What if the French Revolution never happened? | Fraternité en Rébellion

[mapperific]

Just figured I'd pop in and add some positivity. I love this so far. Is it perfect? No, probably not. In fact, I find the whole British New England a little strange, but I still find it interesting and am enjoying each new tidbit you put out. Looking forward to what comes next!

I second this, I find "Republican Prussia stuck inside the Holy Roman Empire" to be really interesting!

On behalf of the team, thank you! We really appreciate it.

 

[FeR_Sam]

The American Republic (Part 3)
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E Cineribus Resurgemus (1880-1901) - Continued

Five score and thirteen years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

*Against the tide of empire, that nation's flame was nearly extinguished, it's national body torn asunder - *

Now we are engaged in another great war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of this field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Within a week, popular pressure resulted in Lincoln being summoned directly before the Legislature in Philadelphia. After a few hours of that summit, the Legislature of the American Republic made two unanimous, momentous votes. The first was to consecrate the ground of the siege creating a National Cemetery after the conclusion of hostilities. The second was to fully execute the National Emergency Clause of the American Republic's Constitution: they voted for their own power and that of the President be given over to a new Dictator - Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln was a masterful organizer and proceeded to do everything he could to first alleviate the crisis at home and then finish the war on the battlefield. He saw the solution in three phases: Solve the economic crisis and food supply shortage - to do so, he immediately canceled the frontline service orders of the D class reserves and instead organized them by occupation to help out where they were most needed domestically. Additionally, all offensive action at the front was indefinitely delayed unless the enemy presented an opportune target. Remove the Dead Weight in the Command Staff - Lincoln and his associates reshuffled the staff, removing those who were slow in reacting to the changing nature of war. For example CiC McClellan and Custer (his duplicitous act discovered) were sacked. Reunite the Nation Under Common Cause - Panicked by the food prices and gridlocked government, Lincoln blanketed the papers with propaganda to distract and remotivate the general population (he actively hired those who ran business ads before the war).

By fall of 1890, it was obvious Lincoln's quick actions avoided a greater crisis. The economy was returning to war production in earnest (barely influenced by British blockade due to the long years of protectionism). Now, he gave his field commander's approval to begin planning spring offensives in the Northeast and West, to finally break through and end the war with all of the lost American territories returned to the Union. It was not to be however.

In another geopolitical surprise, on February 1st, 1891 Canada (French) launched an unsanctioned assault across the St. Lawrence onto the undefended western shore of New Brunswick. Their objective was to retake and avenge the The Great Expulsion of the Acadians a century before. Well supplied and equipped with winter gear (including skis), they met essentially no opposition and quickly established a fortified port with heavy guns to prevent any incursion of the Republican Navy. Reacting quickly, the Americans immediately launched a general offensive across the entire front in the East, resulting in the collapse of British resistance all the way back to the peninsula of Nova Scotia by the end of March. Under threat of Franco-Spanish involvement, Britain chose to come to the table and signed the Treaty of Bordeaux on April 14th. Known as Redemption Day for the American Republic ever since, they gained territory in lower Ontario, all of New England, and some sections of Alta California. The FAS gained huge western lands, and Canada gained all the remaining British Canadian holdings except Newfoundland. In order to gain popular acceptance, the British were granted a mandate over south-western Alta California as a consolation prize. Then thought of as a beautiful but barren land, it would become a critical strategic location within a decade. Mexico, embarrassed and abandoned by its European guardians, was sent into a spiral of chaos that would last decades.

While it was a victory, and the one Lincoln had toiled decades to achieve, he saw before his contemporaries how shallow a victory it truly was. While he was showered with acclaim, he recognized the nearly million souls lost to industrialized war. Lost to the ideals of revenge and restoring national honor. In his final speech to the people, he addressed the loss, and his hope for the future. He declared his belief that the Republic had to change its ways, turn away from Militarism, and return to the ideals of the United States(implicit support for restoring the Constitution). Anything less wouldn't deserve the sacrifice of so many for so long in the face of foreign tyranny. In his final act as dictator, he declared that Washington D.C. should be rebuilt before stepping down.

Lincoln died alone in his train car three days later on the way home to his beloved Illinois. The short lived national triumph, already tempered by Lincoln's final speech, was turned to ash as one more body was dropped amongst the endless lines of graves at the new national cemeteries.

The Euphoria Wears Off (1901-1914)

The election of 1902 proved to be a turning point for the nation; the Republicans had held the Presidency ever since the 1890 election during the Great War despite Lincoln's warnings. Better than any other party they doubled down on the surging national confidence after the victory over the British. Largely continuing the prewar policies of their forebears (Laissez-Faire, Protectionism, Military Spending), the economy came crashing down in the 1899 Stock Run. Without strong exports or global connections, the insular American economy was helpless to weather the downturn. Thousands across all industries lost their jobs, sparking a huge rise in union activity. Largely suppressed over the past decades in the name of greater national goals, they were now increasingly radical and anti-government. Strikes began to spread through the industrialized cities as resentment built up. In New England the unrest was even worse, as when government spending fell so did the reconstruction efforts.

As the chaos spread, the political dominance of the Republicans began to crumble. For the first time, the Constitutionalists began to supersede the New Whigs as the primary force for liberalism since the disastrous Cleveland administration. Led by a relatively radical candidate, Theodore Roosevelt, he appealed to the people by directly referencing the liberal values of Lincoln’s final speech. Managing a close victory, Roosevelt organized a coalition of New Whigs and Constitutionalists in the legislature to rapidly pass his reforms. Known as the 99 Days, he immediately opened the economy to exports (massively helping farmers), and limited imports of consumer goods to reduce the price of key staples. To combat unemployment, a massive expansion in government spending went toward rebuilding New England and expanding infrastructure west. To pay for it, he temporarily reduced government spending on the military (but still ran an enormous deficit).

After eight years and two elections, by 1910 Roosevelt and his coalition had dramatically changed the fabric of the nation. Restored economically and increasingly assertive on the world stage, the American Republic was entering a new era. While still far short of his personal dream of achieving a reformed Constitution and an American flag stretched across the continent - he entered his expected final term an accomplished President. Perhaps only superseded by the two great Dictators. He had no intention of passing quietly into the night however.

In a surprise move, Roosevelt rallied to a slim presidential victory in 1910 for a third term. Having increasingly sidelined and absorbed the New Whigs, the 1910 legislature was the first in AR history to have a majority of a single party giving Roosevelt an enormous political mandate. With a booming economy, Roosevelt decided to spend it on the ideas of an obscure American theorist - Alfred Thayer Mahan.

Long the unwanted step-child of America, the United States Navy actually had a prolific history of winning despite long odds. Never able to compete directly with it's perennial opponent across the Atlantic, it instead trained to an elite level to raid and outmaneuver its larger opponent. In both previous wars fast, heavy cruisers were the vessel of choice (both times the USS Constitution was particularly successful). Mahan, a cruiser captain of some success during the Great War, wrote two forgotten tomes titled The Influence of Sea Power Upon History. Largely ignored by contemporaries, nonetheless Roosevelt had acquired both and read them multiple times. He believed that was the path to bring the American Republic from regional power to Great Power status.

Being far too cagey to directly broadcast his radical intent, for the first two years Roosevelt instead focused on building up naval infrastructure such as civilian shipyards and Navy Leagues to begin spreading the idea to everyday Americans. Only in 1912, after the full onset of the Dreadnought Race became apparent between France/Spain and the Commonwealth did the American Republic make a surprising entry. Although rumors had abounded, many didn't believe until Roosevelt made an announcement from the steps of the rebuilt White House. Two new American dreadnoughts had been built, the USS New York and Massachusetts (which were simultaneously being sailed into New York and Boston harbor respectively). All of the events, including Roosevelt's speech and the sailings, were immediately compiled into a patriotic short that played in cinemas nationwide. Receiving far more support than he possibly expected, by 1914 the American Navy Leagues Association had quintupled it's membership - and the American Republic officially entered the Dreadnought Race.

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[FeR_Sam]

The American Republic (Part 4)
​

Realpolitik and Upheaval at Home (1914-1930)

In 1914, Roosevelt stood for his fourth term, again elected easily in the popular vote. However, in the Legislature, the Constitutionalists lost pro-Navy seats to the jingoistic Republicans (who had co-opted many Navy Leagues), and anti-Navy seats to the New Whigs. This resulted in a very different political mandate for President Roosevelt, who was forced to work with the Republicans on military spending and the New Whigs on domestic matters - frequently resulting in standoffs between the rebuilt White House and Capitol. Additionally, as more and more funding was being drained into the Navy, the influential Army began to protest; further splitting the government and electorate.

By the end of his term in 1918, Roosevelt was a different man. The struggles of the past four years had visibly drained him, and his party looked to be crushed back into a third party at the polls. The population was increasingly polarized between the militaristic Republicans and the isolationist New Whigs led by William Wallace Lincoln II, a new man from Illinois who had seized control of the reeling party and reforged it into one of principle and peace. While he succeeded in building his Navy and reforming the national identity, the conflicts in his final term saw the undoing of much of his reforms.

As the economic boom continued through the 1920s, the Republicans managed to regain the presidency under Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. The Navy continued to grow, establishing itself as a formidable competitor with efficient designs, only behind the British Republican Navy and the French La Royale in tonnage. The Army continued to protest - still a formidable force but becoming outdated against its competitors.

Meanwhile, just as the New Whigs reformed during their decade in the shadow of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidency, the Constitutionalists were now reforming. A young Navy man named Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in 1922 to Theodore Roosevelt's old legislative seat in New York. From within, he began to shake up the existing ideas of the party, questioning the central tenants by which the American Republic existed. FDR believed it was time to follow the original tenets of the USA, and Lincoln's famous words, to restore a true Constitution and remove the military influence in the government. He additionally called, radically, for the possibility of Reunification of the American successor states to reform the USA. Initially this left him as an outlier amongst the Constitutionalists, but over the decade his persistence combined with the Roosevelt name pushed these ideas into the forefront of popular discussion.

A Nation at a Crossroads (1930-Current Day)

With the election of 1934 looming, it seems the American Republic is at a crossroads, with three paths. First, to retain the jingoistic Republicans by reelecting J. Paul Getty to power. They will maintain the status quo at home and will continue to strengthen the military. Perhaps one day the opportunity will arise to finally spread the American Eagle from sea to shining sea.

Second is the New Whigs and William “Willie” Wallace Lincoln; a party of peace and order the New Whigs will focus inward. They will protect American industry and attempt to expand markets for American goods, and try to maintain good relations all over the world. They will only go to war if threatened or a truly righteous cause. After all the goal of any government should be to protect its people, not put them in harm's way through useless wars.

Finally, the Constitutionalists could take the nation in an altogether new direction. Led by the radical ideas of FDR, they seek to remake the Republic into a freer, more democratic society. They want to cut military service out as a requirement for elected office, and establish a remodeled Constitution based on the original USA where the civilian government supersedes all military commands. Whether the Army or Navy could accept such an outcome is debatable.

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[mapperific]

And so,the American Republic is complete! I hope you enjoyed reading it,and next up we will travel down south, to the Spanish colony of New Granada!

 

[FeR_Sam]

The Spanish Kingdom Of New Granada (Part 1)
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Introduction

General Simon Bolivar was sitting in a luxurious room on the upper floor of a building on the Main Plaza. For six weeks Bolivar had slept in a tent outside the city. He had been offered the chance to commandeer one of the lavish homes of loyalists, but he knew his troops would be encouraged by having their General on the battlefield. For six weeks his artillery had barraged Cartagena day and night, while his men cut off every road, and path that could be used to enter the city. The famous walls of Cartagena prevented any direct attack, even by sea, and so General Simon Bolivar resigned himself to lay siege on the city and wait until the Spanish fleet returned from its operation in the North Atlantic. Six weeks into the siege rebel scouts on the city walls spotted the sails of the Spanish Armada. The city walls could withstand a siege by sea as well, at least for a few more weeks, but news of the arrival of the fleet spread fear among the population. Only two days after the fleet arrived the rebel leaders were forced to surrender. Since then Bolivar had spent the last two days dealing with the rebel leadership. He had turned the house he was in into a makeshift court where he rebel leaders were brought to him. Next to him was the Admiral who had commanded the fleet which had aided Bolivar in the seat. The Admiral had a name, but Bolivar could not care to remember it.

You are all blind followers of the crown, so why would your name matter?

They had sat through almost a dozen hearings that day. Rebel after rebel was brought in, sometimes they pleaded for mercy, other times they stood by their actions and accepted their deaths. Bolivar admired that sort of honor, even it came from a traitor. Of course, it didn't matter how much honor they had now, they had betrayed the crown and, worst of all, had caused the death of their fellow country men. No amount of honor could change that. General Bolivar had been the one delivering the decisions. He had been ordered to execute every proven traitor, but also had been instructed to not require too much evidence. Not that it was needed, as almost nobody denied their affiliation with the rebels. The Admiral had been mostly silent throughout the entire process. Occasionally he would berate prisoners with an unrequested speech about the glories of the monarchy and the importance of duty and loyalty. Other than that, he was content with sitting back and letting the General call the shots. Despite all that, Bolivar was sure that the Admiral would receive the credit Madrid for putting down the rebels.

The door to the room opened and two soldiers dragged in a man. Unlike the other prisoners, this one was wearing a Spanish uniform. Bolivar eyed the prisoner curiously before asking the obvious question, "Is this one of our own?" He was afraid of what the answer would be. To everyone in the room the general appeared calm and composed, but inside he was panicking. The soldier was not just wearing the uniform of any Spanish Army, but of the Armies of New Granada. If the answer was yes, then it meant facing Bolivar was one of his own men.

The soldier who had brought in the prisoner answered, "Yes, sirs." Bolivar felt fear grip his heart. He looked over at the Admiral, who was looking at Bolivar with amusement. If this hearing went badly, it would make Bolivar look as though he could not control his own troops. The soldier continued, "This man was tasked with executing traitors. We brought a rebel to be hanged, but this man refused to put the noose around his neck, and even attempted to let the prisoner go."

"And why would you ever disobey your orders, soldier?"

Now it was the prisoners turn to answer. So far the man had had his head down and had avoided looking at anybody else in the room. He looked up, but when his eyes met the General's, he looked away in shame before answering. "Sir, I fought under you for the six weeks of this siege. When the city surrendered I faithfully entered and followed orders to arrest any traitor. My loyalty lies with you my commander, and with his Majesty the King. But the man brought to me for execution was my brother's son. I did not know he was with the rebels. He may have betrayed Spain, but he did not betray our family."

Bolivar considered his options. What this man had done was nothing more than insubordination, which he would normally punish with lashings and dismissal from the army. With the unstable situation in the city it would be unwise to be too lenient. The Admiral watched with interest as Bolivar considered his options. The General delivered his verdict, "You shall receive the standard punishment for such severe and direct insubordination. You will be whipped and dismissed from the army. However, due to the present circumstances you will serve five years in prison. As for your brother, he'll be hanged as ordered. Hopefully that will teach you a little obedience."

The prisoner had been feeling afraid since being brought into the room, but now he was feeling relief knowing he'd be able to care for his brother's family, even if he had to go to prison first. That feeling of relief disappeared when he noticed the Admiral getting up and walking towards him. "You are a traitor," said the Admiral. "A traitor to your commander and to the crown. You and your brother will be executed by firing squad. Hopefully that will teach this colony a little obedience. Take him away!" The soldiers dragged the prisoner out of the room, leaving only the Admiral and the General. Bolivar was at a loss for words, and he felt anger within him. Not just anger at his orders being undermined, but also at how his home had been called a colony. Despite the wealth and power that New Granada represented, they were still merely a colony to the Peninsulares. The Admiral walked out onto the balcony overseeing the Plaza and Bolivar followed him. From the balcony they saw the man they had just condemned be brought onto the plaza. Minutes later he was joined by another prisoner, surely his brother.

Bolivar turned to the Admiral and said, "With all due respect, Admiral, you just punished a man for insubordination with the same punishment we are giving the rebel leaders. Forgive me, but I cannot see how this is justice."

The Admiral smiled as he watched the prisoners be lined up for the execution. "Simon, I can see you have potential. If someday you want to do great things, you'll have to learn that it doesn't matter how they see things here. Let them fear you in New Granada, so they love you in Madrid. You should also know its important to send a strong message; it keeps the troops in line." Down from the plaza the sound of gunshots filled the air, accompanied by the screams of the two prisoners. As the noise died down, the Admiral added, "After all, you never know who will rise up in rebellion."

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[FeR_Sam]

The Spanish Kingdom Of New Granada (Part 2)
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History of New Granada (Section 1)

In 1933 the Kingdom of New Granada is an independent member of the Spanish Imperial Commonwealth. The Kingdom is ruled by King Antonio I of Bourbon-Orleans, nephew of Queen Isabella II and cousin of the ruling Spanish monarch. Under him New Granada is poised to enter a new age of prosperity and progress. Although the country has achieved stability in its internal politics and its relation with Spain, its history is one of conflict with Spain, its neighbors, and regionalism within its borders.

The first steps for independence were taken by the colony in the late 18th century. As New Granada grew in its population and economic importance, the Spanish crown sought to make the colony more profitable. A series of reforms known as the Bourbon Reforms aimed to centralize the colonial governments and economies. The reforms were met with resistance in New Granada. Although Spain had tried to rule with absolute power in New Granada, officials in the colony had often turned a blind eye when royal decrees were ignored. The crown's attempts to curb the autonomy of the colony sparked anger in New Granada and in 1781 the region of Socorro rose up in rebellion, establishing independent local governments aiming to overthrow Spanish rule. Due to the nature of the governments they established, the rebellion came to be known as the Comuneros Revolt. It took over nine months until the colonial government was able to regain control of the region.

In 1789 Jose Manuel de Ezpeleta was appointed as viceroy of New Granada. He embarked on a mission to centralize the Viceroyalty and ensure that future uprisings could not take hold like the Comuneros Revolt had. During his 16 years as viceroy he built? public programs that would bring the viceroyalty together and rein in regionalist? Caracas, Quito, Cartagena, and Panama. These cities had for a long time been resentful of having to be under the rule of Bogota and would often ignore the viceroy and his orders. One notable event was Gual's rebellion in 1797, during which Viceroy Ezpeleta was captured and held hostage while he was on a visit to Caracas.

Although the rebellion was quickly put down, it was the precursor of future rebellions in Venezuela against New Granada and Spain. Despite Ezpeleta's best efforts Venezuela continued to be alienated from the rest of New Granada. Venezuela consistently saw itself as superior to Santa Fe and deserving of being the seat of its own viceroyalty. Sentiments such as that one only grew stronger as Venezuelan interests were overlooked. One such event was the 1812 earthquake which caused great damage in Caracas and other major settlements in the region. Spain provided some money to the aristocracy to recover from the catastrophe, which appeased the elite classes. However, more than a decade later, while the region still had not recovered, Spain gave New Granada funds to build plantations along the Caribbean coast, which the Venezuelans saw as a misuse of money that could have gone to rebuilding their homes.

New Granada's participation in the Nine Years War was fairly minor, save for Cartagena serving as an important port for the Spanish Navy. Throughout the war unrest grew as the Spanish authorities raised taxes to finance the war. The British took advantage of this and began to sponsor rebel cells throughout the colony, many of which embraced republican ideals. In 1826 the Spanish fleet based in Cartagena left the port to aid in the upcoming 2nd Battle of Chesapeake Bay and the rebels saw their opportunity. Under the leadership of Antonio Nariño Ortega the rebels captured the city, which had been completely unprepared for any attack, and prepared to defend it against counterattack.

Harkening back to the rebellion in 1781, the rebels called themselves the Comuneros de Cartagena. Simon Bolivar was placed as general of the army tasked with recapturing Cartagena. For six weeks he laid siege on the city until finally the victorious Spanish fleet returned from its mission in the north Atlantic. The mere sight of Spanish sails was enough to scare the population of Cartagena into forcing the Comunero leadership into surrendering to Spain. The people of New Granada viewed the British with disdain, first for the harassments of their coasts and ships during the 18th century, and then for causing the war which had disrupted New Granadese trade. When it became known that the Comuneros of Cartagena were Republicans sponsored and manipulated by Britain, it caused a deep rejection of all republican ideals among the population of New Granada. Bolivar’s part in capturing Cartagena brought him fame throughout South America. He became known as the “Hero of the Indies” and in New Granada, especially Venezuela, most saw him as the guardian of the Spanish empire that had kept South America from falling to Perfidious Britain.

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[FeR_Sam]

The Spanish Kingdom Of New Granada (Part 3)
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History of New Granada (Section 2)

In 1838 Venezuela rose up in rebellion against New Granada after Bolivar was overlooked for the position of Viceroy. This sparked outrage throughout the colony with many cities sending letters to the King demanding that Bolivar be given the position of viceroy. Bolivar himself was outraged at not receiving the position. He quickly became involved with aristocrats and intellectuals that believed that Venezuela must be its own viceroyalty. This movement had been growing for a log time and Bolivar joining it gave it the final amount of legitimacy it required. Soon cabildos across Venezuela were declaring Bolivar their viceroy and militias organized into an army commanded by Bolivar. By the end of 1838 Bolivar and his forces controlled all of Venezuela and even some of the territory directly under Santa Fe. In 1839 rifts among Bolivar's followers caused the Venezuelans to split up, embroiling New Granada into a three way civil war. In 1846 after years of the King of Spain underestimating the resources needed to put down the rebellion, peace was finally signed with both rebel factions.

After the war royalists from Venezuela fled into New Granada, causing a growth in population and in farming. Coffee production began to grow throughout these years and caused the economy to grow as well. Initiatives by Viceroy Lopez in the 1840s and 1850s also sought to industrialize the colony so that it could be a base from which Spain could put down the revolution in Mexico. Among these reforms there were progressive measures to help incorporate former slaves into colonial society, as well as boys' universal education. In practice few former slaves benefited from these measures, but the new generation of the aristocracy did grow up with a new interest in the arts and with little memory of the horrors of the previous thirty years. In the late 1850s a renaissance begun in New Granada. The arts flourished and quality of life improved greatly. The New Granadese people saw this as a result of Spain treating them well through Lopez and his reforms. Love and loyalty for the monarchy grew tremendously during this golden age.

In 1875 a massive earthquake hit the city of Cucuta and affected much of New Granada and even the neighboring Venezuelas. The earthquake devastated a large part of the country and brought an end to the New Granadese Renaissance. New Granada entered a downward spiral as its production and nascent industry were hard hit by the earthquake. Even regions far from the epicenter were affected as the transport of goods along the Magdalena river was greatly reduced. In 1877 Santos Acosta was appointed viceroy and he immediately got to work on opening new mines to provide employment, build steam ships to revamp New Granada’s exports, seize land to streamline the agricultural production of the colony, and even to build a canal across Panama to aid pacific trade.

However these plans were met with resistance and very little progress was made towards any of them. Acosta travelled to Spain to personally request financial support from the Queen, but she refused. The people of New Granada felt that the Queen who had once loved them was now abandoning them. They continued to believe in the monarchy, after all it had served them well for nearly twenty years, but they prayed for a change of heart, or a change of Queen. In 1883 rogue forces from Venezuela raided New Granada's. Acosta pleaded with the Queen, this time claiming that if funds were not acquired then New Granada would fall to the republicans. The Queen agreed and on December 9, 1883 ships from Spain arrived in Cartagena carrying troops and gold.

Finally, New Granada stabilized and trade resumed. Mexico became one of the colony's most important trading partners, but when Mexico entered the Great North American War in 1889, the Queen banned all trade with them. Again New Granada found itself on the brink of economic disaster. Acosta, who was still viceroy only because nobody could be found to replace him, once more asked the Queen for help. After a long and frustrating negotiation, the Queen gave Acosta an ultimatum, which he accepted and on May 18, 1890 New Granada became independent and agreed to the following terms:

• New Granada would receive enough money from Spain to bail out its dying industries. That would > > - be the last financial support the colony would ever request from Spain.
• New Granada would become a semi-independent kingdom. Its first king would be appointed by Spain.
• Spanish merchants would receive priority and special tariff exemptions when trading with New Granada.
• New Granada would support Spain in any of its wars. Spain would defend New Granada from European aggression.

Queen Isabella appointed Infante Antonio María Luis Felipe Juan Florencio de Orleans y Borbón, her sister's son, as the first king of New Granada. Antonio was welcomed to New Granada with open arms by the population, who saw him as the answer to their prayers. He ruled as an absolute monarch, although he received considerable help from his ministers. By 1900 he had been able to take New Granada out of the recession it was in. Quality of life and wealth were nowhere near what they had been in 1860s, but the colony had finally ended the downwards spiral it had been in for so many decades. Thanks to his success Antonio received praise from his subjects, which fueled him to do even more works that would benefit his people. He was driven to serve the people of New Granada as an enlightened ruler, not out of a moral calling to do so but out of an obsession with the praise he received.

After launching a public library system which received little praise in 1912, Antonio became resentful and apathetic towards his people. He delegated much of his power to his son Alfonso and to his ministers, only interfering when they were too liberal in their governance. Thanks to Alfonso's political and public relations skills, the New Granadese public still views Antonio as a good leader in 1933. At the local level liberal ideals have been allowed to grow, with even local governments being opened to democratic processes. Local and regional politics are increasingly dominated by young aristocrats, and even young commoners who have found a way to thrive. In 1933 Antonio is weak and Alfonso is ready to take the throne. The people of New Granada await with high expectations as a new chapter in their history begins, with tensions rising with Venezuela to the west and Alfonso promising to seize the potential that his father left for the nation. Will New Granada become Spain's golden child once more, or will they forge their own path? Or has Antonio's apathy permanently doomed the young Kingdom?

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[FeR_Sam]

The Spanish Kingdom Of New Granada (Part 4)
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King Antonio of New Granada

To his supporters, he is a devoted and brilliant reformer. To his opponents, he is a fickle and extravagant narcissist. King Antonio of New Granada truly is a fascinating figure. Appointed to his position by his aunt, Queen Isabella II of Spain, the first half of Antonio’s reign was marked by the absolutism common throughout Europe, while the other half has seen him as a distant figure who rules through his ministers.

Born into the influential Orleans y Borbón royal family, King Antonio grew up in obscene wealth. His familiarity with opulence led him to becoming quite spoiled, a character trait that has continued to haunt Antonio. He would throw large, lavish parties, living an extravagant life, to the chagrin of his more modest wife, who eventually divorced him in 1912. However, Antonia was also born to be a ruler. From an early age he was groomed to be a leader. His aunt, the same one who appointed him King of New Granada, told her nephew how New Granada’s issues are due to the masses being allowed to rule themselves. In contrast, Antonio had also read some works on liberalism, however he still doubted liberalism’s practicality. It was during this time Antonio’s autocratic beliefs took shape. And autocratic he was.

Upon his ascension to the New Granadan throne, the new King quickly consolidated power. Following his omnipresent aunt’s advice, he quickly dismissed many high-ranking officials from the colonial era of New Granada and disbanded the Audencia, effectively replacing it with a council of eleven ministers that quickly became nothing more than a rubber stamp. Antonio launched a wave of economic reforms, creating a new currency known as the Granadese reales, expanded silver and gold mines to then mint his coins, as well as encouraging further mining to increase trade with Peru. Using his familial connections, King Antonio secured multiple loans that allowed him to rebuild the many ships that had been damaged by the Cucuta earthquake years before. Antonio’s economic reforms brought New Granada out of the recession it had been stuck in and him much praise from his subjects. The praise grew louder, the devotion more widespread, slowly consuming Antonio, who soon began ruling “for the people” to gain more and more praise.

During this phase of his rule, Antonio wanted nothing more than the admiration of his people, and sought to achieve this through modernization. He sold vast swathes of land for the construction of railroads, ordered the purchase of modern weaponry and ships for the army and navy respectively, hired foreign officers from across North America to train his soldiers, and began plans to build a canal across his Panamanian territories (though this fell apart when the expedition sent to scout Panama either returned sick, or worse didn’t return at all). The last change in Antonio’s rulership came at the height of his glory, when he ordered the construction of a sprawling network of public libraries at the advice of his ministers. Antonio expected more praise, more admiration, more devotion from his subjects, yet his project got little to no attention. This led him to become apathetic and distant, leaving most of the responsibilities to his ministers and his son, Prince Alfonso. His ministers had been given more freedom to push for more change (as long as it wasn’t too radical of course), which they did, allowing for local elections and permitting a gradual liberalization. At the same time, Prince Alfonso has used his charisma and connections within the media to maintain Antonio’s image as a father of the nation, as well as using his diplomatic skills to mediate conflicts between New Granada and the Republic of Venezuela. Now, Antonio continues to sit on his throne, admired by his people even through his indifference, wishing for nothing more than for his subjects to worship him.

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[mapperific]

And so the tale of New Granada comes to a close. Next up, we take a trip to the heartlands of Slovakia, where trouble brews for the Austrian Empire...

 

[FeR_Sam]

The Slovak Rebellion In The Danubian Civil War (Part 1)
​

Today we take a look at a province Carpathian

Surrounded by Tatra and Fatra with a cross ecumenical

for many Magyars these folks are quite alien

yet the circles in Vienna consider them to be identical

But Osterreich would do well to remember

That the Wends of Karpaty have quite a temper

If the Kaiser was to stomp out their ancient traditions

one should not be surprised if Nitra turns to sedition

​

Synopsis: To be or not to be (a Nation): Slovakia

The Slovaks are (arguably wrongly) regarded by some more harsh academics in Vienna or Budapest as “a people without a history”, because they have had no classical social elites. The aristocracy professes allegiance to the Hungarian heritage, while the civilian population of major cities like Pressburg speaks either German or Hungarian. The Slovaks dominate the smaller towns and villages in Upper Hungary, identified as the northwestern parts of Royal Hungary, constituent part of the Austrian Empire. Slovakia does not exist as an administrative unit within Royal Hungary, and the Slovakian settlement areas are concentrated in regions that have been deemed for centuries to be integrative components of the Hungarian Kingdom. Because of their relatively small demographic volume, but also owing to the social structure oriented on peasant farming in the village-based Slovakian society, a national awakening among the Slovaks has been slower to manifest, but it is nevertheless increasingly present as the 20th century advances.

If and when the Habsburg imperial authority shall collapse, the young Slovak national leadership will face three central issues: the question of Czecho-Slovak federationism, potential dangers of an irredentist national Hungary, and strengthening the Slovak national consciousness and identity. In the chaos engulfing the Danubian plains, a union between the Czechs and Slovaks would make both stronger against common enemies. However, entering this union may risk subordinating the young nation to Prague, and in the process once again losing their distinct identity. As for its neighbour to the south and old suzerain, the Republicans of Hungary under rising liberal star Mihály Károlyi (the strongest anti-Habsburg force there), announce peaceful intentions of cooperation with its neighbours against the common threat that is Austrian domination and Germanization. However, in the event that Károlyi will be deposed by more radical factions, relations may sour quickly...

825-1108: The First and Only Monarchy

As the Avar Khaganate in the Carpathian basin collapsed under its own weight, many new states emerged from the fractured empire, among them Moravia and the Duchy of Nitra, led by Pribina. The two duchies would become rivals until the Duchy of Nitra was absorbed into Moravia, turning the lands of Nitra into vassal fiefdoms. New castles and towns were built that would play a role in the strategic location of the Nitrian lands for centuries to come. The Franks to the west had a chance to make Nitra independent again and put Pribina in power, but they would decline. Svätopluk first ruled the vassal state and was very popular with the people, eventually becoming the ruler of Moravia. Meanwhile, Saint Cyril and Methodius arrived in the Carpathian basin around this time to spread the word of Christianity. However, during Svätopluk´s rule, the dualism of the kingdom began to fade and the kingdom turned more and more Moravian as time went on.

After the death of Svätopluk the First, the kingdom fell into an internal divide between Mojmír the Second and Svätopluk the Second. Svätopluk would rise up against his brother and began a grueling war; yet despite his best efforts, and even with the support of the Franks, Svätopluk was defeated and imprisoned. He would be freed by the Bavars soon after, but the Nitrian Duchy would not be restored. No kingdoms last forever though, and the Moravian one faded quite early on. At this time, the Hungarians arrived in the Carpathian basin from the east and started to conquer the lands in the basin, with Nitra being one of them, splitting it in the process. Old Nitra became the Hungarian lands of Hont, Váh, and Boršod. The region would change hands time and time again between Poland and Hungary, yet would never see political independence again. Thus begins the tale of Slovakia, and the fight for independence.

1780-1820: The Almost Forgotten Heroes

Almost all credit for the creation of the Slovak language and unification of the Slovak people goes to Ľudovít Štúr. Yet, one should not minimise the contribution of Anton Bernolák and the rest of his group, called the Bernolákovci. These were members of the 18th century Catholic Clergy who first brought the words of the Enlightenment to the Slovaks and modified the Slovak language from almost tribal scripts into modern words. Their main centers of work were Tyrnau, Budín and Pešť. The Slovak language he standardized mainly preferred the western dialect from cities like Pressburg, Nyitra and Tyrnau. They succeeded in their effort of improving the Slovak language and laid the groundwork for it to be further refined many more years after. Anton would go on to publish a book called “Dissertatio Philologico-critica de Literis Slavorum” which talked about the Slovak grammar, and after some years he would publish a sequel called “Grammatica Slavica”. Yet his last book would top them all, and after many writings, he created the biggest work of his life, called “Päť Zväzkový Slovár Slovenský, česko-latinsko-nemecko-uherský”, which was a Slovak-Czech-Latin-German-Hungarian dictionary, the first of its kind and also the first dictionary to feature the Slovak language. Undoubtedly, he is a hero lost to history, as the legacy of the Enlightenment would later be suppressed in Austria during the Metternich-Bach Era.

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1835-1848: The Founding Fathers of Modern Slovakia

In 1815, a man was born with the name of Ľudovít Štúr. Even though he came from a peasant background (like the majority of Slovaks at the time), he learned many languages in his youth. When he reached 15 years of age, he went to Pressburg to study in an evangelical Lyceum. There, he met people who would eventually help him codify the Slovak language and inspire the fight for national recognition in the future.

As the year 1835 came, Ľudovit decided that he could not witness his fellow Slovaks being integrated into Austrian culture by force. He and his former Pressburg classmate became the fighters for Slovak autonomy within the neo-absolutist Austrian Empire. He improved the Slovak language and created Slovak literature that inspired his peers to continue the campaigning for rights. However, this angered several groups: the Slovak Catholics, who refused to change from the literary standard once created by Anton Bernolák (they also benefited from the Austrian support of the Church in the imperial lands); the Czechs from Bohemia that wanted to spread the use of the Czech language in Slovakia, and the evangelists who were used to the old biblical Czech language. Nevertheless, Štúr would push for Slovakian autonomy and approached the Austrian Crown many times, but the Habsburgs had no interest in allowing an autonomous entity based on national principles. In resignation, he instead focused to bind together the evangelists and Catholics of Slovakia, in an attempt to stabilise relations and the Slovakian region as a whole. The Slovak language was successfully changed to a Central Slovak dialect to improve relations between West Slovaks and east Slovaks, following a congress on the 28th of August 1844 in Liptovský Mikuláš. Ľudovít would release a book titled “Nárečja Slovenskuo Alebo Potreba Písaňja v Tomto Nárečí”, in an attempt to popularize the new literary standard.

1848: The Great Betrayal

As the tumultuous 1848 came, Ľudovít could sense a big event impending - voices of unrest from the Pannonian Plain about having no say in leadership and taxation continued to grow louder. A rebellion in Hungary would occur soon after, and the Austrians approached Ľudovít for assistance in containing the Hungarian insurrection. Having been promised the autonomy of the Slovak lands in Royal Hungary, Štúr mobilized many Slovaks to fight for the Habsburg crown. A tough fight, no doubt, as the Slovaks fought hard to liberate parts of the mountain regions of Fatra and Tatra and were slowly marching to Žilina. As the fight continued with an Austrian victory being inevitable, orders from the Habsburg Crown were sent to the Slovaks to cease the military operations,and return home. News soon arrived that Kossuth’s Rebellion had been defeated, and that all national militias (in Slovakia and the other parts of the Empire as well) were to be demobilized. Thinking that the meaning of this was the promised proclamation of national autonomies, including for Slovakia, Ľudovit and the other Slovak leaders went to their homes, only to find out days later that, like many other ethnicities, the Slovaks too had been deceived by Vienna. No administrative reorganization was coming, and the Austrian iron fist would remain as staunch as ever. Many Slovaks joined forces with the Hungarians after learning this. This was too little too late though, as the victory of the Habsburgs was assured by that point. Ľudovít parted ways with his peers and went to settle down, sometimes fantasizing about scenarios where the Slovaks got their yearned freedom.

1860-1932: Last Ditch Attempt and Impending Germanization

With the first reformators of the Slovak language dead, Slovakia found itself without any active national emancipation movement. A last-ditch attempt was made to establish autonomy for Slovakia within the Austrian Empire, that being the signing of the “Memorandum of the Slovak Nation”in the city of Martin by various remaining national leaders. The points they made there included:

• Request to establish a legal academy
• Request for the establishment of the Department of Slovak Speech and Literature at the University of Vienna
• Allow Slovak schools to teach in Slovak
• The right to publish literature in Slovak
• For Slovaks to control the press of Slovakia

As they sent this to Vienna they hoped that the Kaiser would accept these requests. The reply arrived from Vienna months later, and the response was a highly expected “No”. With all hopes ruined, the authors of the Memorandum dispersed, and Slovakia once again sank into irrelevance.

After this, no opportunity for autonomy would be in sight for decades, except ideas like the proposed idea of future Czecho-Slovak cooperation suggested by the Czechs (Nevertheless, it was clear that the Kaiser won’t accept such a proposal either). The Slovaks were split in two about this idea. Many people thought that this would benefit both peoples, as it would enable them to once again have rights and feel pride in their nationality. Others thought that it would be just another failed attempt and would mean just switching the occupiers, from Vienna to Prague.

But as the Austrians were noticing the continued Slovak fight for autonomy, they realized that letting them speak their language and preserve their culture would mean instability in the region, as more and more ethnicities would demand rights. On the background of simmering unrest in Hungary, Banat and Transylvania after Klapka’s Revolt of the 1860s, They quickly shut down the only 3 high schools in Turz Saint Martin ( Martin ), Groß-Rauschenbach ( Revúca) and Klosster ( Kláštor Pod Znievom ),thus barring Slovaks from educating themselves in their own language and forcing them to learn German and study in Vienna and other German-language schools. The bigger urban centres, like Pressburg and Nyitra immediately fell prey to the policies of the Austrian administration. The Germanisation Program had begun, and Slovak populations in the cities were decreasing at rapid rates. By the early 1900s, when Franz Ferdinand relaxed some of the measures, the only cities which remained relatively unaffected were the small towns in the Tatras and other mountains. This powerful and institutionalized Germanisation (which occurred Empire-wide) did not help the Slovak cause at all, as they were now an even more ruralized population. All was not yet lost, however. Andrej Hlinka, a Slovak priest and self-described “nationalist”, used the growing dissatisfaction towards Vienna to gather support from the Slovaks and establish himself as one of the leaders of another Slovak movement for independence, 70 years after Štúr. Political theorists ascribe Hlinka’s rising movement as an example of “Fraterism”, a neo-theocratic ideology. Fraterism is the belief in a secularly-run, but authoritarian theocracy, where everything, from laws to economics are regulated and run alongside religious principles. It tends to be very socially conservative, corporatist and supporting of welfare programs and religious trade unions. Trying to gather support for his cause, Hlinka went to the town of Černová. He built a catholic castle there and the people immediately jumped to his movement and hoped that the Austrian authorities would let him bless the castle. This would have meant the recognition of an openly-nationalist Slovak cleric however, something Austria could not tolerate. Instead, the Austrians chose a German-speaking bishop from a nearby city to bless the castle. The Slovaks, resentful of this belittling, peacefully protested against this. However, if the Bloody Decade taught Europe anything about the Austrians, it is that they would be iron-fisted in their “Minorities Question”. The Austrian Gendarmerie received clear orders: disperse the protest; use of lethal force is authorised. Instead of handling the issue in a civil manner, the Austrians decided to shoot the protesters. 15 died and many more were injured, in what became known as the Černová Incident. This would be one of the many reasons for the growing hatred towards the Austrians by the Slovaks in the years leading to 1933.

1933: A Long-awaited Chance

With many ethnicities in the Austrian Empire starting to be more and more vocal against the perceived abuses perpetrated by Vienna, the Slovaks feel that maybe another try at independence will soon be feasible. As many places in the country are becoming more and more hostile to Austrian domination, the scene is set for confrontation. The only thing yet unknown as 1933 dawns is whether the Austrians will fix this issue with diplomacy and concessions, or will the Slovaks rise again in arms?

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“Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.” - Frederick Douglass

Bloody Beginnings

The year is 1824 and war rages across the Americas. British forces under General Pakenham land at Baltimore and are almost instantly stranded and cut off from supply lines as their transporting fleet is decimated by the French Navy. Pakenham, never one to cower in the face of adversity, launched an infamous campaign in which he led his men on bloody assaults across the eastern seaboard.General Pakenham with his hatred for the Americans, which was consolidated by his protracted struggle behind enemy lines, took it upon himself to undermine the USA in any way he could, up to and including the liberation of slaves, some of whom choose to stay and fight with Pakenham’s forces, others fleeing elsewhere. After raiding an American armoury to resupply and with winter setting in, Pakenham set up an informal base of operations deep in the Appalachian mountains. With winter having taken its toll on the British troops in the relatively inhospitable Appalachia, they were far from peak fighting form. In the following year Pakenham and his army was defeated at the Battle of Aiken County. With their leader now removed from the equation, troops that had managed to escape soon fled back into the Appalachian Mountains, with a small contingent of freed slaves amongst them. Their only objective now was to survive. Word soon travelled amongst slaves that, should they be able to escape their masters, there was a place for them in Appalachia. It wouldn’t be easy, but it was a chance at freedom. Few managed to link up with the ragtag ensemble but those that did were crucial in helping the British soldiers survive, without the local knowledge of the escaped slaves the foreigners would have certainly perished. American troops never attempted to investigate rumours of a 100+ strong bandit hideout formed by slaves and British soldiers in the mountains and dismissed it outright as “a work of hearsay and fiction, of which slaves are known to concoct for both their own entertainment and the cultivation of dissent.”

Beginning in 1828 the United States of America was in dire need of troops to supplement their war effort, in their sheer desperation they looked to the slaves across the nation. In exchange for their service in the US Army they would be granted their freedom. Many slaves and free African Americans across the North of the country took up the offer, they were trained, armed and organised into the newly created ‘Freedmen’s Regiments. The Regiments proved to be more than effective, providing a much needed boost to the US war effort. When tales of the Freedmen’s heroism under Gen. Scott's command fed back to the American top brass, there seemed to be only one logical option, recruit more slaves with the offer of their emancipation and try to turn the tide of this horrific war. Many of the Freedmen’s Regiments were recruited from the northern states and in order to found further battalions the US would have to look south, whether the southern states would allow this however was a different matter. The southern slave owners were infuriated, the federal government wanted to seize what they viewed as their rightful property and spirit them away with no recompense. Many southern states refused to allow slaves to travel north, often with the threat of violence. This was a huge blow to the USA’s war effort, their manpower would soon become severely depleted and troops would be spread increasingly thin. On plantations across the South black men and their families fled en masse, heading north to this new found opportunity to escape the cruelty of their bondage. Many slaves were rounded up by militias and slave catchers and forced back to work, but a steady trickle found their way North.

As army recruiters had approached a plantation in Virginia, the enslaved men had attempted to flee and gain their freedom but they were rounded up and backed into a barn where they were savagely beaten. Several days later the men managed to escape their captors and they bolted into the cold night air. After hours walking they approached a crossroads near Harrisonburg where a group of black men had gathered around a tree. A slim man, with cropped hair stood proudly atop a branch and bellowed to the gathered crowd. This man was Nat Turner, a preacher, born into slavery and self taught from a young age. Turner was a fantastic orator, the passion with which he delivered his rousing words and bible verses instilled the men around him with not only the fires of rebellion, but more importantly hope. With their new found revolutionary spirit Nat Turner and his mob salvaged weapons and supplies from nearby property. In a field near that crossroads, a new nation was to be born, a nation of Freedmen. Turner made what is now considered a historic address to hundreds of gathered Freedmen in which he said - “For too long we have been stuck between the yoke of the Yankees and the stranglehold of the South, no amount of promises and perverse talk in any part of this rotten nation can truly break our shackles. The war has blown a hole in the very heart of America, and it is in this gaping wound we will begin to heal. Come brothers, forget the Americans, for they soon forgot their humanity in their dealings with us, let us fight, alongside the British if needs must, and remember our true worth, remember our God given right, remember that we are free!”

Nat Turner, urged by two men who had recently travelled down from the Appalachian Mountains, decided to march his group in search of the so called ‘Pakenham’s Phantoms’, a small contingent of British soldiers allegedly hiding out in the mountains offering refuge and protection to local slaves in exchange for their assistance in their survival. Turner and two hundred or so Freedmen armed for the most part with swords, axes, hatchets and pitchforks with a smattering of stolen muskets and shotguns, began their trek. Several days later Turner stumbled up a winding mountain pass when an accented voice bellowed out - “Who goes there?!” Turner replied - “Nat Turner, child of God and shepherd of this here flock, I believe, despite the lateness of the hour, we Sir, are your reinforcements.” The British troops now numbering no more than one hundred and around 50 freed slaves couldn’t believe their luck. Hungry and cold they welcomed Turner and his men, and the little supplies they could share. What the British had lacked in manpower and food they made up for in arms and military experience. Turner proposed an alliance of sorts, the British were free to join them on their crusade for Freedom and they would be fed and treated like equals, in return they would contribute their guns and their knowledge to train the Freedmen for the unavoidable upcoming struggle. Agreements were reached, handshakes made. They would march back to Harrisonburg at first light, as Turner and his brethren now had the means with which to make their dream a reality.

The Freedmen, now armed and under the leadership of Turner claimed the surrounding land as their own, ready to defend themselves against slave catchers and militias, and unwilling to ever return to bondage. They seized farms for food, houses for shelter and built barricades to fortify their positions. Word of these plucky irregulars reached British military command, they were astounded, the gall of these brave young men had opened up a new front in the war, and a gaping hole in the American heartland. General Drummond was dispatched with a large force of around 30,000 to reinforce Turner’s uprising. When word reached the redcoats that there were British survivors of Pakenham’s command amongst Turner’s troops the shock and jubilation couldn’t be hidden. The US forces, on the verge of disintegration under the strain of Britain’s Trident Plan, had no troops with which to resist the Freedmen. Turner’s rebellion and his new ‘nation’ were here to stay. Within weeks the US was in utter chaos, with desertions and catastrophic defeats all too common. The Freedmen’s revolt was the very large straw that broke the metaphorical camel’s back. With the help of Pakenham’s survivors, the Freedmen, and roving bands of slaves escaping the South united to fight a bloody guerrilla war against all who would stand in the way of their emancipation.

Washington soon fell, the US government was scattered and nearly every Southern state was legislating for secession. The United Kingdom seized a large portion of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Partly in recognition of the valor shown by the Freedmen, and partly as they would play a key role in British foreign policy in North America in the future, as such this land was given to the survivors of Nat Turner’s uprising. By the terms of the peace deal, all slaves in US territory were to be freed, transferred to British authorities and transported to the newly established ‘Freedmen’s Protectorate’.

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Home of the Free

The Freedmen’s Protectorate was far from a safe haven upon its inception, racial violence and civil disobedience was rife. Plantation owners and their families were forced from their properties by local militias and white citizens who were sympathetic to the slavers were also exiled. Resistance from white slave owners was not uncommon, but having been armed by the British, local Freedmen soon dealt with any resistance with brutal efficiency. Many slavers fled to the new nations of the American Republic or the Fraternal American States. As the British withdrew most of their troops the Protectorate was soon left utterly rudderless, farms left unplanted and no guarantee of a reliable food supply, no government and no consensus on what was to happen next.The Freedmen’s saviour came from within, as Nat Turner once again stepped forward to lead his flock in the right direction. He gathered all the elders and leaders of each distinct community and welcomed them to the genesis of the Freedmen’s future. He stood at the end of a long table in a local church and addressed the men and women before him

“Brothers and sisters, what an opportunity we have earned. With our own blood, our own tears and our own faith we have etched a line in the dirt, we have built a home. Now the war is done it's time to organise ourselves and our communities, we must build like Noah, we must feed our people just as Jesus did. Although we face a great threat from the evils of our neighbours, and the Lord knows we will protect ourselves, now is the time for peace. ‘He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ Come we have much work to do.”

Turner and the elders soon organised informal community councils, plantations seized by the councils were replanted with food to feed the disorganized masses. Communities devastated by the war began to rebuild and Freedmen moved into the properties vacated by the slave owners and their families. In 1833, Turner, in defiance of the British, put out a call to all those would support them and the cause of the abolition of slavery, to all of the righteous and the faithful. The call invited any man, woman or child of any color or creed to come to the Freedmen’s Protectorate and help build a better future. In 1834 the community councils began being formalized into a government made up of local representatives, voted for by the communities. Now free to farm the land however they wished the Freedmen found they could operate much more efficiently than any slave run plantation. Using agricultural knowledge passed down through generations from all across the globe the farmers produced unprecedented yields. Animal waste products, crop rotations and other traditional methods saw the Freedmen reap a bountiful harvest, year on year. Several philanthropists from across North America, and to a lesser extent the UK, began investing large amounts of wealth in the Protectorate. For example, Abbey Kelley donated a large sum to help locals organise medical provisions for women and children, and Gerrit Smith gave $9000 so that his acquaintances Theodore Dwight Weld and his wife Angelina Grimke could set up educational institutions across the territory.

Development and Debate

In 1843 the Freedmen’s Parliament convened to vote upon matters of the Protectorate’s military going forward; there were two main proposals.

• Keep the militia system as is. Professional soldiers were too expensive and hard to equip. This was the view held by most delegates.
• Keep the militia system, but also add a small professional force, essentially providing as much as could be afforded (at the time the nation lacked any capital).

After weeks of debate, there were no conclusions reached, delegates waited eagerly to hear the opinion of Delegate Rev. Nat Turner, but he too was undecided - that was until a young delegate named Frederick Douglass took the floor and made an impassioned speech advocating for universal national service. The system would provide the manpower to both protect and sustain the fledgling nation. A new, universal conscription he said, where all men would serve two years beginning at age 18 in the military, and all women in an auxiliary corps for service to the nation in whatever way was necessary from tending to the sick, to helping in manufacturing and education. Rev. Turner was impressed, and with his backing, the motion was passed. It was later found to have been a coordinated effort from Rev. Turner and his handpicked protégé, who was chosen due to the Reverend’s future being threatened by his development of throat cancer. The new Citizen-Soldiers of the Protectorate would become one of its central pillars - vastly accelerating the national improvement in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and of course military capacity. In 1844 Lewis Tappan, having moved to the Protectorate with his brother, begins teaching young black men law, and in 1846 under the lead of Macon Boiling Allen, Robert Morris and several community leaders begin to draft The Freedmen’s Law Code, to ensure all men are treated equally and with dignity within the Protectorate’s borders. 1844 was also an extremely sad year for the Freedmen’s Republic in which Nat Turner, seen by many as the man solely responsible for their emancipation, passed away peacefully in his sleep. Having finally succumbed to his cancer, he was buried near the site of the initial uprising in Harrisonburg. His funeral was attended by crowds of almost unimaginable size, work across the nation ceased and every citizen who was able to do so flocked to the crossroads to mourn the great man they’d lost. Hymns, songs and dancing punctuated the day, as did wailing, tears and genuine distress. It was however decided that the Freedmen must not mourn Nat Turner’s death but celebrate his life. In the absence of their de facto ‘leader’ the Freedmen’s Parliament resolved to continue their democratic rule without Turner at the helm.

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Added threadmarks, apologies for the delay. Enjoy the work!

 

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The Freedmen's Republic (Part 3)​

New Blood and New Beginnings

The destruction of newspaper offices in the American Republic, that were vehemently against the exploitative practices and system of indentured servitude still used in the FAS, sparked a series of events that left everlasting scars on the collective North American psyche. The attack was launched in 1856 by mob of white citizens from the north of the Fraternal American States and led to near universal outrage. The culprits were never caught by the authorities. The Freedmen’s Protectorate, with the help of the British authorities offered a financial award for any information on the perpetrator. In what appears to be retaliation, several men are hacked to death in a Fraternal American town near the burned offices by an unknown assailant. Locals presume it to be the result of a personal dispute. The following year word reaches the Freedmen regarding the possible identity of the unknown murderer who had engaged in the retaliation. The source claimed the men that were hacked to death were actually engaging with the Five Families and their continuing systems of oppression and that this was neither an extension of the mob’s violence or the result of a vicious personal dispute. This was a targeted retaliatory attack in which men were brutalised on their doorsteps. The perpetrator? John Brown. Having met John Brown briefly before, Frederick Douglass approached him to discuss possible collaboration. Brown would work on behalf of the Freedmen, using British finance and arms to surreptitiously continue the Liberty Raids in an attempt to free the remaining people held against their will in the Fraternal American States. In 1859 a series of events occurred that would shake the FAS to their core. John Brown and his sons gathered a militia of around 20 men, armed themselves and bought supplies with finance from Britain. His plan was simple, en route to Athens, Georgia they would liberate as many people as possible, arm those willing to accompany them and raid the armoury in Athens. When the armoury was breached they’d loot as many weapons as they could carry, destroy the rest of the stockpile and escape on horseback with the newly freed men and their plunder. Unfortunately the raid didn’t go as planned, when the armoury doors were breached a local militia descended upon the raiders and under the orders of Brown seven of the Freedmen and two of his sons bolted for the safety of the border. The rest stayed with Brown and vowed to fight. In a long and protracted battle all but John Brown were killed and upon storming the inner rooms of the armoury they found a wounded and exhausted Brown trying in vain to light a fire in an attempt to blow up the munitions stored inside. Brown was arrested and shipped to New Orleans to face ‘trial’ - though he knew there’d be no chance at justice. When standing in the New Orleans courthouse, before being sentenced to death for treason, he was asked for any last comments and John Brown stood and addressed the courtroom -

“I have, may it please the court, a few words to say… I have an objection; and that is, it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been fairly proved (for I admire the truthfulness and candor of the greater portion of the witnesses who have testified in this case), -- had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends -- either father, mother, sister, wife, or children, or any of that class -- and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right; and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.

The court acknowledges, as I suppose, the validity of the law of God. I see a book kissed here which I suppose to be the Bible, or at least the New Testament. That teaches me that all things whatsoever I would that men should do to me, I should do even so to them. It teaches me further to "remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them." I endeavored to act up to that instruction. I say, I am too young to understand that God is any respecter of persons. I believe that to have interfered as I have done -- as I have always freely admitted I have done -- in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments. -- I submit; so let it be done!”

On December the 2nd, 1859, John Brown was hanged by the neck until dead for the crimes of murder and treason before a crowd of thousands, all jeering and seething at the prospect of one of their own committing such acts against the Fraternal American States. Widely seen as a traitor and an agent of terror in the FAS he was widely mourned as a hero amongst the Freedmen. In the Freedmen’s Protectorate, Brown was immortalised in the folk song “John Brown’s Body” despite lyrics varying wildly, they all proclaim “His soul is marching on!”

During the chaos of the British revolution in 1862, the Freedmen seize their opportunity and declare the Protectorate to be independent, and Frederick Douglass is voted as the inaugural Prime Minister of the Freedmen’s Republic. The canny Douglass would use his diplomatic envoys, predominantly Quakers, to achieve an unprecedented achievement. The envoys would offer the American Republic the opportunity to spite the British and provide protection for the newly established Freedmen’s Republic. This was, unknown to the American Republic, tabled before French diplomats simultaneously, and as such two Major Powers pledge to protect the Freedmen from all foreign aggression. The Freedmen’s Republic, having secured the backing of major powers did not rest on its laurels, they quickly adopted a stance of armed neutrality. In the vein of Nat Turner’s swords and plowshares speech they recognized that they should be able to protect themselves, but they would not actively wage war against other nations. The Republic is not naive, they knew there was little loyalty in geopolitics and that both American states and European powers could pose a threat to their independence.

Economics, Entertainment and Immigrants

In 1866 Robert Reed Church, a former slave and entrepreneur opened up several bars and pool halls in the Republic’s population centers. They prove to be a great success amongst the hard working masses of the burgeoning industrial sectors and set the foundations for what will become an integral part of the Freedmen’s Republic: art, culture and entertainment. Prime Minister Douglass’ ambitious plans for a standardized railway system within the Republic are presented to and subsequently approved by Parliament, with the caveat that the nation would refuse any investment or interference by white robber-barons. The planning and survey began immediately, with the creation of countless jobs predicted. Assessors are also dispatched to several mining sites to examine the discovery of unidentified deposits of an extremely hard mineral, presumed to be Wolframite. Increasing tensions between the Irish community and the FAS in 1872 saw a steady trickle of Irish immigrants seeking refuge in the Freedmen’s Republic. These new arrivals are greeted with a mixture of skepticism and cautious welcome. Many of these families were escaped debtors and were no stranger to the machinations of Plantation owners, but the trauma of Atlantic Slave Trade certainly wasn’t a shared experience. In 1874 Douglass departed office and Lewis Hayden was elected as the Freedmen’s second Prime Minister. With the departure of Douglass, and a waning amount of capital, the wide reaching railway developments began to slow in 1876 however in ‘77 under the close supervision of Prime Minister Hayden, a former clothier himself, the textiles trade in the republic began to flourish. The Textiles Act of the same year relaxes working time restrictions and women are actively encouraged to enter the industry.

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[mapperific]

Added threadmark. Enjoy!

 

[FeR_Sam]

The Freedmen's Republic (Part 4)​

War is Hell

The American Republic placed a large order for military uniforms and canvas material for tents in 1883, this combined with The Textiles Act of 1877 saw an unprecedented economic growth in the Republic. Thousands of workers sit at sewing stations and stitch miles of material to fulfill the request from the Americans, factories are expanded and more workers hired. Many observers in the Freedmen government recognize this bulk order as only meaning one thing, the war was on the horizon. The following year the current Prime Minister Langston Hughes approaches the textiles industry, he brings forth a forensic breakdown of the benefits of investing their newly found wealth into infrastructure, especially Douglass’ proposal of the as yet unfinished railroad network. The benefits he says are huge, not only will improved infrastructure help boost production and speed up delivery but it will also create jobs. The Textiles magnates agree to the proposals. 1885 is the year that would see the Freedmen proved right as war breaks out across the continent. The Freedmen’s Republic retain their stance of armed neutrality and jaws are clenched with anxiety across the nation. Military advisors and reconnaissance units report no antagonistic troop movements but regardless of this the Freedmen call up reservists in waves for refresher training to avoid large scale disruption to the economy. Any reservists called up to full-time positions were replaced by females workers in jobs across society. Despite the ongoing chaos the economic growth and the use of reservists labor saw the completion of Douglass’ proposed railway network as a matter of national security. The newspapers in the republic aren’t censored unlike the media in both the AR and FAS. They begin publishing photographs and news stories from the frontlines of the Great North American War, its brutality shocks the nation, it would seem the white man has descended into ‘savagery’ himself. In 1887 the completion of the railway network and the current economic situation see the founding of Beard & Mccoy Locomotive Works, utilizing the great minds of their founders and world-class materials, the company began the construction of cutting edge Locomotive trains. To underline the sheer tragedy and human loss of the war the American Republic once again submits a huge order for fresh military uniforms. A demonstration by predominantly female textile workers occurs in several areas rallying against the working conditions in the industry, a situation exacerbated by the increased demand due to The Great War. Many factories have descended into squalor, with no breaks and long shifts to meet quotas. The following year a small investment in increasing efficiency and renovating fabric factories by Industry leaders, and a slow down in demand, proved to placate workers without the need for a change in legislation. However, the passion of many of the women would develop into radicalism over the coming years. In 1891 the Great North American War came to an end. The horrific scenes etched in the minds of the citizens of not just the Freedmen’s Republic but all of North America. Freedmen Reservists are demobilized and are free to return to their respective industries now that the threat of invasion had subsided. The true scale of the devastation of the war is brought home by the huge increase in the demand for building materials such as timber and iron. Both materials are produced in substantial amounts in the Republic and their value skyrockets as the continent begins rebuilding. Prime Minister William Still, who had previously been on the Freedmen Trade Board, quickly moved to lower tariffs on these key goods, meaning companies from all over North America scrambled to buy from the Freedmen. It was once said that slaves had built America, now Freedmen played a key role in supplying the necessary materials to see America rebuilt once again. The economic effects of the post-war scramble to rebuild benefit the republic greatly, the transport industry sees an opportunity and in partnership with the timber, and iron magnates, tram networks in the cities of Ekoville, Prosserton, Gullahton, Tyestown and Manumission are constructed with their newfound profits. Life in the cities of the Republic enters a new age, one of peace, prosperity and pushing the boundaries of technology.

A Modern Nation

The Freedmen’s Republic was truly thriving, communities were growing and with the economic effects felt after the Great North American War businesses and factories had a fresh injection of life. Although not everything was perfect, as illustrated when the small but steadily growing Jewish community in Ekoville was the focus of media attention in 1894 after a Jewish business had its windows smashed in what many say was an anti-Semitic attack. Locals say the media was sensationalizing events and that it was merely a personal dispute. Regardless newly elected PM Robert Smalls makes a visit to the business, shakes a few hands, pays for the glass to be replaced out of his own pocket and states proudly-

“We would do well to remember that similar acts of mindlessness are occurring across Europe and even on our own continent. The Republic is a sanctuary for those who support liberty and reject notions of superiority amongst men. So long as a man supports our cause, be he Jew, Italian or Irish, he is our adopted brother, and shall always have a place in our communities.”

Another immigrant, from the Irish Republic, John Philip Holland, presented his plans for a prototype vehicle, the submarine, to the Freedmen Navy. The Admirals are in awe and immediately bring him on board to lead the research and development of their own submarine program beginning in 1897. Education had long been seen as key in the FR but when an elderly but greatly successful Mrs Mary E. Pleasant donates an astonishing sum to further higher education in the Republic many are pleasantly surprised. The beneficiaries, Shaw University in Tyestown, the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua for Freedmen in Jacobstown, Turner Agricultural and Mechanical College in Brownsburg, all of which saw a huge rise in both teaching capacity and enrollment. This boost to higher education also enabled a team led by Mary Mahoney, Professor George F. Grant and Dr Daniel Hale Williams set up the Department for Health, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the citizens of the Republic. The Department of Health would see the Freedmen make huge advances in scientific fields, particularly in medical fields, internationally the Freedmen’s doctors and nurses were known to be particularly talented. In 1901, movements in the business world were made as The Stearns-Freedmen Maritime Bureau, which was founded in 1852 when George Luther Stearns invested a sizeable amount in the Freedmen’s ports and shipyards, was renamed Conyers Maritime Industries as Admiral James H. Conyers took over the company with the help of several industrialists. As well as naval developments, Charles W. Chapelle fronts a large amount of capital rumored to be in the region of $10,000 to form the Freedmen Institute of Aviation. Unveiling his long-distance airplane prototype to the public,a wave of excitement screeches across the nation. Militaries however see his design as a glorified paper glider, and dirigibles would remain the chosen vehicle for air-based warfare.

Arguably the most significant event of the early 1900s would be completely hidden, and for good reason. In 1909 the SSB was founded. The Secret Service Bureau, or The Bureau, is a secret department of the Freedmen Government, designed to provide a covert arm for both domestic and overseas operations. Some sources claim the SSB has a paramilitary wing, but this can officially neither be confirmed nor denied. Since the founding of the Freedmen’s own territory there had been a steady stream of immigrants from both north, south and even the Caribbean. Some of these arrivals came in search of hope and opportunity without fear of racial persecution, they came by train or boat to the ‘promised land’ to etch out a new existence. Some however weren’t so lucky. There were many black people, who by rights should be Freedmen but by curse of geography still remained under the yoke of apathetic masters. In the early years, they called it simply ‘a way out’ but over time the systems in place and the resources on hand to help people escape to their God-given freedom grew and grew. Some called it a ‘Railroad’ with conductors and safe houses to ensure the safe delivery of its passengers from plantation to the promenades of the Republic. Whatever it was, it was very much underground, covert, secret. The Freedmen Republic’s government, some of them were passengers from across the continent themselves, valued this grassroots organization but decided that with investment and guidance they could take the idea of practical steps toward emancipation to a much larger audience. Throughout history there had been many who took that extra step in the name of freedom; Reverend Nat Turner, John Brown and his posse, Harriet Tubman, the list is truly endless. So inspired by those trailblazers, the SSB was formed with the intention of empowering individuals like those mentioned before, so that they too could gain their freedom or freedom for others. The SSB would be a covert organization that would offer counsel, resources and funding to individuals in need. They would be the underwriters of a new age of freedom. As the Freedmen knew so well, freedom isn’t easy, but it is close, sometimes all you need is a helping hand.

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[pls don't ban me]

18th september: cooming soon.

 

[FeR_Blazed]

The Freedmen's Republic (Part 5)​

A Continent of Contrasts

In 1910 it was time for ‘The fight of the century!’. Jack Johnson, the African American heavyweight champion of the world faced off against James J. Jeffries, returning from retirement and billed as “The Great White Hope”. Jack Johnson won in the 15th round with a decisive knockout! Street parties occurred across the Freedmen’s Republic where tens of thousands had gathered to hear updates by live telegraph. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the other nations in what soon became America-wide race rioting between jubilant black boxing fans and humiliated white Jeffries supporters. Five years later saw the premiere of a cinematic milestone. Albeit one with unforeseen repercussions for minorities. The Birth of a Nation is released, the first 12 reel film produced about the struggles and subsequent rise of The Fraternal American States. The film’s depiction of colored peoples is universally condemned in the Republic. Prime Minister Morgan moved to ban the film, but declared that if the film was to be shown it was to be shown for educational purposes -

“Let us not speculate as to how the colored peoples are viewed by the White Man, let us examine it closely. Let our scholars and our professionals study the very materials that seek to demonize us, and perhaps one day we will understand that which fuels the fires of their hatred toward us.” - Clement G. Morgan PM

Conversely in 1918 what is widely known as the Vesey Renaissance begins, a cultural, intellectual and social revolution amongst young, middle-class black people in the Freedmen’s Republic. Since the foundation of the Protectorate there was a large migration of non-white people from across the continent, educated, uneducated, young, old, northern and southern. The Freedmen’s Republic became a melting pot for the culture and ideas of oppressed peoples the world over and it was in this melting pot that music, art, poetry and philosophy was to flourish. James Weldon Johnson MP successfully lobbies Parliament and the PM to fund the creation of Freedmen Foundation for the Arts (FFA) which would provide grants, facilities and mentoring for up and coming artists. JW Johnson MP makes several public speeches about how culture is not just for the wealthy, and how the working people of the Republic should enjoy the fruits of the nation’s brightest minds too. Two years later JW Johnson MP and the renowned Langston Hughes hosted an outdoor concert for the Freedmen Republic’s Military forces in Newton. Although the bill contained several musicians of differing styles, the second act, a young man known as ‘Dipper’, stole the show with his masterful performance of hugely popular Jazz songs. During his encore, the soldiers rushed the stage and held him aloft, he never missed a note and the music and dancing continued long into the night. This event was widely condemned by senior military figures with one general even calling it ‘degeneracy’ but the general public saw it simply as hard-working men enjoying their time off.

While the Freedmen enjoy peace and prosperity a large scale civil disturbance turns into a massacre in the city of Tulsa, FAS in 1921. A riot broke out over the alleged assault of a white girl by a black teenager and soon spiraled from a lynch mob into the systematic destruction of black life and property, The unprecedented levels of violence even saw the white attackers dropping explosives from airplanes. 10,000 or more black citizens of the FAS are made homeless by the massacre, many of whom seek asylum in the Freedmen’s Republic. This provoked outrage from the majority of the people of the Republic, which led to increasing support of militant Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. He was quoted - “If the White Man in the South continues to trample down our brethren with their dirty boots, then it can only be so long before we pull the rug from under them.” However, this statement proved to be controversial amongst many, peace was widely viewed as too valuable to risk any kind of foreign intervention in the South.

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