What if the USA invades Canada?

[Dominioan]

What would motivate America to invade Canada?

Chinese invasion of Alaska. Or maybe Canada looked at America funny.

Oil?

[Heloin]

Chinese invasion of Alaska. Or maybe Canada looked at America funny.

Oil?

America decide to resolve the Machias Seal Island dispute with a show of overwhelming force. The problem is they went overboard and had to annex Canada to save face.

[Glorious Hong Kong]

The invasion would be a complete success at least outside of Quebec. If the USA succeeds in invading and annexing Canada without any significant international pushback, it would mark the death knell for international law altogether, because let's face it, might makes right still applies, like it or not. If Russia and China can get away with illegally annexing territories, so can the USA.

Unless Canadians are routinely executed for failing to pronounce about properly or forced to slave away in maple syrup factories, it's unlikely anyone outside of Quebec would mount any kind of serious resistance given just how similar American and Canadian culture and customs are and their shared language and North American dialect and accent. Foreigners routinely mistake one for the other, usually Canadians for Americans instead of the reverse. Canadians are essentially Americans who have remained loyal to the Crown. They are mostly descended from 18th century American colonists. Quebec, of course, is a different story.

Most likely Canadians would simply blend in, become full U.S. citizens, and vote and run for office like anyone else. The Canadian provinces and territories would become U.S. states and territories and be treated no differently than the U.S. proper. The Senate would gain 20 seats and the House and Electoral College would be similarly expanded.

But why would the United States invade Canada in the first place? It's not fascist or communist. It's a liberal democracy. Americans cherish national sovereignty both at home and abroad.

[The New California Republic]

Maybe you'll think of me when you are all alone
Maybe the one who is waiting for you will prove untrue
Then what will you do?

(Image)

I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart
In my heart I have but one desire
And that one is you
No other will do
I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you feel the same
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of
Believe me

---

But seriously, the UK would be hopping mad if Canada got invaded. The Special Relationship would be torn to tatters, irreparably so.

[Parxland]

I blame Canada for reasons.

[Resilient Acceleration]

The US-led world order, based on defensive treaties, will instantly collapse. America and Canada is also pretty highly integrated economically, and with the war being a thing, international trade will fall apart, business confidence will tank, and the gigantic economic crisis combined with our current economic crisis will be irreparable and almost certainly spark a massive unrest.

Not to mention with Iraq being a thing, there will be significant and public rejection of the war, mass denouncing by almost all influential social, business, and political figures, mass demonstration, even rioting. Heck there'll be collosal resistance inside the armed forces and security apparatus itself, since the war would be completely contradictory to literally all established doctrines and principles, while the incumbent government faces possible impeachment and almost certain landslide political defeat next year.

TL;DR invading Canada -> socialist dictatorship under Bernie Sanders (?)

[The New California Republic]

Even after the US claimed "victory" over conventional forces it's inevitable that there would be many decades of both nonviolent and violent Canadian resistance to it, including protests, strikes, noncompliance, assassinations, sabotage, and terrorism; both inside Canada and against US targets both in the USA and internationally. I'm not sure if Canada would ever be totally pacified.

[-Ocelot-]

OP are you trying to equate the US with China? Just because China is on its way to invade Taiwan, it doesn't mean the USA would simply invade Canada, no matter the hypothetical. It just wouldn't happen.

[Infected Mushroom]

Chinese invasion of Alaska. Or maybe Canada looked at America funny.

Oil?

Canada has lots of natural resources.

[The Holy Therns]

...Why?

[Infected Mushroom]

...Why?

I haven't decided why. But here's some possibilities:

It [Canada] has the world's third largest proven petroleum reserves and is the fourth largest exporter of petroleum. It is also the fourth largest exporter of natural gas. Canada is considered an "energy superpower" due to its abundant natural resources and a small population of 37 million inhabitants relative to its land area.[28][29][30]

A current issue between the United States and Canada is the ongoing softwood lumber dispute, as the U.S. alleges that Canada unfairly subsidizes its forestry industry.

I'm less interested in why the war occurred and more on whether or not the international system of laws and norms would really protect Canada.

What would the international response be? And HOW (what actions) would they go about making the USA relinquish Canada? If that's on the table at all?

[The Holy Therns]

...Why?

I haven't decided why. But here's some possibilities:

It [Canada] has the world's third largest proven petroleum reserves and is the fourth largest exporter of petroleum. It is also the fourth largest exporter of natural gas. Canada is considered an "energy superpower" due to its abundant natural resources and a small population of 37 million inhabitants relative to its land area.[28][29][30]

A current issue between the United States and Canada is the ongoing softwood lumber dispute, as the U.S. alleges that Canada unfairly subsidizes its forestry industry.

I'm less interested in why the war occurred and more on whether or not the international system of laws and norms would really protect Canada.

What would the international response be? And HOW (what actions) would they go about making the USA relinquish Canada? If that's on the table at all?

It's so ridiculous a hypothetical the "why" is the only interesting thing to discuss. You might as well start a thread on how the concept of human rights would be affected by a wizard turning every human into a slug with wings.

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

Canada is practically a vassal of the US currently, Canadians get mad when that is brought up, but on a geopolitical scale, it’s an accurate description.

The prospect of an American invasion of Canada isn’t as insane as it sounds as it has been attempted at least three times or more in history depending on how you look at it. America has the population, military, and resources to easily crush the Canadian forces, and with the exception of Quebec, Canadian culture is practically just an extension of American culture

[Azohahae]

The United States can’t invade Canada because it’s unrecognizable here’s the reasons:one:it has 60% percent of all the lakes and it could flood it

[The New California Republic]

The United States can’t invade Canada because it’s unrecognizable here’s the reasons:one:it has 60% percent of all the lakes and it could flood it

...huh?

[Infected Mushroom]

So what would the international community do?

They can’t declare war (no one can win vs the USA on the offense).

Can they even put sanctions? Doesn’t the USA run the world economy? I just don’t see it working.

Are you saying words and condemnations alone will suffice in making the USA retreat from Canada?

[Infected Mushroom]

I haven't decided why. But here's some possibilities:





I'm less interested in why the war occurred and more on whether or not the international system of laws and norms would really protect Canada.

What would the international response be? And HOW (what actions) would they go about making the USA relinquish Canada? If that's on the table at all?

It's so ridiculous a hypothetical the "why" is the only interesting thing to discuss. You might as well start a thread on how the concept of human rights would be affected by a wizard turning every human into a slug with wings.

The intended design of the hypothetical is to explore the options that international law/the international community has/would have in the event that a military and economic superpower is determined to go rogue

In turn this makes you think, does international law/norms even work?

[New haven america]

Done within 9 months, international outrage, Russia and China probably pulling some shit they couldn't get away with normally in those 9 months, followed by everything normalizing because no country currently can do anything to punish the US in the long term.

[Dominioan]

Done within 9 months, international outrage, Russia and China probably pulling some shit they couldn't get away with normally in those 9 months, followed by everything normalizing because no country currently can do anything to punish the US in the long term.

Canada is also a Commonwealth realm, so wouldn't Britain be obligated to do something?

[New haven america]

Done within 9 months, international outrage, Russia and China probably pulling some shit they couldn't get away with normally in those 9 months, followed by everything normalizing because no country currently can do anything to punish the US in the long term.

Canada is also a Commonwealth realm, so wouldn't Britain be obligated to do something?

Like...?

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

Done within 9 months, international outrage, Russia and China probably pulling some shit they couldn't get away with normally in those 9 months, followed by everything normalizing because no country currently can do anything to punish the US in the long term.

Canada is also a Commonwealth realm, so wouldn't Britain be obligated to do something?

If they try something it would probably result in America control of Britain

That would be hilarious, probably enough to make Sam Adams smile in his grave

[Dominioan]

Canada is also a Commonwealth realm, so wouldn't Britain be obligated to do something?

Like...?

Help them in the fight at least? If they didn't do it, then China and Russia certainly would. They wouldn't mind an excuse to attack America, especially if its America being in a conflict with someone else.

[New Steuben]

I don't think a shot would really need to be fired

if the United States sent an ultimatley, threatening force if they did not willingly submit, I think Canada would just let it happen.

Canada and America are pretty similar in a lot of ways, ive even trained with them in the military, they don't seem "foreign" really.

They would probably just submit, a few incidents/insurgent actions might occur, but I actually think it would be pretty bloodless.

[New haven america]

Like...?

Help them in the fight at least? If they didn't do it, then China and Russia certainly would. They wouldn't mind an excuse to attack America, especially if its America being in a conflict with someone else.

Yes, because as history proves, the US is a great country geographically to attack with no natural barriers to invasion.

[New Steuben]

Help them in the fight at least? If they didn't do it, then China and Russia certainly would. They wouldn't mind an excuse to attack America, especially if its America being in a conflict with someone else.

Yes, because as history proves, the US is a great country geographically to attack with no natural barriers to invasion.

whenever people talk about invasion of america the first step is this.

"You and what aircraft carriers?"