United Provinces

The United Provinces of America commonly known as the United Provinces was a predecessor to the modern-day United States. Formed in 1776 from the Thirteen British colonies, the United Provinces became a semi-autonomous confederation of British colonies. However, discontent with the current system of government continued to grow, especially the freedom that the United Provinces lacked in choosing its executive. The nation also failed to produce a tax revenue quota for most of its early existence, leading the British to terminate its semi-autonmous status. The Third Continental Congresss convened in Providence, Rhode Island which was largely a continuation of the United Provincial government after the British attempted to divest the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Congress eventually obtained concessions from Great Britain, including legislative independence, following the signing of a new federal consitution.

The United Provinces remained stable following the 1789 reinstatement of its legislative independence. The new dominion helped aid the British in the Napoleonic Wars and as a result gained the District of Charlotiana and the northern parts of Louisiana. The issue of slavery became a major debate in the country by the late 1820s. Virginia in particular remained defiant in keep slavery within its territory. Following the inauguration of Queen Victoria, substantial pressure was placed on the Continental Congress to end the practice within the United Provinces, as Parliament had no authority to legislate on behalf of the territory. In 1839, Victoria used her powers to end slavery across the United Provinces. The Virginia General Assembly nullified the resolution and deployed its militias to stop British officials from ending slavery. The General Assembly also declared an Intention of Secession petition to both Parliament and the Continental Congress, intending to become its own territory or a part of Carolina. As unrest built across the southern United Provinces, Canada, and Carolina, Parliament agreed to allow four territories, Virginia, Cumberland, Vandalia, and Transylvania to become the Dominion of Virginia. Following this, Maryland, and Missouri also filed petitions to become their own dominion, which was granted. Following the breakaway of Maryland, the capital was forced to be moved to Philadelphia. Politics in the United Provinces became turbulent and New England submitted a petition to Parliament to break away. As politics became violent, Parliament broke the United Provinces up into several smaller dominions, claiming they aimed to prevent a civil war. The United Provinces continued until 1848 as a federation between Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware until it was renamed as the Dominion of the Susquehanna.

Despite its problematic end, the United Provinces and its 1789 Consitution was largely the inspiration for the United States Consitution. Additionally, the fall of the United Provinces marked the beginning of a new era of Pan-North Americanism, largely championed by Abraham Lincoln along with other late-19th century advocates. Beginning as early as the 1880s, the United Provinces was largely romanticized which made its appeal stronger, even to British possesions that were not under its reach such as Canada and Carolina. Leaders such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson became integral to the founding story of the United States, and are still regarded as some of the more influential British North Americans today.