The Opening Up of Africa
By 1880, the Great Depression was starting to subside, but was still lingering. Unemployment was still high, and most legislative governments had been found "weak" and voted out (France, between 1870 and 1880, had 7 governments). Very few people in Europe and America did not feel it, and it is believed that the Great Depression was what forced many nations to begin looking for more income and job opportunities (usually through the military or aid associations). The need for jobs was evident, but with little threat amongst their fellow Europeans, the armies sat dormant, draining the governments of money that could have been used elsewhere. Then, an idea was struck.
Prime Minister James Oliver presented his proposal that the trade ports and small territories held by Britain in Africa be expanded exponentially, citing recent findings of "such large quantities of raw material, it is an absolute amazement no one had yet deemed the region a priority." Britain began it's large scale African colonization. It was, of course met with anger, and sometimes violence, by the local populace in Africa, but the army and navy were out and about actually doing things that were bringing in material wealth into the kingdom, that in turn was opening up more jobs. Seeing the success that Britain was having in the region, France, Spain, Catalonia-Sicily and several other states began establishing and/or expanding colonies in the region. It was so bad on the west coast of Africa, that the region was nicknamed "The Land of a Thousand Colonies." But, as these realms expanded, eventually overlaps occurred, and these overlaps would at first cause some fuss, then, more and more so as the years dragged on, violence between the nations. With so many countries laying claim to the continent, eventually a large war would break out.
In 1886, that war occured. The War of Africa started between Britain, France, Spain, the Ottomans and Batavia, and later be joined in by the United States and the UCSS. The New League of Kalmar (a pet-project of Napoleon I that was founded on the Franc, and survived largely on the Franc, and dominated by the Swedes) eventually throw in as well. The war was solely colonial, and killed an estimated 50,000 Europeans and a further 150,000 natives before it's end with the 1891 Treaty of Brest. The Treaty established the borders of the African continent (save the Sahara), which would be largely followed for years to come, though small skirmishes and minor adjustments would still occasionally occur. The treaty proved successful for some time but would ultimately fail, like many things would.
By 1890, the world was seeing itself coming out not only a depression but also seeing Europe as the premier power in the world. Japan was quickly mobilizing itself "for defensive purposes," people were back to work, as new resources were coming in from the colonies. Indeed, the Confederacy, UCSS and USA had also laid claims to new colonies, the Confederacy (spearheaded by California Norte) was able to claim large region of the Pacific, including Kempkerland (ie Kaiser Wilhelmsland), the UCSS had finally built itself up and laid claim to the Konga basin, but small skirmishes had forced them to make territorial concessions to the British and Portuguese. The USA had claimed a small colony named Franklin (Liberia). These colonies allowed the respective nations reasons to expand their respective navies, which opened up even more jobs. However, like Europe, America was slowly dividing itself into military alliances. In 1891, The Alliance of Chicago appeared between the USA and Louisiana, while the next year marked the Alliance of Richmond between the Confederacy and UCSS.
MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAS
These alliances nearly brought about a general war on the American continent when, in 1894, several Spanish Caribbean colonies overthrew the local governors and established themselves as free states. Ever looking to expand its power in the region, the UCSS declared it's support for the territories. It landed a "liberation army" in Cuba, then Dominica, and lastly in Puerto Rico.
The resulting Caribbean War ousted the Spanish out of all of it's colonies in the Caribbean save Eastern Dominica. The USA and Louisiana were fearful that the UCSS and the Confederacy may try to spark a large war abroad, and protested the war. Indeed, the USA called up it's reserves, but not before the UCSS, the former Spanish colonies and Spain had written up a hasty, UCSS leaning treaty. With the exception of East Dominica, the colonies were to be freed. There was a stipulation that the newly freed colonies would be occupied by the UCSS for 10 years, and at the end of those ten years, these former colonies may hold referendums to determine whether or not to join the United Coalition of Southern States or be independent.
The last major colonial power to appear was Japan. Opened up by the Confederacy and Britain, it was now modernizing as best as it could. Taking advantage of Spain's political chaos over the Caribbean War, it landed troops in the Philippines. Within just two months, the Spanish had been driven out. The general in charge of the Philippine War, a samurai by the name of Enomoto Takeaki, was named Governor of the Japanese Philippines, which he served as until his death in 1906. He oversaw the Japanese in not only taking the region, but also enforcing it's rule, and is vilified today in the Philippines for his extremely harsh measures on the populace at the turn of the century.
By 1880, the Great Depression was starting to subside, but was still lingering. Unemployment was still high, and most legislative governments had been found "weak" and voted out (France, between 1870 and 1880, had 7 governments). Very few people in Europe and America did not feel it, and it is believed that the Great Depression was what forced many nations to begin looking for more income and job opportunities (usually through the military or aid associations). The need for jobs was evident, but with little threat amongst their fellow Europeans, the armies sat dormant, draining the governments of money that could have been used elsewhere. Then, an idea was struck.
Prime Minister James Oliver presented his proposal that the trade ports and small territories held by Britain in Africa be expanded exponentially, citing recent findings of "such large quantities of raw material, it is an absolute amazement no one had yet deemed the region a priority." Britain began it's large scale African colonization. It was, of course met with anger, and sometimes violence, by the local populace in Africa, but the army and navy were out and about actually doing things that were bringing in material wealth into the kingdom, that in turn was opening up more jobs. Seeing the success that Britain was having in the region, France, Spain, Catalonia-Sicily and several other states began establishing and/or expanding colonies in the region. It was so bad on the west coast of Africa, that the region was nicknamed "The Land of a Thousand Colonies." But, as these realms expanded, eventually overlaps occurred, and these overlaps would at first cause some fuss, then, more and more so as the years dragged on, violence between the nations. With so many countries laying claim to the continent, eventually a large war would break out.
In 1886, that war occured. The War of Africa started between Britain, France, Spain, the Ottomans and Batavia, and later be joined in by the United States and the UCSS. The New League of Kalmar (a pet-project of Napoleon I that was founded on the Franc, and survived largely on the Franc, and dominated by the Swedes) eventually throw in as well. The war was solely colonial, and killed an estimated 50,000 Europeans and a further 150,000 natives before it's end with the 1891 Treaty of Brest. The Treaty established the borders of the African continent (save the Sahara), which would be largely followed for years to come, though small skirmishes and minor adjustments would still occasionally occur. The treaty proved successful for some time but would ultimately fail, like many things would.
By 1890, the world was seeing itself coming out not only a depression but also seeing Europe as the premier power in the world. Japan was quickly mobilizing itself "for defensive purposes," people were back to work, as new resources were coming in from the colonies. Indeed, the Confederacy, UCSS and USA had also laid claims to new colonies, the Confederacy (spearheaded by California Norte) was able to claim large region of the Pacific, including Kempkerland (ie Kaiser Wilhelmsland), the UCSS had finally built itself up and laid claim to the Konga basin, but small skirmishes had forced them to make territorial concessions to the British and Portuguese. The USA had claimed a small colony named Franklin (Liberia). These colonies allowed the respective nations reasons to expand their respective navies, which opened up even more jobs. However, like Europe, America was slowly dividing itself into military alliances. In 1891, The Alliance of Chicago appeared between the USA and Louisiana, while the next year marked the Alliance of Richmond between the Confederacy and UCSS.
MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAS
These alliances nearly brought about a general war on the American continent when, in 1894, several Spanish Caribbean colonies overthrew the local governors and established themselves as free states. Ever looking to expand its power in the region, the UCSS declared it's support for the territories. It landed a "liberation army" in Cuba, then Dominica, and lastly in Puerto Rico.
The resulting Caribbean War ousted the Spanish out of all of it's colonies in the Caribbean save Eastern Dominica. The USA and Louisiana were fearful that the UCSS and the Confederacy may try to spark a large war abroad, and protested the war. Indeed, the USA called up it's reserves, but not before the UCSS, the former Spanish colonies and Spain had written up a hasty, UCSS leaning treaty. With the exception of East Dominica, the colonies were to be freed. There was a stipulation that the newly freed colonies would be occupied by the UCSS for 10 years, and at the end of those ten years, these former colonies may hold referendums to determine whether or not to join the United Coalition of Southern States or be independent.
The last major colonial power to appear was Japan. Opened up by the Confederacy and Britain, it was now modernizing as best as it could. Taking advantage of Spain's political chaos over the Caribbean War, it landed troops in the Philippines. Within just two months, the Spanish had been driven out. The general in charge of the Philippine War, a samurai by the name of Enomoto Takeaki, was named Governor of the Japanese Philippines, which he served as until his death in 1906. He oversaw the Japanese in not only taking the region, but also enforcing it's rule, and is vilified today in the Philippines for his extremely harsh measures on the populace at the turn of the century.