This is part of a alternate history TL I made a while ago. It's divided into sections based on continent. The main differences are: the succesful formation of Gran Columbia as a valid and powerful state in the west, which eventually controls all of South America and holds possessions in the Pacific and Asia; a stronger and more militant United States, spurred on by competition with Gran Columbia, comes to control all of North America, as well as the Antilles region, eventually forming a tight military alliance with the southern giant; a much weaker USSR, limited by America's successful secrecy of the atom bomb, and limited interaction with the US, not detonating a hydrogen bomb until 2004, and invading Alaska in the early 21st century; lastly, Edison dies before patenting DC current, allowing Tesla to develop multiple technologies under US government directive. Sorry if that doesn't explain everything. I wrote this a long time ago without a single divergence point in mind. Let me know if there are any questions or comments. Also note: though I kept some names the same for simplicity's sake, they aren't necessarily of the same political/economic/cultural identity as their namesake.
In the United States: it all started with the American Revolution in 1776. For 7 long years the 13 colonies fought against British oppression, until the war was ended in 1803, with the newly formed United States controlling all land east of the Mississippi. In the year 1801, the United States declares war on the Barbary States, dispatching a team of 100 Marines to attack the capital at Tripoli, succeeding after a four week assault, assuring the safety of American ships from the Barbary pirates. The United States expands further west with Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of the Louisiana Territories from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803. The War of 1812 saw the United States devastating British Forces, destroying all but two British forts in American territory, resulting in a rapid withdrawal of the British into Canada. In 1819, Florida is gained by the federal government from the Spanish, and Texas is added in 1845. In 1823, James Munroe declares the Munroe Doctrine. After the addition of Texas to the Union, the United States went to war with Mexico in 1846. The war continues for 5 years, ending in 1851 with the annexation of Mexico by the United States. In 1859, 12 Southern states, along with the newly acquired Mexican territories demand that territories be allowed to vote on whether or not slavery is allowed. Their demands are met, and all American territories vote on whether or not to allow slavery. In 1863, the thirteenth amendment to the US constitution abolishes slavery throughout the Union, without secession. In 1867, the United States purchases Alaska from the Russian Empire for 6.5 million dollars. In 1876, the United States commissions the construction of the French designed Statue of Liberty.
In 1877, the United States and Gran Columbia declare war on Portugal and Great Britain over their attempts to prevent Gran Columbia from annexing independent Brazil. In 1883, the French join the Euro-Americas war in support of the British. On September 4th, 1884, Thomas Edison is killed in a traffic accident while on his way to the United States Patent Office to place a patent on his DC current. On January 8th, 1885, Nikola Tesla is granted one-hundred and twelve thousand dollars by the United States federal government to research his newly developed radio and alternating current. In 1887, the Euro-Americas War ends with the United States defeating the British and French Armies in the Battle of Quebec. On February 14th, 1888, Nikola Tesla is granted an additional two-hundred thousand dollars by the federal government to continue his research in electromagnetism and electro mechanics. In 1889, the Treaty of Maine is signed by British, French, and American commanders in Orono, Maine, ceding British Canada and French Greenland to the United States. In 1896, following Gran Columbian annexation of Brazil, the United States cedes Hawaii to Gran Columbia in exchange for the Costa Rica and Panama territories. In 1898, the Spanish-American War begins and ends in under a year, with the United States annexing Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. In 1902, the United States develops the first functional military airplane, dubbed AP-01, and begins producing hundreds of airplanes yearly for use by the Army and Marine Corp. In 1903, Theodore Roosevelt commissions the construction of the Panama Canal, with support of Gran Columbian leader Geraldo Vasquez.
In 1906, the United States admits all of the Antilles island-states into the Union as protectorates. In 1912, the United States begins regulating immigration following the admittance of Honduras and Panama as states, which signaled the admittance of all of the North American continent into the United States. In 1916, the United States declines requests of support by the Triple Entente of Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire. In 1929, New York is declared the ‘Greatest City in the World’, and the Dust Bowl Hits. In 1933, the Dust Bowl’s effects recede thanks to a series of federal initiatives by Edgar J. Hoover, shortly before the inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. On December 7th, 1942 the United States signs the ‘Western Concord’ with Gran Columbia, which becomes a complete military alliance between the two nations. On September 12th, 1943, the United States and Gran Columbia cut off all trade with the Soviet Union. On November 23rd, 1943, the United States recognizes the African Union (AU) and warns the European Commonwealth that destroying the AU would result in US and Gran Columbian intervention. On August 8th, 1944, a joint US-GC research team detonates the world’s first fission bomb in northern Alaska. In order to prevent this technology from being achieved by foreign states, the United States create the FIA, or Federal Intelligence Agency, which creates an effective barrier against information leaks, and is later renamed the Central Intelligence Agency.
In 1964, the United States and Gran Columbia agree to support the formation of the State of Indi-Israel following a joint Indian and Israeli invasion of Iran. In 1965, the United States builds and activates the world’s fist fusion reactor as part of the construction of the world’s largest military base, placed in central Alaska, and threatens nuclear holocaust against the USSR, in order to prevent a Russo-Israeli war. In 1969, joint US-Gran Columbian forces clash with Japan over control of Guam and the Philippines. In 1970, Japanese territories in Manchuria and China are seized by Gran Columbia, and Japan surrenders to an American Naval bombardment, and under threat of nuclear attack. In 1972, Japan is annexed by the United States. In 1978, Iceland requests and is granted protectorate status by the United States. In 1980, the United States begins covertly shipping outdated weapons to China in order to assist their fight against the Soviets. In 1992, the United States pressures the Soviets into maintaining the newly developed peace between the Soviets and the Chinese. In 1994, the United States defends Gran Columbian support of Indi-Israel against the USSR. In 1995, the United States defends the right of the Soviet Union to build the ‘Red Curtain’ along the Eastern border of the European Commonwealth. In 2002, TIME Magazine declares the United States the most powerful country in the world, followed by the USSR. In 2003, Soviet forces invade Western Alaska, killing thousands of civilians, despite being grossly outgunned by American forces. The loss of life is blamed on insufficient evacuation plans, and sets off a period of paranoia in the United States, leading to the election of General McChrystal to the office of President in 2004.
The United States and Gran-Columbia form the ‘Western Defense Initiative’, under the urging of President McChrystal, which commissions the construction of two massive ‘safe zones’, one within each American continent, to consist of at least one eighth of the continent’s landmass, and be capable of housing and defending at least one fifth of the continent’s populace against foreign invasion. In 2007, construction begins on the North and South American Defense Perimeters. In 2009, the North American Defense Perimeter becomes the United States’ largest expenditure, expected to cost over 4.3 of the National Treasuries 17.8 Trillion dollars. In 2012, President McChrystal, with momentum garnered from his recent election to a third term in office, creates the ‘monumental defense initiative’ which has most American landmarks converted into key military installations. In 2016, ‘neuro-mapping’ allows an individual’s entire life to be recorded on a single ultra-compact disc. In 2017, after McChrystal’s fourth inauguration, the USSR detonates its first fission bomb, signaling an international crisis resulting in McChrystal creating the SPA (Special Projects Administration), an elite, paramilitary organization run by the CIA and USMC, and tasked with ‘the infiltration of foreign states, as well as the subsequent acquisition or destruction of certain objects, structures or individuals within such a state’. In 2020, an ex-SPA operative starts Dark Eden Arms Incorporated, a state-of-the-art mercenary and research organization which often works in conjunction with the SPA. In 2023, the North American Defense Perimeter (NADP) is completed, having costs 4.48 Trillion dollars, and is declared ‘…the largest and most advanced concentration of military forces in the world…’ and ‘unconquerable,’ consisting of around one sixth of the North American continent’s landmass, as well as being able to house approximately one fourth of the population. In 2024, a series of ‘additional defensive lines’ is conceived to further augment and empower American response in the event of foreign invasion. In 2025, the United States Congress commissions the Army Corps of Engineers to construct the Additional Defensive Lines (ADLs). In 2026, the ADLs become the United States’ largest expenditure at approximately 2% of the gross domestic product. In 2035, the ADLs are completed, having cost the United States .9 Trillion dollars for each of the four sets.