[Plymeth]

(Original post by insane2642)
It is now proposed that American independence delayed the emancipation of the slaves by at least a generation; Slavery becoming illegal in the UK in 1833, and in the US in 1865, and only after a very bloody civil war.

American independence did not delay emancipation, rather the ideals of self-governance instilled by that independence did.

The colonies agreed to set aside slave talk until after the war, and afterwards then moved to begin outlawing it a year prior to Britain. However, during this timeframe Southern sympathizers swept the legislature -- per the reason stated above, and because things with Britain had calmed down a bit -- and this precedent was overturned by the Missouri Compromise. If things would have gone as planned, America would have been slaveless near the same time as Britain. However the Southerners defaulted on their promises and began to kick up dust, which eventually led to the Civil War and so on and so forth.

[baseballfan2010]

I think the American Revolution was inevitable. It would be difficult for a nation of $60 million to control a nation of $300 million. Besides, if the British had kept control of us, the hatred would eventually increase, creating more hostilities between Britain and the colonies.

[horsebox]

The Brains and Brawn behind America the Irish would have ended up in Mexico (French Lousianna, Spanish Texas or Argentina too, like many many many did anyways) instead and Mexico would rule the World. Simple no Strong U.S.A. without the Irish, the Irish went to America to escape British tyranny.

[Smithinson]

(Original post by horsebox)
The Brains and Brawn behind America the Irish would have ended up in Mexico (French Lousianna, Spanish Texas or Argentina too, like many many many did anyways) instead and Mexico would rule the World. Simple no Strong U.S.A. without the Irish, the Irish went to America to escape British tyranny.

Nationalism at its best

[Arbolus]

If the Thirteen Colonies had been defeated then I doubt another revolution would have been attempted for a few more decades. By that time Britain would have been embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars, and many of the American garrisons would have been moved to Europe for the duration of the war.

This would be the best chance for the colonies to win independance. It's in the aftermath of the wars that Britain became one of the greatest powers in the world, and any subsequent revolution would be ruthlessly crushed. Even if one had been launched around 1810-ish, and freed all the British possessions in North America, it's likely that after Napoleon was defeated Britain would try and take them back - a whole continent is far too valuable to simply abandon because of a few dissidents. If the 1776 revolution had failed, it's unlikely that the United States as we know it would exist today.

Of course, it's possible that the colonies would win their independance during the wars, ally themselves with Napoleon, and help defeat Britain - in which case the past 200 years of European history would be completely different.