A Red Dawn: American Revolution and Rebirth
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- 1930s out of date reds! retconned
This is my first reply to this thread, but I've been reading it for a couple of weeks now. I really like what you've done with it JB. There's a couple of things I've been wondering about however. What will be the state of the Zionist movement? Perhaps Britain will not be in as good of a spot to give the Jews a homeland. Would the UASR really support such a measure? Obviously they're not anti-semetic (at least officially), but it may cause some problems. Also, given that the UASR has been a bit more pro-civil rights, perhaps the holocaust will be more widely talked about during WWII. The rise of Islamic fundamentalism could also be avoided. Without an overly 'imperialist' america messing around the middle east, there will be little motivation for such actions. Just some thoughts, I could be way off base with them too.
In short, complicated. American Jews, over all, generally opposed the Aliyah IOTL, and preferred that European Jews emigrate to the United States. I would imagine that ITTL, the UASR government, which has a strong Jewish core among its political leaders, would be encouraging European Jewish refugees to come to America instead of Palestine.
The state of the Middle East is likely to be nearly unrecognizeable, given that the UASR will end up supporting left-wing nationalist governments in the eventual post-colonial age, rather than opposing them as IOTL.
Policy updates, continued
People's Secretariat for Railways
Of all the Secretariats in the UASR's government, the Railway Secretariat was the least controversial and innovative. The railroads had already been nationalized by the Hoover Government in early 1929, and had maintained operation throughout the Depression in spite of the collapse of interstate commerce and shipping. The take over of the railways by the provisional government had been smooth, and heavily assisted by the American Railway Union.
As part of the First Five Year Plan, James P. Cannon had lobbied for heavy reinvestment and expansion of the rail system, adopting new technologies to improve efficiency and productivity. With rail as the dominant means of overland passenger and freight transport, it was not hard to convince the Central Committee of its importance.
A Research and Development Division within the Secretariat was established, to develop and promote new technologies for rail transport. A program to convert the locomotive fleet to diesel-electric power-plants was begun, with the hope of reducing freight times and fuel costs. Experimental programs in rail electrification began in New England, to serve as a test bed for potential future technologies.
New rail lines were planned in the South, to serve industrialization programs. The first new lines, to support the Tennessee Valley Industrial Project, had already began construction in late 1933.
The period from 1934 to 1940 would see the last major expansion of the American rail system.
People's Secretariat for Communication
The nationalization of the American telephone and telegraph system, combined with the needs of information gathering and distribution in a planned economy prompted the creation of the Secretariat for Communication. Integrating the American postal, telegraph, and telephone systems, as well as the regulation of radio communications, the SecCom had the potential to be one of the most dangerous institutions in the UASR government.
It was a serious bit of fortune that it was Max Eastman, the American Trotskyist and critic of state socialism, was the one placed in charge during its formative years. The policies set up by Eastman dictated that the SecCom's portfolio would be limited to the maintenance and improvement of the physical infrastructure necessary for communication.
Under this interpretation, the main goal of SecCom became to expand telephone and telegraph services to cover the entirety of the country. Working in conjunction with provincial Communications Secretariats, telephone service was expanded to rural areas. In ares where coverage already existed, citizens were provided with a telephone and telephone service, free of charge, as available. "A Democratic Society is a Connected Society," as the program's tagline read.
A grant system to support the creation of new local radio cooperatives, was put into place in early 1935. An independent, non-political agency was created to review funding applications. Under the rules, the Union government would buy the necessary equipment for radio broadcast, and provide avenues for technical training if necessary, and the cooperatives themselves would fund their own operations through provincial/local grants, donations, or other means.
The program would serve as a basic template for a later program, begun in 1937, to support the filmmaking (and in the future, the television filming industry). In conjunction with the Union Academy for the Arts and Sciences, the SecCom created an independent, non-political agency to support both capital procurement and production costs in Hollywood. Controversial, even in the Workers Party at its inception, the program would eventually become a non-controversial institution in the Hollywood studio system.(1)
A pilot program, for research and development in television networks, began in New York City in 1935. Utilizing the existing infrastructure (with some modifications) of the local radio collectives, programming and expertise from the local university systems, and a bit of ingenuity, the first commercial, city-wide television network was set up.
People's Secretariat for Maritime Transport
The Secretariat for Maritime Transport was created to administer the nationalized American shipping fleets. As part of the system set up in the mid 30s, the Secretariat would set policies, and in conjunction with the Foreign Trade Secretariat, would provide the ships to conduct foreign trade with other nations over the sea. However, as a deal to the unions, the Secretariat would give ships a measure of autonomy. Trade unions involved with American shipping, fishing and passenger service would maintain propriety of ship conduct. The unions would elect ship officers, and discipline crews.
The system set up by Joseph Ryan, a former sailor and union man himself, would set up a tension between the Union government and the autonomy of the unions. In theory, the two sides remained in balance, but over the course of history, the balance of power and autonomy would shift back and forth with the currents of the times.
The Secretariat would also take over the administration of ports, docks and shipyards in the country. However, while it would set the policies of ports, the actual administration of them would fall to the provincial governments and the Longshoremen's Union.
During this period, and the Second World War that followed, the Maritime Secretariat would be the primary shipbuilder for the Union, constructing both civilian and military vessels based on designs developed by the independent Naval Architects Bureau.
1. Covered in more depth in a later update
Next installment: Energy, Heavy Industry, Light Industry
People's Secretariat for Railways
Of all the Secretariats in the UASR's government, the Railway Secretariat was the least controversial and innovative. The railroads had already been nationalized by the Hoover Government in early 1929, and had maintained operation throughout the Depression in spite of the collapse of interstate commerce and shipping. The take over of the railways by the provisional government had been smooth, and heavily assisted by the American Railway Union.
As part of the First Five Year Plan, James P. Cannon had lobbied for heavy reinvestment and expansion of the rail system, adopting new technologies to improve efficiency and productivity. With rail as the dominant means of overland passenger and freight transport, it was not hard to convince the Central Committee of its importance.
A Research and Development Division within the Secretariat was established, to develop and promote new technologies for rail transport. A program to convert the locomotive fleet to diesel-electric power-plants was begun, with the hope of reducing freight times and fuel costs. Experimental programs in rail electrification began in New England, to serve as a test bed for potential future technologies.
New rail lines were planned in the South, to serve industrialization programs. The first new lines, to support the Tennessee Valley Industrial Project, had already began construction in late 1933.
The period from 1934 to 1940 would see the last major expansion of the American rail system.
People's Secretariat for Communication
The nationalization of the American telephone and telegraph system, combined with the needs of information gathering and distribution in a planned economy prompted the creation of the Secretariat for Communication. Integrating the American postal, telegraph, and telephone systems, as well as the regulation of radio communications, the SecCom had the potential to be one of the most dangerous institutions in the UASR government.
It was a serious bit of fortune that it was Max Eastman, the American Trotskyist and critic of state socialism, was the one placed in charge during its formative years. The policies set up by Eastman dictated that the SecCom's portfolio would be limited to the maintenance and improvement of the physical infrastructure necessary for communication.
Under this interpretation, the main goal of SecCom became to expand telephone and telegraph services to cover the entirety of the country. Working in conjunction with provincial Communications Secretariats, telephone service was expanded to rural areas. In ares where coverage already existed, citizens were provided with a telephone and telephone service, free of charge, as available. "A Democratic Society is a Connected Society," as the program's tagline read.
A grant system to support the creation of new local radio cooperatives, was put into place in early 1935. An independent, non-political agency was created to review funding applications. Under the rules, the Union government would buy the necessary equipment for radio broadcast, and provide avenues for technical training if necessary, and the cooperatives themselves would fund their own operations through provincial/local grants, donations, or other means.
The program would serve as a basic template for a later program, begun in 1937, to support the filmmaking (and in the future, the television filming industry). In conjunction with the Union Academy for the Arts and Sciences, the SecCom created an independent, non-political agency to support both capital procurement and production costs in Hollywood. Controversial, even in the Workers Party at its inception, the program would eventually become a non-controversial institution in the Hollywood studio system.(1)
A pilot program, for research and development in television networks, began in New York City in 1935. Utilizing the existing infrastructure (with some modifications) of the local radio collectives, programming and expertise from the local university systems, and a bit of ingenuity, the first commercial, city-wide television network was set up.
People's Secretariat for Maritime Transport
The Secretariat for Maritime Transport was created to administer the nationalized American shipping fleets. As part of the system set up in the mid 30s, the Secretariat would set policies, and in conjunction with the Foreign Trade Secretariat, would provide the ships to conduct foreign trade with other nations over the sea. However, as a deal to the unions, the Secretariat would give ships a measure of autonomy. Trade unions involved with American shipping, fishing and passenger service would maintain propriety of ship conduct. The unions would elect ship officers, and discipline crews.
The system set up by Joseph Ryan, a former sailor and union man himself, would set up a tension between the Union government and the autonomy of the unions. In theory, the two sides remained in balance, but over the course of history, the balance of power and autonomy would shift back and forth with the currents of the times.
The Secretariat would also take over the administration of ports, docks and shipyards in the country. However, while it would set the policies of ports, the actual administration of them would fall to the provincial governments and the Longshoremen's Union.
During this period, and the Second World War that followed, the Maritime Secretariat would be the primary shipbuilder for the Union, constructing both civilian and military vessels based on designs developed by the independent Naval Architects Bureau.
1. Covered in more depth in a later update
Next installment: Energy, Heavy Industry, Light Industry
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Could we see TVA like organizations all around the country? It is the most efficient power company in IOTL.
President Al Bundy
Banned
So despite a socialist government in charge, commercial television still goes off the ground. Might we see a ITV-esque television system, with stronger emphasis on local tv stations?
Great TL. Very well written and thought out.
One of the first things the Bolsheviks did after taking power in Russia was to legalize homosexuality. On the other hand Stalinist parties in IOTL were traditionally homophobic, at least until the 1970s or later. What is the situation for lgbt rights ITTL? That term most likely won't be used. Harry Hay as head of the Tolerance Commission ?
One of the first things the Bolsheviks did after taking power in Russia was to legalize homosexuality. On the other hand Stalinist parties in IOTL were traditionally homophobic, at least until the 1970s or later. What is the situation for lgbt rights ITTL? That term most likely won't be used. Harry Hay as head of the Tolerance Commission ?
Orville_third
Banned
Well, Hay may have been more of a libertarian or anarchist than a communist, since back in the 30's and 40's he played organ for the Ordo Templi Orientalis. (Of course, that was the only place I heard of Hay...)
Make Hay while the sun shines....
The Harry Hay I meant was a labor organizer for the Communist Party in the 30s (IOTL). He was kicked out of the CP (as far as I understand) in the 50s for wanting to emphasize gay activism.Later he became more of an anarchist. He started the Mattachine Society.He was the sometime partner of Will Geer, who much later played "Grandpa" in the cheesy 70s TV show "The Waltons".
I'm not very familiar with the OTO. According to this (third para down) he was involved with the OTO as well.
http://www.ravenoir.com/R120.htm
The Harry Hay I meant was a labor organizer for the Communist Party in the 30s (IOTL). He was kicked out of the CP (as far as I understand) in the 50s for wanting to emphasize gay activism.Later he became more of an anarchist. He started the Mattachine Society.He was the sometime partner of Will Geer, who much later played "Grandpa" in the cheesy 70s TV show "The Waltons".
I'm not very familiar with the OTO. According to this (third para down) he was involved with the OTO as well.
http://www.ravenoir.com/R120.htm
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That's likely to be the angle ITTL. Projects like television are being funded not for their entertainment potential (though that too will come in time) but more for their communication potential. A lot more information can be communicated through video than can be through audio alone, or through print.
That is essentially what has happened ITTL in America. Building off the Roaring 20's relative tolerance of homsexuality, upon coming to power, all laws against homosexuality were abolished. Though it receives a lot less notice than tolerance campaigns for race or sex, it is a growing part of these educational campaigns. However, things like crossdressing, one of Hoover's proclivities, are still rather heavily looked down upon, and the implicit threat is that if Hoover screws up, they'll try to publicly disgrace him.
Orville_third
Banned
Well, you know more about him than I do...and that is the Harry Hay I was referring to!
People's Secretariat for Energy
Energy production and distribution was among the first industries of "national importance" to be reorganized under the First Five Year Plan. Economic recovery, as well as future economic growth, would depend upon a stable, ample supply of energy. As part of the National Recovery Act of 1933, all firms related to the mining or recovery of energy resources, or those involved in the refining of energy resources or the production of electricity, were nationalized, and placed under the management of the newly organized People's Secretariat for Energy.
Two primary goals were established by Farrel Dobbs for the transition period. The first was to reutilize unused inputs. Inactive oil fields and coal mines were to be reopened to meet rising demand in the industrial sectors of the economy. The second goal was to improve the efficiency of energy capture and production. New oil refining methods were experimented with, and a United Mineworker's led research taskforce was established to improve efficiency and safety in coal mining operations.
A major rural electrification program was begun in 1934, with the aim of expanding electrical networks to cover over 95 percent of Americans within five years. New Electro-Industrial projects, typified by the Tennessee Valley Industrial Project, combined massive expansions in road infrastructure with new heavy and light industrial projects, all supported by electricity produced primarily by hydroelectric dams.
The TVIP, under the joint leadership of the Energy and Heavy Industry Secretariats, would serve as the archetypal modernization project under the Five Year Plans. Agriculture in the Tennessee Valley was near universally collectivized. Over a dozen new dams provided a bounty of electrical power to the surrounding region, providing the energy needed to sustain and expand the agro-industrial projects of the kibbutzim set up in the Valley. Increased farm yields and productivity dramatically improved farm incomes for Tennessee Valley farmers. Aluminum smelting and processing plants were built in the Valley, which would later be crucial to the American war effort.(1)
While the TVIP was the first, it was far from the last. Similar projects were began in the late 30s in Missouri River (Missouri River Industrial Collective), the Columbia River (Columbia Valley Authority), the Ohio River (Ohio Valley Authority), the Savannah River (Savannah River Authority) and the Arkansas Valley. Their growing success would prompt the creation of an Atlantic Seaboard Project, a California Authority, and a Colorado River Authority during the Second World War.
While these new projects would eventually be integrated under the authority of the State Planning Commission in the 1950s, their initial planning and creation under the Energy Secretariat would among the crowning achievements of the First Five Year Plan, and would do their fair share of heavy lifting in America's economic recovery and growth.
People's Secretariat for Heavy Industry
The Heavy Industry Secretariat was similarly created as part of the National Recovery Act of 1933. Charged with the purpose of coordinating industrial production and refining of raw materials and the manufacture durable, non-maritime goods such as aircraft and automobiles, the Secretariat would be a major player in American recovery.
Keeping with the Central Committee's central goals of recovery and modernization, W.E.B. DuBois would spend much of his time organizing research and development projects. Newer, more efficient and safer techniques of production were to be developed in all of the major industries, with the goal of improving productivity at a rate of six percent per year. DuBois would also oversee the creation of the Design Bureau system, which would separate design and research on finished durables from production.
The heavily state supported design bureaus, organized from and sharing the name with the firms that they drew their talent pool from, would develop and test prototypes for the locomotive, aircraft, automobile and shipbuilding industries.
Economic recovery would come swiftly, driven by smart industrial planning and deficit spending: by May of 1936, industrial production had returned to it's pre-Depression high. Unemployment was reduced by more than half, to 12 percent. Broad, egalitarian improvements in living standards and real wages had come with the recovery. Real GDP reached pre-Depression levels by early 1937, and 8-9% growth rates were foretasted until the end of the First Five Year Plan in 1939.
People's Secretariat for Light Industry
Light Industry, primarily responsible for the coordination of production in consumer goods, would play a less obvious but still crucial role during the economic recovery in the 30s. Light Industry would ultimately serve two major roles during the 30s and the Cultural Revolution.
First, it would serve it's ground breaking role during the formation and growth of the "kibbutzim" system of agricultural collectives. The Light Industry Secretariat would recruit and train the expertise necessary to make the kibbutzim reasonably self-sufficient. From bakers and brewers to smiths and tanners, many different trades would have to be promoted and expanded to serve the image of the model collective.
Negotiating grants and cheap loans with the Union Bank, the Secretariat promoted the expansion of light industry in the rural agricultural collectives, expanding the supply of consumer goods, and providing the basic modernization to many rural areas necessary to ensure sustained economic growth.
The Light Industry Secretariat would also promote the production and distribution of new waves of labor saving household appliances. While these programs officially discouraged private residence use of such appliances in order to promote the expansion of communal living(2) in both urban and rural areas, their presence would be universally felt in this era. With more women than ever joining the labor force, such devices were very much welcome.
1. Basically, OTL's TVA, only faster and on steroids.
2. Also covered in later cultural updates.
Next update will conclude major policy updates
Energy production and distribution was among the first industries of "national importance" to be reorganized under the First Five Year Plan. Economic recovery, as well as future economic growth, would depend upon a stable, ample supply of energy. As part of the National Recovery Act of 1933, all firms related to the mining or recovery of energy resources, or those involved in the refining of energy resources or the production of electricity, were nationalized, and placed under the management of the newly organized People's Secretariat for Energy.
Two primary goals were established by Farrel Dobbs for the transition period. The first was to reutilize unused inputs. Inactive oil fields and coal mines were to be reopened to meet rising demand in the industrial sectors of the economy. The second goal was to improve the efficiency of energy capture and production. New oil refining methods were experimented with, and a United Mineworker's led research taskforce was established to improve efficiency and safety in coal mining operations.
A major rural electrification program was begun in 1934, with the aim of expanding electrical networks to cover over 95 percent of Americans within five years. New Electro-Industrial projects, typified by the Tennessee Valley Industrial Project, combined massive expansions in road infrastructure with new heavy and light industrial projects, all supported by electricity produced primarily by hydroelectric dams.
The TVIP, under the joint leadership of the Energy and Heavy Industry Secretariats, would serve as the archetypal modernization project under the Five Year Plans. Agriculture in the Tennessee Valley was near universally collectivized. Over a dozen new dams provided a bounty of electrical power to the surrounding region, providing the energy needed to sustain and expand the agro-industrial projects of the kibbutzim set up in the Valley. Increased farm yields and productivity dramatically improved farm incomes for Tennessee Valley farmers. Aluminum smelting and processing plants were built in the Valley, which would later be crucial to the American war effort.(1)
While the TVIP was the first, it was far from the last. Similar projects were began in the late 30s in Missouri River (Missouri River Industrial Collective), the Columbia River (Columbia Valley Authority), the Ohio River (Ohio Valley Authority), the Savannah River (Savannah River Authority) and the Arkansas Valley. Their growing success would prompt the creation of an Atlantic Seaboard Project, a California Authority, and a Colorado River Authority during the Second World War.
While these new projects would eventually be integrated under the authority of the State Planning Commission in the 1950s, their initial planning and creation under the Energy Secretariat would among the crowning achievements of the First Five Year Plan, and would do their fair share of heavy lifting in America's economic recovery and growth.
People's Secretariat for Heavy Industry
The Heavy Industry Secretariat was similarly created as part of the National Recovery Act of 1933. Charged with the purpose of coordinating industrial production and refining of raw materials and the manufacture durable, non-maritime goods such as aircraft and automobiles, the Secretariat would be a major player in American recovery.
Keeping with the Central Committee's central goals of recovery and modernization, W.E.B. DuBois would spend much of his time organizing research and development projects. Newer, more efficient and safer techniques of production were to be developed in all of the major industries, with the goal of improving productivity at a rate of six percent per year. DuBois would also oversee the creation of the Design Bureau system, which would separate design and research on finished durables from production.
The heavily state supported design bureaus, organized from and sharing the name with the firms that they drew their talent pool from, would develop and test prototypes for the locomotive, aircraft, automobile and shipbuilding industries.
Economic recovery would come swiftly, driven by smart industrial planning and deficit spending: by May of 1936, industrial production had returned to it's pre-Depression high. Unemployment was reduced by more than half, to 12 percent. Broad, egalitarian improvements in living standards and real wages had come with the recovery. Real GDP reached pre-Depression levels by early 1937, and 8-9% growth rates were foretasted until the end of the First Five Year Plan in 1939.
People's Secretariat for Light Industry
Light Industry, primarily responsible for the coordination of production in consumer goods, would play a less obvious but still crucial role during the economic recovery in the 30s. Light Industry would ultimately serve two major roles during the 30s and the Cultural Revolution.
First, it would serve it's ground breaking role during the formation and growth of the "kibbutzim" system of agricultural collectives. The Light Industry Secretariat would recruit and train the expertise necessary to make the kibbutzim reasonably self-sufficient. From bakers and brewers to smiths and tanners, many different trades would have to be promoted and expanded to serve the image of the model collective.
Negotiating grants and cheap loans with the Union Bank, the Secretariat promoted the expansion of light industry in the rural agricultural collectives, expanding the supply of consumer goods, and providing the basic modernization to many rural areas necessary to ensure sustained economic growth.
The Light Industry Secretariat would also promote the production and distribution of new waves of labor saving household appliances. While these programs officially discouraged private residence use of such appliances in order to promote the expansion of communal living(2) in both urban and rural areas, their presence would be universally felt in this era. With more women than ever joining the labor force, such devices were very much welcome.
1. Basically, OTL's TVA, only faster and on steroids.
2. Also covered in later cultural updates.
Next update will conclude major policy updates
Very interesting updates. I love your inclusion of other 'Valley Authorities', because IOTL, those were actually planned, but ultimately (and unfortunately, I say, as a person who gets his electricity from the TVA) were shelved by the conservative opposition to the New Deal in the late thirties.
I also love the irony in a 'Red' National Recovery Act.
I also love the irony in a 'Red' National Recovery Act.
Orville_third
Banned
Three things:
Agriculture:
One major concern for Henry Agard Wallace (which he got in part form his father and George Washington Carver) was a concern for the quality of soil. ITOL, part of the New Deal included efforts to raise the quality of soil and to prevent erosion. (The latter would eventually backfire with Kudzu.)
Rural Electrification:
It's worth noting that IOTL, a number of states set up their own rural electrification programs, such as SC's Santee Cooper.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santee_Cooper
The new USSA government may well handle manty of those projects.
Electrification, Industrialization, and Integration:
IOTL, industrialization and electrification moved the city and country closer together, changing the lives of rural people. This TL may cause the same to occur. Perhaps this may even result in violent counterreactions in the South. Further, if the standard of life for all citizens is being improved, it will likely include those of african origin. And, once one set of conditions improve, they may seek others.
A different integration question:
If the issue of Civil Rights comes to a head early on, we need to find out what the attitude of the various government figures is toward segregation.
Agriculture:
One major concern for Henry Agard Wallace (which he got in part form his father and George Washington Carver) was a concern for the quality of soil. ITOL, part of the New Deal included efforts to raise the quality of soil and to prevent erosion. (The latter would eventually backfire with Kudzu.)
Rural Electrification:
It's worth noting that IOTL, a number of states set up their own rural electrification programs, such as SC's Santee Cooper.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santee_Cooper
The new USSA government may well handle manty of those projects.
Electrification, Industrialization, and Integration:
IOTL, industrialization and electrification moved the city and country closer together, changing the lives of rural people. This TL may cause the same to occur. Perhaps this may even result in violent counterreactions in the South. Further, if the standard of life for all citizens is being improved, it will likely include those of african origin. And, once one set of conditions improve, they may seek others.
A different integration question:
If the issue of Civil Rights comes to a head early on, we need to find out what the attitude of the various government figures is toward segregation.
When you do get along to the cultural updates, please, please, please tell me that the U.S. is going to be investing much more heavily in living newspapers. Interestingly enough, the Federal Theater Project of OTL got the idea from the Russian Revolution, so I get the feeling that there's a lot of potential for these in the newly minted UASR.
...I know that was somewhat off the wall. But I've been doing a good bit of reading on the arts programs under the WPA here lately, and I thought that I might inquire about the living newspaper itself, which I think is a seriously tremendous idea for an art form that's sorely under appreciated.
...I know that was somewhat off the wall. But I've been doing a good bit of reading on the arts programs under the WPA here lately, and I thought that I might inquire about the living newspaper itself, which I think is a seriously tremendous idea for an art form that's sorely under appreciated.
No, actually that's perfect. I'd actually never heard of the "Living Newspaper" directly before, but I'm familiar with the style of surrealist agitprop that it represents. If I can make this big, it will have huge effects on the style of television news in America.
Hmm, I could a swore I put some stuff about soil conservation in the Ag update...
Hmm, this does remind me though. I do need to make an update about the standards of federalism in this government.