since you have Philippines, adding Hawaii is a good way to extend your control in the Pacific, and it will deny the USA the event where it takes over Hawaii. Similarly, consider allying Japan to prevent the USA from forcefully sphering it. The USA has an event chain to take over Japan, and it involves a triggered war that you may be able to take advantage of.

As for how to cripple them... nearly all their population is in the East Coast states, so taking one or two high pop ones early on will make it hard for them to grow. Be careful to go far enough north so that you don't accidentally cripple the CSA.

During all that, do schedule some time to feel guilty for supporting slavery, you monster.

 

[Kovax]

If it's possible to ally the UK, there's a potential early war between the UK and US over the New England states.

 

[Vohen]

Related question, how do you deal with the massive influx of immigrants the US gets?
That accounts for a lot of the power the US gets mid to late game, but short of keeping them occupied or blockaded for most of the game I'm not so sure how to deal with it.

 

[qwertyuiop2]

Best way to cripple the US is adding "acquire state" CBs for releasable states they have, such as the Cherokee, New England, Texas, California and Deseret (this is also the advised order). After winning the war, release those nations and keep them as puppets. They will receive tons of immigrants, grow immensely in population and accompany your own forces with increased effectiveness as years go by. Releasing them also saves you some nice infamy points.

 

[Bunnytob]

If you want my two cents, Sphere Mexico ASAP. If you can do that before the first Spanish-American War (~1843) and win that war, you can really start laying down the hurt.
And yeah, releasing California & Cherokee can also help, as both suck immigrants away from the US, too.

Though the best way to make sure the USA doesn't get immigrants is to:
1) Make sure they don't get the Statue of Liberty (i.e. get France to go to war with them if you can)
2) Kick Brazil's (or any other American nation's) teeth in so that they can get off a lot of reforms.
3) Other than that, you, er, don't.

 

[qwertyuiop2]

If you want my two cents, Sphere Mexico ASAP. If you can do that before the first Spanish-American War (~1843) and win that war, you can really start laying down the hurt.
And yeah, releasing California & Cherokee can also help, as both suck immigrants away from the US, too.

Though the best way to make sure the USA doesn't get immigrants is to:
1) Make sure they don't get the Statue of Liberty (i.e. get France to go to war with them if you can)
2) Kick Brazil's (or any other American nation's) teeth in so that they can get off a lot of reforms.
3) Other than that, you, er, don't.

You can also deprive the US of migrants if your wreak havoc at the US proper via an invasion. If you are lucky enough to bring forth a communist revolution before ~1900, the US will enter a vicious circle they will never actually exit from.

 

[General WVPM]

Your best bet is forcing the USA into a rebel cycle + bankruptcy.
Alternatively you could 'lower demographic growth into deep negative' by refusing to peace out once you've occupied their entire country. This prevents their population from getting any income as they can't work in factories or RGO's.

 

[Hemothep]

Your best bet is forcing the USA into a rebel cycle + bankruptcy.
Alternatively you could 'lower demographic growth into deep negative' by refusing to peace out once you've occupied their entire country. This prevents their population from getting any income as they can't work in factories or RGO's.

This is the best way to cripple any country for good. Occupy them completely for 10 to 20 years. They will spawn rebels, that you need to hunt down and crush during this time (somehow the automation doesn't work on occupied land). After the first couple of years you'll see a steep decline of their population.

However the US is a special case, because it can regain a lot of these pops through Immigration. After you peaced them out (remember: after decades of occupation), they'll get overtaken by rebels, because their remaining pops are angry, unemployed, starving and bancrupt. However, you'll need to repeat this if they become a democracy again to make sure they never recover.