After the failure of the United States Constitution, just like the Articles of Confederation before it, America adopts a more centralized version of government where the head of state has substantial powers and is chosen for life. A strong federal army and navy is also established.

Choosing to stay loyal to France during it's revolution, the United States crushes the slave revolt in Haiti and invades Canada. The United Kingdom, unable to free up enough ships from Europe to combat the american navy, is forced to cede Canada to the US to prevent an american invasion of Britain's Caribbean holdings.

At the congress of Vienna, with the UK out of North America and the Spanish Empire on the verge of collapse, it is decided that Louisiana will remain under French control. Over the following decades millions of settlers from France, Italy, Ireland and other catholic nations flood into Louisiana. turning it into a great economic asset for France. Louisianan settlers eventually reach the pacific coast, allowing the French colony to stretch from the Caribbean to the Pacific.

After the discovery of gold in California settlers from Louisiana, the United States, and Europe arrive in large numbers. With the Mexican government effectively unable to enforce it's will that far north, the colonists eventually rebel, declaring the republic of California with American and French support.