Charlotina facts for kids
Charlotina was a name suggested for a new British colony in America. This idea came up after the Seven Years' War ended in 1763. Great Britain had won a lot of land from New France in that war.
However, the British government wasn't very excited about this plan. They had a rule called the Royal Proclamation of 1763. This rule stopped new colonies from being created in the Mississippi and Ohio River areas.
If Charlotina had been created, it would have covered a large area. This area included parts of what are now Minnesota, Ohio, and Indiana. It also would have included all of modern-day Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Important cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, Toledo, and Detroit would have been part of it.
Why Charlotina Was Suggested
After the Treaty of Paris in 1763, many people in Britain and North America wanted new colonies. Charlotina was one of these ideas.
The first suggestion for Charlotina appeared in a pamphlet in 1763. A pamphlet is like a small book or brochure. This one was called "The Expediency of Securing our American Colonies by Settling the Country Adjoining the River Mississippi, and the Country upon the Ohio, Considered. It was published in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Another group, the Mississippi Land Company, also wanted a new colony in the same area. But none of these plans worked out. This was mainly because of the Royal Proclamation of 1763. This rule limited where new colonies could be built.
Other Names and Ideas
Sometimes, you might see the name spelled "Charlotiana" in old books. This happened because of a mistake that was copied over time.
Other similar names like "Charlottina" and "Charlotta" were suggested later in 1770. These names were for a different proposed colony. This new colony would have been in a different area, similar to what is now West Virginia. But in the end, the name "Vandalia" was chosen instead.
Both "Charlotina" and "Vandalia" were chosen to honor Queen Charlotte. People believed she was related to an old group called the Vandals. Just like Charlotina, the colony of Vandalia was never actually created.
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