What if the British won?

[RATED-RKOFRANKLIN]

What if the British won the Independence War? Did you know only 30% of the colonies' population supported the war? Let's look at many things beside accent and the lust for sweet tea.

I think the most noticeable difference would be slavery would had ended much sooner. Our country's view on African Americans maybe very much different than it is today.

The British's control over the world would be stronger than what it is today. Today they don't have nearly as much world power as they did centuries ago.

 

[Shablo5]

Canada#2

 

[Xeon]

I honestly don't think it would have been logistically possible for Britain to maintain control of the American colonies in the past. The technology wasn't there, the ocean was too big, and the landmass was too vast to control. Now today, with our modern technology, perhaps, but not back then. The American colonists had the home field advantage. If we had been parked just offshore from Britain we'd have been crushed.

That said, I realize you are offering up a theoretically question, not necessarily a plausible one. If we assume Britain had won, and continued to maintain control—that is, that the colonists didn't continue to rebel and never became independent (which would be insanely unlikely)—then what would be different? Probably a lot. Who knows. There are so many innumerable factors that make sheer speculation akin to grasping at smoke.

 

[crimcrim]

its not a 'what if'

america always wins

 

[BigEd781]

I only know this; our television and food would be awful.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

Let's look at many things beside accent and the lust for sweet tea.

Actually some parts of the Southern accent is said to be closer to the original British accents from earlier days by linguists. And the change of accents has to do with regional differences, not who the government is, so there would have been no effect.

On the subject of slavery abolition, actually, I don't know if it would have changed that far. The British Empire didn't actually completely abolish slavery until 1843, only 20 years before the US. (While it was abolished in England proper in 1833, it wasn't until 1843 that properties of the East India Trading Company were required to follow suit).

 

[BigEd781]

On the subject of slavery abolition, actually, I don't know if it would have changed that far. The British Empire didn't actually completely abolish slavery until 1843, only 20 years before the US. (While it was abolished in England proper in 1833, it wasn't until 1843 that properties of the East India Trading Company were required to follow suit).

Slavery was not practiced in England for a long time before that law was passed.

 

[RATED-RKOFRANKLIN]

I honestly don't think it would have been logistically possible for Britain to maintain control of the American colonies in the past. The technology wasn't there, the ocean was too big, and the landmass was too vast to control. Now today, with our modern technology, perhaps, but not back then. The American colonists had the home field advantage. If we had been parked just offshore from Britain we'd have been crushed.

That said, I realize you are offering up a theoretically question, not necessarily a plausible one. If we assume Britain had won, and continued to maintain control—that is, that the colonists didn't continue to rebel and never became independent (which would be insanely unlikely)—then what would be different? Probably a lot. Who knows. There are so many innumerable factors that make sheer speculation akin to grasping at smoke.

Britain maintain control over many countries before America. They had the man power to maintain control. There weren't that many people rebelling. They could handle 30% of the population. Most Americans did not support the rebellion.

Actually some parts of the Southern accent is said to be closer to the original British accents from earlier days by linguists. And the change of accents has to do with regional differences, not who the government is, so there would have been no effect.

On the subject of slavery abolition, actually, I don't know if it would have changed that far. The British Empire didn't actually completely abolish slavery until 1843, only 20 years before the US. (While it was abolished in England proper in 1833, it wasn't until 1843 that properties of the East India Trading Company were required to follow suit).

Good point. America has more natural resources. Britain could had seen slavery as more valuable man labor in the Americas.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

That's when they wrote the law, but slavery was not supported by law for long before that. Slavery was not practiced in England for a long time before that law was passed.

Not in England proper, but the East India Trading company still held slaves until much later, and that is British Empire controlled colonies. Slavery existed in India into the 1840s, and actually extended further than that in practice (if not in name). It wasn't actually made a criminal offense in India until 1860.

 

[Genii Benedict]

I only know this; our television and food would be awful.

Yes, whatever would we do without Jersey Shore and McDonald's?

 

[Des]

this thread is horrible. the british didn't win. that's the end of that.

also what. jersey shore isn't even american tv. it's just **** that AIRS on american tv. real american television is well-written literary drama, like mad men or breaking bad. and before that it was sitcoms that derived humor from character interaction rather than absurdist "lolrandom" stuff like british humor. sorry, bro.

also you might not like mcdonald's food but it is a massive worldwide multibillion dollar company that is in every country. Frick yes i am damn proud that it is american.

 

[BigEd781]

Not in England proper, but the East India Trading company still held slaves until much later, and that is British Empire controlled colonies. Slavery existed in India into the 1840s, and actually extended further than that in practice (if not in name). It wasn't actually made a criminal offense in India until 1860.

Yes, I believe we both had the same instinct, i.e., Read Post -> Google for "When did England abolish slavery" -> click link to wikipedia

 

[crimcrim]

Yes, whatever would we do without Jersey Shore and McDonald's?

um

2 things. The people on Jersey shore are not representative of America. At all. They aren't even representative of JERSEY. I've met people from Jersey who hate initial misconceptions they have placed on them because of some ******ed T.V. show. Don't base your entire point on a ****ty TV show cultivated just to entertain the stupid kids of this generation.

And McDonalds is American. And makes a crapton of cash. So that's a win for us.

plus McDonalds in Japan has a great mascot.

 

[Milkdud]

Yes, whatever would we do without Jersey Shore and McDonald's?

Be a productive country.

 

[Genii Benedict]

I live close to Toronto - you know, that place the guys from the U.S. make some of their movies for cheap? So, I'm quite aware that the U.S. has a lot of great stuff. I get that there's good TV that comes out of the U.S., and there's good food as well. I think it's a bit disappointing to see all of the hating on other cultures on the site lately, from all points of view. There's nothing wrong with the 'rah rah' chest-thumping, as long as people aren't going out of their way to say, "...and this is why WE are better than YOU..."

 

[BigEd781]

Yes, whatever would we do without Jersey Shore and McDonald's?

Bah, you're just cherry picking the worst of the worst, but I know you're not completely serious by your excessive use of smileys

 

[Levi]

@Frieza

real american television is well-written literary drama, like mad men or breaking bad. and before that it was sitcoms that derived humor from character interaction rather than absurdist "lolrandom" stuff like british humor. sorry, bro.

"Real" American Tele? Says who? I don't like your attitude. You're silly, and that is that.

I can't believe that Patriotism still exists in this form. It's 2012 for christ's sake. Arguing about which country is "best" is among the most ******ed things that any person can do. Every country is as **** as the next.... it's just that some **** is a bit smellier.

To flaunt the "good" as being American, and the bad as "Un-American"... is dumb and ass backward. "Breaking Bad is American. Family Guy is not." Why? Because you ****in' say so? Piss off.

**NOTE** I'm not meaning to piss on anyones "culture" or beliefs. I just mean to call out Frieza as an overly defensive, yet openly aggressive, propagandist, who embraces the great as "American" and rejects all else an "Un-American."

Edit: Removed some of my 'stronger' words.

 

[crimcrim]

**NOTE** I'm not meaning to piss on anyones "culture" or beliefs. I just mean to call out Frieza as an overly defensive, yet openly aggressive, propagandist, who embraces the great as "American" and rejects all else an "Un-American."

Um...if you're not American then that makes you un-American. That's just how words and definitions work :I

sorry we're better than you guys geez

good job ****ting up the thread though

 

[Levi]

Um...if you're not American then that makes you un-American. That's just how words and definitions work :I

sorry we're better than you guys geez

good job ****ting up the thread though

Haha... I do hope that you're trolling, because that post can't be in reply to mine.

 

[Emmych]

Actually some parts of the Southern accent is said to be closer to the original British accents from earlier days by linguists. And the change of accents has to do with regional differences, not who the government is, so there would have been no effect.

I heard that the Newfoundlander accent was actually the closest thing to the original British accent...? It'd make sense that a Southern US accent would be similar, though, since the folks who ended up down there actually were bounced out of Acadia, which was also in eastern Canada. I think they were mostly French, though...? Haha, it's been awhile since grade 10 Socials -- my memory is all fuzzy. @___@

SO YES POINT IS IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A CLOSE-ISH REPRESENTATION OF THE ORIGINAL BRITISH ACCENT. Makes ya wonder where that snobby posh Londoner one came from, though. IB

this thread is horrible. the british didn't win. that's the end of that.

also what. jersey shore isn't even american tv. it's just **** that AIRS on american tv. real american television is well-written literary drama, like mad men or breaking bad. and before that it was sitcoms that derived humor from character interaction rather than absurdist "lolrandom" stuff like british humor. sorry, bro.

also you might not like mcdonald's food but it is a massive worldwide multibillion dollar company that is in every country. Frick yes i am damn proud that it is american.

Jersey Shore may be ****, but it is American produced ****, and therefore American Television. And, if we're gonna talk culture, well... most of your fellow countrymen would rather be indulging in a little Glee (SE1, EP1: 9.6 million viewers) than Mad Men (SE1, EP1: 0.9 million viewers) -- if that's the kind of show that attracts the most viewers, as opposed to something well written and actually interesting, what does that say about the average state of American Television?

And yeah British comedy definitely is all "lolrandom" and doesn't focus on character interaction at all.

As for American originality as far as TV goes... yeah they got a lot of that.

OKAY FACETIOUS PRODDING ASIDE: There are defs some diamonds in the rough among the seas of dreck in the film industry, but I've found that great things have come from all over the place, not just out of the US or the UK or anywhere else! Pretending that one country produces ALL THE ONLY GOOD THINGS EVER is arrogance, plain and simple.

Like, there are a few American shows and films that I am in LOVE with (FIREFLY, MMPH~), and there are also British shows and films I adore (HELLO, LIP SERVICE <3 I swear I don't watch you just for the lesbians OTL) -- and, why are we forgetting that lovely thing that is Canadian film and television? And man, there are two Spanish films on my top 50 list, and I've enjoyed several French films, blah blah blah blah.

Point is, the US makes cool stuff, but so does everyone else. We're all pretty cool guys. You are not the coolest guy. Talking about alternate history is cool, so get over yourself and let us have fun without having to wade through your overly prideful drivel.

(ALSO LOL CANADA MADE THE TELEPHONE AND INSULIN WE WIN 5EVER~)