Alternative History Tools

## Alternate History Timeline: USA as a Superpower in 1776 ### Point of Divergence (POD) In 1776, the Continental Army, led by George Washington, successfully defeats the British at the Battle of Saratoga, but more importantly, they receive crucial financial and military aid from European powers, particularly France, which is more substantial than in OTL. This significant support allows the United States to not only declare independence but also to establish itself as a major military power almost immediately. ### Cause of Divergence The POD occurs because of a combination of effective diplomacy by Benjamin Franklin in securing French support and a strategic military victory that boosts American morale and capabilities beyond what was historically achieved. ### Short-term Effects (0-20 years) - **1780s:** The United States rapidly expands its territory, pushing the British out of North America much earlier than in OTL. The Treaty of Paris, which ends the American Revolutionary War, is signed in 1783, recognizing American independence and setting its boundaries much further west, including parts that would be considered part of Canada in OTL. - **1790s:** The U.S. becomes a focal point for immigration, attracting not just Europeans but also becoming a haven for dissidents and exiles from other parts of the world, boosting its population and economic growth. - **1800s:** With its early establishment as a superpower, the U.S. influences global politics, promotes liberal democracy, and expands its territories through strategic purchases and negotiations. ### Long-term Consequences (20+ years) By 2025, the world looks significantly different: ### Technology / Internet - **Wi-Fi:** Unchanged. Developed in the late 1990s as in OTL. - **Google:** Altered. Founded earlier, in 1996, by entrepreneurs who benefited from the advanced digital infrastructure and educational institutions fostered by an early superpower U.S. - **YouTube:** Altered. Launched in 2004, but grew faster due to the early digital and social media trends encouraged by a more affluent and connected populace. - **ChatGPT and character.ai:** Unchanged. The AI research was globally collaborative, and these specific developments weren’t directly influenced by the POD. - **Roblox and Minecraft:** Altered. These platforms were developed earlier and are more integrated into educational and recreational activities due to the U.S. focus on digital innovation. - **Space Engine and Dummynation:** Absent. Not developed as these names are not associated with real entities; assuming fictional, their absence reflects the focus on practical applications of technology rather than speculative or entertainment software. ### Pop Culture & Media - **Wolfenstein (game series):** Reduced. The series might have been less prominent or differently themed, given the altered geopolitical landscape. - **The Man in the High Castle (show/book):** Absent. The premise of the show/book, which explores an alternate history where the Axis powers won WWII, wouldn’t apply in this scenario. - **How To Train Your Dragon 1-3 (Film):** Unchanged. These films, produced in the 2010s, would likely have been made regardless of the POD, as they are based on a book series and reflect universal themes. ### Geopolitical - **USA:** Unchanged in status as a superpower but **Altered** in historical context and global influence trajectory. - **Russia:** Reduced. The Russian Empire, not having faced the same pressures and opportunities, didn’t expand as much and remains more isolated. - **China:** Altered. China’s growth as a global power was delayed due to internal strife and the early superpower status of the U.S., which influenced global relations and economic dynamics. - **Germany, UK, Israel, Ukraine, Palestine:** All **Altered**. Their developments are influenced by a world where the U.S. emerged early as a superpower, affecting alliances, conflicts, and national identities. This alternate timeline presents a world where the early establishment of the U.S. as a superpower reshapes global politics, economies, and cultures, leading to a significantly different world by 2025.