If the Thirteen Colonies remain part of the British Empire, would the capital...

[Fabius Maximus]

As it says on the tin. Let's say that the Colonies are given some form of representation in the British Parliament, thus averting the creation of the USA and keeping the colonies within the British Empire. By 2023, would the capital of the Empire still be in London, or would it have moved to somewhere in North America?

The main arguments (that I can think of) for moving to North America:

(1) NA would likely end up as the Empire's centre of gravity in terms of population and overall wealth, and it would make sense to put the capital close by.

(2) A capital in NA would be less vulnerable to attack from rival powers.

And the main arguments for staying in London:

(1) Historical/symbolic/sentimental reasons would support keeping the capital where it has been for a thousand years or so already.

(2) Moving to NA would create a big fuss over which city/colony got to be the new capital (just look at all the wrangling over where the US' capital would go IOTL).

(3) Assuming Britain still expands in Africa, Asia, and Australasia, London would be more central for the Empire as a whole than somewhere in North America.

Bonus question: assuming the capital does get moved, where would it most likely be moved to? I'd guess New York, as it's already an important and wealthy city, much like London, and it's got a good harbour and international trading links, making it a good choice of capital for a maritime-oriented empire like Britain's.

 

[Mildtryth]

As it says on the tin. Let's say that the Colonies are given some form of representation in the British Parliament, thus averting the creation of the USA and keeping the colonies within the British Empire. By 2023, would the capital of the Empire still be in London, or would it have moved to somewhere in North America?

The main arguments (that I can think of) for moving to North America:

(1) NA would likely end up as the Empire's centre of gravity in terms of population and overall wealth, and it would make sense to put the capital close by.

(2) A capital in NA would be less vulnerable to attack from rival powers.

And the main arguments for staying in London:

(1) Historical/symbolic/sentimental reasons would support keeping the capital where it has been for a thousand years or so already.

(2) Moving to NA would create a big fuss over which city/colony got to be the new capital (just look at all the wrangling over where the US' capital would go IOTL).

(3) Assuming Britain still expands in Africa, Asia, and Australasia, London would be more central for the Empire as a whole than somewhere in North America.

Bonus question: assuming the capital does get moved, where would it most likely be moved to? I'd guess New York, as it's already an important and wealthy city, much like London, and it's got a good harbour and international trading links, making it a good choice of capital for a maritime-oriented empire like Britain's.

Most likely, in London - OTL,these same 'pro' arguments also applied to Portugal in regards to Brazil, and there were plans to relocate dating back to the 17th century, but these plans didn't come into action until there was a truly serious emergency, and once the people in Portugal saw the king wasn't in any hurry to come back even though Portugal had been militarily safe for years, they rebelled, demanding that the king return to Lisbon. Most likely, a attempted move of the British government to America would face similar resistance.

 

[presidentofyes12]

As long as it's the "British Empire" and not the "(Anglo-)American Empire", it'd be London

 

[Aincrad]

The capital of any empire is where all the ruling class gather. And so a change of capital means either the ruling elite changes or they move to that area. Thus like what @Mildtryth stated, there at least needs to be an emergency to move the ruling elite and their assets to America. Without it, the British Empire is a trading and financial one, not like Spain and Portugal or the Romans which follow the older model. So although America may grow in population and wealth, that would still be redirected to Britain and thus there would be no need to relocate.

 

[Clandango]

it will partially come down to how this Union is. The colonies each had different charters or had some high level os representatoin I their own state church. It you try to get the church the same organization and liturgy, or.... Hmmm. I am trying to think of examples of if there were no colonies and they were all part of the UK directly, but it is too difficult. The English had a centralized government for centuries and treating the colonies as individual shires or slicing them up at random and sticking people in ever government position would be... difficult. At least some areas would also end up wanting home rule like the Welsh, Irish, and Scottish did, though in this world the British presumably do not have quite as many laws making it more expensive to go to the United States, so they would be forced to stay as cheap labor in the UK (until they had too much and shoved them into Australia and Canada as cheap settlers or laborers who have no chance to ever buy a ticket back to Europe.) so they go to the Eastern Seaboard instead. The wealthy landowners in Britain also had laws to keep the selling price of grain up. Might not be a concern early on given the distance it would have to go, but Westminster will need to be careful about what levels of protectionism will exist between each kingdom. And since Ireland was not officially united with Great Britain by the time of the revolution, would it also be tacked on directly? The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and America? Might keep France innthe title just out of traditions sake unless they use this as an excuse to get rid of the clams in mainland Europe. Minus Brunswick.

 

[Fatt Shea]

Even if the American part was the centre of gravity London would stay capital for historical and ceremonial reasons, it’s where the houses of parliament are and where the King resides as well as being the original capital. Though possibly you could see two capitals of Americans gained more influence but London would always be one of them.

 

[Lalli]

I doubt that British Empire would ever move its capital. London has been capital already at least since end of Anglosaxon Dynasty so it has developed as important center of English nobility and royal family. There is all important politics and business. Moving is not pretty simple thing. And British Empire even didn't ever re-located capital to India despite that it had bigger population.

 

[Fabius Maximus]

I doubt that British Empire would ever move its capital. London has been capital already at least since end of Anglosaxon Dynasty so it has developed as important center of English nobility and royal family. There is all important politics and business. Moving is not pretty simple thing. And British Empire even didn't ever re-located capital to India despite that it had bigger population.

That's true, but I don't think the two situations are analogous. India was never culturally or legally integrated into the UK, unlike TTL's North American colonies. TTL's British Empire moving its capital to America would be more like OTL's US moving its capital to New Orleans or wherever.

 

[Domz]

I don't get why people haven't talked about how England would have been forced to do self-representation anyways. Same thing happened in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. The Durham Report of the 1830s, which gave Canada some form of self-governance for the first time in its history, was really the start of this transformation. Enlightenment England isn't Colonial France or Portugal. In the 50s and 60s, England prevented Rhodesian independence because the Rhodesian white elites did not give blacks equal representation in Rhodesian government (even according to Ian Morris himself).

 

[jacob ningen]

would it affect Holyrood independence? between more members of the commonwealth being pro independence and the scots in America does devolution go further in thisss case