I'll be honest - I'm not overly happy with this update but this is a very boring time for California and something that was needed to be done before the nation could truly grow. If I can I shall possibly add more things in the further or update it with more supplementary information but for not is serves to push the TL forward.
8th Presidency of the Republic of California
John McIver – 1866 -1870
McIver and California
The early years of McIver’s second term did surround about issues outside of California that of the latter months of the Mississippi War. The war did bring issues for that of California, with a reduction in trade between California and the United States, though a main railway link was built them. Trade reduction was an issue for California; they had concerns that the war would reduce the United States industry which would slow down California’s own growth. California was becoming ever more reliant on trade with the United States even more as British Focus towards other nations was increased over California. It was following the conclusion of the war in the early part of McIver’s presidency did McIver put more focus onto the interactions between California and the United States. The railway had become an expensive venture for the government and they were keen to make good use of it.
The connection of the two countries became a useful channel for the many upstart businessmen along the western coast. The combination of access to cheaper goods and technological knowledge would start to begin the next stage of California’s economic growth. The late 1860s would see the start of various Californian Companies as their factories would be set up. Not as mechanised as those in the USA and Britain but they would start to lay the foundation to allow this to take power later on. These new factories started to produce commodities for Californians such as clothing and furniture. The growth of these factories was further helped by the increase of immigration that came with it helped by the Californian’s open policy. Many of the companies encouraged the new immigrants especially those coming from Asia as they were able to use them for cheaper labour than others. This didn’t mean it was only Asians that moved to California but the late 60’s would also see a large surge of British and Western Europe attracted by the increased growth in the mining of precious metals in the Eastern Territories. This introduction of people also brought their customs and one important one that can be traced to those arriving from central England in 1868 was that of Football. Although it would become massively popular sport until some 20 years later it would be the beginning of California’s most popular sport in the modern era.
The Colorado Rangers would find another revival in their use following the completion of the Californian-American Railway link. Before they had been predominantly a security forces against the issues with the Mormons in the Northern Corner but this new link attracted settlers from the United States in the region. As settlements grew so did regional wealth – and where theirs wealth there were criminals. The Rangers would set up new forts to be used as their bases as their numbers started to expand along the trekkers routs through the Colorado Deserts. In time these paths would be eventually mechanised as the Californian Economy grew but for now they were no more than dirt tracks being used by Caravans of people. By 1868 the Rangers wold be more concentrated in the Northern Territory of Colorado with the creation of the State of Marshall – named following the death of George Marshall one of the founders of the Republic. Marshall would comprise of the Western half of Southern Colorado and the settlements such as Bearflag and Carthage.
Overall McIver’s second term was another quite one for California. Its position and stability in the world especially at this time allowed it to conduct its business without attracting too much attention from the greater powers. The nationalist party would gain a small surge of support following the end of the Mississippi War with the Annexation of Arkansas and Louisiana with many fearing that if the US was in an expansionist phase, that they might make a move on California. This fear though short lived brought the Nationalist Party into greater strength as it came towards the next election, really in comparison to the previous elections which were economic driven now it would more about the regional strength of California. What helped McIver and the Federalist Party was the rising connections in the Pacific Area such as with their closer relationship with Hawaii and Central American States. With the latter however it would bring slight issues with that of the United States which became more prevalent with their acquisition of the Port of New Orleans. The Californian Government who clearly understood over the situation with America in the central states made it clear for their foreign ministers to be careful when conducting foreign missions in the area. Though there was a friendly relationship between California and the US angering or causing a diplomatic fiasco over a region that was not predominantly important for the Californian Growth.
Texas
It would be long from the conclusion of the Mississippi for the CSA to fragment. The US attempts at gaining total control over the river had split the CSA in two which only fuelled Independence movements in Texas with many Governmental Ministers seeing the ineffectual nature of the CSA and US as being mistake in joining. Many people viewed themselves as Texans rather than citizens of the Union or Confederates. On October 15th 1968 they would seek their own route as a nation, with the declaration in Austin that they would be independent of both the CSA and any other nations. The movement would be spearheaded by Gustav Schleicher and Fletcher Stockade with them adopting a similar constitution to the first one that had preceded the Texan admission into the Union. Many speeches resided around the dominance of the Texan people, that they should be able to control their future. They recalled many of the heroes that had created the first Republic of Texas. This reaction by the people of Texas would be something didn’t come as a surprise to many of the nations of North America. The United States rose in support as did California. Mexico was concerned with the expansionist discussion of the Texan Independence Party but was too busy dealing their ongoing conflicts against the Liberals who were being continuously pushed underground by the French-supported forces. By 1869 both California and the US had set up diplomatic relations with the newly formed nation. California looked to create a better relationship with a country where they could export their goods and the United States looked to see if they could re-incorporate Texas into the Union once again.
A New California
Although fairly quite in terms of Governmental reforms the last term of McIver can be seen as the beginning of California’s growth. As previously stated Industry was growing as was the population. It would be the elections of 1869 that would be deemed one of the most important as it gave way to the National Democrat President Wilson Harold. The Federalist and current President John McIver would step down as a candidate for president leading to the much weaker Marcus Calvin as their best candidate. The debates and campaign as previously mentioned once again was heavily about California’s role in the region with both of them arguing over the direction. Calvin wanted to look towards South and Central America while Harold’s main focus was that of the Pacific. Harold would attack Calvin as someone who wanted to bring conflict between California and the United States which pressured many businessmen especially that of the Railway Families against Calvin. Much of the slander against Calvin painted him as a destroyer of industry and his weaker campaign stance could not hope to keep up.
Wilson Harold platform was seen by the Majority of the Californian voters as positive, He gained the first victory of the National Democratic Party with reforms and support of the industrial growth of California. However the argument for many modern historians would be whether it was Harold’s presidency that had spurred California’s growth as a nation or whether it was an event that was naturally occurring.