I've heard many takes online that things would have been so much better, that slavery would have ended peacefully and that there wouldn't be so much nationalism in the United States. But then I've also heard people saying that the British Empire wasn't much better at its peak. I don't really know what to believe at this point, but that's fine. Let's have a sober discussion about this. Thanks.
The American Revolution changed the world in more ways than you know. The British would have excuted the revolutionaries. The French revolution might not have happened, if The American Revolution wasn't successful. Napoleon wouldn't have rose to power. The Louisiana Purchase wouldn't have happened. American expansion west wouldn't have happened.
Slavery would have died out or been outlawed.
America would not have a civil war and would not emerge as a powerhouse. Many inventors might not have emerged as America would not have much economic clout.
America would have less impact in WWI and WW2 and that could have tipped the wars the other way.
French Revolution was just as much a reaction to economic catastrophes in the 1770s and 1780s. France probably still bankrupts itself funding America to boot. So that likely still occurs
On top of the fact that the new US didn't exactly support the French Revolution. The American Revolution may have provided a moral inspiration but it did nothing for financial or military support .
The United States was neutral because the new nation couldn't be caught up in European entanglements.
While we’re on the topic, a big reason many colonists had for independence was to stay out of eternal European wars. They saw the history of Europe being constant wars and were already persistently involved in them on the continent because of their connection with the English. It’s a big reason why the founding fathers warned against permanent foreign alliances. Since the world wars, we have had permanent foreign alliances and have consistently sent men to fight and die in conflicts that end up serving no strategic objectives. The united states is the deciding factor between whether Moscow or kiev rule east ukraine. That’s completely insane in my opinion
In 1790 it was easy to be isolationist. A war in Ukraine wouldn’t have impact led America much. Between Britain/France/Spain, yes, East Asia had nearly no impact.
Additionally, early America had no troops, weapons, or ships to spare. Today, the weapons we consider obsolete would beat most nations on this earth.
In that case there’s virtually nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost by intervention.
Today, the world is far smaller so the war in Ukraine has a far larger impact. Plus war is different now, it’s far more about permanent conquest or the destruction of other nations.