Inspired by black angel's thread on the Confederacy. Write what you think the United States would be like today without the South. Please include it's history from the Civil War to present day, government and elections (parties, ideologies, and politics), foreign relations and military, economy, demographics, culture and civil rights in the United States at the beginning of the year 2009.
The New Freedom
The US as it continued to be called, underwent a generation of disorder and turmoil after its defeat in the war that decided the independence of the southern states. Much casting of blame saw considerable disorder and internal conflict. For a while the state turned its back even more on the world with the passing of the Immigration Act in 1871 that drastically curtailed immigration from non-Wasp parts of the world. At the same time there were attacks on existing minority groups, including the native Americans, those slaves who escaped from the south and the Catholics and small numbers of Orthodox Christians and Asiatic settlers. Coupled with this was the growing power of the military as the US maintained a force that, although still small compared to European standards was substantially larger than previous in American peacetime and also became increasingly used for suppressing internal discontent.
It was only after the notorious Custer coup attempt against the Matterson Presidency, which had been elected on a programme of reigning in both the army and big business interests that things started to settle down. The short so called 2nd Civil War saw some heavy fight but the coup forces were quickly isolated and defeated and the country saw a period of much needed peace and stability. This included some reduction in immigration restrictions, especially given the growing economic success of Canada to the north which was accepting widespread immigration and seeing its population growing dramatically as a result.
Hence in the 1880-90 you saw the long boom where US loans again became secure and the country saw a rapid industrial expansion, overtaking Britain and then by 1898 Germany in raw industrial production. It was still unwelcoming to most immigrants, which benefited Canada, Argentina and British South Africa but population grew to ~50 million in that time period.
The US also began to take an interest in the wider world again. Whereas it was Britain that defeated the Confederate attempt to seize northern Mexico in 1875-77 it was America that crushed Spain in 1899 and liberated Cuba, along the 8 year occupation that followed soured relations with much of Latin America. Also US forces took part in the joint occupation to crush the Boxers in China in 1901. Their annexation of the Treaty Port of Amoy was however controversial in Congress. Furthermore, although the US government was not formally linked to the coup attempt that sought to seize power in Hawalli, members of Hamilton's government were closely connected to some of the business interests responsible.
This caused a period of tension with Britain after the latter's establishment of a Protectorate over the islands, as well as British influence in Mexico and central America, especially the construction of the trans-isthmus canal in 1898-1907. However Britain and Canada were two of the largest trading partners of the US. Furthermore the common problem of the south persuaded both they had more in common than in differences.
The 1875-77 war had been a clear victory for Britain although it had displayed serious shortcomings in both the army and the logistics for the forces. However their overwhelming technological lead over the south coupled with the latter's problems fighting Mexico and unrest amongst its slave population had ensured victory. Since Britain hadn't wanted annexations the south had lost no territory although the abolitionist movement had secured the ending of slavery and the removal of the entire negro population to British territories, initially in the Caribbean and later in western Africa.
The conflict had been an even bigger wake up call for the south which, with the north coming out of its own internal conflict and with much of its labour force lost had been forced into major social changes. What emerged was a highly militaristic state, with a considerable industrial programme largely cantered around military items and heavy industry. Fearful of being outnumbered the south also encouraged immigration, although still banning non-Europeans and discouraging most southern and eastern Europeans. [Even more so that the north]. What emerged has been compared with Prussian Germany, although the state itself often made comparison with ancient Sparta. Despite only having about 35 million population it maintained an army 30% larger than that of the US and there were frequent confrontations on both the Mexican and American borders. It was sensible enough not to seek to build a large fleet as it lacked the resources but maintained a small but powerful and modern force of destroyers, light cruisers and submarines that worried the RN as it sought to contain the growing Germany threat.
Things came to a head in 1913 with the Balkan war that suddenly escalated into a major European conflict. The murderous conflict distracted British attention almost totally and in 1915 the Confederates launched the coup that overthrew the government of President Ramires and established a puppet government in Mexico city. Much of the country was convulsed by discontent and two Confederate brigades sent south started a bloody programme of suppression.
With Britain tied up in the European war it was the US, with diplomatic support from Britain, that declared war on the Confederacy in Nov 1915. Unfortunately the US found itself largely unprepared for the conflict that resulted as the initial attacks by their regular forces ran into well organised traps and reeled back with heavy losses. Southron forces then advanced into West Virginia and Kentucky and after a bitter battle also encircled and captured Washington. The larger US navy sought to impose a blockage but suffered losses from torpedo attacks and mines while the south, heavily committed to economic autarky had relatively little reliance on imports. However the US, mobilising its superior human and industrial resources and with some equipment aid from Canada managed to stop southern forces crossing the Ohio then held the eastern edge of the thrust in the ruins of Pittsburgh.
For the next three years the war continued in bitter fighting. In the east Ohio and Pennsylvania saw fighting reminisant of the western front in Europe. Although force densities were not as high the defensive lines on both sides were too strong to be easily broken. Losses were heavy on both sides. Further west lines were more fluid. Initially the better prepared south had the advantage and west of the Mississippi their forces occupied Kansas, Missouri and most of Nebraska and Iowa. A drive across the Mississippi in 1917 was held only 20 miles from Chicago and the US was again nearly cut in two.
Finally in 1918 the US gradually gained the upper hand. Its forces had gained considerably in size and experience as well as being much better equipped. They drove the southern 8th army back across the Mississippi to relieve the pressure on Chicago then in a ruinous 6 month campaign drove the southern forces back out of Ohio and Pennsylvania, liberated the Maryland panhandle and parts of W Virginia.
The deciding factor was however the collapse of German resistance in the summer of 1918 with the allied drive across the Rhine that led to the surrender of the central powers. This meant that, although tired and bloodied, British and Canadian forces would soon be available for operations against the south and both governments made clear they would join the conflict.
Under those circumstances the south, although still largely in occupied territories, had no choice but to come to terms and it asked for an armistice. In controversial circumstances President Harver accepted the southern proposal. [It was suggested that elements in his government didn't want foreign i.e. British, involvement in the final peace settlement]. This was to backfire as the resultant diplomatic spate between the US and Britain persuaded the south to continue fighting. Northern thrusts from liberated W Virginia, which the south had evacuated as a result of the armistice into Virginia proper were defeated with heavy losses on both sides and an attempted landing near Charleston was defeated after 6 weeks fighting with the US losing 7 major warships to mines and submarines. They were more successful west of the Mississippi, driving the southerners out of Missouri and pushing into northern Arkansas and Oklahoma but then a southern armoured drive destroyed the 12th and 16th army in an encirclement near Little Rock.
Finally in March 1920 a new armistice was agreed, which basically saw both sides return to pre-war borders. The north lost nearly 3 million casualties including 850,000 dead and the south lost 2.2 million with about 700,000 dead and both sides, but especially the occupied region of the north had seen much devastation. Harver was rejected as the Democratic candidate in the elections that autumn and was brought to trial the following year.
The 20's and 30's say N America become one of the most heavily militarised regions in the world as both nations prepared for a rematch, or at least to prevent the other gaining a quick victory. With the 1921 Conscription Act the north for the 1st time introduced conscription in peace time. To met the costs of the war and the continued military programmes both sides had to raise taxes and also tended to cut spending elsewhere. A 3 year conscription programme for all new male settlers desiring citizenship did a lot to deter immigrants.
Even so, with their extensive resources, both nations saw considerable economic development. No new war has let occurred but the lasting although tension became high at times during the 1941-46 conflict in Eurasia. The deep hostility between the two nations means that they are caught in a trap of distrust and high spending. Despite this the US is still the largest industrial power in the world and the 3rd largest economy behind India and Canada, with a population of 95 million people. The south is respectively 4th and 7th with a population of 60 million. Both are nuclear powers, the US becoming the 3rd such state in 1948 and the south the 4th in 1950. Despite the US maintaining the 3rd largest navy in the world and nearly 12% of international trade both nations are largely obsessed with each other to the exclusion of any other relationship.
Steve