Let The Eagle Scream!

[Murica1776]

The next couple chapters are going to be in-depth looks at future Presidents Kennedy and Nixon (the only two OTL presidents for the rest of the 20th century). I hope that you'll like the direction I take these two gentlemen...

After that, we're going to cover the Rockefeller Presidency, Germany's fiasco in India, the death of Stalin, pop culture, and the rise of new ideologies in the Big Three. Stay tuned!

 

[Born in the USSA]

The next couple chapters are going to be in-depth looks at future Presidents Kennedy and Nixon (the only two OTL presidents for the rest of the 20th century). I hope that you'll like the direction I take these two gentlemen...

After that, we're going to cover the Rockefeller Presidency, Germany's fiasco in India, the death of Stalin, pop culture, and the rise of new ideologies in the Big Three. Stay tuned!

Neat! I'm a sucker for new ideologies, I've been enjoying this so far.

 

[Murica1776]

There will be more details about what's going on in India soon.

Chapter 34: Rockefeller's First Term, the India Crisis, and Brown v Alabama

In 1952, America elected Nelson Rockefeller as the next President of the United States in a landslide victory for the distinguished mayor of New York. Rockefeller's easy victory was helped in no small part by the near disintegration of the Democratic party. When President Roosevelt announced he was finally retiring from politics, his iron grip on the party collapsed. The party was divided between (an increasingly biracial) southern conservative wing, the union men, and a more liberal wing of the party. The unions and liberals teamed up to nominate Adlai Stevenson, while the southerners split off into the so-called "Dixiecrats" under Strom Thurmond. With a divided opposition and a nation wanting to change up Washington, it is easy to see why Rockefeller won.

The foreign policy issue that would define Rockefeller's Presidency started during the election year. The German Raj that had been formed in the wake of WWII was coming apart at the seams. Hindus and Muslims were clashing in the streets, nationalists were engaging in activities that ranged from civil disobedience to outright rioting and terrorism, and Afghan tribesmen were attacking border posts, sometimes of their own volition, sometimes at the request of the UOCS. Chancellor Ulbricht was having none of it. In December of 1952, Ulbricht announced a new draft for men to go fight in India. Berlin also dragged their European allies into the conflict, essentially demanding troops. Some eagerly complied, like Britain (eager to prove its loyalty and strength) and Italy (trying to prove itself an equal to Berlin). Others, such as the Scandinavian powers, had to be dragged into the war kicking and screaming, only complying with Berlin's requests after severe economic retribution was threatened. For a time, it seemed like the Raj was being brought to heel, as the Korean War distracted both the US and Russia, preventing outside meddling and reducing border attacks. As the war ended, this was about to change....

The UOCS and the United States had their own reasons to force Germany out of India. The Russians, growing increasingly friendly towards Islam, wanted to carve out a Muslim state from the subcontinent (or even revive the Mughal Empire) that could then be an unofficial resource colony for the Islamic-Orthodox sphere. The Americans wanted to "do in India what we did in China" and build a modern, liberal state in the region. The fact that such a regime would likely be friendly to Washington was, of course, completely incidental. Both powers also knew that kicking the Germans out would give them increased freedom of action in the Indian Ocean and Asia in general. With this in mind, the Yankees and Ruskies prepared to do their worst against the beleaguered Germans as the Korean War ended...

Shortly after the Korean War, an ailing Josef Stalin ordered the First UOCS Invasion of Afghanistan in an effort to both distract the public from the stalemate in Korea, and establish a bridgehead to India. Although the Russians never really pacified the country (partially thanks to Iranian-American interference) enough control was established and maintained throughout the conflict to serve Russian interests. Russian military advisers and weapons flowed into India from Afghanistan, helping to further agitate religious conflict. The "Islamic India Organization" under Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi was the main beneficiary of UOCS military aid, and waged a fierce campaign of terror in the northern part of India from 1953-1958. Hindus, moderate Muslims, and Europeans alike were targeted by assassinations, car bombings, and guerrilla fighters. Further south, the United States was near openly supporting Mohandas and Harilal Gandhi, a father-son team of Indian nationalists who favored a religion blind India and rather socialist economic policies. The Gandhi family's "Indian Nationalist Socialist Movement" soon became wildly popular, as the movement's charismatic orators and broad appeal swept the nation. However, the Germans weren't allowing this without a fight....

Throughout the 1950's, the German Empire reacted to the Raj Crisis by cracking down on dissent, mustering more troops, and acting openly belligerent towards the UOCS and the United States. As American aid poured in to India in 1953, the Germans and their Italian allies reacted by funding anti-Shah militants in Iran. Towards the end of the year, another war scare occurred when German and Italian forces engaged in skirmishes against Liberian troops fortifying the nation's border (and shipping guns to African militants). President Rockefeller declared in September that "any substantial act of aggression by the German-Italian Imperialist Bloc against Liberia will be treated as if it were an attack on Vermont." Eventually, the situation in Liberia cooled after Washington made their African allies back off from rebel groups within the German colonial empire. In retaliation against the UOCS, the Germans funded tribes in Afghanistan and nationalists in Manchuria, which unleashed a series of bombings against UOCS forces in these regions. However, Berlin saved its harshest measures for its colonial populations. Massive crackdowns on freedom of speech occurred across the colonies, and educated Indians were forced to take loyalty oaths to maintain their full citizenship rights. This had the effect of cowing many moderates, while radicalizing those already in favor of independence. Most brutally, a massive troop surge was sent to the subcontinent, complete with aircraft carriers, bombers, and tanks. As peaceful pro-independence rallies were broken up by increasingly enraged German authorities, violent resistance took its place. By 1956, Germany was essentially waging a war on India...

Domestically, the historic Brown v. Alabama shook the nation, and initiated the first "culture wars." For decades, Alabama and most other southern states had anti-miscegenation laws on the books, that went largely ignored by the rest of the nation. The law was actually fairly popular with both races, as African-Americans were almost as uncomfortable thinking about their daughters dating white men as whites were with the idea of black men dating white women. The races might be able to go to school together, fight together, and vote together, but many southerners drew a clear line on this topic. However, in 1954 Jim Brown (a white man) successfully argued that the state of Alabama's refusal to marry him to Janice Miller (a black woman) was a violation of his 14th Amendment rights. In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court struck down all laws prohibiting "marriage, dating, and romantic intercourse between the white and Negro races." The South practically exploded over night. Protests and small riots erupted between supporters of the decision and detractors. In state houses across Dixie, state legislatures reaffirmed support for anti-miscegenation laws, while courts refused to validate interracial marriages. President Rockefeller was stuck between a rock and a hard place. If he let the South do what they wanted, he made federal authority a laughing stock. However, the situation was delicate, and a misstep could result in catastrophic violence.

In the end, the President chose to squeeze the South financially. Via executive order, he declared that any state which "was not in compliance with federally mandated civil rights law" would be ineligible to receive federal funds for infrastructure or economic development, and no company or factory based in that state would not be allowed to receive federal contracts. This was enough to get many states to begrudgingly allow interracial marriage, including Alabama ironically. However, South Carolina refused to "bow down to federal oppression," much as they refused to give up Redeemerism during Reconstruction. If anything, South Carolina's Governor Hollings doubled down, encouraging state and local authorities to break up interracial weddings and detain interracial couples. When protesters vowed to march from Charleston to Columbia in November of 1955, they were openly and violently attacked by local police. The President watched the bloody spectacle on TV, and was reportedly "sickened, then incredibly, stormily enraged." In a bold and shocking move, Rockefeller denounced the actions of South Carolina's police and governor as "the most unacceptable display of state brutality against a peaceful citizenry in American history." Then, he announced that the South Carolina National Guard was to be federalized and that unless Governor Hollings resigned and surrendered to federal authorities for obstruction of justice within a week, "I will have no choice but to declare South Carolina to be in a state of rebellion against the Union. Such a declaration will be accompanied by federal troops and hand delivered to Governor Hollings, along with an arrest warrant." The Governor balked at Rockefeller's audacity, but after hearing reports from allies in Washington claiming "The President's as mad as a kicked dog," he reluctantly acquiesced. This stringent response to South Carolina's defiance of federal law was applauded by liberals, but alienated conservatives in both parties, including his VP Richard Nixon. Nonetheless, a booming economy and a still tranquil domestic front meant that Rockefeller easily won re-election, albeit not quite as handily as he would have hoped.

Rockefeller's stunning electoral victory

Scenes from a car bombing in a "Europeanizing" area of Calcutta (top) and religious riots in Northern India (bottom)

Recently drafted German men prepare to ship out to India

President Rockefeller delivers his warning to the Germans at an outdoor rally

South Carolina policemen prepare to beat Negroes protesting the Governor's reaction to Brown v. Alabama

 

[Wolttaire]

Love the update will see something akin to one party allying with the dixiecrafts like we so in OTL and how as world war 3 not started?

 

[Murica1776]

Love the update will see something akin to one party allying with the dixiecrafts like we so in OTL and how as world war 3 not started?

World War III hasn't started mainly because people have been smart enough to know when to back off. America reigns in its allies worst tendencies, the Germans back off when they know they've about gone too far, and the UOCS leadership is cynical and calculating enough to know not to piss of the other two

 

[M. A. Dickens]

Yay it's back!

Which gives me a push in finishing my PM entry re: TTL China. I should be able to send it to you alter, M1776.

Marc A

 

[AeroTheZealousOne]

L

In 1952, America elected Nelson Rockefeller as the next President of the United States in a landslide victory for the distinguished mayor of New York.

I noticed that quiet retcon on that future glimpse update from 1951 to 1953, you cheeky little you... But to be fair, it's cool, some days one has some ideas, others they change.

Further south, the United States was near openly supporting Mohandas and Harilal Gandhi, a father-son team of Indian nationalists who favored a religion blind India and rather socialist economic policies. The Gandhi family's "Indian Nationalist Socialist Movement" soon became wildly popular, as the movement's charismatic orators and broad appeal swept the nation.

Some group to root for? Who knows?

 

[Whiteshore]

the India Crisis

Is Subhas Chandra Bose a major ally of Gandhi by any chance?

 

[ajdb0614]

Rockefeller's stunning electoral victory

"Thurmond/Long"

Hmmm...

By any chance, is this longboi a K I N G F I S H?

Plus, is Thurmond a closet racist in-universe or is he (of all people) actually okay with blacks?

 

[Murica1776]

"Thurmond/Long"

Hmmm...

By any chance, is this longboi a K I N G F I S H?

Plus, is Thurmond a closet racist in-universe or is he (of all people) actually okay with blacks?

Unfortunately, he is not, lol. He's an alternate version of another Louisiana governor who's last name was Long and had progressive ideals OTL.

I'd say Thurmond is racist, albeit much more mildly than OTL. Think more of your somewhat ignorant/bigoted uncle at Thanksgiving rather than the horrific levels of racism from OTL. Of course, it's not going to prevent him from allying with black conservatives now or in the future

 

[andry2806]

1. Why the Dixiecrats still exists in this scenario? Are they voted by anti-misgenation blacks?
2. Are some of the Territories actually becoming states soon?

 

[Murica1776]

1. Why the Dixiecrats still exists in this scenario? Are they voted by anti-misgenation blacks?
2. Are some of the Territories actually becoming states soon?

1. They're voted for by anti-miscengation blacks. The Dixiecrats are also becoming alarmed by the somewhat more socialist nature of TTL's America (which will be covered shortly). Essentially, they are conservative southern whites and blacks banding together against the rumblings of change.

2. Alaska, Hawaii, and Cuba will become states at the tail end of the 50's. The 60's will see Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican) join the Union alongside Puerto Rico and American Columbia. Maybe Jamaica as well. In the 80's I can see the Philippines and the rest of the Caribbean joining the Union (I might split the Philippines into a couple states). Finally, Indochina and Central America will join in the 90's as various states. I don't see the US expanding too much more in terms of formal colonies and states, although its still a possibility.

 

[Murica1776]

Here's a look at the UOCS's terrifying (yet more inclusive) new ideology. Also, future references to the UOCS and its allies will reference Orthodox-Sunni'ism rather than Orthodox-Islamism. I didn't have the idea fully fleshed out till I started writing, lol.

The Rise of Orthodox-Sunni'ism (Stalinism)

In the 1940's, Supreme Director Stalin realized that the UOCS could not continue as it had in the past. Only allowing Orthodox Christians to be considered citizens and allies severely limited the potential of the fledgling empire. But who to align with? The Americans were out of the question, thanks to their massive intake of anti-UOCS refugees, and the possibility of great power rivalry. The Germans, with their Catholic allies, active move to, and desire for total European hegemony ruled out any alliance with them. These two powers also happened to have the world under their thumb for the most part. In the end, the dictator settled on the Sunni Arabs. At first, this seems like a bizarre choice for a Christian theocracy, and indeed it is. However, geopolitically the Arab world was key to maintaining UOCS security. So, after consulting with political theorists and allies, Stalin unveiled his new ideology, which consisted of 5 pillars: "Christian-Sunni Brotherhood," Anti-Westernism, the "Vozhd principle," Eurasianism, and autarky.

"Christian-Sunni Brotherhood" is perhaps the most unusual of the ideological pillars maintained by Stalinism. According to the ideology's foundational text "The Political Theory of Christian Comrade Stalin," Orthodox Christians and Sunni Muslims are two sides of the same coin. Both believe in Jesus Christ, both believe in the one true God, both broke away from an established line of succession (referring somewhat inaccurately to the divide in Islam over Muhammad's successor), and both are seeing their cultures and religions assaulted by the "Judeo-Germanic-American Bloc," which seeks to spread "Jewish thievery, Protestant apostasy, and Catholic superstition" over the whole world. In order for "true religion" to endure, the Orthodox and Sunni should set aside their "minor differences" to work together to defeat "Western Imperial Aggression." While this did not eliminate tensions between Christians and Muslims in the Russian sphere, it certainly eased them, and allowed the UOCS leadership to openly court Arab leaders.

Anti-Westernism, specifically Germanophobia and Anti-Americanism, is one of the most key cornerstones of Stalinism. The West in this worldview is nothing but a bunch of heathenish barbarians set to destroy true civilization. The Germans are alleged to be bloodthirsty animals hellbent on murdering, looting, and raping across the whole planet. The Americans are said to be decadent "mongrelizers of culture and religion." The Orthodox-Sunni world must unite against these horrific animals, lest they be destroyed by them. Needless to say, this also creates an enemy strong enough to distract people from the leadership's failings.

The Vozhd Principle is defined as the necessity for a "truly civilized Christian state" to be lead by a strong leader, or Vozhd. Without strong leadership, it is said that civilization crumbles into anarchy and debauchery. Stalinists would also claim that Jesus Christ and the Abrahamic patriarchs were "the First Vozhds" and their strong leadership is what enabled the spread of Christianity. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Vozhd Principle is fully okay with internal intrigue and coups against leadership, as "any Christian leader who succumbs to such machinations is not a truly strong Vozhd." Needless to say, this would make Russian politics even more totalitarian and underhanded. Some analysts even believe that the paranoia the Vozhd Principle inspired was one of the biggest causes of the UOCS's downfall. In his later years, Stalin eschewed the formal title of Supreme Director for Vozhd, which he felt was more powerful and fitting. Every Supreme Director after him would adopt the title as their own.

Eurasianism is the belief that the Orthodox-Sunni sphere is neither of Europe or Asia, but rather Eurasia. In this vein, the UOCS should not allow itself or its allies to be influenced by either Europe or Asia, let alone the Americas. Furthermore, the UOCS should reclaim its former Eastern territories, as well as annex the Tibet-Xinjiang-Mongolia-Manchuria belt, in order to hem in the Chinese. The Americans and their "cultural dilution machine" is to be resisted at all costs, and numerous counter-measures against the American Empire are advised, including espionage and political influence.

Finally, autarky should be an economic end goal. Foreign powers have no economic interest in the Orthodox-Sunni'ist sphere aside from exploitation and plunder. To prevent the destruction of living standards, the exploitation of the Christian (and Sunni) people, and the eventual "economic enslavement of true civilization to the Berlin-London-New York-Washington-Rome Axis," the entire bloc must be self-sufficient. Acquiring all the resources needed to maintain industrial civilization without outside trade must be a top priority. Indeed, the UOCS would use autarky as an excuse to meddle in Africa and beyond in the future....

A latter day Stalinist text titled "The Foundations of Geopolitics."

A painting titled "Russian Children Pay Tribute to Father-Leader Stalin"

Anti-Western propaganda depicting Arabs sweeping out European colonialism

 

[Carismastic]

Whatever happened to British Malaya? Did the US annex it in the aftermath of WW1 or WW2?

 

[Murica1776]

Whatever happened to British Malaya? Did the US annex it in the aftermath of WW1 or WW2?

Huh. Didn't realize I ignored them. I guess the US annexing it makes sense. It's near Indochina, and gives them a staging area against Dutch Indonesia

 

[Murica1776]

Here's Germany's not at all arrogant guiding ideology! Ironically, it's not extremely different from the Americans, aside from the domestic side. Also, advice on a new name for it is appreciated

Kulturkampf

Following WWII, the German Empire was arguably the most powerful nation on Earth. With the exception of Ireland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, and Greece, all of Europe was subordinate to Berlin. Africa was controlled entirely by Germany and her allies, with the relatively small exception of Liberia and its small sphere. The British Raj was under German control, Bhutan and Nepal were German protectorates, and Berlin's allied Dutch maintained their death grip on Indonesia (with no small help from Germany). Everywhere one looked, German power was there. It is perhaps no surprise that having been granted their "time in the sun," the German people were feeling a bit... confident. However, the War had discredited racialist views of German superiority for many Germans, although a sizable minority clung to German racial superiority under the mantle of German Israelism. For the majority of Germans (and educated native elites) the root of German superiority was in German culture. By 1948, a novel entitled "German Kultur Compared to the World," written by Horst Kasner would crystallize this worldview into a new ideology melded with some old ideals. "Kulturkampf...."

According to Kulturkampf, while all races were created equal, all cultures were most certainly not. Broadly speaking, European cultures were superior to Asian cultures, who were in turn superior to Arab, Persian, and African cultures. Within Europe, German culture was held to be superior to the rest of the continent. Beneath the Germans were the Scandinavians, Italians, and Baltics, followed by the British and French, who were themselves above the Swiss, Portuguese, Irish, Spanish, and Greeks. The "least developed" European cultures were held to be the Eastern Europeans and the Balkans. Within Germany some radicals claimed that the Prussian culture was superior to the other Germanic cultures, although the government tried to clamp down on this movement to prevent internal ethnic strife.

One of the most incendiary part of Kulturkampf's worldview was its approach to the United States. Although Kulturkampf acknowledged America's culture was "Anglo-Franco-Germanic" in origin, constant streams of immigration, the "unassimilated" Negro population, and the lack of a single unified national culture meant that Americans had no culture whatsoever. In fact, a popular saying among Germans soon became "America has gone from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between." This infuriated Americans, and many formerly proud German-Americans renounced their ancestral traditions and homeland in protest of "Berlin's stupefying arrogance." This view eventually led to an international incident in 1962 when the German Chancellor refused a painting by American artist Norman Rockwell, presented as a goodwill present by President Kennedy, on the grounds that it was "culturally inappropriate." The President then publicly remarked that "You had no trouble accepting American blood and treasure during the World Wars. Perhaps that was inappropriate as well."

Kulturkampf deeply impacted German domestic, colonial, and foreign policy. In the colonies, the Germans began devoting massive amounts of resources to Germanizing the natives, building thousands of German-language schools, founding German language newspapers and radio stations, and sending thousands of missionaries to convert the natives. The Imperial authorities took advantage of this new push to begin one of the most widespread propaganda campaigns in human history, claiming that "once civilization was brought to the wilderness, perhaps the colonies could become part of a new Greater Germany." Indeed, the Germans would attempt to build a new federal style empire in later decades. In the meantime,this had the keeping many natives loyal to Berlin, as they did legitimately benefit from education and new investments in infrastructure and economic development. However, in the push to solidify control over the new Germany, most native cultures were either diluted or crushed by the sheer fury of Berlin's assault. The fact that nascent nationalist movements were increasingly being surveilled and crushed by the authorities after the India Catastrophe (as it was called in Germany) didn't help. Unfortunately for the Germans, these efforts would not be as successful as they'd like.

In foreign affairs, Germany began pushing its culture on its allies in a semi-aggressive manner. Money was given to found cultural exchange programs, which were more geared towards spreading Germanic ideals rather than an equal exchange of cultural beliefs. Education funding was provided to foreign nations who made it mandatory for their children to learn German. German novels, films, and radio shows were gradually spread across the continent, often with government funding. In fact, Berlin was rather muscular about ensuring it had access to foreign entertainment markets, especially in France, whose own history of cultural achievement and independence made them resistant to the spread of German ideals. Although not as successful as their American rivals, Germany did still enjoy a decent measure of success in spreading its culture across Europe, and by the time the Empire began to decline, most Europeans spoke German fluently and did consume at least a small amount of German entertainment.

Domestically, the effect of Kulturkampf was a conservative backlash that oftentimes crossed the line into reactionary. Any thought of limiting the power of the Kaiser or the Junkers from current levels was a rebellion against the traditional guardians of Germanic civilization, and was therefore unpatriotic. Radical social movements would upend the traditions upon which German culture had been built, rendering such organizations an existential threat. Although Germany did have a decent social safety net already in place (old age benefits and public healthcare) any drastic expansion of this safety net would undermine the industriousness for which the German people were known and renowned. Finally, there could obviously be no repudiation of the military. After all, the militaristic ethic of Prussia had transformed Germany from a disunified mess into a global superpower within 80 years....

President Kennedy denounces Kulturkampf after Chancellor Mende insults Norman Rockwell

Part of a poster glorifying traditional German values, and former Kaiser Wilhelm II

 

[President Earl Warren]

How does culturalism view Catholcism? I can not see it really being positive with the North who dominate the country being made up of Lutherans and the main enemy for the last wars being Catholic

 

[Murica1776]

How does culturalism view Catholcism? I can not see it really being positive with the North who dominate the country being made up of Lutherans and the main enemy for the last wars being Catholic

There's a general tolerance for Catholicism, much like there was in OTL's Imperial Germany. It doesn't hurt that Germany's most powerful ally (Italy) is an ardently Catholic country. Plus, the Brits were THE major rival of Germany before and during the Wars, and Britain is Protestant.

 

[TheImperialTheorist]

So Kennedy still won in 1960?

 

[Born in the USSA]

Here's Germany's not at all arrogant guiding ideology! Ironically, it's not extremely different from the Americans, aside from the domestic side. Also, advice on a new name for it is appreciated

I like it! As for a new name, you could try something like "Kulturkampf". The concept has a long history in Germany, and the basic idea could realistically be paired with social Darwinist tenets to form the foundation of an attitude of German cultural supremacy, creating a realistic path for the gestation of the ideology.