Piggy-backing on my entry for MotF 102
A young man from Scandinavia sets out in the mid-1400's to seek the lands described in legends left by his Viking ancestors. Europeans are led to the new land and do what they do best.
Jons Axelsson returned to Europe in 1458 to find a restored Kalmar Union under Christian I of Denmark. After meeting with the young explorer, Christian realizes that this is a chance to further unite the Union. By obtaining funds from companies in all three separate countries, as well as from his own personal treasury, another voyage was sent to explore and colonize this new land. This event is seen as a pivotal moment in history, as it led to the stabilization of the fragile Union.
France and the Netherlands were quick to follow, establishing several small enclaves that promoted trade with the natives. The most notable were Kebecstad and Nieuw Amsterdam by the Netherlands and St. Jean by France. These eventually grew to envelop most of the northeastern part of the region.
Spain quickly explored the southern parts of the New World, and focused their colonization there, in hopes of finding gold and other riches.
The Wars of the Roses hindered England's entry into the colonization race. However, at the conclusion of the war, Henry and Elizabeth sought to establish colonies immediately, in the hopes of improving the damaged economy. New England was established in 1485, followed by Avalon and Celtia a few years later. The success of England's colonies can be attributed to the diversity of their regions and specialties. Erie, Ohio, and northern Kanawha and New England were focused on manufacturing. Southern New England and Avalon produced cash crops such as cotton and tobacco. Celtica grew food crops, most notably rice.
<Viewpoint: mid-1700's>
English Colonies: Collectively known as the Ten Colonies. Loose confederation-style government, with a capital in New London, on the New Thames. New England was the first colony, and most things there are the 'new' versions of the ones across the sea in 'old' England. Avalon and Celtia are the two biggest agricultural producers. Avalon is home to wealthy planter families - 'old money'. Celtia was founded by a Scotsman and an Irishman, so naturally there was a large amount of Celtic immigration there. Misisibi and Albamo are generally less populated, but come from a hardy stock. Albamo actually started as a penal colony. Mostly woodsmen. Shawnee is just as sparsely populated, although there are sizable amounts of native tribes. Kanawha and Kent are mostly known for logging and small mining operations. Ohio and Erie are more modernized than their southern counterparts, where manufacturing is a big industry. Erie is especially important because of it's access to the St. Lawrence River (kept it the same for simplicity's sake). England's colonies are second in size only to Scandinavia's.
Dutch Colonies: These colonies are all part of Nieuw Netherland. They are considerably modern and wealthy due to their strategic position for shipping. Controlling one side of the St. Lawrence in the north and large port cities in the east makes the society very dependent on industry and shipping. Zeeland Eilanden and Lange Eilandt benefit the most from the shipping industry, as well as parts of Bergen and Zuid Holland. Farming can be found in western Noord and Zuid Holland. Most of the population of Kebec can be found near Kebecstad, which controls river traffic on the St. Lawrence.
French Colonies: Nouvelle-France, like Nieuw Netherland, is very dependent on shipping and industry. One of the biggest industries is fishing, especially off of the Grand Banks. French Protestants migrated here en masse, and generally populate the northern and western parts of the colony. The Dutch territory of Zeeland Eilanden once belonged to Nouvelle-France, but was lost after a breif skirmish between the two countries. Francias Messipi sits at the mouth of the Messipi (Misisibi) River, and thus controls river traffic, much like Kebecstad. The claims attached to Francias Messipi are much larger, but the mouth of the river is the only undisputed claim. France, Scandinavia, and England all claim land across the river.
Scandinavian Colonies: Much of these colonies are very sparsely populated and undeveloped. This allows more peaceful relations with the local native tribes. Most cities are only around strategic shipping areas, such as Tkaronto and Adawe. It has been noted that some of these areas, usually Ouiskonsing and Neshnabe, bear a striking resemblance to the native homeland of the colonists, and are very popular for those in debt to relocate to. Fur trade is very prevalent, and has even sparked a new fashion trend in Europe. Vinland, along with Nouvelle-France, focuses on the fishing industry.
Spanish Colonies: Most Spanish colonies are located in the south of the New World, while Florida is the high-water mark. Florida is highly undeveloped, and remains for the most part untouched swampland and marshland. Just to the south is Spanish Cuba, which occupies the west side of the island. It's neighbor is Scandinavian Cuba on the east side of the island. To the east is English Hispaniola, with the Netherlands Antilles beginning at Puerto Rico, and French Jamacia to the south (place names have again remained the same to avoid confusion).
Political situation: All five nations remain tentatively at peace with one another (at least in the New World). Historically, the English and the Dutch have had a positive relationship since the Glorious Revolution, cooperating against France in many conflicts. Scandinavia or Spain would usually side with France.
There has been some bitterness between the colonies and their European counterparts in the latter half of the century, more noticeably in Nieuw Netherland and the Ten Colonies. In Nieuw Netherland, increased shipping and trade regulations from Amsterdam have been the big controversy, while in the Ten Colonies, exporting has been the issue. In the latter, Avalon and Celtia are leading the charge for more autonomy (and even independence in the case of some radicals). They generally receive support from the western colonies of Kent, Shawnee, Albamo, and Misisibi, while there is some resistance to this thinking in the northern colonies of Erie, Ohio, New England, and parts of Kanawha.
Rivers: The St. Lawrence is shared equally by Scandinavia and the Netherlands, though the Netherlands controls the entrance to the river.
The Mississippi River marks the end of undisputed territorial claims. West of the river is the frontier waiting to be claimed. The river is mainly used by farmers from the western parts of the colonies to ship their goods south.
The Susquehanna river has become much more open with the improving of Anglo-Dutch relations. Since each side controls one side of the river, there is almost no conflict over territory or shipping rights.
<Viewpoint: mid-1800's>
United Provinces of Terranova: Formed after a rebellion by the colonists kicked the Brits off of the continent. The Brits did manage to hang on to New England, Ohio, and Erie for a notable amount of time, but eventually were forced out. The wartime capital of Charlotte, located in central Avalon, becomes the nation's new capital, replacing New London. France was a close ally of the Terranovans. After an uprising in France incapacitated the nation for years, forcing them to drop their claims in the New World, the UP negotiated deals with Scandinavia and the Netherlands to give them territorial claims that stretch all the way to the Pacific.
Dutch Colonies: The Dutch colony structure is one of the strangest looking in the world. The rulers chose to govern the Terranovan colonies as one. Technically, the regions of Nassau in the northeast and Orange in the southwest are one colony. It makes for a tricky legislature, but they make it work. The colonies are relatively satisfied with the rule of the monarch, although there was a little bit of panic when their neighbors rebelled. Nonetheless, Nassau and Orange still maintain decent relations with the UP. The agreement with the UP firmed up the northern border of Orange, though a separate deal had to be struck with Spain, diminishing a little territory claimed in the south.
French Colonies: The turmoil that wracked their homeland left the colonies of Nouvelle France, Orleans, and Chamacces to their own rule for a good amount of time. Now, France is back on it's feet under a new Head of State, and is trying to re-assert it's control over it's colonies. The colonies don't like this, and murmurs mirroring those of their neighbors, the UPT, begin arising.
Scandinavian Colonies: Scandinavia keeps a loose leash on it's colonies. One of the major rules, though, is about not messing with the natives. Once the borders were created with the UPT, colonists clearly knew where they could and could not go. Most European inhabitants of these colonies live in the south, along the border with the UP. Some of the most populous colonies include Vinland, Inoken, and Ouiskonsing, which reminds many of the settlers of their native homes. Yuktan and Kuben are collectively known as 'the Gateway to the Imperial Gulf'.
Spanish Colonies: Florida is basically still a jungle, minus a few trading ports. Most Spanish activity is in the south. Taino is good for cash crops.
Political Situation: Scandinavia and Spain are still in a loose alliance system, as long as neither gets in the other's way. This works out pretty well in the New World, where they are mostly separated by the buffer of the Dutch and the UPT. The French colonies find themselves all by themselves, and are starting to gravitate toward the thoughts and ideas of the UPT. The UPT finds itself in a decent relationship with the Dutch and their colonies, leading to a lucrative trade business that keeps Nassau going.
<Viewpoint: mid-1900's>
United Provinces of Terranova: After a few world wars, the UPT seems to be the rising star in the West. They helped beat down Germany and Italy in the first, and Spain, Russia, and China in the second. They were able to patch things up with Britain and France, though Scandinavia annoyingly decided to remain neutral until they were sucker punched by Russia. The UP is very close with Nieuw Netherland, arguably one of the best diplomatic relationships in the world.
Nieuw Netherland: The regions of Nassau and Orange decided to unite into one country at the turn of the century. When Germany invaded the old Netherlands in the first world war, the royal family fled, and set up a new capital in Nieuw Haarlem. They returned to ashes when the war was finally over. After a few years of rebuilding, Russia and Spain marched in and destroyed it all over again. Back they went to Nieuw Haarlem. By now, the Commonwealth's de jure capital is back in Amsterdam, while the de facto capital is in Nieuw Haarlem.
Former French Colonies: Near the turn of the century, the colonies revolted (which may or may not have been aided by the UPT). The rebellion produced two new countries: Nouvelle-France, which retained control of Chamacces, and Port d'Orleans. They quickly became satellites of the UPT, and followed it's lead in the world wars.
Scandinavian Colonies: Northern Terranova solidified into Vinland around the same time the French colonies were rebelling. Not much went on during the world wars, though they did contribute at the tail end of the second, after Russia's sneaky little move. Has a decent relationship with it's southern neighbors.
Caribbea: Formed out of Spain's colonies of Florida, Bahama, and Taino after the second world war. Heavily influenced by the UPT and Nieuw Netherland. Large producers of crops, notably sugar and citrus. Great vacation destination.
Spanish Dominions: Spain retained control of some of it's territory, notably Mexaca and Maya. The two twins are playing nice nowadays.
Political Situation: After the second World War, the world settled down momentarily. Now, China is on the rise in the east, fighting for the role as a superpower with the UPT in the west. On the continent, things go smoothly.
<Viewpoint: 2015>
Political Situation: The cold war ended with China splintering apart in the early 90's. Now, Russia is back and ready to play hard ball. On the continent, all is well and going smoothly. Highway systems run from northern Taku all the way down into southern Florida and Chalisco. Vinland, Nouvelle-France, Nieuw Netherland, and the UPT are all part of the First World. Port d'Orleans is a wealthy micro-nation, comparable to OTL Singapore, and Caribbea is defined as a developing nation.
