South America
1902
1902
The Colombian Civil War recived a strange turn of events. The Conservatives and the Pacifist have signed a fragile alliance to face their common enemy, the Belicist. How long will this alliance last is not know as members of each factions have a hard time working together.
By now the war has started to change the country, the economy has cooled down due to the fact that many men are at the front fighting while people just want their lives to return to normal. Industries need workers to operate their machinery and farms need farmers to take care of fields and livestock.
Though the Belicist faction is keeping up the spirit, their determination and courage hasn't falter a single bit since the conflict started, they will only rest when the country is under their control or when they are laid to rest. Their vision of a militarized Colombia turned into a great regional power scare both Brazil and Venezuela.
The amount of men needed in all fronts have forced leaders of all factions to take a drastic and desesperate tactic, to employ children in the front as soldiers. Children now learn how to use a gun before they learn how to read and do maths.
Colombia's children being trained for war
The Belicist decided that the best way to deal with a problem is to face it head to head. They have sent their main army to lay siege and assault Bogota, that without external help is doomed to captured in few months ahead. With each week the Belicist Army goes closer and closer to the city limits.
While in Bogota the siege carries on, through the rest of the country only small skirimish in small towns and roads happen. This is due to the fact that most armies are waiting for the result of the battle of Bogota so they know when is time to attack or retreat.
The navy of the United States has started a blockade on Colombia to avoid the importation of war material. Sadly, the captains of the ships, thinking no ship would dare pass through, did a lousy job in keeping trade vessels from passing through and there were even some cases of captains selling ammunition from their ships to Colombians to get profit!
The Argentinean government has decided to help local businessmen to develop their companies. Among these, the most "fortunate", thanks to friends and connections, was Nicolás Mihanovich, who obtained half of the funds intended for the national project. Though consider by many as an act of corruption, the financial genius of Mihanovich puts that capital into work and soon Mihanovic Shipping Co. is expanded into the biggest shipping company in Latin America. Furthermore with the remaining capital is used to develop the most modern shipyard in Latin America allowing the group to dispanse with the outsourcing of repairs. [+1 Industry to Argentina. -800 Gold from Argentina.]
Paris, one of the finest ships from Mihanovic Shipping Co and pride of Argentina shipbuilding
President Julio A. Roca has been working non-stop to regain popularity and support to keep himself in power. Though most people in Argentina wishes for reforms and new air of political ideologies, the Old Guard in the Army, compromised by the most senior officers, being his comrades at arms during the Conquest of the Desert in 1888 are loyal to him without question. [+1 Stability to Argentina.]
In an attempt to promote immigration, the Argentinean government has subsidies passages to Russian people. Soon dozen of thousand of people began arriving to Argentinean ports, some remain in Buenos Aires while other began moving through the rest of Argentina towards Cordoba, Santa Fe, Entre Rios. Colonies are funded and people began working and develop their small but thriving communities. [-1 push/pull Russia, +1 push/pull Argentina, -100 gold to Argentina ]
After the failure to receive a big influx of money from the USA government, an investigation starts in Argentina to find the people responsible from stealing all the money. Clues goes to important members of the society, nevertheless the investigation continues with many arrest that cause commotion in the Argentinean society. The oligarchy class seeing their position, status, property and secrets under watch by Roca and the militars soon start having clandestine gatherings. Word goes through the streets that something important may occurs soon. [-2 Stability to Argentina.]
In Brazil a massive vaccination campaign carried by Osvaldo Cruz turns out to be a complete success. People though initially scared by the idea of a liquid injected into their bodies by a sharp needle changed their mind when government representatives teach them about the concept of antibodies and how vaccines help them prevent mortal diseases. Those who resisted after this were forced to get vaccinated. Though they got angry at being forced to be pinched by a needle, afterwards they realized there was nothing wrong and their health improved. Now that people know the benefits of vaccines, vaccination is made obligatory to newborns. [-$100 gold, +1 push/pull, +1 Stability to Brazil.]
Another major project is started in Brazil. Headed by Perreira Passos the intention to make Rio de Janeiro look more like a modern European city. The project began with the destruction of favelas and planning of huge buildings. Too bad that politicians though money would better serve the people of Brazil in their own pockets rather than to develop the city. At the end due to lack of funds the project is cancelled, but poor people is left in the street with no home and no money to rebuild their houses. Soon people began organizing and local leaders incited them rebel themselves against government. The most important politicians of Rio de Janeiro, fearing his life and property will be soon at hands of the poor people call quickly an emergency meeting, they have to decide if they will call for the police or the army to stop this rebellion before is too late. [-$2000 gold, -1 stability, high chances of rebellion to Brazil.]
In rural areas, local governors were given the order to improve the working conditions of farmers at rubber plantations and to modernize the whole rubber industry. Thanks that the order were given to local governors in stead of a direct order to follow from Rio de Janeiro, each governor had freedom of choice to do. Soon rubber plants through all Brazil start reaching new peaks of production and farmers living condition improved. So good was this that people from the North-East of Brazil started migrating towards rubber producing zones looking for a better life. [-$1500 gold, +500 income to Brazil.]
Using two buckets in stead of one, gave more free time to peasants, because when the first filled, the overfill filled the another bucket.
As with Argentina, Brazil started their own investigation to see who had pocketed all the economic aid sent by USA. Though the people guilty for this still remains a mystery the whole investigation helped Brazil to modernize it's criminal investigation techniques. Small frauds and rackets are found and terminated improving the overall efficiencyof the Brazilian administration. [+50 base income, +1 stability to Brazil.]
With the Treaty of American Co-Operation, the nations of Argentina, Brazil and USA agreed to lower their trade tariffs to allow goods to travel more easily between each other country. Soon merchants from the three nations began to fill their pockets when their goods began arriving foreign lands.[+50 Trade Balance to Argentina (+50 North America). +50 Trade Balance to Brazil (+50 North America) +100 Trade Balance to USA (+100 South America).]
ABC Treaty is signed by Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Such treaty forms a defensive military alliance between the signatories as well reduce tariffs between them. Such cooperation soon show it's result by increase the exportation/importation quota in each nation. [+50 Trade Balance to Argentina (+50 South America). +50 Trade Balance to Brazil (+50 South America)]
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