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Another great update!
 
(uses the force) You will add John Fender, and he will lose the primaries every election for forty years (end force) ;-).
 
Is that... Iowa in the Confederacy? That's totally insane! :)
 
@Red Cesar: Mr.Vandrove is indeed living on his legacy. Just wait.

@Spitfire5793: Thanks for the support!

@zagoroth: John Fender... John Fender... I think I can use that name...

@Avindian: Iowa is indeed in the Confederacy. It has about 3% Slaves and 50% Dixie pops :wacko:
 
Still doesn't beat the CSA diplo annexing the USA making Dixie the primary culture. And then, the CSA Forms the USA. In PDM.

*cue mindscrew.*
 

Hensdale: 1866 - 1871


To combat his image from his first inauguration, President Hensdale made it a point to deliver an Inauguration speech from the steps of the Californian Congress building in San Diego. He made a pledge to the people of California - He would refuse, by any means necessary, California going to war. Either in defense of her allies or for territorial conquest. Several members of the Ursine Imperialists lobbied for the passage of an official bill of censorship against President Hensdale, who they believed was stunting the growth of an "Empire of the Pacific". The leader of this movement was Ignacio Vallejo, a fervent Ursine Imperialist from Monterrey born to one of the few native Mexican families to California, he believed in the idea of an ever-expanding Californian Empire, reaching out into the Pacific, dominating the many islands.

President Hensdale was quickly able to turn this nationalistic agitation around, but claiming that should California ever reach the stage of Imperialism and Expansionism, she first must have the national economy and infrastructure to support such an endeavor. Hensdale proclaimed that California had nowhere near the power nor prestige to achieve such a lofty goal early on. He then brought it to the public's attention that his plan of domestic improvements would one day lead the nation to a brighter future, not one where they must scrap to get by because of colonial holdings draining their reserves.

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1. Ignacio Vallejo, one of the Ursine Imperialists most outspoken members.

On the International Scale, great shock came about when in the spring of 1866, the United States of America agreed to sign a Treaty of Peace with the Confederate States of America. In the peace accords, the United States was to re-gain control of the State of Iowa and the Territory of Montana. The Confederacy was formerly recognized as an Independent nation by the United States of America. The California Congress was in an uproar, they were completely cut off from their ally, who now conceded all the land adjacent to California to a foreign country.

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2. North America after the United States and Confederate States signed the Treaty of Washington.

The Jubilation in the newly-minted Confederacy did not last. The United Mexican States under President Juárez declared war in the summer of 1866 on the Confederate States with the purpose of re-gaining the territories it lost to the United States of America. A Mexican ambassador came to San Diego to probe the prospects of Californian support in the war. President Hensdale replied they would happily retain the military alliance as a defensive one only - not one for territorial ambitions. When the Mexican ambassadors proclaimed it was a defensive war, they were regaining occupied land of their country, President Hensdale simply handed him a copy of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ceded Mexican claims to all lands the United States annexed. The Mexican ambassador simply nodded and accepted that Californians would not be fighting alongside the Mexicans in the Mexican-Confederate War.

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3. Confederate Soldiers camped in trenches along the Mexican-Texas border.

Despite his best efforts to stop it, President Hensdale, on October 25th 1866, signed a bill that authorized the expansion of the Californian Armed Forces. It was decided that a few regiments of guards and artillery should be raised, and that five more steam-powered transportation ships should be raised. A new ship was also to be added to the Californian Navy - a heavily armed Ironclad steamer. Not surprisingly, Independent Senator James Howard pushed for this bill, mostly because if it was enacted, all of the steel and iron needed to construct the ships would be coming out of Californian steel mills, most notable H&W Industries Steel and Iron Co. which was located in San Francisco, the main shipyard of the Californian Navy. Howard & Wagner Industries would profit immensely from this type of deal, and all of Howard's Pro-Industry caucus voted for this measure. All of the Ursine Imperialists voted for this as well. With a majority of the Farmer-Laborer party behind the deal, it passed the Californian Congress without much delay. President Hensdale reluctantly had supported it because there was no opposition to the expansion of the military, there was only opposition to getting involved in wars.

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4. The debate in the Californian Congress about the expansion of the Californian Armed Forces.

The spring of 1867 heralded the release of the CRS John Walsh, a fairly large Ironclad vessel that outgunned and outweighed the smaller commerce ships of the early Californian Navy. President Hensdale was there for its release into San Francisco Bay. For the first time in the release of a Californian Naval Vessel, the President of the Republic was not allowed to pull the wire to release the ship into the water. Instead, James Howard, as the main builder of the ship, was allowed to cut the wire that slid the ship into the water for the first time. The sidelining of President Hensdale angered many people, mostly farmers who began to become more involved in politics by reading the news and actively engaging in the form of Direct Democracy in the Californian Republic. These farmers feared that the Farmer-Laborer Party would soon be defunct and a new political class of industry workers and factory owners that would replace them.

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5. The CRS John Walsh, the Californian Navy's first Ironclad ship.

When summer came to the Californian Republic, a tragic message was delivered to the Californian Congress. The Mexican Ambassador to California, Juan Quintero, informed the Congress that they were defeated in the war with the Confederate States. As a result, they were forced to cede control of their two Northern-most states to the Confederate States. Thus, the states of Chihuahua and Sonora have been integrated into the Confederate States as the states of Jefferson and South Texas. This cut the final railway line with a foreign nation thats not the Confederate States. California was now completely surrounded by the Confederate States of America, but was still allied with the weakened United States of America and the devastated United Mexican States. The Californian Congress decided it was best to bite the bullet, and begun to accept the Confederacy as a nation, while strengthening ties with the Government in Richmond. The Californian Ambassador, John Fender, was invited to speak to the Confederate Congress in Richmond, Virginia, attesting to the fact he viewed the Confederacy as an independent nation would work towards a better cooperation and unity between the two countries.

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6. Ambassador John Fender talking to the Confederate Congress in Richmond.

As an amendment to the Military Expansion Bill, Congress passed a measure that allowed for the formation of the Californian Republic Marine Corps. The CRMC was to be the advance, shock force of the California Army. The bill included money to create a separate fleet specifically for the fast maneuvering of transportation ships for the Californian Marines. Because it was an amendment, this did not need the approval of President Hensdale. He was dismayed when he heard of the bills passing. He remarked that, "This country is going to war - and forgot to ask the President."

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7. The newly formed Californian Republic Marine Corps.

Reluctantly accepting these changes, President Hensdale, as Commander in Chief, decided to reorganize the Californian Armed Forces. With the increased number of soldiers, the old Army of California was disbanded, and the soldiers were put into a new divisional structure. The Californian Republican Army was created as the main centre of all military affairs. With the old Army of California, the soldiers were put into the Army Corps I. The Navy was re-vamped as well, with the Californian Navy being abolished and replaced with the Californian Republican Navy, with two fleets. The first fleet was the old Californian Navy and the second fleet was the fleet being constructed for the Californian Marine Corps.

The relative peace about military expansion was shattered when Eric Vandrove, the leader of the Worker's Union Party, organized a worker's strike at most of Howard & Wagner Industries in San Francisco. He claimed that they were creating steel and iron for a murderous cause. He also proclaimed that the worker was entitled to a short work day, and high wages because they had been toiling day after day, producing the goods that every day life needed. He demanded what he called a "Fair Deal" for all the workers. He used the slogan, "Workers of California, Unite!"

The strike was attempted to be put down by former President Wagner by firing most of the strikers - the only problem was that motivated more people to strike, and no one was there to take their jobs. H&W Industries was rapidly losing money from the loss of productivity, running at about Sixteen percent of normal production. The managements repeated attempt to try and motivate the workers back to work did nothing but incite the situation further. On November 8th, 1868, the workers broke out in open riot. They formed the "Armed Worker's Union" and took to the streets of San Francisco, looting and burning what they could. The problem for the rioters was, only a mile away was the garrison of the Californian Marine Corps.

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8. The mayor's house in San Francisco during the riots.

The Marines responded instantly, they marched as soon as the alarm was given. They arrived in San Francisco and quickly got to work. They retook control of most of the city streets, and secure the train stations, roads out of town, and the port itself. One of their main concerns was getting to Fort California before the rioters did. The fort held an impressive fort battery that could be turned in most direction to protect the harbor. Most dangerously, it could target the area inside the harbor and potentially sink most of the ships of commerce or military value. The rioters were put down and peace was resorted a full week later. Out of all the rioters, roughly fifty percent were either killed or captured by the Marines. The body of Eric Vandrove was found in the city square, his hands clutching a banner of pure red.

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9. The battery at Fort California, looking out into the Pacific Ocean after the CRMC gained control of it.

The debate over Industry and work laws erupted in the nation. The few members of the Worker's Union in the Congress drafted a bill that granted the rights to the workers, such as an 8-hour work day, healthy minimum wage, and good working conditions. The bill, and its authors, were castigated by Howard and his Pro-Business faction of the Congress. Defiantly he said he would rather die filibustering on the floor of the Senate than to watch this bill pass and ruin the progress of industry in the nation. Senator Howard pleaded to President Hensdale to support the business faction inside the Congress, saying his political weight with the Farmer-Laborer party will grant enough support to kill the bill, which was gaining traction from those who were opposed to Senator Howard.

President Hensdale spoke to a crowd in San Diego, proclaiming his support for the opposition to the Worker's Union bill. He cited that these conditions were absurd. The farmers and independent craftsman in the country worked long, hard owners in their fields and shops. He reasoned that the workers inside the factory were treated better than anywhere else in the world, the laws already passed were sufficient, and hard, long days of work are what made the Californian Republic a great nation in the first place. He spoke out against the notion of a "lazy society" that sat around and gained benefits from Government regulation.

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10. Supporters of the Worker's Union Bill rally outside the Californian Congress as Senator Howard and Congressman Vallejo leave for home.

When the debate died down, it was time once gain for the Census Department to release its findings. The trend of rapid growth was still continuing, at an even more rapid pace than observed before. Overall, the past five years saw 130,000 more able-bodied men living in the Californian Republic. The effects of the Military Expansion Bill were clearly seen. The Californian Republic boasted more soldiers than farmers, but the independent artisan population still remained high. The Farmer-Laborer Party also saw a huge decline in popularity, causing concern for those in Congress who were facing re-election this year. The Ursine Imperialists also became the smallest supported faction, becoming smaller than the Worker's Union Party. The Free Soil and Populist parties were the big gainers, notching up almost parity with the Farmer-Laborer Party.

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11. Population Statistics of the Californian Republic, 1870.

The election of 1870 was a monumental one in the Californian Republic. First off, President Hensdale decided to once again run for the Presidency. The Farmer-Laborer's felt he was doing a fine job of internal improvements and gave him the nod, breaking the tradition of a President only running for re-election once. The Free Soil and Populist parties decided that they would resolve some of their differences and present a united platform with one Candidate. Jeremiah Williams of San Diego was nominated as the Free Soil-Populist candidate, proclaiming that internal improvements were good, but California, if given the chance, must have a chance to better develop on the International scale. The Ursine Imperialists, seeing this as a potential to promote territorial expansion, backed Williams for the Presidency. As a result, Jeremiah Williams chose Ignacio Vallejo of the Ursine Imperialists to be his vice-presidential candidate. President Hensdale was all but doomed at the election. The results were dismal. President Hensdale garnered thirty percent of the vote, next to the fifty percent of the vote gained by Jeremiah Williams. Notably, the Worker's Union Party who ran an obscure candidate, Joe Hayden, a fisherman from the immigrant towns of Northern California, got twenty percent of the vote.

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12. Fisherman Joe Hayden, leader of the Worker's Union Party.

President Hensdale have his farewell speech in San Diego, warning about the evils of Imperialism, and pointing to the United States of America as what could happen should Imperialism be allowed to grow. He warned California was not a powerful nation, that increased activity in the world would gain them nothing but disdain and humiliation. He even suggested the possibility of being attacked and their way of life crushed. He applauded the achievements of Industry and Commerce, but reiterated his support of the Farmers and Artisans, whom he believed would forever be the backbone of the country.

Previous Update: Hensdale: 1861 - 1866
Next Update: Williams: 1871 - 1876

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Author's Note(s)
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Nothing much this time, just enjoying writing this AAR!
 
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Alright, John Fender back from the dead! Did it just not work out, adding California and Mexico in the war of unifcation, or were you role-playing?
 
@Red Cesar: Can't keep you around for too long. Might incite the workers to riot. Again.

@zagoroth: Mexico, in all their enlightened AI leadership, declined to call her allies to come to her aide. So the Confederacy mobilized and kicked the ever loving crap out of Mexico. All the while I had about 40,000 troops (The CSA had 37,000. Mobilized.). I was fuming that they didn't call me in, but I needed to play like Hensdale and not declare war.
 
Tis a pity... But I foresee great military gains under the leadership of Williams (when the truces run out, cough).
 
Indeed. I have very large plans for Williams' turn... A certain General will make a triumphant appearance.
 
I hate that I'm agreeing with (this) Hayden but he's right... this could very well end badly (and obviously my character is going to be a complete dove...)

Great update! This is the rofl-stomp coalition Seek hates!
 
Two awesome updates. Do I sense a war against the Confederates in the near future?
 
*GASP!*

Horror! The United States allowed the Confederacy to continue its existence? Despicable. This is a situation that must be fixed most expediently!

Great update.
 
I should stop lurking, if only to comment about impressively creepy albino Vallejo. :laugh: With such an advantage over the CSA, it should be interesting to see what eastern land grabs can be made (although looking at the map, a California-Britain border might be hard on the eyes).