The Union Forever: A TL

[Mac Gregor]

1963​

Domestic Developments​

Amid great fanfare, the 1963 World’s Fair was held in Havana, Cuba. City leaders had lobbied hard for the privilege of hosting the fair and successfully marketed Havana as a first rate American city. Some of the highlights included the American and German pavilions which touted their recent exploits in space exploration and the Wondertron, a massive roller-coaster constructed by the Dreamworld Film Company.

In May, “The Quiet Revolution: Rise of the Modern American Woman” by Dr. Harper E. Peck was published. In the book, Peck claimed that since the end of the Great War women’s economic and political clout had slowly but steadily increased in American society. Statistics showed that more women were now working out of the home, attaining college degrees, and running for political office than ever before. Peck believed that this discreet increase in affluence could be accelerated by the appointment of more women to high government offices. The Quiet Revolution quickly became a best seller and one of the most discussed books in the nation despite invoking the ire of some social conservatives.

Despite the dominance of the decidedly modern Futuro genre, the 1960s also witnessed a revival of American folk music. Spurred on by the civil war centennial celebrations, new renditions of classical American songs experienced a surge of popular support. One of the most successful folk groups was The Billy Goats whose cover of “Yellow Rose of Texas” would spend five weeks at the top of the charts during the summer of 1963.

In September, the American economy entered into recession for the first time in nine years. While Europe and Asia were mostly spared the fallout of the 1963 Latin American Banking Crisis, America’s heavy investment in the region caused it to become mired in the hemisphere’s economic woes. President Anderson, who until the crisis had enjoyed near record high approval ratings, soon found himself unable to stop the rapid fall of stock prices and the corresponding rise in unemployment.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1963 ​

Foreign Developments​

Flag of the Dominion of Malta​

Living up to his campaign promises, Prime Minister Atkinson's government granted domestic autonomy to Malta, Cyprus, Malaya, and Jamaica over the course of 1963. With their new dominion status these territories now had near complete control over their own internal affairs but like their Indian counterparts still had their foreign policy controlled from London. The move was extremely popular in the affected territories although sectarian violence in Cyprus between Turkish and Greek Cypriots was cause for concern.

In March the 1963 Latin American Banking Crisis spread like wildfire throughout the Americas when the Banco do Brasil became insolvent after years of mismanagement and the careless issuing of loans. In the following months several other high profile banks would either go under of have to be propped up their national governments. The banking crisis would dominate that year’s League of American Republic’s summit but no comprehensive agreement was able to be reached.

In the chaotic 1963 Indian general election Premier Mundakkal Mirdha’s embattled government lost power and was replaced by a new parliamentary coalition headed by Sayed Koya. The election also witnessed the rise of the rightwing National Unity Party led by Harshad Nanda which quickly became the strongest force in the opposition. The National Unity Party was modeled heavily off of Japan’s ruling Kobushi Party and promoted economic corporatism, territorial expansion, cooperation between the republic’s Hindu and Muslim citizens,and staunchly opposed western colonialism.

On September 11, Britain became the third country to reach space with the launch of its first satellite Drake 1 from an airbase in Queensland, Australia.

The war in the Dutch East Indies continued to spread with attacks on the islands of Java and Sumatra increasing throughout the year. Tensions between the Netherlands and Japan also increased with the mysterious sinking of the frigate Hr.Ms. De Ruyter off of the coast of Borneo which the Dutch government claimed was carried out by a Japanese submarine. Although Tokyo denied being involved, Japan continued to provide military aid to the rebels and openly called for the Dutch to “quit Asia”.

In the wake of the signing of the Turin Pact, Germany created its own international organization on October 16, 1963. Styled as the Association of European States (AES), it consisted of ten other nations besides Germany including the Low Countries, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark-Iceland, Bohemia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Slovenia. While the AES member states contained a variety of governments and cultures the association was viewed as more conservative and monarchial than its Franco-Italian rivals. Not to be outdone, in December the Russians quickly established an even more conservative affiliation with their longtime allies of Serbia-Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece which became known in the West as the Orthodox Council.

 

[Mac Gregor]

If someone could work on a chart of flags, that would be awesome.

It's Jamaica, mon!

Excellent idea. Here is one for the British Commonwealth circa 1964. Please note that flags are arranged in no particular order. Cheers!View attachment 207039.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1964 Presidential Election ​

At 74 years old few were surprised when President Anderson declined to seek his party’s nomination for a third term. As expected Vice President Howley the leader of the conservative wing of the Democratic Party soon entered the race. Despite being the initial frontrunner in the primaries Howeley’s campaign was marred by a crippling series of gaffes and poor debate performances. At the convention in Seattle, Howley failed to gain a majority of delegates on the first ballot sealing his fate. The Democrats eventually settled on the popular governor of Michigan Corbin Lindy and Herman Talon the junior senator from Delaware. On the other hand the race for the Republican nomination for president started wide open with a number of relatively unknown candidates jockeying for position. It didn’t take long though for one man to pull ahead of the pack.

Frank MacArthur

Malcolm Francis “Frank” MacArthur was born on October 1, 1914 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to a distinguished military family. His grandfather Arthur MacArthur Jr. had fought in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and Great War before retiring as a Major General. Following high school Frank attended West Point where at six foot four inches he excelled at baseball and rugby. Frank however did not stay in the military. A few years later MacArthur returned to Milwaukee where he became a successful businessman. MacArthur eventually becoming CEO of North Star Breweries and turned the floundering company into the third largest in the country. With a reputation for honesty and hard work MacAthur was lobbied by both parties to run from governor in 1960. After some introspection, MacArthur announced himself as a Republican and was handsomely elected. Over the next four years MacArthur distinguished himself as a no-nonsense reformer who managed to pass major overalls of the state’s education and transporation systems. During the Republican primaries MacArthur’s straight talk and status as a political outsider steadily moved him up in the polls. At the Republican convention in San Juan, MacArthur was selected on the first ballot to rapturous applause. For his running mate MacArthur was paired with House minority leader Sterling Gavin of Texas.

The Campaign

With the country’s economy still in the doldrums due to the Latin American banking crisis, the ruling Democratic Party was forced onto the defensive. MacArthur’s slogan of “hands on management” was a deliberate crack at the hands off style of the Anderson administration. While most of the campaign focused on the economy MacArthur took a hardline against Japan and accused his opponent of wanting to ignore the empire’s mounting activity in the Pacific. During the televised debates MacArthur crushed the diminutive Lindy who the public began to view as unable to fix the nation’s problems.

The Results

Frank MacArthur
Republican from Wisconsin
32nd President of the United States​

By the end of election night it was clear that the Republicans had won an impressive victory. Besides the reliably Democratic South, Lindy and Talon managed to win only their home states and Utah earning them only a quarter of the electoral votes. As such Frank MacAthur was elected the 32nd President of the United States as well as giving both houses of Congress to the Republicans. ​

 

[Mac Gregor]

1964 ​

Domestic Developments ​

A devastated downtown Sedgwick, Alaska ​

On Good Friday March 27 what became known as the Great Alaskan Earthquake struck across south central Alaska. At 9.2 it was the second most powerful earthquake yet recorded, killing over 150 people and resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of damage. President Anderson surveyed the aftermath himself and was reported to have been moved to tears by the devastation. The extensive media coverage of this event and its proximity to the 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake are credited with sparking a slew of disaster films that would be a common feature of ‘60s American cinema.

During the summer of 1964 two piece female swimsuits known as “two-ies”, often stylized as 2Es, burst onto the American beach scene. While two piece swimsuits had existed in some form for decades and were already common in places like France and Italy, it wasn’t until actress Madelina Blount modeled one of the cover of Harper’s Weekly that they began to be considered mainstream. By the end of the decade 2Es would become ubiquitous on beaches from Hawaii to Cuba despite the allegations of some that “two-ies are too-lewd.”

On August 23, the new headquarters for Trans Atlantic Airlines opened in New York City which at 404 meters became the world’s tallest building dethroning the reigning champion the 388 meter Reichwagen Tower in Berlin.

In October, Polish-American scientist Joachim Maslanka unveiled the first functional laser. Lasers, originally an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, would over the following decades come to be used in a wide variety of fields including consumer electronics, surgery, and even weaponry.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1964​

Foreign Developments​

In February, the 7th Winter Olympic Games are held in Oslo, Norway.

Following in the footsteps of its Italian ally, France granted full and equal citizenship to all people residing in Algeria regardless of their religious or ethnic origin in April. French President Valere Gardinier hoped that offering enfranchisement would undercut any lingering support for the Algerian Independence Front (AIF). By the end of the year most of the AIF, which had suffered severe losses in recent years, agreed to lay down their arms and join the political process under the Algerian People’s Party which began to caucus with the Socialist opposition. Some AIF leaders however refused to compromise and either went underground, formed their own splinter factions, or fled into neighboring Morocco.

On May 2, Pope Leo XIV died after 27 years on the throne of St. Peter making him the third longest serving pope in history. The College of Cardinals chose as his successor Adelfo Ausonio Cattaneo, an Italian cardinal with a reputation as a reformer, who assumed the name Pius X.

Starting in November, tensions flared between the Kingdom of Siam and the Empire of Vietnam over their disputed border. The Siamese government claimed that Vietnamese forces had been making unauthorized incursions into their territory sparking several firefights. Unsurprisingly, the Vietnamese denied these accusations and levied similar charges against Siam. Regardless of the truth of the mater, the Vietnamese government in Hue used the unrest to successfully solicit greater military aid from their chief ally Japan. Furthermore, both sides were becoming embroiled over the future of Laos where two rival factions were preparing to seize power once the country’s ageing monarch, King Samane II, died.

After spending five decades as a British protectorate the small Emirate of Kuwait was granted full independence by the Atkinson government on December 15, 1964. Situated between its larger neighbors of Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Persia, Kuwait’s modernizing ruler Emir Salim II Al-Sabah continued to maintain a security agreement with the British Commonwealth guaranteeing his country's independence. Over the next few years Kuwait adopted a constitution and held their first democratic elections. Despite the monarchy retaining considerable power, these reforms made Kuwait the first true democracy in the Persian Gulf.

Flag of the Emirate of Kuwait​

 

[Mac Gregor]

Switching the order up a bit. Enjoy! ​

1965​

Foreign Developments ​

On April 4, the 27 day long Sino-Tibetan War erupted when elements of the 4th and 6th Chinese armies commanded by General Chen Ke surged across its sparsely populated border with the Kingdom of Tibet. The abruptness of the invasion stunned the world including Tibet which was attacked mere hours after rejecting an ultimatum from Chinese leader Zhang Kun to “renegotiate their common border.” The small and antiquated Tibetan Army was only able to offer token resistance to the assaulting Chinese but did fight some valiant delaying actions before being overwhelmed. For its aggression China received near universal condemnation especially from the United Kingdom who considered itself Tibet’s protector before their recent withdraw from northern India. By early May international pressure from Russia, Japan, Britain, and even the normally friendly United States forced Zhang to end his advance into Tibet. In the resulting peace settlement China agreed to acknowledge Tibetan independence but acquired nearly 40% of its territory. At home the victory provided Zhang’s regime, and General Chen in particular, with an enormous boost of popular support claiming that after centuries of decline China’s fortunes were now on the rise. Indeed most pundits saw China’s unwarranted war against Tibet as a way to compensate for its embarrassing defeat at the hands of Japan 10 years earlier. Out of fear of renewed Chinese aggression, the Dali Lama signed a treaty with St. Petersburg in October effectively joining the likes of Mongolia, Tuva, and Uyghurstan as a Russian protectorate.

In March and September, the tiny African kingdoms of Basutoland and Swaziland formally united with the Dominion of South Africa.[1] Having been ruled as British protectorates for decades, the territories were allowed to keep their monarchs but relegated them to a largely ceremonial role. These new provinces would elect their own representatives to the South African Parliament in Willemstad two years later.[2]

In the 1960 German general election Chancellor Florian Krueger and his coalition of Conservatives and Christian Democrats were reelected for a third term. Krueger credited his party’s success to a prospering economy, Germany’s recent triumphs in space, and the creation of the Association of European States. Dismayed by yet another electoral defeat the Social Democrats vowed to close ranks with a number of other centrist and left wing parties to create a united opposition come next election.

In October, the Russian Empire became the fourth nation to put a satellite in orbit with the launch of Basil 2. Empress Elizabeth II hailed the achievement as a monument to Russian science and in the following months successfully lobbied the Duma for additional funds for the Russian space program.

In early November, the Argentine city of Buenos Aires hosted the first World Technocracy Congress a gathering of technocratic and Krulikist intellectuals, advocates, and politicians from over 51 countries. The highly publicized meetings caused a worldwide resurgence of interest in the technocratic movement which presented itself as a superior alternative to the liberal democracies and conservative monarchies then in power in much of the world.
[1] Basutoland is the former name for OTL’s country of Lesotho.

[2] OTL’s Johannesburg

 

[Mac Gregor]

1965​

Domestic Developments ​

Statue of Leroy Conner in Panama City, Panama​

On January 17, former president Leroy Conner died at the age of 74 after suffering from a protracted battle with lung cancer. Since leaving office in 1957, Conner had kept a low political profile devoting most of his time to writing his memoirs and missionary work. Although the only U.S. president to have been impeached, Conner’s legacy had improved dramatically by the time of his death, news of which sparked an outpouring of grief both at home and around the world. President MacArthur delivered the eulogy at his funeral in Atlanta praising Conner’s achievements in civil rights and hemispherical unity. As a sign of respect for his leadership during the Second Atacama War the government of Chile donated an iconic bronze statue of Conner which now sits outside the League of American Republics headquarters in Panama City.

In May, the Department of the Interior began reintroducing the Passenger Pigeon to the American wild. After nearly being driven to extinction around the turn of the century a group of dedicated conservationists led by ornithologist Beaumont O'shea managed to preserve a small population of the birds and slowly regrew their numbers over the years. Environmentalists heralded the achievement as a milestone of conservation although it would take many further decades until the birds were removed from the endangered species list.

In August, the National Drug and Food Agency (NDFA) approved the first oral contraceptive pill. Many social conservatives worried that “the pill” would lead to an increase in female promiscuity. As such several states banned the sale of oral contraceptives to unmarried women.

Following his inauguration, President MacArthur and his Republican Congress immediately began measures that they believed would jumpstart the American economy. Hoping to fulfill his campaign promise of “hands on management”, these measures included the creation of the Department of Economic Affairs, the first new cabinet position created since 1921, and allotted additional funds to the Bank of the United States to lower interest rates. Congress also authorized the construction of a series of new military bases in the Pacific and Caribbean including the Conner Joint Army-Navy Airbase in American Guiana which in time would become the center of the American space program.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1966​

Foreign Developments ​

On March 11, German Lieutenant-Colonel Maximilian Schwiezer became the first man to journey into outer space aboard his spacecraft Adler. Upon his safe return Schwiezer received a hero’s welcome and was honored by a massive parade in Berlin and awarded the Iron Cross by Emperor Fredrick IV.

Confident of reelection, Prime Minister Cyril Atkinson called for an early general election in the spring of 1966. British voters were largely pleased with Atkinson’s policy of increased domestic spending and a less intrusive foreign policy. As such, Atkinson and his Liberal Party were returned to power with a handsome majority.

On May 4, the Russian Empire boasted the construction of the world’s first high speed rail line between the capital of St. Petersburg and the inland city of Moscow. With a top speed of over 125 mph the train, affectionately nicknamed the “lightning bear,” covered the 400 mile journey considerably faster than any of its contemporaries. Many other nations including Japan, Germany, France, Italy, and the United States took notice of Russia’s achievement and began planning their own high speed rail lines before the end of the decade.

In July, King Leopold III of House Hapsburg presided over the opening ceremonies of the XIII Summer Olympiad in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. While the games attracted recorded breaking attendance the festivities were marred by several large scale protests and the heavy handed tactics used to disperse them which resulted in nearly a dozen deaths. Many foreign observers noted that Hungarian society seemed increasingly divided between the conservative pro-German monarchists and liberal reformers.

For nearly three years Brazil had been in the grips of a severe depression as a result of the ongoing Latin American banking crisis. In September, after repeated failures to improve the economic situation, President Ronaldo Araugo and his Progressive Socialist Party announced that they would dramatically cut military funding in order to shore up the country’s struggling finances. Tired of Araugo’s ineffective polices and fearing the consequences of these cuts the Brazilian army decided to take matters into their own hands. On October 29, while President Araugo was in Portugal on government business, forces under Lt. General Victorino Palmeiro seized control of the capital of Rio de Janeiro. Within a week an interim government was established with the pro-military bureaucrat Geraldo Gaspar hastily sworn in as the new president. News of the coup shocked the world and was widely condemned especially by the member states of the League of American Republics who refused to recognize Gaspar’s government. Brazilian reaction varied widely with some welcoming the coup as a solution to the country’s problems while many others protested against it and even began contemplating armed resistance.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1966​

Domestic Developments​

Retrieving Melton's capsule from the Pacific ​

In February, the Coca-Cola Company unveiled the world’s first mass distributed diet soda called Zero-Cal. Although originally intended to fit a niche market of athletes and dieters, Zero-Cal eventually spawned an entire family of diet sodas. Coke’s chief rivals Moxie Beverages and Cariba Cola would release their own diet soft-drinks a few years later.

On May 2, United States Army Air Force pilot Major Walter K. Melton of Georgia became the second man in space and the first man to orbit the earth after splashing down safely near Micronesia.

In Stein v. Rapides Parish School Board the Supreme Court ruled six to five that government sanctioned prayer was permitted in American public schools allowing that it was not “religion specific” and “strictly voluntary.” Unsurprisingly controversy revolving around prayer in public schools would continue for decades.

In August, Pope Pius X made the first papal visit to the United States. His much anticipated tour made stops in Boston, New York City, Santo Domingo, Havana, Halleckville, and San Francisco where he was received by enthusiastic crowds of American Catholics.

In the 1966 midterm elections the Democrats were able to regain the House of Representatives due to a weak economic recovery and unhappiness over the coup in Brazil. The Senate remained in the hands of the Republicans.

As part of America’s ongoing folk music revival, Will Taffey’s single “Take Me Home, Country Roads” climbed to number one on American music charts in November of 1966. Most music critics praised the song and viewed it as a welcome respite to the Futuro dominated airwaves.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1967​

Foreign Developments​

In February, the Dominion of South Africa held its first open general election. While previously blacks and other “coloured” groups could vote and run for office in certain provinces, 1967 marked the first time that full suffrage was extended to all adult citizens regardless of race. As expected Niles Mbete of the Liberal Federalist Party became the first black Prime Mister of South Africa despite a smattering of violence by white Afrikaner groups.

In March, newly installed President Geraldo Gaspar withdrew Brazil from the League of American Republics after the LAR refused to recognize his military backed government and demanded that deposed President Ronaldo Araugo be returned to power. Domestic opposition to Gaspar, known collectively as os constitucionalistas, grew throughout the year with violent protests gripping most of the major cities. In the jungle interior armed bands began exchanging fire with government forces leading many to fear that civil war would soon erupt.

On July 3, Italian President Costanzo Vincenzo and French President Valere Gardinier presided over the opening of the Mont Blanc tunnel.[1] At 11,615 meters, the road tunnel greatly eased transalpine travel between the two countries and stood as a monument to their strong bilateral ties.

In August, Terra Nova Publishing released The World on Edge the first of British author Dave Alfredson’s iconic spy novels. Centered on the dashing protagonist Peter Durkin, a British intelligence officer from Northern Ireland, The World on Edge dealt with the growing tensions between the world’s major powers and their various rivalries. The World on Edge quickly became an international bestseller and sparked Terra Nova to create a number of spy characters from other countries who would interact with each other in a shared universe.

On November 5, the German Empire detonated the world’s first atomic weapon in a remote section of northwest Cameroon ushering in the start of the Nuclear Age. Known as the Donar-Projekt, the German nuclear weapon program was the brainchild of brilliant physicist Eckehard Diefenbach. News of the creation of a nuclear weapon sent shock waves around the world. The United States and Russia, which already had nascent nuclear programs, began pouring in additional resources to catch up with the Germans. Within two months of Germany’s success the British Commonwealth, Japan, France, and Italy would all authorized their own nuclear weapons programs.[2]

Mushroom Cloud over German Cameroon
November 5, 1967​

[1] Both men were reelected in 1966.
[2] Due to the Turin Pact, Italy and France have a joint nuclear weapons program.

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[Mac Gregor]

Hey everyone, here is a special update on India. Special thanks to traveller76 for all his help. ​

Change in India​

Indian Republic
1959-1968​

1967 General Election

January, 1967 marked the third general election in the Indian Republic since independence from the United Kingdom in 1959. While the country had recovered from the wartime famine, living conditions had scarcely improved and the young republic remained paralyzed by the political infighting of its parliament. Despite being marred by considerable violence and allegations of corruption, the 1967 election clearly illustrated that the incumbent coalition government of Premier Sayed Koya had lost the confidence of the people. When the votes were finally tallied Harshad Nanda’s National Unity Party (Rāṣṭrīya ēkatā pārṭī or REP) had captured an unprecedented 58% of the electorate. The reason for the REP’s tremendous success was multifold but most cited economic malaise and its well organized party structure, including its active youth and labor wings.

The Constitution of 1968

Once in power, Harshad Nanda’s first priority was to draft a new constitution to implement his party’s vision for the country. Taking effect the following year, the constitution of 1968 was a massive national reorganization according to the REP’s ideology of corporatism and its specific brand of pan-Indian nationalism. Nanda wished to make a clean break with what he considered to be the shameful disorder of the past. In the constitution’s preamble the nation was rechristened as the “United Republic of India” and laid claim to all territory that was once controlled by the British Raj.

On the surface the constitution appeared very democratic providing for freedom or religion, speech, assembly, and a directly elected 552-member lower house the Lok Sabha (House of the People). Real power however was concentrated in hands of the National Planning Commission composed of representatives of the government ministries and the upper house Nigamōṁ kī Pariṣada (Council of Corporations). In theory the Nigamōṁ kī Pariṣada was supposed to give representation to a variety of professions and industries such as civil servants, doctors, students, the military, and industrial and agricultural workers. In reality the Nigamōṁ kī Pariṣada allowed the REP to start exerting control over nearly every facet of society. To the surprise of no one Nanda was elected by the Lok Sabha and the Nigamōṁ kī Pariṣada as Netaji (Leader) the head of state. This, along with his other positions of party leader and chairman of the National Planning Commission, invested Nanda with enormous political power.

The Economy

After the new constitution, invigorating the Indian economy was the REP’s top priority correctly realizing that if things did not improve no government would remain in power long. The National Planning Commission released the first of their Five Year Economic Plans in the early months of 1968. It nationalized most large scale industries such as steel, defense, power, and transportation and banned foreign multinationals. The exception being certain subsidiaries of Japanese companies, but even these are majority owned by the state. Most small and medium businesses remained under private ownership along with the majority of farmland. The Ministry of Agriculture also began a massive plan to modernize Indian farming in hopes of preventing another famine.

Military and Foreign Policy

India’s foreign policy under the REP is largely shaped by the view of being encircled by enemies abroad and beset by traitors at home. Britain and her dominions remain the primary enemy with the independent princely states a close second. Bereft of friends, Nanda made overtures to a fellow anti-western power the Empire of Japan. The REP’s ideological similarities with Japan’s ruling Kobushi party made the Japanese eager to provide assistance. At the request of the REP, the first Japanese military advisors arrived in November of 1967 with the intent of upgrading India’s modest military capabilities. In the vein of self-sufficiency the Indian government increased investment in the defense industry administered collectively as the National Defense Corporation. Over the next few years, India would see marked improvement as the nation moved away from simply copying British, German, and Japanese weaponry and began producing their own designs. To watch out for domestic subversives the government established the Āntarika Surakṣā Ayōga or ASA (Internal Security Commission), which over the years would become a feared secret police.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1967​

Domestic Developments ​

On February 27, the New Orleans Gators won their first National Rugby Association Championship after beating the Detroit Mohawks 39 to 37 in triple overtime in what was the most watched American sporting event to date.

In April, President MacArthur nominated Judge Mildred Bettencourt of New Hampshire to the Supreme Court. While many viewed her Senate confirmation hearing as especially harsh, Bettencourt defended her views and qualifications masterfully allowing her to become the first female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

In August, the novel Pilgrim in a Strange Land is published. A semi-autobiographical account written by Chinese-American author Huan Chung Wu, Pilgrim in a Strange Land details the plight of teenager Ru Chan under the brutal Japanese occupation of Hainan during the late 1950s. The book quickly became an international best seller and today is considered one of the best works of the 20th century. Unsurprisingly it was banned in the Empire of Japan for “seditious historical inaccuracies”.

On December 14, the Yuengling Brewing Corporation bought out its St. Louis based competitor Anheuser-Busch. Founded in 1829 as D. G. Yuengling & Son, the once family owned brewery had over the years risen to become a nationally recognized brand and remains the oldest operating brewing company in the United States. Its merger with Anheuser-Busch made Yuengling the largest beer distributor in the country followed by rivals Schlitz, Isleno, and Old Dixie.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1968​

Foreign Developments ​

Aswan High Dam
1968​

In February, the 8th Winter Olympic Games are held in the Canadian city of Tobermory, Vesperia.[1]

The spring of 1968 would witness the deaths of George V of Great Britain and Friedrich IV of Germany, both of whom passed away within weeks of each other. Having reigned for 15 and 27 years respectively, they were succeeded by their eldest sons who were crowned Edward VIII and Friedrich Wilhelm V.

In Russia, the volatile July Duma elections saw impressive gains made by various soyuznyy/союзный or “confederate” parties who favored more autonomy for their ethnic group or region from the central government in St. Petersburg. While, the conservative coalition headed by the Motherland Party retained control of the government, many Russians were tiring of their over two decades in power.

After six years of inconclusive fighting, representatives of the Dutch government and Slamet Wahyu’s pro-independence Indonesian Congress Party (ICP) met in the Swiss city of Geneva in September to negotiate an end to the war. While the ICP had made some gains on Java and Sumatra, disagreement of the fate of Indonesia’s eastern islands prohibited a settlement from being reached. As such, negations and the war would drag on into 1969, as both sides tried desperately to gain the upper hand. In the Netherlands, public opinion was turning against the war despite an increase of aid from Germany.

On October 3, after months of fighting with Constitutionalist forces, the military backed government of Brazilian President Geraldo Gaspar collapsed culminating with a weeklong street battle in the capital in what became known as the Battle of Rio de Janeiro. Ronaldo Araugo returned from exile and was reinstated as president. Gaspar along with several of his generals however managed to escape and were granted asylum in neighboring Venezuela. In the weeks following his return to power, Araugo oversaw the arrest of dozens of coup supporters and Brazil’s return to the League of American Republics where he received a standing ovation. Despite the Constitutionalists triumph, Brazil remained traumatized and divided over the events of the past few years. As such Araugo called for a constitutional convention to meet in April of the following year in order to “heal the national wounds”.

After nine years of construction the Aswan High Dam across the Nile River is officially declared complete in November greatly reduced the flooding and droughts that had plagued Egypt for millennium. Considered an engineering marvel, the massive project was only made possible by sizable loans of money and expertise by the British government. Many viewed the United Kingdom’s generosity as a practical move to keep the Egyptian government happy over Britain’s continuous administration of the Suez Canal.

In early December, war finally erupted between the Kingdom of Siam and the Empire of Vietnam. Referred to as the Laotian War, the death of Laotian King Samane II was the spark that ignited hostiles as both nations wished to place their own candidate on the throne. Many feared that the war would expanded drawing in other Asian nations.
[1] OTL’s Calgary, Alberta

 

[Mac Gregor]

1968​

Domestic Developments
​

In June, the alternate-history western Sacred Honor premiered eventually becoming the highest grossing movie of the decade. Set in a fractured America a few decades after the “Great Depression” of the 1890s, Sacred Honor follows a rag tag group of fighter pilots as they try to help reestablish the United States government in the American West.[1] Critics hailed the movie’s artful blending of genres and innovative use of special effects although some found the film’s patriotic tone heavy handed. ​

In September, the United States conducted the first successful flyby of the planet Mars with the probe Trailblazer 3. While providing the first close up photographs of the Martian surface, the cratered environment and lack of substantial atmosphere did much to diminish the centuries old hope of finding life on Mars.

In the early months of1968 it looked more than certain that Frank MacArthur would be relegated to a single term as president with a sluggish economy at home, the LAR in turmoil over Brazil, and Germany beating America to create the first atomic bomb. The Democrats nominated distinguished congressman Warren Maddox of Vermont and former governor of New Mexico Terrance Barnes who derided MacArthur’s “hands on management” as a recipe for economic stagnation and foreign policy chaos. Undeterred, MacArthur and Vice President Gavin threw themselves into the electoral race crisscrossing the country trying to convince voters to stay the course with their economic reforms and support for democracy in Latin America. As November neared, it became clear that the economy had finally recovered from the Latin American Banking Crisis with unemployment falling below 6% for the first time in five years. However, it is generally believed that it was the triumph of the LAR backed Constitutionalists in the Brazilian Civil War that tipped the campaign in the Republicans favor. By the end of election night, MacArthur was reelected with a slim popular majority and 346 electoral votes. Congress remained unchanged with the Democrats controlling the House and Republicans the Senate.

[1] Sacred Honor could be described as a mix of certain elements of OTL’s Crimson Skies and The Postman.

 

[Mac Gregor]

Here is a map from the world of Sacred Honor.

 

[Mac Gregor]

1969​

Foreign Developments​

Flag of the Sudanese Republic​

On March 1, after decades of British rule, the Sudan was granted independence in yet another example of Britain’s Liberal government disengaging from the less profitable areas of its Empire. In Khartoum, Zubair Mayardit and Rashid Lagu were sworn in respectively as the first President and Prime Minister of the Sudanese Republic. Britain’s conditions for allowing Sudan self-rule were relatively light, demanding only that the new government keep the rail line to Cairo open to Commonwealth traffic and allow naval basing rights at the new nation’s chief port of Suakin on the Red Sea.

Throughout 1969, the Laotian War continued to rage in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese offensives to capture Khanthabouli and Xieng Khoun were both repulsed by Siamese forces. A planned counterattack by Siam into Vietnamese territory was only stopped when Vietnam’s ally Norodom Vam the dictator of the State of Kampuchea entered the war against Siam in July. Even with Kampuchea joining the fight, Siam continued to hold the upper hand thanks in part to military aid from Great Britain and China. Foreign reaction to the conflict in Southeast Asia was generally pro-Siamese with the noticeable exception of Japan who favored their Vietnamese and Kapuchean allies providing considerable military assistance by way of munitions and supplies.

On July 22, the Erol Adem Macar Bridge was opened becoming the first bridge to span the Bosporus since the construction of a pontoon bridge by Persian Emperor Xerxes I in 480 B.C. Named after the Turkish Republic’s first president, the 1,566 meter bridge was deemed an engineering wonder and symbolic of Turkey’s growing ties to Europe.

On August 3, German Chancellor Florian Kruger announced the creation of the Máni-Programm with the aim of “putting a German on the moon within the next decade.” Not to be outdone, President Frank MacArthur would commit America to a lunar mission, known as the Artemis Initiative, a few weeks later stating that his country was “more than up to the challenge”.

After more than seven years of fighting, the war in the Dutch East Indies came to an abrupt end with the signing of the Treaty of Geneva in September. The catalyst for peace occurred a few months earlier when news of a massacre of no less than 724 civilians by Dutch soldiers in the city of Lahat forced the collapse of Prime Minister Manfred Sevriens’s government leading to the rise of a new ruling collation under the anti-imperialist Christian-Progressive Party. At the negotiations in Geneva it was agreed that the Netherlands would end its centuries of colonialism in the region and cede authority to an interim government following elections in December. As expected, the Indonesian Congress Party (ICP) swept the elections with Slamet Wahyu hastily inaugurated as the nation’s first president on New Year’s Day 1970. While the estimates on casualties for the conflict vary widely, most western sources place the fatalities at 9,349 deaths for the Dutch and around 110,000 Indonesians killed including civilians.

 

[Mac Gregor]

Sorry for the short update but 1969 was kind of a boring year ITTL's America.

1969​

Domestic Developments​

Elias Duke conducting the first spacewalk
​

On January 1, Mississippi legalized alcohol again after decades of prohibition becoming the last state to do so. However as in other states, some counties would remain dry well into the 21st century.

On April 17, American astronaut Elias Duke successfully conducted the first spacewalk after he journeyed outside his spacecraft for nearly 20 minutes. Complications with the pressurization of his spacesuit nearly ended in disaster but Duke was able to safely return to Earth.

In October, the Supreme Court ruled nine to two in Equality of Life v. Arkansas that compulsory sterilization could not be imposed as punishment for a crime. In time the decision became viewed as the death knell for eugenics in America. This was in marked contrast to the growing technocracy movement overseas which supported eugenics as Jurcek Krulik put it to “scientifically better society”.

 

[Mac Gregor]

Welcome to the '70s! Special thanks to traveller76 for help with India's new states. ​

1970​

Foreign Developments​

Ryota Hayashi
Kobushi Party
Prime Minister of Japan​

During the 1970 French Elections the centrist National Republicans lost control of the government after nearly 16 years in power to a coalition of Socialists and the Algerian People’s Party. Socialist Deodat Cousineau was elected the 12th President of the French Republic.

In February, a new constitution for Brazil was ratified. Drafted in the wake of the defeat of Geraldo Gaspar’s military backed government, the constitution effectively dismantled the Brazilian Army. The new Brazilian Defense Force was placed under heavy civilian control and consisted only of 90,000 men split between the land, air, and sea components. While most welcomed this as a prudent move, some policy makers believed that the neutering of the LAR’s second largest military could undermine the alliance’s ability to respond to future threats.

After 15 years in power, German Chancellor Florian Krueger and his Conservatives were removed from power by a grand coalition of Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, and Krulikists. Christian Democrat leader Wolf von Frej was named Chancellor. Krueger retired to his home in Pomerania and was made a duke by decree of the Emperor for his “exemplarily service to the Reich”.

In March, a series of bloody engagements occurred in the Congo between Belgian forces and various rebel groups. Although violence was nothing new to the troubled region, the Belgian government began to take steps that they hoped would keep their sole colony from going the way of India and Indonesia.

On November 27, Japanese Premier Tatsuo Shimoji died at the age of 72. Having ruled the country since 1951, Shimoji’s death sparked a power struggle in the Kobushi Party. After three weeks of turmoil Ryota Hayashi the leader of one of the more hawkish wings of the party was named Prime Minister. Once in power, Hayashi began to look for a way to end the Laotian War stalemate that its Vietnamese and Kampuchean allies were currently mired in.

On December 1, the United Republic of India enacted the provisions of the Internal Reorganization Act in accordance with the guidelines established in its 1968 Constitution. In keeping with the REP’s idea of a “New India", the old provinces and princely states of the British Raj were abolished and replaced by 34 states, drawn mostly along ethnic and linguistic lines, and a new capital district created around the city of Nagpur. Nagpur was chosen as the site of the new capital due to its symbolism of being the center of the Indian subcontinent and was renamed Ēkatā śahara or “Unity City”.

State Name (Postal Abbreviation)/Capital ​

Awadh (AW)/ Lucknow
Bihar (BR)/ Patna
Bundelkhand (BU)/ Banda
Central Marharashtra (CM)/ Pune
Chhattisgarh (CT)/ Raipur
Capital District (CD)/ Ēkatā śahara
Dehli (DI)/ Dehli
East Madhya Pradesh (EM)/ Jabalpur
East Punjab (EP)/ Ludhiana
Gujarat (GJ)/ Ahmedabad
Harit Pradesh (HP)/ Meerut
Haryana (HR)/ Faridabad
Himachal Pradesh (HP)/ Shimla
Jaipur (JA)/ Jaipur
Jharkhand (JH)/ Ranchi
Jodhpur (JO)/ Jodhpur
Karavali (KA)/ Mangalore
Konkan (KO)/ Karwar
Kosal (KS)/ Ayodhya
Madhya Pradesh (MP)/ Bhopal
Marathwada (MA)/ Aurangabad
Mithila (MI)/ Darbhanga
North Bengal (NB)/ Siliguri
Orissa (OR)/ Bhubaneswar
Poorvanchal (PR)/ Varanasi
Saurashra (SA)/ Rajkot
Sindh (SD)/ Karachi
South Bengal (SB)/ Alipore
South Punjab (SP)/ Bahawalpur
Udaipur (UD)/ Udaipur
Ujjain (UJ)/ Ujjain
Uttarakhand (UT)/ Dehradun
Vidarbha (VD)/ Nagpur
Vindhya Pradesh (VP)/ Rewa
West Punjab (WP)/ Lahore​

 

[Mac Gregor]

1970​

Domestic Developments​

America's first nuclear weapons test​

On April 17, the United States exploded its first atomic bomb at the Las Vegas testing site in northwestern Arizona, joining the German Empire as a nuclear power. While polls showed that most Americans agreed with their country developing nuclear weapons in response to the Germans, a vocal minority represented by groups like the Anti-Atomic Alliance and the Better World Society strictly opposed the development of nuclear weapons.

In May, the Pittsburg based band Steelpusher released their single “Firebolt” which quickly became one of the bestselling records of the 20th century. After a decade of the incessantly positive Futuro, American audiences were ready for something different. Known as grind music, the tremendous success of “Firebolt” popularized the new genre whose fast hard-edged sound and rebellious tone resonated with ‘70s America.

On 21 June, President Frank MacArthur was assassinated after leaving the Bienville House Hotel in New Orleans by gunman Clyde Irvine Bardsley. Bardsley was mortally wounded by a police officer, and died a few hours later. Almost immediately Bardsley’s motivation for the assassination became a great point of contention. The official investigation would determine, despite the lack of any hard evidence, that the unassuming Bardsley chose to kill the president in order to gain notoriety. Many however believed that Clyde Irvine Bardsley was acting on orders from someone else, and over the years no small number of conspiracy theories have been developed. Needless to say news of MacArthur’s assassination, only the second in American history, shocked the nation. Remembering “where you were when MacArthur was shot” became a generation defining moment. Upon, MacArthur’s death Vice President Sterling Gavin of Texas was sworn in as the 33rd President of the United States. At the state funeral, President Gavin praised MacArthur’s achievements over the past six years and vowed to continue his “hands on management” approach to governance.

In one of his first roles as president, Sterling Gavin presided over the rather somber opening ceremonies of the XIV Summer Olympiad in Los Angeles.

With a booming economy and lingering public sympathy over MacArthur’s death the Republicans won a landslide victory in the 1970 midterm elections capturing the House and increasing their majority in the Senate.

Sterling N. Gavin
Republican from Texas
33rd President of the United States​