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Camerlengo
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~ To Live and Die in Dixie ~ Doomsday
Part Two of the Dixie Saga

[Weekly AAR Showcase, November 2nd, 2007]

Using CSABadass' Southern Armagedon mod, converted from Victoria.

~ To Live and Die in Dixie ~ *Revolutions*
History of the CSA from 1861 - 1935

ToLiveandDieinDixie1936-2.jpg

richmondba0.jpg


[Richmond Virginia, Capital of the Confederate States of America

~ INDEX ~

~ The Backdrop ~​

~To Live and Die in Dixie~ The Bastard Child of America said:
The Confederate States of America is what many called the bastard child of America. From its conception it was largely disregarded as a force to be reckoned with, shunned by most, especially its birth nation, the United States. Born in a blood bath of brothers, the War of Succession from the United States resulted in decades of bad blood between the two; After a bitter defeat by the Confederacy the United States of America became a an imposing threat to the safety of the continent, which for the most part was in peace, unlike Europe.

If one was to ask a U.S. Citizen about the Confederacy in 1800’s they would most likely reply “The what? Oh, you mean the rebels?”. It would take decades and another devastating war before the U.S. people and their leaders would finally truly recognize the Confederacy as a real nation instead of a force occupying the south of their country.

Many would consider the War of Succession, or the War of Independence, the most defining conflict in Confederate History, when in reality it would be the War of Northern Aggression, or the Second War with the North. While the War of Succession introduced the first prospects of modern warfare, the War of Northern Aggression was the first to really implement them in full, and really, would help dictate one of the most impressive series of fortification in the world during World War Two, the French Maginot Line.

The war became one of blood and dirt as Confederate troops dug in on the Jackson Wall, a series of fortifications running the length of the Confederate-U.S. border, which brought the war into a bloody standstill of trench warfare. Only with a daring invasion of New England by ‘Stonewall’ Jackson and the intervention of Great Britain, the nations ‘adoptive parent’ if you will, leading to the first time in the nations history it was recognized as a player in international politics and North America…

The Confederacy as of 1936 was a shadow of its former self, its glory days had long since passed the nation by. Dixie’s economy was a fragile thing, strongly connected to those of her neighbors and what many would consider to be her true big sister, Brittan, across the Atlantic. The Great War brought the Confederacy directly into the greatest challenge in nations history, a full scale global war; Thousands upon thousands of Confederate boys were taken to France, Africa and the Middle East in an epic battle that would shape the rest of the world, and its future. The participants of the war encompassed Brittan, France, Russia, The Confederacy and eventually the United States on The Entente sides, and Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria on the Central Powers side.

Many credit the eventual intervention of the United States, and its massive industrial power, to the Entente’s victory in the war, but it wasn’t until after several years of hard fighting by the original participants that victory was even within grasp.

The Confederacy came out of the war an experienced, well oiled fighting machine, able to hold its own as one of the leading nations in the world. The nation’s woe would come in the crash of the Stock Market in New York City. Confederate President Harry F. Byrd led the nation through the crisis as best as he could, but nation soon became closer and closer Great Brittan, eventually becoming a practical Commonwealth of the British Empire. Using the Empire as a support crutch the Confederacy began its long clime back to stability, many in the nation began becoming desperate for a way out, an escape from the poverty that had began to fall over the country, many found that, in a young Louisiana senator, Huey “Kingfish” Long…

During the depression the political climate began to become stale, and hostilities quickly arouse. In Europe a rejuvenated Ottoman Empire began looking for another way to cover the costs of the depression, their answer was to finally annex what was left Greece and loot the nation of all it‘s wealth and resources. War filled the air of national politics, Greece called in its ally, Yugoslavia, for aid who quickly jumped into the conflict in hopes of gaining its claims in Ottoman the controlled Balkan Peninsula.

The war, which would be known as the first Balkan War, would turn into a meat grinder. The fighting was bloody and the civilian populace suffered greatly for something that was by far out of their hands. Ottoman troops took what they needed from town’s and cities leaving the people to their fate. The Ottomans quickly sacked Athens, the Greek capital, but was unable to defeat the dug in troops on the Greek islands. An offensive against the Yugoslavians however was more successfully as they began a drive to conquer all of Yugoslavia.

The Ottomans luck would quickly change for the worse when the Yugoslavian and Greek government went to Italy for aid, pulling them into a full alliance and into the war. The Italians entry would be the deciding force as invasions into Ottoman Libya and Balkan territories commenced, coupled with the Yugoslavians cut off large numbers of Ottoman troops, surrounding and destroying them.

The war would last for a year, from 1934- 1935 and would result in Italy taking several islands from the Ottomans, the Yugoslavians conquering all there claimed territories, Bulgarian and Albanian independence and the re-emergence of a strong mainland Greece. Ottoman holdings were pushed all the way back to a strip of land near the Aegean Sea and northern Greece.

In Asia the Japanese attack on Korea sparked a war with China and Tibet, coming to the aid of their ally and failing miserably. Superior Japanese military tactics and quality troops soundly defeated the Chinese troops, conquering what is now Korea, Taiwan and Manchukouo. The war would also see the downfall of China as the Communists revolted and the War Lord States took control of large parts of China, effectively ending the old dynasty.

America, Circa 1936​

NorthandSouthAmericacirca1936.jpg


Euope - Africa, Circa 1936​

EuropeandAfricaCirca1936.jpg


Asia, Circa 1936​

AsiaCirca1936.jpg


*writers note*

Well guys, first off I want to thank all of you guy's who are still with me, and want to appoligize for how annoying this must be, for me to keep starting over and over again like this. Anywho, I've found that story telling REALLY isn't my strong point, and am finding it hard to keep interest and motivation. My real talent, or so ive been told, is in writing in a history book formate, which is one I enjoy. So, here I go, take three of the Dixie saga, I hope you all enjoy this, I hope you stick with me. Thank you all and I'm sorry again, for this annoyance.
 
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Here we are again, so don't worry. Just keep telling us the story ;)
 
~ Chapter One ~

The Thirty’s

BR-Huey20Long.jpg

The thirties would see the greatest blow to democracy the Confederacy had ever seen, with the election of Huey Long as President of the Confederate States. The Louisiana governor, turned Confederate President, was one of the most totalitarian men in the nation, having run Louisiana like a king would his country; all power that was given in the state could be traced back to him some way or another, be it money, or some other form of bribery, it all came back to him. Despite this obvious contradiction to the nation’s principles of democracy, his particular form of government worked, and it worked well.

During the depression Long centralized his rule in Louisiana even further, taking advantage of the nation’s concern for itself as a whole, and not for individual’s, he began dismissing many of those in power who opposed him. Longs particular way of defeating opposition involved taking the fight to them, their families, and their friends; He systematically destroyed their support base, be it family, going as far to peruse anyone who might support you at the lowest level’s, making him a man you wouldn’t want to cross.

“If your query goes to ground, leave no ground to go to.”
He was quoted once by a Louisiana newspaper, concerning his assault on the utilities industry and corporate privileges during his run for the Louisiana governorship, and that’s exactly what he did.

Longs campaign for the governorship of Louisiana was the first step to a better Louisiana, believe it or not. The state had been run down by corporate bought positions of power, which led to the real power lying with major oil and utilities companies, the very institutions Long ran to dispose off. His campaign slogan was ripped from his idol and Ex-Confederate President William Jennings Bryan, running on the slogan “Every man a king, but no one wearers a crown.” This policy, plus his ever so popular campaign to rid Louisiana of the aristocratic run society and rise of the working man brought him directly into power.

Despite his ruthless politics and practical dictatorship over Louisiana, the nation became a shining of example of success to the Confederacy in the midst of depression. Long carefully place those loyal to him into power and demanded that each one pay a portion of their salary, in thanks for placing them where they are, to a special lock box only long had the key for, one used in case of a state emergency and for emergency campaign funds, funds he would use to back up the state in case of bankruptcy.

Under Long the state went through a major metamorphosis, building projects were issued everywhere and his crusade against the major companies had finally bore fruit as the state legislative passed law after law, bringing them under the jurisdiction of Long’s run state program and began to, more or less, state-nationalize the oil industry, giving him power over not only the states most valuable resource, but the nation as well.

As 1936 approached Longs dictatorship over Louisiana had actually rallied the people behind, giving him great power, but it also left him wanting more.

“I built Louisiana, me, and by god’s grace and will of the people I will build a new, better Confederacy, I will become the Confederacy.” he was quoted saying on the steps of the Louisiana State House, before announcing his canadacy for the presidential race.

Long easily won the Democratic ticket, choosing what one would call the polar opposite of Long, John Nancy Gardner Jr., the son of former president John Nancy Gardner Sr., as his running mate. Together, with Long’s strong charismatic personality and commanding presence and Nancy’s easy going and likeable persona the two took the country by storm, running once again under Long’s Every Man A King campaign, they began promoting his own Share Our Wealth Program.

Long’s Share our Wealth Program proposed federal legislation capping personal fortunes, income and even personal inheritances. He used liberally used radio broadcasts and founded a national newspaper, the Confederate Possession‘s, to promote his ideas and accomplishments before a national audience, on top of a massive nationwide tour using some of his ‘lockbox‘ funds. In 1934, he unveiled an economic plan to the public and national leader that he called Share Our Wealth. The ’Kingfish’, as the opposition began to call him, argued there was enough wealth in the country for every individual to enjoy a comfortable standard of living, but that it was being unfairly squandered in the hands of a few millionaire bankers, businessmen and industrialists in the nation.

Long proposed a new tax code which would limit personal fortunes to five million dollars, annual income to one million dollars, and inheritances to five million dollars. The resulting funds would be used to guarantee every family a basic household grant of $5,000 and a minimum annual income of $2,000-3,000. Long supplemented his plan with proposals for free primary and college education, old-age pensions, veterans' benefits, federal assistance to farmers, public works projects, and limiting the work week to only thirty hours.

It didn’t take long until the nation was once again upon another term of democratic rule, but with Long in power things couldn’t look any more unclear.
 
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Kurt_Steiner said:
Here we are again, so don't worry. Just keep telling us the story ;)

Will do, glad your still with me :)

rcduggan said:
third time's the charm?

Hope so, though I can confidently say that I enjoy the history-book style much better than the narritive and will most likely (99% sure at least) that I will finish this one. I can always think of somthing relevent to say in this format and give out information on the situation much better without having to incoperate its relevence with a story.

Thanks for the post, hope you enjoy it.
 
The Cabinet
CSACabbinet.jpg

[Above ; President Long’s Cabinet and the nations policies]​

Long and Gardner swept the nation, state by state, gathering some of the greatest support for an election the nation had ever seen, when, finally, in 1936 Huey Long was elected as the President of the Confederate States of America. His inauguration party was, unlike the presidents preceding him, wasn’t held at the Confederate white house, but at the Dixie Hotel, the finest hotel in Richmond and head office of the Democratic Party during the election. Another unusual hitch was that it was open to almost whoever, rich or poor, if you had a means to get to the party then you were admitted; with the exception of his opponents and those on his ‘black list’.

This move was played to Long’s advantage, as it set him apart from the past presidents who general set themselves apart from the people and only admitted their supporters and the aristocracy. This move was by far controversial, such a radical change shook aristocratic foundation’s of Richmond, one that had been long established and hard fought for. Long extreme populace policies and attitude brought him more enemies than it did allies; The power in Richmond had long revolved around the aristocrats, who controlled much of the local business and day to day activities in country.

Longs next move would to be to carefully assemble his cabinet, appointing old cronies, friends and political allies into positions of immense power in the nation. One of Long’s ‘attack dogs’, as he they would be known as by members of the opposition (mainly the aristocracy, as they would become one of Long’s frequent targets) was his Head of Intelligence, Frank Bryon Rowlett, who was an acquaintance and political ally of Long known for his brutal tactics that rivaled Long’s. Rowllet was put in charge of Confederate Secret Service, charged with the protection of the President, his cabinet and Parliament, but the C.S.S. was also used, discreetly, to maintain a tight leash on his political allies.

The Whig’s, who had maintained a decent party status, became under unrelenting attack by Long due to their constant interference in parliament ageist his proposals and bill’s. Party leaders were set up and framed by Long, who showed no mercy in his dealings, even going as far as to deport their families from the country to Cuba. This was, of course, all administered by Rowlett who erased any trace that could lead back to him or Long. Their reign of terror on the Whig’s and aristocracy was covered by bribing party members and raising up middle class citizens who supported him to take their place. This move was risky, but it proved to be effective.

His second attack dog would be Eugene Talmadge, a long time friend of Long and skilled diplomat. Talmadge was given the office of Foreign minister, and was responsible for, perhaps one of the greatest era’s of Confederate diplomacy, setting up a defensive alliance with nearby Cuba and the Philippines, both former Confederate colonies, and opening up new trade relations with the United States, the Soviet Union and several Latin American countries. His policies were, at times, harsh, but unrelenting. Like Long, Talmadge would not accept no for answer and if it required flaunting possible military action, though he didn’t have the authority to, he would, and it usually worked.

“Our nation is on the verge of collapse, not from a superior force from the outside, but from the greed and corruption that flourish’s with the aristocrats. They are like parasites, tape worms, if you will, who are starving our great nation from the inside. Gentlemen of Parliament, if we do not act now, if you do not act now, you will see all that our forefathers have built crumble before you, and we, I, can’t allow that to happen.”
Huey Long addressing Parliament on the prospects of limiting the power of the aristocrat’s in the country and strengthening federal power.

Long would campaign relentlessly, spending less time in Richmond, at the White House, than any president before him. Constant campaigning would eventually begin to take a toll on him, physically, as he suffered from exhaustion and sleep deprivation from traveling all across the nation. His hard work ethic and work aimed at elevating the average Joe brought him unrivaled support of the Confederate people, support that eventually over took many state governments and gaining him increasing support in the state houses.

jim-18962.gif

[Graph representing the Democratic States, Whig States, and those of no declaration]​

Despite Long’s, unorthodox and very illegal practice of deporting and arresting those who opposed him, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia remained in the grip of aristocratic power. While he had rallied nine of the eighteen Confederate States to his banner, five remained undecided as to open political alignment (although he did carry Sonora, Chichuala and Sequoyah as well as North Carolina in the election).

The undecided states were less of a concern to Long, not like the core states, also known as the loyalists (referring to their British roots, therein lies the aerostatic tendencies), who always posed a threat in Parliament, given that there reps. Were key members of the legislation. All together Long had done a great feat, having most of the nation under his thumb and the systematic weakening of the aristocracy made way for his policies and will to overtake parliament.
 
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Indeed. He seems unstoppable now.
 
March 12th, 1936

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“One of these days the people of the Confederacy are going to get good government - and they aren't going to like it.”
- Huey Pierce Long

Only three month’s into his term and Long had done more than most presidents aside from Judah Benjamin and William Jennings Bryan, but that didn’t necessarily mean that it was all worth it; Which was perhaps one of Long’s greatest flaw, the lust to out do his predecessor’s. None the less Long’s work, despite what many would like for him to believe, was doing the nation good.

Many members of Parliament, namely the reps. From Georgia, Virginia, and North and South Carolina began making road blocks to stop his progress. His new military expansion bill was met with considerable resistance, given that it would require everyone, except women, the very old, children, and political leaders to serve in the armed forces in time of need and would require a large amount of fund’s to be put into it; This meant Long’s Share Our Wealth program would finally begin to take its toll on the aristocracy, via the tax increase.

Longs new bill would also, aside from expanding the base in which who would have to serve, was aimed at largely brining the Confederate military up to modern day standards. Nations like Great Britain, France, the United States and the German Empire all had extensive, modern armed force’s and were continuing to get more advanced by the minute. Long, who had a touch of paranoia, worried mostly about the Confederacy’s big blue sister in the north, who’s military was considerable and, since as long as he could remember, was used to militarize the border.

mich1919.gif

[C.S.N. Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk and Military Research]​

The Confederate Army consisted of outdated infantry and cavalry divisions, using Great War equipment and rifles, while the rest of the world (which generally means the other great powers) were eighteen years, at least, ahead of the Confederacy. The C.S.N. Atlantic Fleet, the pride of the nation’s naval force’s, was pitiful compared to, even Germany, who particularly neglected their navy.

All these factors drove Long to push even harder and harder for a major military renovation. Believing that if the Confederacy was to survive it would have to under go a major metamorphosis.

“Sacrifice, our great nation knows sacrifice on a major scale, but not on a personal level. If we are to rise out of this depression the aristocracy, the government, even I myself must sacrifice some of our own personal liberties in order to make our world a safer, better place.”
- Huey Pierce Long; Addressing Parliment on the proposel of the Military Expansion Bill

Long believed that the country and the people as a whole were too caught up in what could be done for themselves, and not for the greater good for the nation. This led to him taking on what many would consider ‘fascist’ ideals. But none the less he was able to push through Parliament the Military Expansion Bill, which, hopefully would better prepare for any outbreak of war.

Relations: While Talmadge was a diplomatic genius, Longs administration tended to ignore the outside world, concentrating on the nation’s troubles, not the worlds. This led to, despite the Confederacy’s open policies, a diplomatic isolation from the world aside from immediate trading partners, i.e. France, Britain and the American nations.

South of the Confederacy lay the Empire of Mexico, which came out of the Great War period and into the depression a house of cards; build upon the shaky foundation of a democracy flawed by corruption. To he “Mexican Republic’s” founding fathers, greed was there main weakness, official’s and diplomat’s could be bribed, but the hate sewn by their ignorance and lack of care for their people would eventually lead to their downfall.

After only being in existence for a few short years the nationalist movement began to gain ground among the poorer populace who wished for a return to Mexico’s glory days of Empire, which would eventually end in La noche de gritos silenciosos, or the Night of Silent Cries.

On February 13th, 1930 Mexico City was sized by a wave of violence. All over the city government officials and Church clergy who supported the Republic were murdered, there throats slit. The most gruesome murder was that of the President and his family, who’s bodies were strung up in the center of Mexico City from a balcony in the Presidential Palace. The next day soldiers loyal to the new Nationalistic movement rounded up the remains of political figures and soldiers loyal to the Republic and had them executed, rocketing the new popular Emperor, Pino Calles, into power.

The new emperor was a threat to Long’s plans, and the nation. Promising to restore the Mexican Empire to its old glory days of Santa Anna; This would mean conquering the territory robbed from them in the past, brining them into direct conflict with not only the Confederate States, but the United States as well.

This would be one of the major kink’s in Long’s grand plan for the Confederacy, but it also help push through his military bill; The threat of Mexican troops possibly rolling over the Rio Grand (Sonora and Chichuala was the least of aristocrats worries) was enough for them to, at least for awhile, go along with Long.
 
War clouds gathering on the horizon, methinks... And the army is not quite ready, I guess.
 
Brian Roastbeef said:
Okay, I'm on board again. Good restart in setting the tone for Long's administration. Indeed, he's taking the CSA into a bold and frightening direction.

Hope you find the direction interesting, as its in for a long and bumpy ride. Glad your still with me!

Kurt_Steiner said:
War clouds gathering on the horizon, methinks... And the army is not quite ready, I guess.

Well, the conversion left me a bit behind in the military department, but Mexico can't be that much better off...I hope. ;)
 
Freedom of Speech

BantheCommies.jpg


While much attention was being drawn down south, Long’s attention, and Parliaments, was drawn to the political field once again. One June 25th, 1936 the issue of whether or not to ban the Communist Party came up during a session of Parliament. The meeting was thrown into a frenzy with arguments and tension breaking out between the few supports of this idea and the majority of those who opposed. The very idea of limiting their citizens free speech, be it for good or bad, was out of the question for many. Long on the other hand, took no position on the argument, saying;

“The right to free speech is squandered by the few, my opinion on the matter does not matter; I will leave the matter up to the squanderers.”

Many speculated that Long secretly supported the idea, his speech about sacrificing personal liberties for the good of the nation struck a cord with key members of Parliament and a movement was being planned, secretly, to impeach him. While the matter resulted in a majority vote ageist the ban, Long’s unwillingness to take a stand, either with or against the proposition, left many feeling he wasn’t cut out for the job.

Virginia State Senator, George C. Peery, was an ex-democrat turned Whig who lost the Presidential race against Long and was believed to be the main conspirator in the plot to impeach Long on the grounds that he was incompetent and exhibited traitorous tendency’s. Still, the shear support of the people was enough to make almost any move against him disastrous; This niche in their plan’s gave birth to a conspiracy, once again believed to be headed by George Peery, to frame Long (or in their eyes expose the truth) about an affair, believed to be going on between Long and his secretary, Cecilia Tate. This move would break the publics confidence in Long and pave way for the plan of impeachment, sadly enough for them, someone leaked their plan.

scandal-oc.jpg

[Confederate Citizen Listening to the first ever national radio covered trial]​

In the early mourning of July 8th, 1936, the Confederate Secret Service broke in and surrounded Senator Peery’s house along with other co-conspirators and arrested them on charges of conspiracy to murder the President. All evidence was immediately sized by the C.S.S. and Security Minister Rowlett personally took them into protection where the evidence was slightly altered to make it appear that the plot was an assassination plot. All those involved were put on trial in front of Parliament, the following week Long allowed the press to interview Peery.

“I admit that I did have a hand in the plot to impeach Long, but never to assassinate him!”
- George C. Peery

A member of the Richmond Gazette goaded him into admitting that he was involved in the plot, but continued to deny that there was any plot to murder Long. Peery had also lied in front of Parliament, at first denying that he had any involvement, but once he let slip the truth it was all over the radio and news papers, tarnishing his reputation, as well as those who aided him. The trial was radio broadcasted all over the nation, making it the first court trial to be broadcasted in history.

In response to this Long did something, unexpected, and perhaps genius. Instead of manipulating Parliament or the authorities involved in the investigation and trial, he went on national radio and ‘pardoned’ the conspirators, and instead of seeking the death penalty or life in ‘The Rock’ Louisiana State Maximum Security Prison, he exiled them all to the Virgin Island’s where they would live out the rest of their lives.

Coincidently, they all died of ‘natural causes’, which was a rare form of tropical bird flu a few short weeks after arriving. Quickly, Long endorsed a Alfred C. Tate, a Whig, but secret Populace supporter (and Cecilia Tate’s Fathers) as the new Virginia Parliamentary and Senate representative. With a sleeper in the major key State’s Long could lax up on his campaigning, and left it up to representatives and fellow Populace party members to rally support.

Long’s power hand never been stronger.

With a major portion of the worst opposition removed completely Long began diverting extra funds to increasing the military budget. Factories that used to produce menial things were diverted to creating and developing new weapon’s and armaments for the military, creating even more jobs and a demand for specific materials. Foreign Minister Talmadge was put in charge, once again, for obtaining the resources needed for such a massive operation, which was found in a new trade relation with the United States of America and the Soviet Union.

Over Sea’s: While the Confederacy was in a state of internal strife and conflict, Europe was beginning down the long road to all out war. The German Empire, despite the restrictions placed on it after the Great War, began regaining strength and momentum, but that was actual the least of the worlds worries.

The real threat lay in the increasingly belligerent Soviet Union, who had, over the course of the past few months, invading and conquering the Baltic states of Estonia and Lithuania…
 
Nothing stands on Long's way. At least, nothing that can resist him.
 
Kurt_Steiner said:
Nothing stands on Long's way. At least, nothing that can resist him.

I can't help but invision Long like a not so genocidle Hitler or Stalin, limiting the ability of those who oppose him to, well, oppose him; yet commanding an flinching loyalty of the people.
 
Piko said:
VERY nice update, a political drama not often seen in the HOI2 area!

Thank you! Glad your enjoying it :) ; I can say I paticularly enjoyed writing this update. It was fun coming up with all this and puting it together.

New update in progress!
 
An age of…relative….peace

factoryworker.jpg

[Colored Worker in a Missouri Ammunition Factory]​

During mid to late 1936 the Confederate economy made a major and dramatic shift to become one of the major importers of raw materials and energy, as well as the major exporter of basic supplies and oil. The focus had been forcefully changed by Long in order to ‘prepare for the future’, and was probably Long’s most unpopular move of his early carrier.

The small middle and larger low class’s, the ones who he had fought to support, were all largely rural farmers. The industrial job’s, while the middle class was more prone to it, was largely being operated by the large African American populace. The conditions in the factories, aside from the one’s like in Richmond that employed white middle class workers, were largely unsafe. The limited rights of the African American’s restrained them from having an effective voice in how the work condition’s were handled.

Long called for a ‘temporary’ integration of factories to increase industrial output and bring the nation up to speed with the rest of the world. While this was met with much resistance from factory owners, who would in turn have to pay higher wages to the white workers, the populace as a whole didn’t have any major racial objection’s, one farmer saying, “Hell, we grew up with em’”. The Real opposition that came from the populace was that it would require them to put their farming on the back burners and focusing on working in the factories.

Long met this opposition with the same ferocity and determination he met with all things or people opposing him, though when working with what many would call his real power base he was more understanding. Launching a new campaign he trekked across the nation, meeting with community leaders to convince them to urge their fellow citizens to cave. This was of course dealt with Long’s emergency fund; He wasn’t afraid to bribe, but knew how and when to use the appropriate money.

The whole ordeal would the second most unsuccessful operation for him to launch in his entire carrier, while not a total failure (He did manage to coerce a large number to fall in line with him, but results were mixed.). This move in fact caused a major wave of discontent among the already suppressed and unfairly treated black populace, giving birth to a large civil rights movement.

civilrights.jpg

[Vernon John]​

The better work condition’s of the ‘white factories’ and considerable better paying salary’s began to break the camels back, giving rise to a civil rights activist named Vernon John’s. Vernon became the most untouchable thorn in Long’s side, one no matter how hard he tried he could not remove. Unlike Long’s old enemies, Vernon came from a suppressed mass who rallied behind him, finally fed up and using what little freedom they had to make an attempt at something better, to make a stand.

On top of that, the Virginia born man never stayed in one place too long. Vernon constantly moved from state to state, never taking any major roads or modes of transportation, always showing up in one place before disappearing into the late night only to appear in a town or city the next state over. Vernon delivered invigorating speech’s which, unknown if intentional or not, led to many riots which were forced to be put down by force.

Many state governments took it into their own hands to place a bounty on him, but he was ever illusive, touring largely the northern Confederate States so he could sneak over the border into the U.S.A. where he was rumored to be supplied and taken care of.

After several months of internal strife Long arranged for a large press conference and meeting between Vernon and himself, during which the two worked out an agreement. Long would allow him to continue to operate within Confederate border without federal intervention and Long would propose bill’s to begin to lift the burden placed on his people. Reluctantly Long agreed, hoping to gain the unspoken support of the black populace, of course, Long never presented the idea’s with much enthusiasm and never really fought hard to push the civil rights bill’s through Parliament.

On top of the internal problems, Mexico began to become more and more daring by mobilizing the C.S. Mexican border on January 1st, 1937. Emperor Cellas issued ‘The Emperors Call’, a radio address to the nation urging all members of society to begin to volunteer for the Mexican Army and War Department. The call was answered in great numbers as veterans, youngsters and other nationalist gathered their equipment, some grabbing even antique rifles, and setting out by train, car and foot for Mexico City, when on January 4th the Mexican Ambassador to the Confederacy issued a formal demand for the secession of Sonora and Chichuala back to the Mexican Empire.

MexicoDemandsHA.jpg


*Writers Note* This ones kind of short, running low on time now that school's back in and I have to play and write between that and work, but hopefuly this will be one of few really short ones.
 
and it's gonna get burnt... :D
 
The Great Preemptor

Long had long been known by many as “The Preemptor”, referring to the fact that he had a plan for almost anything. Long believed in approaching a situation with extreme care, analyzing every possible action and weighing them to get the best outcome. His approach to the ‘Mexican Crisis’, as it began to be called, was no different.

Long began holding a military conference, in which he called for all military leaders from all sects. Of the Confederate Military to meet in New Orleans in order to come up with a plan for action in case Mexico attempted a strike to take Confederate land. Despite the fact that the Mexican Empire had little to no navy at all, Grand Admiral Chester Nimitz of the C.S.N. Atlantic Fleet was one of the most outspoken and involved members of the convention, along with one of the most famous Confederate hero’s of the era, Field Marshal George Patton.

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[Left to Right: Grand Admiral Nimitz and Field Marshal Patton]​

The two men were at the top of their class. The VMI Honor Graduates commanded the most respect of any military leader or personnel in the nation, and were both well respected for their extensive knowledge of military combat and tactics; in their respective fields. The real hurdle for Long and the convention wasn’t finding military leaders capable of bringing the nation to victory, but was making the two get along.

Nimitz favored a more round about way that would, hopefully, cause less Confederate casualties in case of an outbreak of war, but would require increased naval funding and extensive military operations with the navy in the spot light and the army playing second string. Nimitz would have all available combat flotilla create a large blockade of Mexican coast line and bomb key costal and port cities into submission while the Army would hang back and prevent any offensive into Confederate territory.

The plan would then involve the use of, once again, naval craft that would secure area’s in which a mixed task force of allied troops from Cuba and Confederate marines would invade, then followed by a combined offensive from the north out of Sonora, Chichuala and Texas to push towards Mexico City.

Patton’s plan involved very little to no naval action at all, believing it to be a waste of money and men to operate the ‘floating piles of scrap’ when a major land operation would put the Mexican Empire at the Confederate’s mercy quicker, with less cost of tax payers money.

Patton wanted to gather as many men as he could and make a massive invasion into Mexico. While he agreed that a naval blockade would help the effort, the military would be the victory bringer. Patton believed that the Mexican military machine would crumble at facing a full scale invasion, planning to use the Confederacy’s large number, and soon to be better prepared military, to force the smaller, less advanced Mexican military to spread their armies thin to cover the attacks; Then, as a final blow, Patton would lead the developing tank corps in a push through the Mexican center, breaking the Mexican forces with the armored corps and leaving a clean shot towards Mexico City.

The two leaders both wanted their plan’s to be chosen, but each one had a common flaw; the ignorant exclusion of the other corps.

Long personally took it upon himself to meet with the two officers and mediate a plan that would, he hoped, make everyone happy. After almost a week of nonstop planning an agreement was worked out that would combined both plan’s together, only making minor changes and appeasements as well as adding in a part for the newly developing Confederate Air Force. The end result would be a intricate plan of action that was ratified by Long and a council of generals and naval officers.

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During mid October the Confederacy saw the flight of its first military aircraft; A Hawker Hurricane nicknamed ‘The Rebel Yell’ for the loud, and sometimes screeching prototype engine. During the same month the Mexican ambassador once again demanded the Confederacy to hand over the ‘rightful possession’s of the Mexican Empire’ under threat of possible military action.

Long once again, firmly rejected the offer before addressing the nation via radio;

“The Ambassador of the Mexican Empire has once again arrived in our great nation, carrying a personal letter written by the Emperor Pino Cellas himself, along with a demand for the cession of the states of Sonora and Chichuala. It reads;

Dear President Hue Long of the Confederate States of America,

The Glorious Empire of Mexico has long suffered the injustice of its people and land, suffering in the hands of foreigners. Now, in this time of great depression and strife Mexico seeks the return of what is rightfully hers. The provinces of Sonora and Chichuala will be returned to Imperial hands by the time its carrier reach’s Mexico City, or prepare to suffer the consequence’s of war.”
- Huey Long's 1937 Radio Address

It will be returned. I do not take well to threats, and neither does our nation. So in this time of declining relations I ask that you rally behind our Parliament and your President, and with gods aid, we will weather this storm together.”

While his radio address sent a wave of patriotism and support through the white citizens and residents of the nation, its split Sonora and Chichuala in two. Those who supported the return to Mexican hand’s rallied in major cities throughout the states, waving Mexican banners and singing the Mexican National Anthem. Those who supported staying in the Confederacy rallied in protest ageist any possible thought of a return to Mexico, tearing the states into virtual civil wars.