Brief history of North America
United States of America didn't join the Great War directly, but they helped Great Britain and France with massive loans. But those investments did not bring prosperity to USA after the war, as defeat of Entente alliance and socialist revolutions in France and Britain destroyed any possibility that credits could be repayed. To make things even worse, America lost strong position in world markets due to changed situation in the world and German economic dominance. Economic decline shocked American society and brought great political changes. Bad economic situation and increased social tensions have brought mobilisation of radical forces that even managed to challange traditional American two party system. In elections of 1936, four strongest parties sent their favorites in fight. Traditional Republican Party(with Charles Curtis as candidate) and Democratic Party(candidate John Nance Garner), were accompanied by two new rising radical parties: Combined Syndicates of America(this party was in fact political wing of united coalition of American syndicates, with Jack Reed as presidental candidate), and America First- Union Party(Right-Wing Populist party, with Huey Long, who based his policy on corporativist ideas, as candidate).
Huey Long in 1936, just before the presidental elections. Popular former governor of Louisiana and senator enjoyed great support on the South due to his fight for Southern cause. He often claimed that American administration doesen't care enough for the South, leaving it unprotected from economic troubles.
With slight majority, America First- Union Party was victorious. It seemed it's program was attractive for many Americans. Apart from Southeast, where Huey Long enjoyed almost unchallenged support, some support also came from other parts of America. Long's Share Our Wealth movement, which preached better distribution of wealth in society, won hears and minds of many small people, altough most of industrial workers still voted for Combined Syndicates, especially in industrial areas at Great Lakes, where Reed had strongest base of supporters. In start of 1937, Long was sworn as 32nd President of United States. He immediately started radical programs to improve economic situation and political stability. But his drastic measures divided Americans even more. His plan for nationalisation of American industry shocked Republicans and Democrats. He even planned to transfer part of industry from Northeast, Great Lakes and California to less industrialised regions. In politics, he preached ban of Combined Syndicates that were dangerous for harmony in American society in his opinion.
All this brought to major crisis. California was shocked because of Long's attempt to transfer industry. When Long declared that Californian aircraft industry will be taxed, Californians had enough. Governor of California threatened with seccession if Long's plans will come in action. Long responded with blockade of California, but Californians successfuly avoided isolation since California had good trade connections with Asia and Canada. When Huey Long decided to send Minutemen, his paramilitary force, to arrest Californian leadership, California mobilized local forces for defense. With no other path left, California broke away and declared independence. California was the first state to secede from the union. Enraged by this decision, Huey Long called for military to restore legal order in the West. But chief of the Army, general Douglas MacArthur, who never really trusted Huey Long, declared that president is acting against his own nation. Strong military units were sent to Washington in attempt to remove Long from office. Huey Long fleed from D.C. and moved to the South, were his supporters were strongest. MacArthur occupied White House, declared Long's presidency illegal and established provisionaly military goverment until situation would be put under control and when new elections would be held.
MacArthur tried to find solution for all that mess, but without success. California refused to rejoin until Long's threat would be fully neutralized. Reports about Minutemen being in full combat readiness in the South prevented MacArthur from sending Army to capture Long, since he didn't want to risk clashed with civilian population. In time of exile in the South, Huey Long inspected his support in this region, moving from Atlanta to Richmond, Miami, New Orleans and other big cities of the South. He was cheered by masses of people everywhere he came, and Minutemen were reinforced by more and more men. Governors of Southern states also expressed his support to Long. MacArthur was soon shocked by news that legislatures of many Southern states are voting for seccession from the union. Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina left the union. Together with declaration of independence, they accepted unification into new union called American Union State. Huey Long declared himself as President of American Union State, and chosed Charles Lindbergh for Vice President, to give boost popularity of his goverment. Influental positions in his regime were also filled by important supporters of Huey Long. Henry Ford, Joseph K. Kennedy and Prescott Sheldon Bush were important Long's supporters in big economy, hoping for leading position in economy of Long's New America. Despite social note of his program, Long was supported by many large industrialist and bankers, since his corporativist ideas didn't exclude economic elites from new system. Huey Long preached kind of corporate state, where all social classes would cooperate in harmony. Long's supporters from big business also threw their hopes behind Long in wish to became dominant characters in new economy. Regime was also reinforced by Father Charles Coughlin, extremist of German origin Fritz Kuhn, Gerald K. Smith and many other supporters of Long's policy. Even more concerning fact for MacArthur was that even part of American military joined Long. Important military figures like George Patton, Curtis LeMay, William Halsey and Nathan B. Forrest III, defected to American Union State together with their units, including parts of navy and air force.
Combined Syndicates never accepted Long's victory on elections of 1936, but they didn't take active part in political crisis in start of 1937. But when Long declared new state in the South, Syndicalists grabbed oportunity to use weakness of central goverment. Their first attempt to take power was march on Washington. Reed expected that MacArthur will resign under pressure of masses. But MacArthur ordered police to prevent the march. After several fights between police and protesters, Reed withdrawed his people. It was time for armed resistance. In the Northeast, by the Great Lakes, where Reed was strongest, Leftist militias took control of the biggest industrial cities. When Michigan, Wiscosin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvannia were taken over by Syndicates, Combines Syndicates of America declared independence. In the same time, both Reed and Long declared that USA is a dead state. This was start of 2nd American Civil War.
Syndicalist march on Washington was stopped by police.
Canada was concerned about situation in USA in Summer 1937. Canadians were shocked by rise of Syndicalism in the neighbourhood. Canadian generals quickly started to make defense schemes. Officer staff was divided between native Canadian officers, who were not fond of direct military intervention, and exiled British royalist officers who demanded swift action. Canadians proposed mobilization and increased presence on border with USA, while British wanted fast attack of all avalible forces on Reed's state. Finally they came to compromise: Canada will seize new England before Syndicalist troops will take it. Canada will also take critical US possession like Alaska and Panama Canal under their protection. MacArthur agreed with Canadian temporary protection over parts of US territory. Alaska was quickly taken by Canada, so was Panama Canal. But things went bad with New England. MacArthur granted Canadians that New England is still under his control and will accept Canadian protection without any problems. But when Canadian troops reached first cities of New England, they saw that the region is already crawled with Syndicalist troops. Canadian commander withdrew his troops back behind the border, and Canadian leaders started to argue what to do. The last decision was not to risk the war with Reed and rather send convert aid to MacArthur. There are many theories why did Canada decide so. The most reliable says this was decided because Canadian leaders didn't want to risk lifes of thousands of Canadian boys in bloody war with Reed. Canada had already given enogh lives in Great War and Canadians were not ready for another tragedy like this.
Canadian regiment departs for New England. There were many debates about Canadian decision not to attack Combined Syndicates. Military historians claim this was right decision, since Canada was not ready for war. Urban warfare was one of best attributes of Reed's armies, and Canadian troops could suffer heavy casulties, what could even turn public opinion against the war and Canada would have to withdraw anyway.
California tried to stay out of chaos that erupted in other parts of United States. Island of peace in the West was soon joined by several states who saw California as good choice to avoid the war. Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada left United States and joined with California into new federation, named Pacific States of America. But new state couldn't enjoy peace very long. Syndicalist Mexico on the South observed conflict in USA and waited for good oportunity to grab some prey. Shortly after Pacific States formed, Mexico launched invasion. Armies of Pacific States fought well, but Mexicans were able to occupy large portions of California and Nevada. Mexicans were stopped on San Francisco-Carson City defense line. But Mexico didn't dare to mess with other American factions, altough they all were busy fighting each other. War went good for Long and Reed, but bad for MacArthur. Small part of American navy even defected to Reed due to mutiny of sailors. Reed and Long got US troops between hammer and envil in the East Coast, forcing MacArthur to abandon Washington and flee to West. When Long's and Reed's troops finally meet, they started bitter fight, but without any major breaktroughs. On the other front, Long's troops pushed MacArthur from Texas, but lost the advance after that.
Long's Minutemen repelling Syndicalist assault. Altough regular army of American Union State was formed after new state was established, Minutemen were preserved as separate paramilitary force. Huey Long wanted to keep strong force under his direct control to assure his political power in American Union State even after the war. They were mainly performing duties of military police and rearguard units, but they were also used on the frontlines to support regular army, and also to keep it's political loyalty.
The war was fought for several years, but without much success for any side. Only Mexico and Pacific States managed to sign peace treaty in 1938, giving California and Nevada to Mexico. World watched war in North America with interest, but didn't do much to stop it. Various sides helped diffrent American factions with material and volunteers, but this only made the war even harsher. In the Christmas of 1939, the Pope called for end of conflict. His great moral authority forced Germans, who were considered as world police, to do something. Kaiser wanted to keep American States divided, and he chosed simple solution. With assistance of German mediation, peace conference was organized in Havana. Canada also participated in conference, but last word was said by Germans. After harsh negotiations, current situation in America was sealed, with some minor adjustments. Syndicalist powers also tried to influence result of peace treaty, with discrete diplomatic support to Combined Syndicates. Germans were not happy to see another Syndicalist state rising in America, but they didn't see it as a great threat, and they also didn't want to mess with France yet. Reed was grateful for support of Internationale, but his country still to weak and in desperate need of reconstruction, he refused to take part in military alliance. However, Internationale lost the war with Mitteleuropa some time after that and Combined Syndicates, together with Mexico and other neutral Syndicalist nations, allowed thousands of French, British and Italian refuges to settle in America.
Despite the successful peace conference in February 1940, North America couldn't live in peace to long. In the South, tensions were on the rise between supporters of Huey Long and his opponents. Part of population and political leadership was not very fond of domestic policy of regime. Traditional Southern politicians, who supported Long before and during the war because of his fight for Southern cause, accused Huey Long and his supporters for ruining traditional Southern rights with limitations of free market, freedom of small business, and most important of all, abolition of state system. Traditional Dixiecrats claimed that South always fought for the state rights, but Huey Long had abolished them and established unitarian system. American Union State as unitarian state, dominated by massive corporations and with big goverment deciding how the wealth should be shared, is completelly against Southern tradition, claimed Dixiecrats, Neo-Confederates and other supporters of traditional Southern style of life. Reply of regime was very harsh: Many political opponents were arrested or exiled. This forced opposition to act fast before being exterminated by Kingfish and his minions. Long's opponents in administration, military and security forces accepted call of opposition and rised against regime. Huey Long was glad to keep his Minutemen intact and under his influence. Together with Minutemen and other loyal forces he managed to crush most of the conspirators in short, but brutal fighting, that took place all across the country. Rebels managed to take control only in Texas, where opposition against Long was always strong. Rebel forces which had large ammount of heavy weapons, brought by part of military which revolted against regime, managed to change Texas into fortress. Long's forces had suffered heavy loses when destroying rebellion, and plans for invasion of Texas were terminated. American Union State still considers Texas as legal part of it's territory, but doesen't try to incorporate it by force due to strong army that defends Texas. Texas which became independent after rebellion in 1951 claims to be legal heir of Confederate States of America and even claims that entire Old South must be liberated one day. Altough consisting only of territory of former US state of Texas, this country never really used name Texas. Official name, chosed after rebellion, is Southern Commonwealth.
In Caribbean and Central America, several changes have happened since the Weltkrieg. Due to increasing power of Syndicalist Mexico, Cuba which was enjoying protection of USA before the 2nd American Civil War, joined the Caribbean Federation in 1958 to gain protection of Entente. Syndicalist Centroamerica long time fought for influence over Central America against Authoritarian Right-Wing Honduras. With Mexican support, Honduras had fallen in 1963 after Mexican and Centroamerican agents sparked the revolution in rival country. Centroamerica managed to expand all the way to borders of Panama, but it's influence stopped there because of Canadian protection over Panama.