Cascadia, A Pacific Republic

Ok, so this is my first attempt at an alternate timeline. It's part of a project I'm working on, which can be found here. Any constructive criticism is welcomed with open arms :D. Without further ado, here's my timeline:

1958

January 1:
-New Year's Eve party gets out of hand in New York. A stray firework exits through an open window and hits a taxi, causing it to explode, leading to several storefronts being pelted with debris, including Herman's Jewelers.
-European Economic Community (EEC) founded.

January 7: A convoy crossing the Peace Arch border was searched, and found to contain 35 million dollars worth of weaponry. President Eisenhower accuses Canada of preparing to annex Alaska. Prime Minister Diefenbaker vehemently denies accusations.

January 9: Protesters in Seattle, demanding a nation on the Pacific Coast are scattered, after one man gets carried away, and throws a brick into a building.

January 11: The Central American nations, along with selected Caribbean nations, begin talks for a Caribbean Union.

January 20: The Trucial States gain independence from the U.K. as the United Arab States. Dubai is named capital.

February 1:
-A law is introduced, prohibiting all states west of the Rocky Mountains from exporting to Canada. This is a result of the searching of the convoy on December 17th.
-The United Arab Republic (UAR) is formed from the union of Egypt and Syria.

February 4:
-Protests start in Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and other major cities in response to the "Canada Trade Ban".
-The Canadian government releases a press statement, further denying any intentions of annexing Alaska.

February 13: The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow, a Canadian interceptor aircraft, makes its debut flight.

February 14: Iraq and Jordan amalgamate to form the Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan.

February 17: A petition signed by over 500,000 people, demanding a repeal of the Canada Trade Ban, is sent to Washington, D.C. It is ignored.

February 22: A discussion between Eisenhower and Diefenbaker ends badly, with Eisenhower storming away from the table amid talks.

February 23: An attempted assassination on Eisenhower ends when three snipers are discovered on scaffolding on a building, awaiting the president's return from Ottawa. All three have ties to a California firm dealing with exportation.

February 24: In Cuba, Fidel Castro's Radio Rebelde begins broadcasting from Sierra Maestra.

February 28: Further aggravation against the US government results in a bomb exploding outside the Capitol. Thirty-three people are killed, Including Texan Governor, Price Daniel. Riots ensue in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston.

March 1: A second assassination attempt, in which the White House is hit with napalm, succeeds, with Eisenhower dying in hospital the next day. Richard Nixon is sworn in as the 35th President of the United States.

March 2:
-Diefenbaker holds a press conference, expressing his condolences, and his hopes that Nixon will repeal the Trade Ban.
-Nixon holds a conference hours after Diefenbaker, further angering the western states, by announcing his support of the Trade Ban.
-Protesting in Los Angeles turns into a riot. Several storefronts are sacked and looted, before having the LAPD Riot Squad throw tear gas into the crowd.

March 4:
-Political instability between the government and the Western states further deteriorates when Nixon proposes an amendment to the Trade Law, which adds Mexico, the Soviet Union, China, and Japan to the list of countries.
-Riots in Seattle, San Francisco, Boise, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Carson City ensue. Total damage caused is in excess of 2 million dollars. Over 3 million people are estimated to have played a part in the riots.
-Mexico, the Soviet Union, China, and Japan protest to the amendment.

March 6: The Soviets and Japan prepare to mobilize their troops.

March 10: California secedes from the United States. Goodwin Knight becomes Prime Minister of the Republic of California. Sacramento retains the seat of government.

March 11:
-Nevada declares independence. Carson City is the capital, and Charles Russell becomes President.
-A recording of Nixon's response to the secession of California and Nevada is leaked to the media. On the tape, Nixon is heard condemning his home state harshly, and swearing that someone will pay.
-The US declares war on California and Nevada.
-Nixon orders the US Army to mobilize. Units based in California and Nevada refuse, preferring to protect their home states.

March 14:
-Washington, Oregon, and Idaho secede as the "Pacific Republic of Cascadia", with Robert Holmes as Prime Minister. The seat of government is placed in Portland. The American Territory of Hawaii is claimed by the new nation.
-Nixon announces that the right to secede from the US has been revoked, in an effort to hold the remaining Union together.

March 19: The US 2nd Army reach Lake Havasu. The Californian troops rush to Blythe.

March 21: Battle of Blythe. American forces attempt to encircle the outnumbered Californian troops, but fail. CA troops force a hole through the US, but suffer heavy casualties. The first battle of the second Civil War ended in defeat for California.

March 25:
-California and Nevada join Cascadia.
-Battle of Palm Springs. Cascadian forces ambush the American soldiers as they pass Ramon Rd. The Americans are taken by surprise, and hurriedly return fire. A second battalion of Cascadians flank the Americans. The US 2nd are routed.

March 27: Nikita Khrushchev becomes Premier of the Soviet Union. He immediately declares war on the US and sends reinforcements in the form of weaponry and ammunition to the Cascadians. He also sends two corps of Russians to San Diego.

April 3:
-Fidel Castro's revolutionaries attack Havana.

April 7: Battle of Calimesa. American scouts discover the Soviet-Cascade encampment, but are spotted by a Cascadian. The Americans rush the encampment, and quickly force the Soviet-Cascades to retreat west.

April 10: Nixon urges Holmes to agree to a ceasefire for negotiations to a treaty. Holmes agrees.

April 12:Talks begin for the Treaty of Dallas. The US recognizes Cascadia, as does the other 97 nations, and all the de facto states. The Cascade-US border is drawn north along the Colorado River, east along the 37th Parallel, and north along the Rockies. The US withdraws all forces in Cascadia, leaving behind a small border guard.

April 16: Khrushchev flies to Portland to meet Holmes. The two leaders get along well, and establish a trade alliance and a naval base for the Soviet Union on Hawai'i.

April 21: The final papers are signed, and official languages etc. are agreed upon. Cascadians will have to adopt the Metric system, as well as change all their roadways and signs to match. New Departments of Transportation are formed, with the CDOT having the largest responsibility, being in charge of the new nation's highways, and commissioning signs and route numbers. The Cascadian Army is organized from the portion of the American Army who stayed in their home states, and new recruits, from the recruiting offices in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Reno, and Salt Lake City. Naval protection comes from the Soviets, who will provide security until a Cascadian Navy is in place. English is set as the official language. The capital is also pending a move to Cascade, a city under construction in central Oregon. The Canadian Dollar (CAD) is being used as currency until the Cascadian Dollar (CSD) is set up, an all coin currency (1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, $500). The internal organization of Cascadia is still being debated.

April 23: Members of the Cascadian Independence movement urge the Canadian province of British Columbia to join the new nation. William Bennett proposes the idea to Victoria. A referendum is announced for June 3rd.

April 26:
-The Cascadian Flag is proposed to members of the temporary parliament. The flag is accepted by a majority and becomes known as 'The Doug'.
-Britain cedes the British Western Pacific Territories to Cascadia, under hopes that a trade union be formed. Holmes wishes to become allies with Britain, and agrees.

April 30: Cascadian Election Day is set for June 22.

May 3:
-Cascadian Conservative Party selects Jason Klater as Prime Ministerial candidate.
-Robert Holmes is declared as the Liberal Party candidate.

May 7: Election posters appear all over Cascadia.

May 11: A USAF aircraft carrying a dry nuke crashes over Baja California. Explosives on board explode, creating a crater 3 kilometres in diameter. Mexican authorities cordon off the area, while US operatives work to clear the area.

May 13: French Algerian protesters seize government offices in Algiers, leading to a military coup.

May 17: A nuclear missile is accidentally launched at a testing facility in Bikini Atoll, which causes the entire facility to be vaporized. 127 people perish. The US government ends its testing immediately, amidst public uproar.

May 20: Fulgencio Batista's government launches a counteroffensive against Castro's rebels.

May 22: Castro defeats Batista's forces, and marches on Havana. Batista flees to Florida.

May 23: US Marines interfere in Cuba. The battle of Havana results in rout of the rebels, and the US taking the city. Cuba is placed under the protection of the US.

May 26: A 5.6 tremor is felt in Northern California, with the epicentre 1 kilometre south of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Provincial Route 89 is cut off by a landslide.

June 1:
-Charles de Gaulle is brought out of retirement to lead France by decree for six months.
-Iceland extends its fishing limits to 22.2 kilometres.

June 2: Cuba is made a territory of the United States. Riots occur in Havana.

June 3: British Columbians hit the polls to vote on joining Cascadia. 78.6% say yes, 17.5% say secede from Canada and stay independent, and the remaining 3.9% say stay in Canada. Premier Bennett announces the results in a press conference from Vancouver.

June 8: Nixon requests a conference with Holmes and Diefenbaker, to discuss the future of their nations. Holmes agrees, as does Diefenbaker.

June 9: Earthquake swarms around Lassen Peak increase in magnitude and frequency.

June 10: "American Three" Conference. Nixon requests Holmes return Alaska and Hawai'i to the US, while Diefenbaker is trying to negotiate a purchase of Alaska. Holmes tells Nixon no to both requests, but agrees to sell Alaska to Canada for $25 million. Diefenbaker has his finance minister arrange the purchase, and the Cascadian finance manager watches in disbelief as CAD$25,840,00 appears.

June 13: The internal organization of Cascadia is made final. First level divisions are labeled provinces, of which there are eight. The second level varies by province. In British Columbia, a system of 29 regional districts is used. Each regional district only assumes power for unincorporated areas, and is further divided into electoral districts, and incorporated municipalities. Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California are based on the county system, and Alaska and Hawai'i aren't subdivided at all. For all provinces, after a municipality has reached city status (a population of 10,000), it is released from the control of the county/regional district, and is handed over to the Province. A federal district is created around the city of Vancouver, encompassing the city's metropolitan area. The District of Fraser is the name of this new district.

June 14: The Cascadian Mint is established, and begins construction of seven mints.

June 18: 7:49 PM - A magnitude 9.6 earthquake occurs off the coast of Kodiak Island. The ensuing tsunami devastates Kodiak, AK and Anchorage is severely damaged. Across the Pacific, cities along the coast are swamped. Prince Rupert is struck by a 5.7 metre wave three hours after the quake. The Queen Charlotte Islands are inundated, and several villages along the west coast of Vancouver Island are washed away, including To. A 6 metre wave inundated the Alberni Fjord, striking Port Alberni three times. Three quarters of the town is destroyed. In Hilo, officials evacuated the residents in preparation of the oncoming tsunami, so casualties are low. The Pacific Coast of Cascadia felt effects all the way to Los Angeles, where boats in the harbour were carried by the wave three feet in the air. Aftershocks were felt for another two years, the strongest being magnitude 7.1. This earthquake is the strongest earthquake on record.

June 19: Relief floods into the affected areas, helping the stunned victims locate shelter, food, and clean water. An aftershock of 6.7 strikes Anchorage, killing a further 28 people who were in a building when it collapsed. Residents on Kodiak Island are ferried to Anchorage, where they receive medical care, and phone access.

June 20: Tourists around Lassen Volcanic National Park spot a steam plume halfway up the mountain. Large cracks appear in the flank of the volcano, and earthquakes occur approximately every hour. Part of the South flank collapses. The resulting landslide cuts off Route 89. Volcanic Alert raised to Red.

June 21: An aftershock of 7.1 strikes Kodiak. Thankfully, the island had already been evacuated, so no casualties were recorded.

June 22: The plans for the construction of a trans-national highway between Canada and Cascadia are announced by Cascadian Transport Minister Kevin Hill. Running from the Mexican border to Vancouver, where it will connect with the existing system. It is scheduled for completion in 1964.

June 23: Lassen Peak explodes violently in the climax of its recent activity. The entire East flank collapses, sending an avalanche of superheated rock and gas 4 kilometres away. The snow on the peak melts, creating a liquid lahar that rushes down Lost Creek. The explosion sent an ash column 11.3 km into the sky, and was visible from Eureka 240 km away. 43 casualties, 34 of which are tourists driving on Route 89, the other nine were scientists studying the effects of the water in Helen Lake. The Cascadian government allocates 5 million dollars for the aid movement, and rehabilitation of the affected area.

June 25: The United Kingdom, United States, France, Spain, Russia, and several other countries send relief aid to the Pacific Coast, both for the tsunami and the devastating volcanic eruption. Prime Minister Holmes airs a heartfelt thank you on television for all the support.

June 27: A third aftershock of 6.7 strikes Anchorage. A fire starts near city hall after a powerline collapses. The fire is doused, but not before city hall and and several other buildings are burned to the ground. A large crack appears in the middle of Minnesota Drive.

June 29: Brazil beats Sweden 5–2 to win the World Cup.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
ASB. Pacific secession past 1900 won't happen unless the US goes through some REALLY serious crisis (has to be worse than the Great Depression or the terrorist attacks).
 
Adding my voice to the chorus:

There's nothing plausable in this storyline. As is this belongs in the ASB forum. To develop a plausable Independent Cascadia TL, use a pre-1850 date and go from there.
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Welcome to the Board. I'm sure you will enjoy it her. It is just unfortunate that you made this scenario your first post.

While I love the Cascadia idea, been using it as a player in Shared World's just about every time I make an appearance there, this is so far out that it would require deep space flight.

A rebellion in the UNITED STATES because there was no trade with Canada? There hasn't been enough booze and dope ever produced to make this possible.

This isn't ASB, it is beyond ASB.

The LATEST you could even possibly make something like this work would be around the time of the Civil War, around 1850 would be better. Of course with that early of a POD all bets are off. The butterflies will be the size of jetliners by 1960, with the world having nothing but a passing resemblance to OTL.

This MAY work on your other Board, it won't fly here.
 

Teleology

Banned
I say, go the opposite direction. Start where you want and then just drag it out, anything becomes possible with a few small leaps of faith every now and then, until it eventually breaches the chasm of plausibility.

So have US-Canadian and West Coast separatist tensions build up from the 50's for decades, until boiling over in the 90's or 2000's, maybe?


Anyways, I like it and you shouldn't move this thread or give up. If it really doesn't belong a mod will move it, otherwise I say "Nuts!".
 
I'd also say, seriously, seriously ASB without being the product of some major pre-1900 butterflies or the consequence of something that causes the United States to disintigrate.

Something else to consider is that WA & OR east of the Cascades is culturally, politically, and economically much more like Idaho than the parts of the states west of those mountains, and have this tendency to tell the western parts of the states off whenever they can. Furthermore, WA, CA, NV, and Hawaii all have major US military bases, and somehow, I doubt those forces would just sit back and allow some sort of major revolt that comes out of the blue for no good reason, and would likely be considered the result of some sort of communist infiltration (and this is a couple years after WA passed a law- still on the books- that made it a felony just to be a member of the communist party)
 
I think you have things happening too fast, especially considering the time period. The 1950's were relatively stable in the United States. Also, why would the United States declare a partial trade embargo with Canada? Canada was one of the United States' closest allies. Third, how did someone get napalm and firebomb the White House? Fourth, Nixon knows that the "Trade Law" is unpopular. Why would he expand it, and how would he convince Congress to agree? Five, the Soviet Union managed to step in and not get nuked to smithereens? Finally, you have the United States sending aid to a nation less than four months removed from secession and a full-blown war. No.

Sorry about all of the nitpicking. It's an interesting thought, but extremely unlikely.
 
Hmmm, yes I see your points. I did forget to mention the cause of the trade ban.

December 17, 1957: A convoy crossing the Peace Arch border was searched, and found to contain 35 million dollars worth of weaponry. President Eisenhower accuses Canada of preparing to annex Alaska. Prime Minister Diefenbaker vehemently denies accusations.

I think I'll go with Teleology's suggestion, as I already have ideas for the next few decades and have no desire to write another 100 years of history. Though I guess I can just state the POD and jump to 1958. Thoughts?
 
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CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Hmmm, yes I see your points. I did forget to mention the cause of the trade ban.

December 17, 1957: A convoy crossing the Peace Arch border was searched, and found to contain 35 million dollars worth of weaponry. President Eisenhower accuses Canada of preparing to annex Alaska. Prime Minister Diefenbaker vehemently denies accusations.

I think I'll go with Teleology's suggestion, as I already have ideas for the next few decades and have no desire to write another 100 years of history. Though I guess I can just state the POD and jump to 1958. Thoughts?

Yuo could just state the POD, but the changes have to be accounted for.

There will almost certainly be no WW I, WW II, Korean War, etc. That mean that there is almost certainly no Soviet Union, State of Israel, independent India, no Castro, FDR, Truman, Churchill, Stalin, Hitler, and so on. It takes only the smallest of nudges to have huge effects given time to make the changes.

Going forward is equally as bad. Nixon, who is from California, will not have any way to become President of the U.S. Reagan, who became a political name in California, will never become President. Earl Warren (yet another California boy) will never be Chief Justice. For that matter it is possibly, even likely, that they will never be born. Without the Second World War to spur development, there may well not even be jets, ICBMs, nuclear weapons, etc. in 1960. On the other hand there may have been a war worse than WW II and there may be a Man on the Moon in 1960.

All these differences need to be accounted for in some sort of logical fashion to avoid the ASB label. Not an easy task.

Good luck with it.
 
Hmmm, yes I see your points. I did forget to mention the cause of the trade ban.

December 17, 1957: A convoy crossing the Peace Arch border was searched, and found to contain 35 million dollars worth of weaponry. President Eisenhower accuses Canada of preparing to annex Alaska. Prime Minister Diefenbaker vehemently denies accusations.

I think I'll go with Teleology's suggestion, as I already have ideas for the next few decades and have no desire to write another 100 years of history. Though I guess I can just state the POD and jump to 1958. Thoughts?

That is the thinnest and most craziest POD I've seen. I think you should just post this in the ASB forum there since it is full of holes. An unrealistic.
 
I'd also say, seriously, seriously ASB without being the product of some major pre-1900 butterflies or the consequence of something that causes the United States to disintigrate.

Something else to consider is that WA & OR east of the Cascades is culturally, politically, and economically much more like Idaho than the parts of the states west of those mountains, and have this tendency to tell the western parts of the states off whenever they can. Furthermore, WA, CA, NV, and Hawaii all have major US military bases, and somehow, I doubt those forces would just sit back and allow some sort of major revolt that comes out of the blue for no good reason, and would likely be considered the result of some sort of communist infiltration (and this is a couple years after WA passed a law- still on the books- that made it a felony just to be a member of the communist party)

Being originally from the east side of the Cascades, I must concur with this. From what I've observed, the cultural area extends from the summit of the Cascades all the way to the eastern borders of Montana and Wyoming. Its cowboy country with micro-cultures (the Indian West, the Mormon West) interspersed in various places. It is a very loyal, conservative red-meat American area. I just can't see it going with a rebellion.

I also agree that the point of departure would have to be way back...even in the 1840s...perhaps a change of outcome at Champoeg...perhaps have a different person in charge of Fort Vancouver other than John McLaughlin. British missionaries instead of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman? Have the great migration of 1843 go somewhere else? Just some thoughts.
 
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