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Chapter 9 - La Sept Étoiles (1850-1851)​

The year of 1850 started off slow. The winter was extraordinarily harsh towards the end of January, and the temperature remained around freezing throughout February in the northern part of the country. Nouvelle Bruges was covered in the biggest pack of snow in decades, and many people thought it to be idyllic.

News reached from across the Atlantic at the end of February, with a proclamation of the Russian Empire, they claimed to now be among the greater powers that reside on this world, and many others justly believed them to be. They overtook the Japanese Empire by a large margin, which was greatly beneficial for the Seven Republics, as it meant one less contender in the Pacific and one more in Europa.

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Russia climbs to 6th in the world, still far behind the Europa 4 and ourselves.

16th of March, and Spring was setting in. Together with the better weather came the news of increased relations with our southern neighbors in Lusitania. They agreed to become a close friend and ally and we included them in our Sphere of Influence, offering them protection and guaranteeing their freedom.

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The treaty signed in Santa Palo ensured a great future for both countries.

The year resumed its easygoing character, and late in June an industrial breakthrough was made. The process to obtain cleaner coal was perfected and implemented nationwide. On urging of Congress, construction started on a brand new stock exchange in Port Valois, the largest city in the country located just across the river from Nouvelle Bruges.

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Top of the line economic progress was to be expected in about 18 months.

Late July, the peace and quiet that had engulfed Arcadia vanished almost instantly. On the 21st, settlers from the Seven Republics had declared the region of Gylhenvik a new part of the Nation.

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Even without official government funding colonization of Arcadia continues.

Then, on the 22nd, an incident occurred. For reasons still obscured by officials, a small patrol party along the Plantagenian border near Branville was arrested for trespassing on foreign soil. Outrage of this action reached Congress and it was first met with disbelief. After a fast police investigation, police came to the conclusion that this arrest was actually made on Septiman soil, making this an illegal action by the Plantagenians. Not awaiting any explanations from Nouvelle Orléans, our ambassador was summoned back to the Republics, and President Fallon started readying the troops.

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Rabble, rabble, rabble!

Preparations were made for a short and decisive war, and in October everything was set in motion. Before the troops moved across the border, a poet made a ruckus.

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Focus lay on the war at this time.

On the 6th of October, 1850, the guns of war roared once more. Swift occupations of 5 territories were initiated within days of the official Declaration of War, and our fleet moved into a blockading position of the Plantagenian capital of Nouvelle Orléans.

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A comparison between the two nations.

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The attack plan of the first day. After the initial push, most control of the army was delegated to commanders in the field.

Early December saw yet another diplomatic disaster abroad, this time our countrymen were not allowed to enter the nation of Jaipur, and an official warning was issued by President Fallon. Being occupied in the south would of course keep us from actually interfering, barking dogs don't bite, but without a threat we wouldn't be taken serious in the future either.

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Your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries!

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Turn of the year sees once again an increase in liberal sentiment.

With one of the weakest contemporary armies in existence, the Plantagenian King had no idea what to do with the actual forces he had. What he did was send them out on a suicide mission, and the Plantagenians lost 3000 men on the 4th of January 1851. We would have captured them but they charged into our lines, guns blazing, killing 42 of Septiman souls. It might not have been a proportional response but such a sudden and strange act gets a sudden and strange reaction against it.

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The only land battle of the war.

Our previous wars had left us with a negative standing among the world community. It had deterred us from any other major conflicts, and that's why the Border Incident last July was seen as a godsend. But, no longer did the Seven Republics fear the might of Europa's colonial empires. Being in good standing with most nations, a decision was made and the war was expanded. The most important consequence would be that the world was given a free ride to cut us down in size. Twentyfour long months with this fear would be ahead, but President Fallon convinced Congress that it would not be an issue.

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Pays Tsigali was demanded from the evil Plantagenians mostly for its large coal mines.

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The current progress of the war and our worldwide infamy.

There was also news that did not concern the war left and right. In March and in May respectively, new discoveries were made. The first was an industrial process, that made it easier to refine Pit Coal for our industries. The second was the expansion of Romanticism into the field of Literature.

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We have only one rule: Newer is always better.

Late in April, a group of Plantagenians approached the President. They had been living in the previously annexed provinces, and the current war had left them discriminated against because of this. They claimed to have been happier ever since we freed them from the evil usurper of the Mississippi, thusly they demanded for government interference with their plight. President Fallon pleaded before Congress, which he had been doing more often recently compared to his previous years in office. Congress decided that changes had to be made and the call for equal opportunities was heard.

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Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.

June saw 5 more nations join our Sphere of Influence. This was a great success for the Fallon administration, and control of Northern Arcadia was within our grasp. This also meant that a bigger power-block was created against any European aggression to contain our infamy.

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Excellent.

In a final ditch effort to make a stand, the Plantagenian Navy was dispatched to engage our blockading forces. Not taking any risk, President Fallon started the peace talks, and this effectively led to the end of the war on August 1st 1851. A period of national vigilance started that day, and only time would tell if The Seven Republics would be left alone.

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The Battle of Mobile Bay only lasted a couple of days.

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The acquisition of these two regions boosted national prestige by a decent amount. The war was won.

The Seven Republics has steadily expanded since it declared independence from Burgundy, and people envisioned a large Republic. Thoughts of a name change resonated in the streets on occasion, but as a reminder to the start of the nation, no resolution to change the name was issued before, during and after 1851. This might change in the future, but for now the country was content.

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St. Augustine was now connected by land, completing total control of the Atlantic seaboard for The Seven Republics.

--End of Chapter 9--
 
it seems good triumphs over evil once again :)
not all that is left is to clean off that red stain on the republic's map and the nation will have a very official looking map ;)
 
*Squints at map* You missed a little bit of the Orange Mess. Get that the next time around if you can.

And I say, there is an awful lot of space to the North that would just look -fantastic- with "Seven Republics" plastered over it. *Wink wink nudge nudge*
 
The republic needs room for the inevitable immigrants. Vinland should be helpful if we just persuade them.;)
 
I'd like to see those green, blue, red, and orange spots surrounding the 7 Republics to change into brown (code for the Seven Republics must conquer its neighbors for control of North America)
 
((Woohoo! 1 month anniversary of this AAR :D The tenth update follows below. 17 years have been played. The Seven Republics are strong. Hurray!))

Chapter 10 - Aller au Nord (1851-1852)​

The war with Plantagenia was over. The summer was in full swing. And construction on the Port Valois Stock Exchange was finished just as fall set in.

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The railroads need improvement to expand our industrial capacity nationwide.

Late November brings news from the west again. Colonists keep moving northwest, this time claiming the area called Rhonnst as a new part of the Seven Republics. Soon there won't be any room left on the continent that is not claimed by any country.

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This is not helping our borders look beautiful.

Christmas 1851 bears many gifts for Congress and President Fallon. First it is publicly announced that we are now the number 1 power on Earth! Throughout the following years, there's a lot of placeswitching with the Dual Monarchy for top dog, but it clearly shows the powers of Arcadia will overtake Europa one day.

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Even though it is not happy news in itself, it is seen as such by the President. Vinland has been trespassing on our soil for a while now, and they have become a bigger nuisance than the Plantagenians are, so action will be taken.

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I have a bad feeling about this.

Immigration to the Republics has been steadily growing the past years, in December of 1851 it reached a record height of 3450 new people. Many of these come from Bengal, diversifying the nation gradually.

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We are liked in the world.

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A clear loss for the Parti Conservateur, at the same rate it has been in previous years.

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Surplus Cotton is gifted oversees.

The industry is booming, but improvements can and must be made. The chosen course of action is to increase efficiency in our most populous industrial center, near Philippa, by encouraging clerks.

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The gap between Arcadian industry and European industry must be closed.

1852 is a year that has quite a few discoveries again. The first is secularization, increasing plurality. It boosts our research effort by .3 per day, speeding up future technology. It might not be much but every bit helps.

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Religion starts taking a back seat.

May 5th 1852, the guns are in position again, this time in the north. Vinland will pay for its transgressions! We shall take Kristiania and we shall be victorious! Pour la Sept Étoiles!

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Comparison of the nations going to war.

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The attack plan. Striking swiftly and decidedly.

Due to the Vinlandic war, overseas opinion of the Seven Republics diminished greatly, and it was projected upon Septima citizens. Custom offices around the globe started to more aggressively check our nations subjects, and this escalated in Lanfang. Congress was outraged and sent a message to the country in question.

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Congress has made a standardized reaction by now, seeing how often we get insulted.

June 1st, another discovery is made. Better devices have been conceived to increase tax efficiency. One day later, almost as if it is in unison, farmers started a bank.

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Mo money, mo problems.

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Banks like these might boost the economy so we let it slide.

July 1st, another discovery is made! Romanticism now also encompasses musical theory. Concerts in Nouvelle Bruges are lifted to a new standard.

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Beethoven, Chopin and Schubert were greatly admired in their time.

The war was in full swing, and our troops encountered more resistance than they had in the south over a year ago. The Vinlandians fielded a 15,000 strength army and they clashed with our own forces on several occasions.

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The Battle for Lillkoping.

September sees another discovery, Determinism. Researchers were working hard to crank out technology for our future.

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The last discovery of the year, more plurality.

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The Battle for Erikshavn, the Vinlandic capital.

In October, President Fallon's health started to deteriorate. The best doctors were hauled to Nouvelle Bruges to attend to the President, but it only got worse. Finally on December 6th, President and former General Alphonse Fallon passed away. It was a sad day for the nation.

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Once again the nation will be mourning all afternoon and evening.

The year rolled around to 1853, and a messenger was dispatched to the north. The Vinlandians reluctantly agreed to relinquish control of Kristiania and it would now forever be a part of the Seven Republics.

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And again the Liberals continue their march upwards in the Upper House.
 
What are you doing, those borders are worse than ever! :p

It's part of his plan of gradual encirclement, developed out of a flawed understanding of WW2 warfare...