In New York City, a massive explosion tears through the city's harbour, causing an immense amount of damage and killing a very large amount of people. FBI agents determine after a number of interviews with eyewitnesses that the explosion was caused by a ship that had moored up in the harbour only minutes before. FBI agents check the ships records in the harbor master's office, and find that the ship was coming to the city from Brest, France. After navy divers discover traces of explosives, as well as undetonated artillery shells, on the bottom of the harbour, it is determined that this ship was smuggling illegal weapons to syndicalist extremists.
As the crises with both the CSA in the north and the AFU in the south continue, national dissent skyrockets, combined with the panic caused from the Valentines Day Explosion, civil disruption is now back to January 1936 levels.
In Chicago, federal soldiers find themselves under attack by massive mobs of CSA influenced workers, who throw both rocks and molotov cocktails at US soldiers and national guardsmen. Whats worse, is that the federal workers from the southern states are now relying on AFU private militia's for their security, leading to direct clashes between the CSA and AFU in the streets.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the Austro-Hungarian empire splits, with the Hungarians leaving the union between the two countries. This development is a huge blow to the government in Vienna.
With violence in the north mounting, Huey long offers to send his minute men paramilitaries to cities like Chicago and Detroit, to fight side by side with US government troops and put down the riots. President Garner, already dealing with an explosive situation, flatly denies Long's offer. This denial however backfires, as Long's supporters in the south view this as evidence that the President is soft on syndicalism.
The crisis in the northern cities now goes over the breaking point, as CSA supporters begin ambushing federal troops in the streets of Chicago. This time however, they are not attacking with bottles and rocks, but with rifles, hand grenades, shotguns, and even machine guns. Federal soldiers find themselves without any answer to these heavily armed militants, with local commanders ordering US forces to withdraw from Chicago.
As US troops withdraw under fire from Chicago, the leadership of the Combined Syndicates of America goes on the radio to announce the so called "proletarian American revolution". As if on cue, CSA militants take to the streets of cities all across Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan, as well as cities like Milwaukee and St Louis. Federal authority in these regions collapses under this assault.
Jack Reed now declares the independence of the Combined Syndicates of America. Setting up his office in the Illinois governors residence, Reed announces a state of war between the United States and his new syndicalist country. Meanwhile, Canada announces the implementation of Defense Scheme 1, massing thousands of heavily armed soldiers in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.
In the south, Huey Long declares the end of the United States, rallying his supporters behind a new nation, the American Union State. Immediately, Minute Men paramilitaries and AFU party members hit the streets all over Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi, seizing control of local and state government offices and storming the legislatures of these states.
And so, it has begun. After many years of simmering anger and extensive preparation, the 2nd American civil war has started. All options to avoid this conflict have failed, and the time has come to stop the forces of radical socialism and right wing extremism through armed confrontation. Just like in 1861, the United States will not falter, and will not stop until total victory is achieved!