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Victor Chaney (Independent)
(1912-1913)

“The War Hero”

The Fourth of September, 1912 saw the Second American Civil War, the bloodiest war in American history, finally draw to a close after 5 years of bloodshed. American society had been forever changed, central authority had been shattered, and four nations now stood where before there had been one. The Western Republic was founded, with Victor Chaney, the President of the Alliance of Freedom; and one-time Socialist-Progressive President-Elect of the United States.

The Stalemate that surrounded the Treaty of Havana now resulted in the states of Shoshone, Columbia, Vancouver, Oregon, Nivada, Sacramento, California, Colorado, Sonora, Comanche, Rio Grande, Texas, Cherokee, Arkansas, and Louisiana banding together for a Constitutional Convention in San Francisco. The Southron Republic, formed from the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. The Republics of Upper and Lower Canada regained their independence from American Occupation. And Last, but certainly not least, The Third American Republic; with four different administrations claiming governance: The St. Louis Regime, The Chicago Regime, the Washington Regime, and the New York Regime.


The Former United States in 1912

The Constitutional Convention of the Western Republic of 1912 was a hectic affair, the delegates wanted to ensure the Constitution was written well; but they also wanted to have the government up and running as soon as possible. It was decided that the Western Republic would be nearly identical to the United States at the Judicial and State level. It was the other two branches where the drastic changes were made; following the ambiguity of the close election of 1906 Election, the Electoral College was abolished. The Legislative Branch was remolded to follow a more Westminster-esque governance with the Speaker of the Assembly being the leader of the largest party in the Assembly and sharing powers with the President. The Senate was abolished, and the Vice Presidency was not included in the Constitution, with the tie-breaking vote going to the President, in lieu of the Veto.

Moderate Socialist and Progressive reforms were included in the new government, Government took control of the utilities and the banks; and taxes on the upper bracket were increased. However, stability had only just been restored to the Western Economy, politics, and most of the nation began the long process of rebuilding when disaster happened. Victor Chaney was struck down suddenly and without warning with a stroke at the age of 56 under suspicious circumstances, leaving a vacuum of power in the young Republic. And then a figure from the nation's army, the hero of Denver, stepped up to restore order to the chaotic government, and provide hope in the time of troubles.
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