It's going to cover the countries around Germany. I actually worked on a lot of it earlier today so it will definitely be up tomorrow.
Union and Liberty: An American TL
- Thread starter wilcoxchar
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There is an independent Galicia though, so this could have an interesting effect on the whole region between Germany and Russia as a whole. I think it will all depend on how things go for Russia in the next few years.
I think it is in both France and Germany's best interest to have an core independent Poland. For Germany to act as buffer towards Russia, and for France as a way to curb German influence in the east. I'm thinking of a very small and eastern Poland with Germany keeping Posen and it will likely be a German puppet.
The most interesting part of the Franco-German alliance in TTL is that while they seem to be equals at the moment, France can easily become the junior partner very soon if she doesn't play her cards right.
Very much looking forward to it.
The World in a New Century, Section VI: Central Europe
Update's finished!
The World in a New Century, Section VI: Central Europe
Published by the McNally Corporation in Chicago, 1901.
Germany:
Besides France, the other major power on the European continent is the German Empire. The German Empire is currently led by Emperor Frederick III. The emperor is the ultimate authority in the German government, but the German parliament or Reichstag plays the main role in proposing laws. The members of the Reichstag are elected giving the people some representation in their government, but voting is restricted primarily to the landed or wealthy. On the level of the provinces of Germany, the electoral franchise is more varied. In some provinces like Austria, there is universal suffrage and a large workers' presence in local government. However, in other provinces, the voting franchise is restricted to the ruling aristocracy. This is particularly present in Bavaria and Hanover, which have a special autonomous status within the German Empire.
Germany owes much of its industrial and military prowess to the vast riches of coal and iron that lie within its borders. The coal fields of the Rhineland and Silesia have been mined for much of the century and are the main driver behind German industrial growth. As such, it is easy to see why most German industry is concentrated in the valley of the Rhine and in eastern Germany around Saxony and Silesia. Recently with the incorporation of some former Habsburg lands into Germany, industrial growth has shifted from northeastern Germany around Berlin to Bohemia. The industry has propelled the German railway network to be one of the most extensive in Europe, with over 25,000 miles of railway in the country at the present time.
In the past decades since its unification, the German Empire has continued to expand. At first, German expansion was primarily in the form of acquiring colonies. German efforts to gain footholds in eastern Africa bore fruit first in Zanzibar and Mogadischu. In the past decade, the German colonial efforts have blossomed to cover a large portion of the east African coast, the island of Madagaskar, and a section of the Arabian Peninsula. However, in the past years German has also pursued territorial acquisition on the European continent. With the annexation of Moravia and the Workers' Republic of Austria, the German Empire seems to have shifted its hunger for land to along its own borders. This is undoubtedly spurred on by the country's aristocracy including the remnants of the Habsburg dynasty, itching to return to their former glory. Nonetheless, the German Empire appears to be slowly rejecting the influence of the nobility and may become a republic given enough time.
The Low Countries:
Centered around the mouth of the Rhine, the countries of Belgium and the Netherlands were home to large centers of shipping in the past. However, with the coming of industrialization this century, they have declined in relative importance. Both countries are monarchies. The leader of the Netherlands holds several titles: king of the Netherlands, Duke of Limburg, and Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Both countries are relatively backward politically, with their monarchs holding almost absolute rule over the affairs of their respective countries. While the Netherlands has a constitution that grants the various provinces some power in local affairs, the people have little say in the governing of the country at a national level.
Both the Netherlands and Belgium possess vast colonial empires in Asia and the East Indies. These are primarily remnants of the Dutch Empire at its height, as the colonies in the East Indies were divided after Belgium won its independence in the 1830s. The Dutch control the islands of Sumatra, Java, the Moluccas, part of New Guinea, and several other islands in the East Indian archipelago. Belgium controls the island of Borneo, but has also gained part of Indochina and small ports along the African coast. These colonies still bring in several exotic goods, making the cities in these two countries still somewhat rich despite the countries' declining economic importance.
Baden and Switzerland:
To the south west of Germany are the two smaller nations of Baden and Switzerland. Baden is ruled by a grand duke, and has made little attempts to reform toward a constitutional form of government. While there has been more movement toward a republican system than either of the Low Countries, much of the reform took place in the aftermath of the Mid-Century Revolutions. Baden still allows voting only for the wealthy in the country's Congress and the grand duke retains supreme authority over Baden's laws. Baden itself lies primarily on the left bank of the Rhine, and so is largely an agricultural nation. Unlike the other nations of the German Confederation, Baden refused to join the German Empire in the 1860s and has maintained its neutrality ever since.
Switzerland lies south of Baden in the highest peaks of the Alps. For the past century, the small federal republic has remained for the most part unbothered by its neighbors. The Swiss government operates similar to our Congress, but on a much more direct level of operation. The smaller divisions in Switzerland allow for a more direction participation by the people in the lawmaking process. While an overall federal council was formally established after a short civil war in the 1850s, the individual cantons, as the Swiss administrative divisions are called, still retain a largely autonomous status within the country.
Both of these countries are perceived in international relations as guaranteed neutral states within the European system. This has led to international conferences often being hosted in these two countries. The most prestigious of these in recent decades was the meeting in Rastatt, Baden in 1877 that established the International Olympic Committee.
The World in a New Century, Section VI: Central Europe
Published by the McNally Corporation in Chicago, 1901.
Germany:
Besides France, the other major power on the European continent is the German Empire. The German Empire is currently led by Emperor Frederick III. The emperor is the ultimate authority in the German government, but the German parliament or Reichstag plays the main role in proposing laws. The members of the Reichstag are elected giving the people some representation in their government, but voting is restricted primarily to the landed or wealthy. On the level of the provinces of Germany, the electoral franchise is more varied. In some provinces like Austria, there is universal suffrage and a large workers' presence in local government. However, in other provinces, the voting franchise is restricted to the ruling aristocracy. This is particularly present in Bavaria and Hanover, which have a special autonomous status within the German Empire.
Germany owes much of its industrial and military prowess to the vast riches of coal and iron that lie within its borders. The coal fields of the Rhineland and Silesia have been mined for much of the century and are the main driver behind German industrial growth. As such, it is easy to see why most German industry is concentrated in the valley of the Rhine and in eastern Germany around Saxony and Silesia. Recently with the incorporation of some former Habsburg lands into Germany, industrial growth has shifted from northeastern Germany around Berlin to Bohemia. The industry has propelled the German railway network to be one of the most extensive in Europe, with over 25,000 miles of railway in the country at the present time.
In the past decades since its unification, the German Empire has continued to expand. At first, German expansion was primarily in the form of acquiring colonies. German efforts to gain footholds in eastern Africa bore fruit first in Zanzibar and Mogadischu. In the past decade, the German colonial efforts have blossomed to cover a large portion of the east African coast, the island of Madagaskar, and a section of the Arabian Peninsula. However, in the past years German has also pursued territorial acquisition on the European continent. With the annexation of Moravia and the Workers' Republic of Austria, the German Empire seems to have shifted its hunger for land to along its own borders. This is undoubtedly spurred on by the country's aristocracy including the remnants of the Habsburg dynasty, itching to return to their former glory. Nonetheless, the German Empire appears to be slowly rejecting the influence of the nobility and may become a republic given enough time.
The Low Countries:
Centered around the mouth of the Rhine, the countries of Belgium and the Netherlands were home to large centers of shipping in the past. However, with the coming of industrialization this century, they have declined in relative importance. Both countries are monarchies. The leader of the Netherlands holds several titles: king of the Netherlands, Duke of Limburg, and Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Both countries are relatively backward politically, with their monarchs holding almost absolute rule over the affairs of their respective countries. While the Netherlands has a constitution that grants the various provinces some power in local affairs, the people have little say in the governing of the country at a national level.
Both the Netherlands and Belgium possess vast colonial empires in Asia and the East Indies. These are primarily remnants of the Dutch Empire at its height, as the colonies in the East Indies were divided after Belgium won its independence in the 1830s. The Dutch control the islands of Sumatra, Java, the Moluccas, part of New Guinea, and several other islands in the East Indian archipelago. Belgium controls the island of Borneo, but has also gained part of Indochina and small ports along the African coast. These colonies still bring in several exotic goods, making the cities in these two countries still somewhat rich despite the countries' declining economic importance.
Baden and Switzerland:
To the south west of Germany are the two smaller nations of Baden and Switzerland. Baden is ruled by a grand duke, and has made little attempts to reform toward a constitutional form of government. While there has been more movement toward a republican system than either of the Low Countries, much of the reform took place in the aftermath of the Mid-Century Revolutions. Baden still allows voting only for the wealthy in the country's Congress and the grand duke retains supreme authority over Baden's laws. Baden itself lies primarily on the left bank of the Rhine, and so is largely an agricultural nation. Unlike the other nations of the German Confederation, Baden refused to join the German Empire in the 1860s and has maintained its neutrality ever since.
Switzerland lies south of Baden in the highest peaks of the Alps. For the past century, the small federal republic has remained for the most part unbothered by its neighbors. The Swiss government operates similar to our Congress, but on a much more direct level of operation. The smaller divisions in Switzerland allow for a more direction participation by the people in the lawmaking process. While an overall federal council was formally established after a short civil war in the 1850s, the individual cantons, as the Swiss administrative divisions are called, still retain a largely autonomous status within the country.
Both of these countries are perceived in international relations as guaranteed neutral states within the European system. This has led to international conferences often being hosted in these two countries. The most prestigious of these in recent decades was the meeting in Rastatt, Baden in 1877 that established the International Olympic Committee.
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Yes, another great update. How many more updates do you anticipate having in this world series, because I'm loving it. I'd anticipate at least six more; Eastern Europe/Russia, Africa, Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, and mop-up. But the more the better! What are relations between Switzerland and Baden like?
There will be two more updates for Europe (Russia/Scandinavia and southern Europe), at least three for Asia, and one for Oceania. I haven't decided how many should be for Africa. With more independent states on the continent than OTL I may want to split Africa into regions.
Baden and Switzerland have good relations with each other. I'm having some ideas of maybe having a border city or two in Baden try to join Switzerland in the early 20th century, but I don't know if that will end up happening.
Excellent! I'd forgotten about Southern Europe. If you include North Africa as part of the Middle East update, than you could be safe with just one update, though two would be best. If you keep it separate, than probably one for North Africa, one for West Africa, and one for East and South Africa.
Also, that reminds me; are the demographics of Switzerland roughly the same as OTL (with regards to language, for instance), or are they different?
I'd have thought that it would be better to do Maghreb states and the Mideast in one update, as you suggested, then do North Africa, Equatorial Africa and Southern Africa.
As always Wilcox you out do yourself! Keep it up.
There are more independent states in Africa?! I am certainly looking forward to that update(s). There is the ZAR but if I recall correctly Ethiopia is gone in TTL, split between France and Germany.
Keep them separate. I can't see why the Baden aristocracy will want to give up power to join a republican confederation. Plus it is cool that Baden got the Olympic committee instead of Switzerland in TTL.
Probably unlikely judging how much things have changed in Europe. The aristocratic Britain of TTL seems unconcerned with such pursuits, and if things are going ok for the Jews in the supper Germany and liberal France (who is likely very involved in the near east) there seems to be little reason to have it.
BTW there hasn't really been much on the Ottoman Empire, how are things around the Balkans and the Near East?
There are more independent states in Africa?! I am certainly looking forward to that update(s). There is the ZAR but if I recall correctly Ethiopia is gone in TTL, split between France and Germany.
Keep them separate. I can't see why the Baden aristocracy will want to give up power to join a republican confederation. Plus it is cool that Baden got the Olympic committee instead of Switzerland in TTL.
Probably unlikely judging how much things have changed in Europe. The aristocratic Britain of TTL seems unconcerned with such pursuits, and if things are going ok for the Jews in the supper Germany and liberal France (who is likely very involved in the near east) there seems to be little reason to have it.
BTW there hasn't really been much on the Ottoman Empire, how are things around the Balkans and the Near East?
The demographics of Switzerland are about the same as OTL. I'm not really familiar with the demographic changes in Switzerland over the 19th century, but I'm not aware of any major events except for the Sonderbundkrieg, which I don't think changed the demographics that much.
There's also Morocco and a (mostly) independent Egypt.
It would only be a couple cities, like maybe Konstanz. Not sure what would cause them to want to join though.
One possibility for a Zionist movement that might fit ITTL is having Moses Hess create a dominant Labor Zionist movement. Since Marx ITTL becomes a true revolutionary, Hess might follow in his footsteps (perhaps encouraging Jewish migration to Austria after the declaration of the Workers' Republic as a stepping stone toward a Jewish socialist state). I haven't really thought much about the overall Jewish history ITTL yet. I do think some sort of Zionist movement is bound to arise though, since it's the age of nationalism.
On the OE, you'll have to wait for that section of the overview.
Oh yeah, I forgot Egypt was allied to France in TTL. But, with France doing this well and Spain also doing OK, I would assume they will both start developing some interest over it.
My guess is that in TTL Britain will also have a very strong interest in Morocco as it might provide away for them to curb France's growing influence in the Western Mediterranean.
Maybe, if Morocco plays its cards right it can remain independent. Whatever the case you have certainly set it up for it to be very interesting.
One possibility for a Zionist movement that might fit ITTL is having Moses Hess create a dominant Labor Zionist movement. Since Marx ITTL becomes a true revolutionary, Hess might follow in his footsteps (perhaps encouraging Jewish migration to Austria after the declaration of the Workers' Republic as a stepping stone toward a Jewish socialist state). I haven't really thought much about the overall Jewish history ITTL yet. I do think some sort of Zionist movement is bound to arise though, since it's the age of nationalism.
On the OE, you'll have to wait for that section of the overview.
The problem is that the more revolutionary and zionist the Jews get the worse it might get for them in Europe. I reckon that for the moment they are doing more or less the same as OTL in Germany, perhaps even better since Austria has universal suffrage.
For the territories under Russian influence is probably the same as OTL. The big change here has been Hungary where my guess is that things are not the best.
Did Louis Napoleon increased French presence in the Levant as he did in OTL? This as well can have some consequences on what happens in the Middle East.
And I have to ask. Is this the bias of an American published textbook, or some forshadowing? I can't see the Franco-German Entante being beaten in the Great War so a full out revolution seems far.
Winston Smith
Banned
Interesting update, I like how Germany is both more and less democratic then OTL; the vote is restricted but the German parliament has more power. Is the Chancellor responsible to parliament (ie, can command the respect of the majority or the Kaiser?)