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Liberty and Justice for All
The United States for much of its existence has been characterized by its diplomatic and political isolation from the rest of the world. George Washington himself cautioned the nation during his presidential farewell address to avoid the entangling alliances of European nations. And this suited the fledgling republic just fine- Americans loved to take in European trade and riches, as well as its oppressed and downtrodden (sometimes), and didn’t care for much else regarding the distant “Old World.” After all, they had plenty to occupy their attention with already- finding their national identity, expanding the nation from coast to coast, settling the wild frontier, subjugating the native peoples, and struggling to reconcile ideals of freedom and justice with the ever-looming specter of African slavery. It is arguable that it was this long period of self-reflection and mostly peaceful expansion that put America into the favorable position it found itself in to intervene in the World Wars and establish the current world order that we presently enjoy.
But what if the United States of America had taken another path? The social and economic potential of the British colonies was apparent from before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and it only grew as the country realized its destiny. It is my argument that, if the American people had been more inclined to take an interest in the world beyond their own borders, they would have been fully capable of exerting great influence in the world at large, and establishing an “Empire of Liberty.”
The map I have created, based in the world of the historical strategy game “Victoria 2,” aims to imagine a world in which such a United States came to be. One that found purpose in extending the virtues of democracy and freedom not only to its own citizens, but eventually to all of the Americas, and beyond.
America and Her Allies Before the Great War
This map actually depicts the world just prior to this universe’s WW1, which is a while after 1900 (I’m not exactly sure yet when). I couldn’t find the 1900 map that I made, and honestly, I think this map is cooler anyway, so… sorry, not sorry :^).
Notable Countries in this Universe:
1. The United States of America (USA)- The amount of information that needs to be mentioned in this specific summary is so large that, if this part were written like all the other entries, it would take way too long to go through all the specific ideas/details that I added or conceptualized. For the sake of my sanity, I have resorted to bullet points here. I’m sorry, I just wasn’t strong enough.
·The United States of America is the largest and most powerful nation on Earth- however, since the horrific American Civil War, the country has largely returned to the isolation it adopted in its early days, allowing for countries outside of the New World to vie for dominance as usual (cough*Europe*cough)
·The USA is, along with the FRCA, one of the founding members of the New World Alliance, a military, economic, and political agreement between every last one of the New World countries.
·The NWA is a lot like the EU- citizens can move freely between all of the Allied countries, there is a shared currency, etc. Originally a power play by the US to spread its influence over a bunch of weaker nations, the NWA evolved over time into a truly mutually beneficial relationship, and all of the countries involved have gotten significant benefits from the agreement.
·Of note is the Intercontinental Railroad system, a shared project between all of the mainland members of the NWA. With a minimum on transfers between trains, one can take a ride from Alaska to Patagonia. The railway, which stretches practically from the North Pole to the South, is seen as one of the greatest engineering feats in history, more magnificent even than the Panama Canal. It is not even close to being completed as of 1900, but when it does get there, wow.
·The US developed a more extreme Monroe Doctrine in this world. After a long period of increasing tensions, the US launched a series of rebellions and conquests, in joint with its allies, in every last foreign-owned territory in the New World.
·This was more of an ideological battle than a practical one (a fact the NWA leaders are all too aware of, since it ruined relations with most of Europe)
·Every island in the Caribbean and South Atlantic, and the provinces of Guiana were all taken from European hands, either by buying them, launching independence movements in them, or flat-out declaring war and taking them.
·Furious (and sensing an opportunity) when Canadians in Ontario rose up in protest/rebellion against the British and were cruelly put down, America declared war, proclaiming a Second American Revolution (some call it the Third Revolution, since the war of 1812 is sometimes called the second War for American Independence, but whatever) and kicking the British once and for all out of the New World.
·Since the Articles of Confederation made allowances for Canada joining the Union, there is actually historical precedence behind this move. Plus, the Canadians and Americans are already so similar culturally/religiously/etc that there was little backlash from the Canadian populace themselves. Most of them are just glad they don’t have to deal with the British crown anymore. Plus, they got a bunch of cool stuff, like immigration and F R E E D O M.
·All of these things did little to endear them in the eyes of the Europeans, which would have disastrous consequences later.
·Annexing Canada made the American frontier last a good deal longer- The US actually got even more immigrants than in real life (all of the NWA countries did) and all that empty land actually has people in it now. Not tons and tons, but a lot more than in RL. Picture Oklahoma territory in the 1890s, but colder and bigger (The Wild West but with polar bears is maybe one of the most awesome things ever conceived, in my humble opinion).
·When the Civil War came, it was a lot worse. Like, a LOT worse. Mexico, Great Britain, and Denmark joined the side of the Confederacy. So it was half the US (3/4ths when it comes to land, but shut up), plus all of its little provincial farmer buddies down south and Brazil, against the most powerful nation in the world (at the time), and the US’s closest and most angry neighbor. And Denmark. More than a million men died total, making the Civil War the most destructive conflict the Americas had ever seen (besides perhaps the ongoing genocide of the Native Americans). The US only won because Britain got distracted with other things and gave up on the Confederates (which seems to be a common pattern whenever the US and Britain fight. US makes Britain mad, Britain brings the hammer down, oh no US is in trouble, wait never mind Britain has gotten bored and is leaving again because they have other stuff to deal with. US wins.)
·The Civil War left the Union in bad shape- ever since the war, the US has been trying to rebuild and reconcile. But since the influence of all of the other NW nations has made the US even more abolitionist, even virulently so, which makes reconciliation look really dubious, for a most likely much longer time.
·Outside of the Americas, Liberia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Ireland, and Scandinavia, nobody really likes the US. That will hopefully change after a Great War or two.
2. The Republic of Mexico- The years have not been kind to Mexico. Suffering through war after war, coup after coup, and being constantly bullied and influenced by other nations, it seems a miracle that the country is even still in one piece.
After the Mexican-American War, around half of its territory was conquered by the United States. Twenty years after that, the Yucatan peninsula rebelled and gained independence (soon thereafter being admitted as a state of the FRCA).
Meanwhile, most of the population was still mired in crippling poverty, in even worse conditions than the Argentinians. The elite few owned almost all the land, and the Catholic Church held tyrannical power over the people- ‘come to church or die,’ basically.
By the 1870s, Mexico basically hated all of its neighbors (although you can’t really blame them), and was eager to strike back. As the Southern States grew closer and closer to secession, the Mexican Emperor began an effort to drastically expand and modernize his military, at which he did a respectively good job (considering the resources at his disposal). When the American Civil War began, the Mexicans immediately pledged their support to the Anglo-Confederate Alliance.
The Mexicans had been promised large parts of their former territories in the US, and invaded the unprepared Americans from the Southwest. For the first four months of the War, the Texan army battled with their former masters, reinforced by volunteers from all of the Western states (even Deseret[Utah]!).
Eventually, the Union Army was sufficiently organized/big enough to send official troops to the Southwestern front. Even with British troops (most of which were being sent directly to the CSA, but still, the Mexicans did get some), the still-smaller and poorly-equipped Mexican Army was defeated in a matter of months, and Mexico City occupied once again. Soon after, the Mexican Emperor signed a separate peace with the NWA, and was subsequently assassinated by his own generals.
Years of chaos followed (so nothing new), and the eventual stability brought by the new Emperor was not enough to satisfy the exasperated and fed-up people of Mexico.
The Republic of the Rio Grande seceded, and yet another Civil War ensued. However, this time the New World Alliance, namely the US, was fed up with all of Mexico’s antics and decided to support the Republic of the Rio Grande. The Mexican forces actually scored a few victories against the Allied forces in the beginning, but with the FRCA pushing in the south and the USA in the north, the war took a turn for the worse, and Mexico City was occupied one last time.
However, the Allied forces had gotten an idea during the campaign, one that could finally rid them of the Mexican thorn in their side and bring the sullen little nation into the NWA fold. A new government was founded, with many of its notable leaders coming from the government of Rio Grande.
At long last, the Mexican Republic so long sought after came into being (to stay), with a promise of a bright future. The noble’s vast land holdings were seized by the government, to be sold off to private owners, and the Catholic church was put in its place, much to the anger of the Pope (but it’s not like he could do anything about it).
After much cajoling from the NWA countries, most of which were dominantly Catholic thanks to Spain/Portugal, he came around), and voting rights were extended to all male citizens, regardless of age, race, or occupation (women’s suffrage is still a work-in-progress at this point).
By 1900, the Republic of Mexico is a prospering member of the New World Alliance. It is still largely rural, but a growing oil and steel industry is bringing a lot of money in. For the first time, the land of Mesoamerica is truly at peace, and it is blossoming into a prosperous Republic fully worthy of standing with its neighbors.
3. The Federal Republic of Central America (FRCA)- Facing factionalism and ultra-conservatism at every turn, 1836 seemed the year the Federal Republic of Central America, only 13 years old, was to shatter into nothingness. Individual states feared Guatemalan domination, and the liberal policies of the Republic were frowned upon by many conservative leaders and Catholics. However, US president Andrew Jackson recognized the benefits of an ally in the New World (or at least a puppet) and extended an offer of friendship to the troubled Central American government.
Surprised and eager at this unexpected offer, the government agreed almost immediately to an official alliance. As federal control verged on the brink of total collapse, President Jackson sent the American army south to help.
The Joint Centro-American (Centroamerico-American is such a ponderous title) forces went on the defensive, eliminating threats in Guatemala and El Salvador, state of the capital of San Salvador, before moving to secure the rest of the country.
After all rebellious armies had been defeated, the bond between the two nations became unshakable. Central America pledged eternal friendship to their northern friends- if ever the Americans called for aid, the Federal Republic would answer.
For the rest of the century, the FRCA focused on solidifying its control over its provinces, and, after the need to industrialize became apparent, to modernize itself into a modern industrial machine.
When the US brought forth its plans for Columbia, the FRCA was eager to help (especially since they would get Panama in the bargain.
When the Independence Wars began, the FRCA supported the US all the way, sending as many men, weapons, and supplies they could possibly manage. They gained Belize and the Mosquito Coast from Britain, finally wholly uniting all of Central America under a single government.
When Yucatan seceded from Mexico, the FRCA supported them, and got a new state out of the bargain.
When the American Civil War began, the FRCA held firm, fighting defensively and losing no territory for the entire war even though they were facing possibly the most powerful nation on Earth at that time, Great Britain, as well as the newly-rediscovered might of the Mexican army. This is partially because it wasn’t much of a priority to Britain’s war effort, but the courage of The FRCA’s leaders and soldiers shouldn’t be understated.
The alliance with the United States would be expanded several times to include new nations, eventually morphing into the economic/military/political union known as the New World Alliance; this historic agreement united two entire hemispheres, and brought the New World into an unmatched state of peace and prosperity.
By 1900, the FRCA is an influential secondary member of the NWA. The construction of the Panama Canal in the 1880s made it one of the most economically important countries in the world, with the lifeblood of Atlantic-Pacific trade passing through its territory (and being taxed while doing so!). The country is united and stronger than ever, and enjoys enormous prestige, both for owning the canal and for its various military victories against other nations. The friendship between the FRCA and US continues to the present day- with the oldest surviving alliance in the Americas and the most similar histories/policies/government of any two NWA nations, the relationship between the two has permeated the collective consciousness of both nations. The official motto of the New World Alliance sums up this relationship excellently:
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
4. The Caribbean Federation- Before the Independence Wars, the islands of the Caribbean were virtually all under foreign rule, with the exception of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. the Dominican Republic soon joined the NWA, and asked for help in subduing neighboring Haiti; the island of Hispaniola was shortly unified (the French Haitians sure didn’t like being conquered by the Spanish Dominicans, especially after all the blood shed during their war for independence but that’s a whole other can of worms that can be discussed elsewhere).
After the Independence Wars had come to an end, the United States had vast colonial holdings in the Caribbean, controlling almost all of the islands. Since administering these holdings would be difficult (i.e. a massive headache) and a violation of the agreement between the US and other members of the NWA and controversial considering all the trouble the governmental representatives from the southern states were making regarding slavery in the new territories, the US decided to form a united federal government to manage the islands for them.
In case you’re wondering, there was an official census to see whether slavery should be legal in the country. As the vast majority of Caribs are descended from enslaved natives or Africans, the idea didn’t get a whole lot of support.
The first wave of government officials were promoted directly from the government of the Dominican Republic, but true elections were soon held as promised. After some debate between officials from different islands, the capital was placed in the Cuban city of Havana; this was because Havana was less densely populated and cleaner than the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. It was also meant placate the Cubans, who wanted to form their own government rather than be subject to authorities from other islands, and as the largest and most populated of the islands, it was a priority to keep the Cubans happy.
At first, nobody really wanted to belong to a united Caribbean Federation- cultural and linguistic differences meant that a common Caribbean culture was basically nonexistent, and with so many islands to manage, the federal government had a lot of trouble keeping the country together. The first elections helped, as did all of the improvement programs immediately put into action, with NWA assistance.
Pretty much the only time that the Federation was ever drawn into a war was during the American Civil War- almost all of their territory was occupied by the British, and not a single island escaped at least partial invasion. The main army held out until the end of the war in northern Cuba, protecting Havana and narrowly preventing the country from capitulating.
Interestingly, while all of the former Dominican Republic was overrun, southern Haiti held out for the duration of the war, even driving the British back after a while.
The war is cited as the defining moment in the Federation’s history. The citizens of the various islands, previously rivals or even enemies, banded together in an effort to repel the Europeans once and for all. The British had an extremely hard time controlling the Carib population throughout the war- constant conspiracy and rebellions made the English foothold in the region tentative.
It was this event, a devastating war, which finally established the Caribbean as a distinct, (somewhat) united cultural and political region.
By 1900, the Caribbean Federation is in good shape. The peaceful, happy people of the Caribbean are still fairly poor, still struggling a bit in the infrastructure/education/amenities department, but things are better than they ever have been, and modern innovations like the telegraph are making the islands more connected than ever before. The Federation’s relatively small army means it is a prime target for foreign invasion once again, should conflict ever break out again, but for now everything be fine and dandy, mon.
5. The Republic of Gran Columbia- After the 1831 collapse, the Republic of Colombia split into three separate countries- Venezuela and Ecuador seceded, and the federal government lacked the conviction or power to reclaim them.
For a decade, this reduced Columbia did its best to continue on, actually meeting a fair amount of success. The economy quickly stabilized, and the government did its best to recover from the effects of having more than half of its land taken away. Venezuela, and to a lesser extent, Ecuador, did likewise.
A few years after forging its alliance with the FRCA, The United States revealed a plan to add another powerful member to the alliance. Columbia was, presently, the only other nation in the Americas with a fully democratic Constitutional government, and though very unstable and prone to nasty civil wars, seemed a suitable candidate.
American and Centroamerican ambassadors approached the Columbian government with a deal- if the country ceded the province of Panama to the FRCA, and agreed to some very profitable trade deals with the two countries (at the expense of others, like the European nations), they would help Columbia regain its lost territory. The Columbian president was somewhat reluctant to give up any more territory, but figured that the loss of one small sliver of Central America was worth having two whole countries back under his nation’s banner. Columbia agreed to the proposal, and became the third member of the Alliance (though it wouldn’t be called the NWA for some time).
Immediately following the deal, plans began being drawn up concerning invasions of Ecuador and Venezuela. Allied forces quickly made their way to the Ecuadorian border, as it was assumed that the smaller country would be the easier to defeat. In actuality, Ecuador’s mountainous terrain, sparse population, and guerilla tactics made them the more arduous of the ‘rogue nations’ to invade- not that all of those same things weren’t true of Venezuela, or Columbia, for that matter- but at least the Venezuelans had the decency to fight with actual armies rather than striking camps at night with jungle-bound guerilla groups. By early 1851, Columbia had fully regained its former territories (save Panama). Somewhat smug about the whole thing, the Columbian president of the time decided to amend the name of the country a slight bit, changing it from the Republic of Columbia to the Republic of Greater Columbia (Gran Columbia in Spanish).
While he would be remembered in the annals of history for his rather pompous nature, he wasn’t entirely wrong. The rest of the nineteenth century would see little else but good happenings for Columbia.
The rise of the Andine Federation would make the Columbians nervous, but once the Andeans joined the Alliance, there was no longer any concern. With Allied (primarily US, if we’re honest) assistance, Columbia had improved itself in pretty much every way. Better infrastructure, better education, better healthcare, etc.
Before the rise of the Federation, Columbia had been the most powerful nation in all of South America. The Andeans left them a comfortable second place, which dropped to a more uncomfortable third after the Empire of Brazil really started asserting itself.
During the Independence Wars, Columbia assisted in liberating all three Guianas from foreign rule, as well as some of the Caribbean islands. While sadly they did not get any land from this (save a few small islands off their north coast), they would be viewed by the Guianans as good friends, and the two countries have since formed a close bond.
By 1900, Gran Columbia is doing just fine. It has lessened in importance and influence since the early days of the Alliance, but it is stable, prosperous, and functional. It was once hoped that Columbia would become South America’s version of the US- claiming a lot of the good land, expanding a lot, and becoming an economic powerhouse. That day never came, but at least the Columbians can say that the nation stretches from ‘sea to shining sea.’
6. The Republic of Guiana- After the conclusion of the Independence Wars, all three of the small European territories in South America, in the northern region known as Guiana, were ceded to the United States.
There was some debate over what should be done with these new acquisitions: Many people were for simply keeping them as a new territory of the US (with possible statehood to follow later), while others said that it would make more sense to cede them to Gran Columbia or even the Caribbean Federation. Later, after Brazil joined the Alliance, still others suggested giving the territories to them.
Deemed a minor issue, the matter was left to rest for several decades, and it appeared the affair was settled in favor of US ownership. However, a growing independence movement eventually proved impossible to ignore, with hundreds of protesters crowding the streets for weeks and crying out for sovereignty.
Previously divided by political and linguistic barriers (being under the control of the British, Dutch, and French respectively), the citizens of Guiana were drawn together under the collective banner of liberty. Wanting to avoid an incident (and acknowledging that the area wasn’t substantially valuable to the US government anyway), administrators caved and sent a proposal to Congress regarding Guianan independence.
The measure passed without too much trouble, as most Congressman were simply relieved that the issue was finally dealt with, and work began on founding a new nation. The last and the smallest of the NWA countries to come into being, the Republic of Guiana is by 1900 a steadily prospering country, not very populous or powerful. Little of note happens there, but life is good for its citizens.
7. The Andine Federation- The Peru-Bolivian Confederation came into being in 1836 and was almost immediately deemed a threat by its neighbors (a not inaccurate assessment).
The Republic of Chile, sensing the danger to their economy (and eventually their sovereignty), declared war a mere four years after the Confederation was founded. However, the Peruvian army was by then in sufficient order to resist the invasion, if not go on the offensive; Peru came out of the war in an even better position than before, while Chile slunk off to lick its wounds.
Over the next two decades, the Confederation stabilized itself, making use of the period of peace to build up infrastructure and promote national unity. It was during this time that the Federation made a formal request to join the New World Alliance, which was accepted. After the attempted secession of Bolivia from the Confederation in 1844, citing a lack of representation of interests in the government, a major governmental shift made its way into Peruvian society. The three republics of the Confederation, North Peru, South Peru, and Bolivia federalized, giving up their individual power in favor of a more prosperous united nation. A lot of political maneuvering was involved (with proponents of unification resorting to begging, borrowing, and sometimes bribing for support), but the job got done.
No longer would the people be divided into Bolivians and Peruvians The Andine Federation was born. From that time forth, there would be only one united Andean people.
There was only one loose end left to tie up. Chile had not done well since their failed war against Peru-Bolivia. The economy was degrading and the “Republic” was an oligarchic aristocracy with the President at the top. Their relevance in trade was diminishing as the Andine Federation grew ever more powerful, and the region was rapidly becoming a backwater.
The Andeans extended an offer to join the Federation as a state, or possibly multiple states, which the Chilean government debated fiercely upon once it reached them. Some were willing to let bygones be bygones in favor of the possibility of reclaiming Chile’s bright future, but most leaders remembered the pain and humiliation inflicted by their northern neighbors and balked. A few weeks later, Chile would send a refusal of the ‘demands’ to the Federation.
Running out of patience, the Andeans attacked, with the intent to annex all of Chile into the Republic. Facing crippling economic debt, internal rebellions, and encroaching Federated Armies, Chile at length surrendered, and Andean unification was complete.
By 1900, the Andine Federation is an economic powerhouse. The vast mineral resources it possesses are not unique to the Andes-the main difference between Argentina, Colombia, and the Federation is not the presence of those resources- it is the ability of the government to exploit them. Plus, with its control over nearly the entirety of the vibrant South American Pacific coast, the Federation is the fishing capital of the world, sending its bounties across the planet. While not an official claim by the nation’s government, many regard the Federation as the true successor state to the Incan Empire, and the next best thing to Simon Bolivar’s dream for a united Latin America. And there is little point in trying to refute that point- the Federation is the most densely populated nation in the New World, successfully binding together thousands of miles of some of the highest mountains in the world, and stands proudly among the ranks of the Great Powers.
8. The Empire of Brazil- While the rest of the New World was wracked by instability, regime changes, and revolution, the Empire of Brazil stood alone, unfettered and thriving. Under the incomparable leadership of Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, the nation rose in power and prominence, coming to dominate the South American continent after decades of trailing behind Colombia and the Andine Federation.
Since the beginning, Brazil had been a beacon of freedom and liberal thought in South America. Despite officially being a monarchy, democratic ideals were integral to the Brazilian identity- the Emperor’s power was constitutionally limited, and despite the misleading title, the country was really a parliamentary constitutional monarchy similar to Great Britain at the time.
Like the United States, Brazil was mostly isolationist; despite the close ties the royal family had to their cousins in Portugal and abroad in Europe, the Empire mostly kept out of European affairs, and preferred that the Europeans do the same (Independência ou Morte!). However, unlike the United States, the Brazilians did not have any real qualms about the Europeans nations owning land in the New World. It wasn’t doing the citizens of those territories any (much?) wrong to be under the control of kingdoms thousands of miles across the sea- what did the Brazilians care? They had more important things to worry about- keeping profitable trade agreements with those kingdoms, and securing Brazil’s future as a Great Power.
Throughout the 19th century, the Empire continually pushed towards modernity and stability. As the rest of South America shifted and morphed around it, Brazil was able to step back and watch, as imposing and immovable from its rightful place in the spotlight as the great Amazon rainforest. The only real loss the Empire suffered was the loss of Cisplantina (Uruguay) in 1889, when an attempted republican coup nearly ended Imperial rule. The province had been a near-constant irritation since it was ‘acquired’ from Argentina- the Uruguayans didn’t like being ruled by the Argentines, but they liked being ruled by the Brazilians even less. Taking advantage of the crisis, they declared independence once again, and a few weeks later were promptly attacked by the La Platans.
Luckily, the Royal family were able to stop the republicans and stay in power. Dom Pedro II, exhausted and disillusioned after nearly 60 years of rule, didn’t actually mind the coup, feeling that the monarchy could not survive past his death anyway, and perhaps it was time for Brazil to move on. His son, Prince Imperial Alfonso, felt differently, as did his sister Isabel. Together, they marshaled the overwhelming popular support they still held and kicked the republicans out of the Imperial Palace, and re-cemented their family’s birthright. However, republicans and others (such as several of the old aristocratic plantation families, angry at the outlawing of slavery a few years earlier) continued to rebel, especially in the less developed agrarian regions of the country.
By the time the crisis had ended, the Empire was secured, but Cisplantina was firmly back in La Platan hands. Obviously angry at the blatant land-grabbing, the Imperial government sent a response to the New World Council, demanding that the territories be returned. However, the Council was still hurting diplomatically from denying the La Platans Chilean territory belonging to the Andine Federation, and needed something to appease the grumbling La Platan delegates. They sent a counteroffer to Brazil, proposing that Brazil be given military and economic assistance to help get out of chaotic situation they were still in, as well as a large monetary sum as compensation for the land lost.
Deciding that it made more sense for Brazil to cooperate with its neighbors than to go to war over a not very valuable province (for now) the Emperor agreed to the proposal. A lot of Brazilians were perturbed by the fact that the royal family seemed to be collaborating with obvious enemies of Brazil, and as a result the rebellion became even more powerful and contentious.
It took several years for the joint NWA-Imperial forces to defeat the revolutionaries entirely, but eventually it got done. Some rebel groups fled into the Amazon and continued to make some trouble, but it wasn’t enough to justify further bloodshed. Eventually, Dom Alfonso I, the new Emperor, pardoned the remaining Republican forces, and paved the way for certain reforms which would pacify the liberals and secure Brazil’s future prosperity.
While Alfonso didn’t particularly like the NWA, especially after the Cisplantine Incident, he recognized the economic benefits to be reaped from an alliance, and when an official invitation to join the Alliance was extended to Brazil, he warily accepted. Since the alliance occurred well after the Independence Wars and the American Civil War (both of which it was neutral during), Brazil has never had to break its age-old pact of neutrality. Should future conflict occur between the NWA and other political entites, however, Brazil will likely have to take up arms with their new bretheren.
By 1900, Brazil is the most powerful nation in South America, and the second most powerful nation in the Alliance after the United States. Tensions between it and the other NWA nations continue to simmer, although it appears that Dom Alfonso’s heir apparent has a more favorable outlook towards Brazil’s partners and relations will improve in the future. Brazil, more than any of the other Latin American nations, has a distinctive culture, identity, and nobility. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the New World. The Brazilian Emperor remains the only monarch left in all of the New World, which is a point of contention between it and other nations (the Mexican Republic in particular has no fondness for Emperors). However, Dom Alfonso has taken a page out of his father’s book, traveling throughout much of the world and meeting people in other countries. His noble manner and kind disposition have impressed many of the people that he meets, and the romanticism of a great monarch ruling over a noble kingdom appeals to many people in the NWA, despite the dissaproval of their respective governments.
9. The United Provinces of La Plata (UPLP)- [Full/official name: The United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata.] The Confederation of Argentina had been in decline basically since its founding. Problems with native assimilation, widespread poverty, and the similar issues had rendered it a fairly lackluster place to live.
During the era of the Independence Wars, the various governors (aka dictators) of its provinces were overthrown and an Alliance-supported Democratic government was put into power. Rather than splitting up* the Federation into various small countries (Patagonia, Buenos Aires, etc) NWA forces decided on keeping the country together and federalizing it. A single, stronger new member of the alliance would be more beneficial than several weak puppets. Thus, the UPLP was (re)born.
Further campaigns in the region would extend La Platan control over much of the nation’s former territories, including the rebellious states of Uruguay and Paraguay. Conflict came when the La Platans claimed territories under the control of the young Andine Federation, including much of Chile and eastern Bolivia. Historically, those regions had belonged to La Plata, before being lost in various wars and rebellions.
After some deliberation, the New World Council decided to keep the lands in Andean hands, which greatly displeased the La Platan government but never led to outright war (since the country wasn’t even on its feet yet and would lose spectacularly in any further battles with Allied troops).
By 1900, La Plata has reached a fairly prosperous and stable point in its history- tensions with the Andine Federation have mostly cooled off, and a friendly relationship has taken root between the two southern nations. In many ways, the United Provinces has benefited greatly from the Allies’ economic and military assistance. While it lags behind in development compared to the other New World nations, progress is swift, and with its allies’ help (primarily that of the Andine Federation) it will swiftly join the ranks of prosperity. A radical idea proposed by some of the UPLP’s prominent politicians (rich men who use money to get what they want, and what they want is more money) proposes an outright political union with the Andine Federation. In theory, this would bring greater wealth and prosperity to the country, and would allow the La Platans to be a part of a nation they can be really proud of, one comparable to the United States itself in strength. Whether any of that is really true remains to be seen.
*I wanted to say ‘balkanizing,’ but as you can see from the map, such a term does not nor probably ever will exist in this world.
10. The Republic of Liberia- After the American Colonization Society went bankrupt in 1842, the American government took an interest in the organization’s overseas holdings. A movement was made in Congress to purchase the narrow strip of coast the society had bartered for with local tribes, putting it under the direct ownership of the government.
The motion saw wide, bipartisan support-with the recent annexation of Texas into the Union, Americans in general were in an optimistic, and very expansionist, mood.
Additionally, politicians like Henry Clay strongly advocated purchasing, funding and supporting the Society’s preexisting project, which had involved sending free Afroamericans back to Africa in order to create their own society free from white persecution, rather than attempting to integrate them into American society (which wasn’t really working anyway).
Of course, some of the advocates just didn’t like the idea of there being any non-enslaved blacks in their country, but regardless of the various motives involved, the proposal passed by a comfortable margin.
America’s sole African colony was heavily invested in by the government, as well as several independent companies and entrepreneurs (including many notable black ones). Through the rest of the 19th century, the Colony of Liberia saw a large surge in population and development (despite massive hurdles such as decimating tropical diseases, hostile tribes, etc).
Probably the most significant accomplishment of the immigrants, called Americo-Liberians, was the building of mostly positive relations with the natives of the surrounding areas (eventually within the borders of Liberia itself), and gradual assimilation into civilized life. This allowed for relatively remarkable growth and prosperity, especially for the region of West Africa (pretty much all of the rest of which was a cesspool of cruelty and disease).
When the American Civil War broke out, Liberia decided to finally, fully recognize the dream it had been founded upon. Its major leaders sent a proclamation to the Union, declaring the Republic of Liberia independent of the American government. The provisional government made a deal with the President, saying that if the US recognized Liberia’s independence, then they could expect troops to assist in the war effort, as well as a continuing monopoly (relatively speaking-Americans weren’t eager to repeat the mistakes of their former British overlords) on Liberian trade until the conclusion of the war. If the US chose not to recognize Liberia as an independent entity, they would break all economic and diplomatic ties, and seek such elsewhere (perhaps with Great Britain, the ambassadors threatened). While the US didn’t really need the Liberian’s troops or goods for the war, the government wanted to preserve friendly relations between their two countries, and anyway it was a pretty stupid idea to make enemies while already fighting a Civil War.
Liberian soldiers would prove themselves to be ferocious fighters during the war- while their contributions were generally small but many, they made a very significant contribution during the defense of Petersburg, repelling the final desperate Confederate attempt to retake the city, with heavy losses.
After the Civil War, Liberia’s Golden Era hit its stride. Freed slaves all over the US flocked to its shores, and the region saw its highest numbers of immigrants ever. Liberia continued to grow through the rest of the century, and by 1900 is the most prosperous place in Africa, by far in West Africa. It is also one of only two wholly independent nations on the continent, the other being Ethiopia.
11. The Republic of the Philippines-. The 1880’s saw a surge in the movement for American imperialism. The US had long prided itself as the ultimate “anti-colonizer,” freeing foreign-ruled states from their oppressors. However, some argued that with countries like Great Britain spreading their colonial empires over the face of the Earth, America needed to play the same game. “Fight fire with fire” and all that. The imperialists argued that conquering lesser states in areas like East Asia would benefit everyone, by “protecting” the natives from European (mostly British) imperialism, bringing Christianity to pagan lands, and providing a sure source of tropical goods in the event of increased embargoes from the European countries, who were rapidly gaining a monopoly on such materials. Americans couldn’t rely solely on the admittedly limited materials/output of Liberia, after all, especially since Liberian independence.
When revolutionaries in the Spanish Philippines rose up in favor of independence, the USA seized the chance and declared war on Spain.
The war was pretty easy, since Spain’s fall from grace following the loss of its American colonies had been swift and hard. The Philippines were basically the only colonial territory they had left, and they gave it up almost without a fight due to their complete inability to respond to the Filipino patriots, let alone the mighty American War Machine.
With the Spanish defeated, the Americans debated fiercely over what to do with their newfound acquisition (as the Spanish had refused to recognize the Filipino country and in the treaty of Cebu had ceded the land to the US; recognizing the ‘savages’ that had broken free would, in Spain’s eyes, be a blotch on the country’s already tainted honor. At least the Americans were of the superior race, they reasoned).
Some argued for an independent Republic of the Philippines under American protection, while others voted for proclaiming it a full-fledged colony, completely subservient to the American government.
Interestingly, a large portion of Congress approved of the idea of making it merely a territory of the US, such as Hawaii was at the time, with a plan to eventually grant statehood to the Philippines. This would make it the most distant US state from the continental US by far, the only one not in the Western Hemisphere.
After much debate, it would be this last idea that would win out, establishing the Philippines as a US territory. The Filipinos were not included in the decision.
Obviously, they weren’t happy that they had not gained the sovereignty that they had fought fiercely for- they had welcomed the legendary American forces as saviors, not as overlords.
The leader of the rebel forces, Emilio Aguinaldo, sent a representative to Washington, D.C., through which he implored the government to change its mind. When his pleas fell on deaf ears, he threatened to campaign across the country to raise awareness about the unjustness the supposedly freedom-protecting government was enforcing over his people, hinting at the possibility of a national incident and a drawn out and embarrassing debacle for Congress. And if that didn’t work, he could always lead his forces into troublesome rebellion against the Americans, just as he had the Spanish.
While many were doubtful that he would be able to successfully lead an awareness campaign or convince a sufficient amount of people to support his cause, his impassioned letters and shrewd arguments convinced enough people in Congress (mostly of the party originally for Philippine statehood, incidentally) to change their minds and support the first group, who were in favor of supporting the revolutionaries to begin with.
Thus, under US protection, the Republic of the Philippines was established. The transition from colony to country was surprisingly easy- due to their Spanish Catholic tutelage, the Filipinos understood and worked comparatively well with American diplomats and others.
By 1900, the country is the most heavily Westernized nation in Southeast Asia, and very prosperous considering the circumstances (it is shockingly difficult to build up infrastructure and services on a collection of 7,641 disconnected islands). It is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia, and a bastion of Asian sovereignty and democracy amid a sea of European colonies and disintegrating Asian kingdoms.
12. The Republic of Vietnam- While the Philippine War was going on between the US and Spain, a similar crisis was unfolding in French Indochina. Vietnamese nationalists, desiring freedom from French rule, rebelled, fighting with modern(ish) weapons smuggled into Vietnam from China and Japan instead of the more common flintlock muskets and spears the French were used to dealing with.
The French actually lost their holdings in Vietnam, unprepared for the well-organized and motivated rebel movement instigated by the nationalists. Unfortunately, the rebels soon collapsed into two main warring factions, one wanting to restore the old Vietnamese Emperor as an absolute monarch, the other favoring a more modern constitutional monarchy along the lines of Great Britain (where the monarch held mostly cultural/symbolic power) or even a flat-out Republic (because since when had there ever been a good emperor in Vietnam?).
Normally this kind of event would be beneath the notice of the US, who generally had more important things to worry about than the incompetent French colonial administration, but with the fate of the Philippines starting to tip more and more in favor of becoming a free country, the imperialists were frustrated and out for blood. They spotted the vacuum in the region left by the French, and raced to fill it back up with American influence. The troops were already out in that area anyway, they reasoned; it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to suggest they briefly “go next door and meddle around a little.” So, with the uneasy stalemate between Filipino rebel forces and American troops still in full force, a large portion of the Army was sent over to Vietnam to aid the democratic rebels (d’oh!).
Long story short, the Americans were able to tip the balance in favor of the republicans, and reunited the region under provisional native rule. Of course, the main campaign took around two years to complete (fighting in the jungle is hell, no matter what century you live in), and by the time it was finished the Filipino nation was solidly on the path to becoming an independent republic.
With the precedent of liberation over colonialism firmly established in Asia, as elsewhere, there was little point in arguing for making Vietnam into a colony or territory or whatever else. So, the imperialists own plan backfired on them and basically caused America to get drawn into a war in which it had nothing really nothing to physically gain. Reluctantly, the imperialists accepted the motion to extend the same assistance to the new Republic of Vietnam as was already being given to the Philippines.
By 1900, Vietnam is a somewhat stable/prosperous country- its main export is rice, the major religion is still the indigenous folk religion (despite the efforts of Christian missionaries, the majority of the population are quite reluctant to accept anything exuding that much perceived Frenchness), and the standard of living is still pretty low. But hey, at least they can vote. Sort of. Things are improving.
13. The Kingdom of Scandinavia- The latter half of the nineteenth century saw increased American interest in the world at large. While this period is most famously known for the Independence Wars, it also saw the reunification of the ancient Kalmar Union of the 1500s. The US had long had an interest in having a strong ally in Europe- since the Second American Revolution, relations between Britain and her former colonies had been quite sour. US diplomats and entrepreneurs focused much of their time and effort on increasing leverage over the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, all of whom were fairly isolated from the rest of Europe and without much power (economic or otherwise).
By the mid-1890s, all 3 were extremely dependent on the US through trade and other mediums. The US convinced (a.k.a. bribed/Big-Stick-Diplomac-ied) the monarchs of all 3 countries to come together and create a new state. While nationalists abhorred the idea of joining with their longtime rivals and oftentimes competitors, they couldn’t really complain too much, for under the united leadership of a single Scandinavian king, the region saw its greatest surge in prosperity and relevance in centuries.
Finland was invaded and integrated before the Russians could get to it, which the Finns considered the better of two evils.
Scandinavia is still a pretty divided nation, with little in the way of a common culture or identity, but things are gradually improving. Under a constitutional monarchy, the Norsemen enjoy greater individual freedoms than many of the mainland Europeans do, and government/privately-funded ventures such as railroads connect and unite the country in more ways than one.
As of 1900, the Scandes are in a somewhat uneasy truce with the rest of Europe- mainlanders view the Northern Kingdom as the big, looming threat in the north, much as Russia is the big, looming threat in the east. In fact, Scandinavia’s main rival is Russia- the two neighboring countries harbor much tension towards each other, and are constantly trying to outdo the other. As of yet they have not actually come into open war, as the Russian Tsar fears (perhaps unjustly) that attacking the Scandes will draw the economic and military might of the United States upon the Motherland if provoked. Such a war might actually be good for Scandinavia- a common threat is an excellent way to unite a people.
14. The Republic of Ireland- The proud people of the Emerald Isle had been under British oppression for centuries. In 1896, Irish Republicans rebelled against Great Britain and proclaimed an Irish republic. A bloody war ensued, and the Irish eventually gained their independence from Britain.
They were funded in large part by the Kingdom of Scandinavia, and through Scandinavia, The USA. Though most Americans were still staunchly against intervening in strictly European affairs, Scandinavia had no such qualms. The restored Union had few friends in Western Europe (or Europe in general), and Ireland was in an ideal position to protect Scandinavia against threats from other Great Powers. If necessary, it would also be a good staging point for an invasion into Britain.
Ireland would suffer for several years from severely damaged architecture, debt, and rebels in the north who wanted to return to British control, but eventually the government pulled itself together and life improved dramatically for the average Irishman. The new Republic of Ireland isolated itself from the rest of Europe, basically taking a leaf out of the US’s book and focusing on more important internal issues. Even though it had been Scandinavia who had directly helped them out, most Irishmen understood that the US had had an important role in securing Irish independence, and relations were friendly. The US obviously wasn’t willing to officially enter into an alliance, but it was in its interests to keep Ireland independent and Britain as weak as possible (though honestly even the loss of all of Ireland couldn’t really put a damper on the might of the British Empire at that point. Colonialism was still going strong, and with the US mostly keeping to its sphere, the UK dominated world politics).
Ireland as of 1900 is in an alliance with their good buddies the Scandinavians, in an agreement known as the North Sea Pact. They are happy and getting richer, but an anxious undertone permeates the collective consciousness- just across the Irish Sea, the Great Menace lies in wait, ready to strike at any time.
This map actually depicts the world just prior to this universe’s WW1, which is a while after 1900 (I’m not exactly sure yet when). I couldn’t find the 1900 map that I made, and honestly, I think this map is cooler anyway, so… sorry, not sorry :^).
Notable Countries in this Universe:
1. The United States of America (USA)- The amount of information that needs to be mentioned in this specific summary is so large that, if this part were written like all the other entries, it would take way too long to go through all the specific ideas/details that I added or conceptualized. For the sake of my sanity, I have resorted to bullet points here. I’m sorry, I just wasn’t strong enough.
·The United States of America is the largest and most powerful nation on Earth- however, since the horrific American Civil War, the country has largely returned to the isolation it adopted in its early days, allowing for countries outside of the New World to vie for dominance as usual (cough*Europe*cough)
·The USA is, along with the FRCA, one of the founding members of the New World Alliance, a military, economic, and political agreement between every last one of the New World countries.
·The NWA is a lot like the EU- citizens can move freely between all of the Allied countries, there is a shared currency, etc. Originally a power play by the US to spread its influence over a bunch of weaker nations, the NWA evolved over time into a truly mutually beneficial relationship, and all of the countries involved have gotten significant benefits from the agreement.
·Of note is the Intercontinental Railroad system, a shared project between all of the mainland members of the NWA. With a minimum on transfers between trains, one can take a ride from Alaska to Patagonia. The railway, which stretches practically from the North Pole to the South, is seen as one of the greatest engineering feats in history, more magnificent even than the Panama Canal. It is not even close to being completed as of 1900, but when it does get there, wow.
·The US developed a more extreme Monroe Doctrine in this world. After a long period of increasing tensions, the US launched a series of rebellions and conquests, in joint with its allies, in every last foreign-owned territory in the New World.
·This was more of an ideological battle than a practical one (a fact the NWA leaders are all too aware of, since it ruined relations with most of Europe)
·Every island in the Caribbean and South Atlantic, and the provinces of Guiana were all taken from European hands, either by buying them, launching independence movements in them, or flat-out declaring war and taking them.
·Furious (and sensing an opportunity) when Canadians in Ontario rose up in protest/rebellion against the British and were cruelly put down, America declared war, proclaiming a Second American Revolution (some call it the Third Revolution, since the war of 1812 is sometimes called the second War for American Independence, but whatever) and kicking the British once and for all out of the New World.
·Since the Articles of Confederation made allowances for Canada joining the Union, there is actually historical precedence behind this move. Plus, the Canadians and Americans are already so similar culturally/religiously/etc that there was little backlash from the Canadian populace themselves. Most of them are just glad they don’t have to deal with the British crown anymore. Plus, they got a bunch of cool stuff, like immigration and F R E E D O M.
·All of these things did little to endear them in the eyes of the Europeans, which would have disastrous consequences later.
·Annexing Canada made the American frontier last a good deal longer- The US actually got even more immigrants than in real life (all of the NWA countries did) and all that empty land actually has people in it now. Not tons and tons, but a lot more than in RL. Picture Oklahoma territory in the 1890s, but colder and bigger (The Wild West but with polar bears is maybe one of the most awesome things ever conceived, in my humble opinion).
·When the Civil War came, it was a lot worse. Like, a LOT worse. Mexico, Great Britain, and Denmark joined the side of the Confederacy. So it was half the US (3/4ths when it comes to land, but shut up), plus all of its little provincial farmer buddies down south and Brazil, against the most powerful nation in the world (at the time), and the US’s closest and most angry neighbor. And Denmark. More than a million men died total, making the Civil War the most destructive conflict the Americas had ever seen (besides perhaps the ongoing genocide of the Native Americans). The US only won because Britain got distracted with other things and gave up on the Confederates (which seems to be a common pattern whenever the US and Britain fight. US makes Britain mad, Britain brings the hammer down, oh no US is in trouble, wait never mind Britain has gotten bored and is leaving again because they have other stuff to deal with. US wins.)
·The Civil War left the Union in bad shape- ever since the war, the US has been trying to rebuild and reconcile. But since the influence of all of the other NW nations has made the US even more abolitionist, even virulently so, which makes reconciliation look really dubious, for a most likely much longer time.
·Outside of the Americas, Liberia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Ireland, and Scandinavia, nobody really likes the US. That will hopefully change after a Great War or two.
2. The Republic of Mexico- The years have not been kind to Mexico. Suffering through war after war, coup after coup, and being constantly bullied and influenced by other nations, it seems a miracle that the country is even still in one piece.
After the Mexican-American War, around half of its territory was conquered by the United States. Twenty years after that, the Yucatan peninsula rebelled and gained independence (soon thereafter being admitted as a state of the FRCA).
Meanwhile, most of the population was still mired in crippling poverty, in even worse conditions than the Argentinians. The elite few owned almost all the land, and the Catholic Church held tyrannical power over the people- ‘come to church or die,’ basically.
By the 1870s, Mexico basically hated all of its neighbors (although you can’t really blame them), and was eager to strike back. As the Southern States grew closer and closer to secession, the Mexican Emperor began an effort to drastically expand and modernize his military, at which he did a respectively good job (considering the resources at his disposal). When the American Civil War began, the Mexicans immediately pledged their support to the Anglo-Confederate Alliance.
The Mexicans had been promised large parts of their former territories in the US, and invaded the unprepared Americans from the Southwest. For the first four months of the War, the Texan army battled with their former masters, reinforced by volunteers from all of the Western states (even Deseret[Utah]!).
Eventually, the Union Army was sufficiently organized/big enough to send official troops to the Southwestern front. Even with British troops (most of which were being sent directly to the CSA, but still, the Mexicans did get some), the still-smaller and poorly-equipped Mexican Army was defeated in a matter of months, and Mexico City occupied once again. Soon after, the Mexican Emperor signed a separate peace with the NWA, and was subsequently assassinated by his own generals.
Years of chaos followed (so nothing new), and the eventual stability brought by the new Emperor was not enough to satisfy the exasperated and fed-up people of Mexico.
The Republic of the Rio Grande seceded, and yet another Civil War ensued. However, this time the New World Alliance, namely the US, was fed up with all of Mexico’s antics and decided to support the Republic of the Rio Grande. The Mexican forces actually scored a few victories against the Allied forces in the beginning, but with the FRCA pushing in the south and the USA in the north, the war took a turn for the worse, and Mexico City was occupied one last time.
However, the Allied forces had gotten an idea during the campaign, one that could finally rid them of the Mexican thorn in their side and bring the sullen little nation into the NWA fold. A new government was founded, with many of its notable leaders coming from the government of Rio Grande.
At long last, the Mexican Republic so long sought after came into being (to stay), with a promise of a bright future. The noble’s vast land holdings were seized by the government, to be sold off to private owners, and the Catholic church was put in its place, much to the anger of the Pope (but it’s not like he could do anything about it).
After much cajoling from the NWA countries, most of which were dominantly Catholic thanks to Spain/Portugal, he came around), and voting rights were extended to all male citizens, regardless of age, race, or occupation (women’s suffrage is still a work-in-progress at this point).
By 1900, the Republic of Mexico is a prospering member of the New World Alliance. It is still largely rural, but a growing oil and steel industry is bringing a lot of money in. For the first time, the land of Mesoamerica is truly at peace, and it is blossoming into a prosperous Republic fully worthy of standing with its neighbors.
3. The Federal Republic of Central America (FRCA)- Facing factionalism and ultra-conservatism at every turn, 1836 seemed the year the Federal Republic of Central America, only 13 years old, was to shatter into nothingness. Individual states feared Guatemalan domination, and the liberal policies of the Republic were frowned upon by many conservative leaders and Catholics. However, US president Andrew Jackson recognized the benefits of an ally in the New World (or at least a puppet) and extended an offer of friendship to the troubled Central American government.
Surprised and eager at this unexpected offer, the government agreed almost immediately to an official alliance. As federal control verged on the brink of total collapse, President Jackson sent the American army south to help.
The Joint Centro-American (Centroamerico-American is such a ponderous title) forces went on the defensive, eliminating threats in Guatemala and El Salvador, state of the capital of San Salvador, before moving to secure the rest of the country.
After all rebellious armies had been defeated, the bond between the two nations became unshakable. Central America pledged eternal friendship to their northern friends- if ever the Americans called for aid, the Federal Republic would answer.
For the rest of the century, the FRCA focused on solidifying its control over its provinces, and, after the need to industrialize became apparent, to modernize itself into a modern industrial machine.
When the US brought forth its plans for Columbia, the FRCA was eager to help (especially since they would get Panama in the bargain.
When the Independence Wars began, the FRCA supported the US all the way, sending as many men, weapons, and supplies they could possibly manage. They gained Belize and the Mosquito Coast from Britain, finally wholly uniting all of Central America under a single government.
When Yucatan seceded from Mexico, the FRCA supported them, and got a new state out of the bargain.
When the American Civil War began, the FRCA held firm, fighting defensively and losing no territory for the entire war even though they were facing possibly the most powerful nation on Earth at that time, Great Britain, as well as the newly-rediscovered might of the Mexican army. This is partially because it wasn’t much of a priority to Britain’s war effort, but the courage of The FRCA’s leaders and soldiers shouldn’t be understated.
The alliance with the United States would be expanded several times to include new nations, eventually morphing into the economic/military/political union known as the New World Alliance; this historic agreement united two entire hemispheres, and brought the New World into an unmatched state of peace and prosperity.
By 1900, the FRCA is an influential secondary member of the NWA. The construction of the Panama Canal in the 1880s made it one of the most economically important countries in the world, with the lifeblood of Atlantic-Pacific trade passing through its territory (and being taxed while doing so!). The country is united and stronger than ever, and enjoys enormous prestige, both for owning the canal and for its various military victories against other nations. The friendship between the FRCA and US continues to the present day- with the oldest surviving alliance in the Americas and the most similar histories/policies/government of any two NWA nations, the relationship between the two has permeated the collective consciousness of both nations. The official motto of the New World Alliance sums up this relationship excellently:
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
4. The Caribbean Federation- Before the Independence Wars, the islands of the Caribbean were virtually all under foreign rule, with the exception of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. the Dominican Republic soon joined the NWA, and asked for help in subduing neighboring Haiti; the island of Hispaniola was shortly unified (the French Haitians sure didn’t like being conquered by the Spanish Dominicans, especially after all the blood shed during their war for independence but that’s a whole other can of worms that can be discussed elsewhere).
After the Independence Wars had come to an end, the United States had vast colonial holdings in the Caribbean, controlling almost all of the islands. Since administering these holdings would be difficult (i.e. a massive headache) and a violation of the agreement between the US and other members of the NWA and controversial considering all the trouble the governmental representatives from the southern states were making regarding slavery in the new territories, the US decided to form a united federal government to manage the islands for them.
In case you’re wondering, there was an official census to see whether slavery should be legal in the country. As the vast majority of Caribs are descended from enslaved natives or Africans, the idea didn’t get a whole lot of support.
The first wave of government officials were promoted directly from the government of the Dominican Republic, but true elections were soon held as promised. After some debate between officials from different islands, the capital was placed in the Cuban city of Havana; this was because Havana was less densely populated and cleaner than the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. It was also meant placate the Cubans, who wanted to form their own government rather than be subject to authorities from other islands, and as the largest and most populated of the islands, it was a priority to keep the Cubans happy.
At first, nobody really wanted to belong to a united Caribbean Federation- cultural and linguistic differences meant that a common Caribbean culture was basically nonexistent, and with so many islands to manage, the federal government had a lot of trouble keeping the country together. The first elections helped, as did all of the improvement programs immediately put into action, with NWA assistance.
Pretty much the only time that the Federation was ever drawn into a war was during the American Civil War- almost all of their territory was occupied by the British, and not a single island escaped at least partial invasion. The main army held out until the end of the war in northern Cuba, protecting Havana and narrowly preventing the country from capitulating.
Interestingly, while all of the former Dominican Republic was overrun, southern Haiti held out for the duration of the war, even driving the British back after a while.
The war is cited as the defining moment in the Federation’s history. The citizens of the various islands, previously rivals or even enemies, banded together in an effort to repel the Europeans once and for all. The British had an extremely hard time controlling the Carib population throughout the war- constant conspiracy and rebellions made the English foothold in the region tentative.
It was this event, a devastating war, which finally established the Caribbean as a distinct, (somewhat) united cultural and political region.
By 1900, the Caribbean Federation is in good shape. The peaceful, happy people of the Caribbean are still fairly poor, still struggling a bit in the infrastructure/education/amenities department, but things are better than they ever have been, and modern innovations like the telegraph are making the islands more connected than ever before. The Federation’s relatively small army means it is a prime target for foreign invasion once again, should conflict ever break out again, but for now everything be fine and dandy, mon.
5. The Republic of Gran Columbia- After the 1831 collapse, the Republic of Colombia split into three separate countries- Venezuela and Ecuador seceded, and the federal government lacked the conviction or power to reclaim them.
For a decade, this reduced Columbia did its best to continue on, actually meeting a fair amount of success. The economy quickly stabilized, and the government did its best to recover from the effects of having more than half of its land taken away. Venezuela, and to a lesser extent, Ecuador, did likewise.
A few years after forging its alliance with the FRCA, The United States revealed a plan to add another powerful member to the alliance. Columbia was, presently, the only other nation in the Americas with a fully democratic Constitutional government, and though very unstable and prone to nasty civil wars, seemed a suitable candidate.
American and Centroamerican ambassadors approached the Columbian government with a deal- if the country ceded the province of Panama to the FRCA, and agreed to some very profitable trade deals with the two countries (at the expense of others, like the European nations), they would help Columbia regain its lost territory. The Columbian president was somewhat reluctant to give up any more territory, but figured that the loss of one small sliver of Central America was worth having two whole countries back under his nation’s banner. Columbia agreed to the proposal, and became the third member of the Alliance (though it wouldn’t be called the NWA for some time).
Immediately following the deal, plans began being drawn up concerning invasions of Ecuador and Venezuela. Allied forces quickly made their way to the Ecuadorian border, as it was assumed that the smaller country would be the easier to defeat. In actuality, Ecuador’s mountainous terrain, sparse population, and guerilla tactics made them the more arduous of the ‘rogue nations’ to invade- not that all of those same things weren’t true of Venezuela, or Columbia, for that matter- but at least the Venezuelans had the decency to fight with actual armies rather than striking camps at night with jungle-bound guerilla groups. By early 1851, Columbia had fully regained its former territories (save Panama). Somewhat smug about the whole thing, the Columbian president of the time decided to amend the name of the country a slight bit, changing it from the Republic of Columbia to the Republic of Greater Columbia (Gran Columbia in Spanish).
While he would be remembered in the annals of history for his rather pompous nature, he wasn’t entirely wrong. The rest of the nineteenth century would see little else but good happenings for Columbia.
The rise of the Andine Federation would make the Columbians nervous, but once the Andeans joined the Alliance, there was no longer any concern. With Allied (primarily US, if we’re honest) assistance, Columbia had improved itself in pretty much every way. Better infrastructure, better education, better healthcare, etc.
Before the rise of the Federation, Columbia had been the most powerful nation in all of South America. The Andeans left them a comfortable second place, which dropped to a more uncomfortable third after the Empire of Brazil really started asserting itself.
During the Independence Wars, Columbia assisted in liberating all three Guianas from foreign rule, as well as some of the Caribbean islands. While sadly they did not get any land from this (save a few small islands off their north coast), they would be viewed by the Guianans as good friends, and the two countries have since formed a close bond.
By 1900, Gran Columbia is doing just fine. It has lessened in importance and influence since the early days of the Alliance, but it is stable, prosperous, and functional. It was once hoped that Columbia would become South America’s version of the US- claiming a lot of the good land, expanding a lot, and becoming an economic powerhouse. That day never came, but at least the Columbians can say that the nation stretches from ‘sea to shining sea.’
6. The Republic of Guiana- After the conclusion of the Independence Wars, all three of the small European territories in South America, in the northern region known as Guiana, were ceded to the United States.
There was some debate over what should be done with these new acquisitions: Many people were for simply keeping them as a new territory of the US (with possible statehood to follow later), while others said that it would make more sense to cede them to Gran Columbia or even the Caribbean Federation. Later, after Brazil joined the Alliance, still others suggested giving the territories to them.
Deemed a minor issue, the matter was left to rest for several decades, and it appeared the affair was settled in favor of US ownership. However, a growing independence movement eventually proved impossible to ignore, with hundreds of protesters crowding the streets for weeks and crying out for sovereignty.
Previously divided by political and linguistic barriers (being under the control of the British, Dutch, and French respectively), the citizens of Guiana were drawn together under the collective banner of liberty. Wanting to avoid an incident (and acknowledging that the area wasn’t substantially valuable to the US government anyway), administrators caved and sent a proposal to Congress regarding Guianan independence.
The measure passed without too much trouble, as most Congressman were simply relieved that the issue was finally dealt with, and work began on founding a new nation. The last and the smallest of the NWA countries to come into being, the Republic of Guiana is by 1900 a steadily prospering country, not very populous or powerful. Little of note happens there, but life is good for its citizens.
7. The Andine Federation- The Peru-Bolivian Confederation came into being in 1836 and was almost immediately deemed a threat by its neighbors (a not inaccurate assessment).
The Republic of Chile, sensing the danger to their economy (and eventually their sovereignty), declared war a mere four years after the Confederation was founded. However, the Peruvian army was by then in sufficient order to resist the invasion, if not go on the offensive; Peru came out of the war in an even better position than before, while Chile slunk off to lick its wounds.
Over the next two decades, the Confederation stabilized itself, making use of the period of peace to build up infrastructure and promote national unity. It was during this time that the Federation made a formal request to join the New World Alliance, which was accepted. After the attempted secession of Bolivia from the Confederation in 1844, citing a lack of representation of interests in the government, a major governmental shift made its way into Peruvian society. The three republics of the Confederation, North Peru, South Peru, and Bolivia federalized, giving up their individual power in favor of a more prosperous united nation. A lot of political maneuvering was involved (with proponents of unification resorting to begging, borrowing, and sometimes bribing for support), but the job got done.
No longer would the people be divided into Bolivians and Peruvians The Andine Federation was born. From that time forth, there would be only one united Andean people.
There was only one loose end left to tie up. Chile had not done well since their failed war against Peru-Bolivia. The economy was degrading and the “Republic” was an oligarchic aristocracy with the President at the top. Their relevance in trade was diminishing as the Andine Federation grew ever more powerful, and the region was rapidly becoming a backwater.
The Andeans extended an offer to join the Federation as a state, or possibly multiple states, which the Chilean government debated fiercely upon once it reached them. Some were willing to let bygones be bygones in favor of the possibility of reclaiming Chile’s bright future, but most leaders remembered the pain and humiliation inflicted by their northern neighbors and balked. A few weeks later, Chile would send a refusal of the ‘demands’ to the Federation.
Running out of patience, the Andeans attacked, with the intent to annex all of Chile into the Republic. Facing crippling economic debt, internal rebellions, and encroaching Federated Armies, Chile at length surrendered, and Andean unification was complete.
By 1900, the Andine Federation is an economic powerhouse. The vast mineral resources it possesses are not unique to the Andes-the main difference between Argentina, Colombia, and the Federation is not the presence of those resources- it is the ability of the government to exploit them. Plus, with its control over nearly the entirety of the vibrant South American Pacific coast, the Federation is the fishing capital of the world, sending its bounties across the planet. While not an official claim by the nation’s government, many regard the Federation as the true successor state to the Incan Empire, and the next best thing to Simon Bolivar’s dream for a united Latin America. And there is little point in trying to refute that point- the Federation is the most densely populated nation in the New World, successfully binding together thousands of miles of some of the highest mountains in the world, and stands proudly among the ranks of the Great Powers.
8. The Empire of Brazil- While the rest of the New World was wracked by instability, regime changes, and revolution, the Empire of Brazil stood alone, unfettered and thriving. Under the incomparable leadership of Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, the nation rose in power and prominence, coming to dominate the South American continent after decades of trailing behind Colombia and the Andine Federation.
Since the beginning, Brazil had been a beacon of freedom and liberal thought in South America. Despite officially being a monarchy, democratic ideals were integral to the Brazilian identity- the Emperor’s power was constitutionally limited, and despite the misleading title, the country was really a parliamentary constitutional monarchy similar to Great Britain at the time.
Like the United States, Brazil was mostly isolationist; despite the close ties the royal family had to their cousins in Portugal and abroad in Europe, the Empire mostly kept out of European affairs, and preferred that the Europeans do the same (Independência ou Morte!). However, unlike the United States, the Brazilians did not have any real qualms about the Europeans nations owning land in the New World. It wasn’t doing the citizens of those territories any (much?) wrong to be under the control of kingdoms thousands of miles across the sea- what did the Brazilians care? They had more important things to worry about- keeping profitable trade agreements with those kingdoms, and securing Brazil’s future as a Great Power.
Throughout the 19th century, the Empire continually pushed towards modernity and stability. As the rest of South America shifted and morphed around it, Brazil was able to step back and watch, as imposing and immovable from its rightful place in the spotlight as the great Amazon rainforest. The only real loss the Empire suffered was the loss of Cisplantina (Uruguay) in 1889, when an attempted republican coup nearly ended Imperial rule. The province had been a near-constant irritation since it was ‘acquired’ from Argentina- the Uruguayans didn’t like being ruled by the Argentines, but they liked being ruled by the Brazilians even less. Taking advantage of the crisis, they declared independence once again, and a few weeks later were promptly attacked by the La Platans.
Luckily, the Royal family were able to stop the republicans and stay in power. Dom Pedro II, exhausted and disillusioned after nearly 60 years of rule, didn’t actually mind the coup, feeling that the monarchy could not survive past his death anyway, and perhaps it was time for Brazil to move on. His son, Prince Imperial Alfonso, felt differently, as did his sister Isabel. Together, they marshaled the overwhelming popular support they still held and kicked the republicans out of the Imperial Palace, and re-cemented their family’s birthright. However, republicans and others (such as several of the old aristocratic plantation families, angry at the outlawing of slavery a few years earlier) continued to rebel, especially in the less developed agrarian regions of the country.
By the time the crisis had ended, the Empire was secured, but Cisplantina was firmly back in La Platan hands. Obviously angry at the blatant land-grabbing, the Imperial government sent a response to the New World Council, demanding that the territories be returned. However, the Council was still hurting diplomatically from denying the La Platans Chilean territory belonging to the Andine Federation, and needed something to appease the grumbling La Platan delegates. They sent a counteroffer to Brazil, proposing that Brazil be given military and economic assistance to help get out of chaotic situation they were still in, as well as a large monetary sum as compensation for the land lost.
Deciding that it made more sense for Brazil to cooperate with its neighbors than to go to war over a not very valuable province (for now) the Emperor agreed to the proposal. A lot of Brazilians were perturbed by the fact that the royal family seemed to be collaborating with obvious enemies of Brazil, and as a result the rebellion became even more powerful and contentious.
It took several years for the joint NWA-Imperial forces to defeat the revolutionaries entirely, but eventually it got done. Some rebel groups fled into the Amazon and continued to make some trouble, but it wasn’t enough to justify further bloodshed. Eventually, Dom Alfonso I, the new Emperor, pardoned the remaining Republican forces, and paved the way for certain reforms which would pacify the liberals and secure Brazil’s future prosperity.
While Alfonso didn’t particularly like the NWA, especially after the Cisplantine Incident, he recognized the economic benefits to be reaped from an alliance, and when an official invitation to join the Alliance was extended to Brazil, he warily accepted. Since the alliance occurred well after the Independence Wars and the American Civil War (both of which it was neutral during), Brazil has never had to break its age-old pact of neutrality. Should future conflict occur between the NWA and other political entites, however, Brazil will likely have to take up arms with their new bretheren.
By 1900, Brazil is the most powerful nation in South America, and the second most powerful nation in the Alliance after the United States. Tensions between it and the other NWA nations continue to simmer, although it appears that Dom Alfonso’s heir apparent has a more favorable outlook towards Brazil’s partners and relations will improve in the future. Brazil, more than any of the other Latin American nations, has a distinctive culture, identity, and nobility. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the New World. The Brazilian Emperor remains the only monarch left in all of the New World, which is a point of contention between it and other nations (the Mexican Republic in particular has no fondness for Emperors). However, Dom Alfonso has taken a page out of his father’s book, traveling throughout much of the world and meeting people in other countries. His noble manner and kind disposition have impressed many of the people that he meets, and the romanticism of a great monarch ruling over a noble kingdom appeals to many people in the NWA, despite the dissaproval of their respective governments.
9. The United Provinces of La Plata (UPLP)- [Full/official name: The United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata.] The Confederation of Argentina had been in decline basically since its founding. Problems with native assimilation, widespread poverty, and the similar issues had rendered it a fairly lackluster place to live.
During the era of the Independence Wars, the various governors (aka dictators) of its provinces were overthrown and an Alliance-supported Democratic government was put into power. Rather than splitting up* the Federation into various small countries (Patagonia, Buenos Aires, etc) NWA forces decided on keeping the country together and federalizing it. A single, stronger new member of the alliance would be more beneficial than several weak puppets. Thus, the UPLP was (re)born.
Further campaigns in the region would extend La Platan control over much of the nation’s former territories, including the rebellious states of Uruguay and Paraguay. Conflict came when the La Platans claimed territories under the control of the young Andine Federation, including much of Chile and eastern Bolivia. Historically, those regions had belonged to La Plata, before being lost in various wars and rebellions.
After some deliberation, the New World Council decided to keep the lands in Andean hands, which greatly displeased the La Platan government but never led to outright war (since the country wasn’t even on its feet yet and would lose spectacularly in any further battles with Allied troops).
By 1900, La Plata has reached a fairly prosperous and stable point in its history- tensions with the Andine Federation have mostly cooled off, and a friendly relationship has taken root between the two southern nations. In many ways, the United Provinces has benefited greatly from the Allies’ economic and military assistance. While it lags behind in development compared to the other New World nations, progress is swift, and with its allies’ help (primarily that of the Andine Federation) it will swiftly join the ranks of prosperity. A radical idea proposed by some of the UPLP’s prominent politicians (rich men who use money to get what they want, and what they want is more money) proposes an outright political union with the Andine Federation. In theory, this would bring greater wealth and prosperity to the country, and would allow the La Platans to be a part of a nation they can be really proud of, one comparable to the United States itself in strength. Whether any of that is really true remains to be seen.
*I wanted to say ‘balkanizing,’ but as you can see from the map, such a term does not nor probably ever will exist in this world.
10. The Republic of Liberia- After the American Colonization Society went bankrupt in 1842, the American government took an interest in the organization’s overseas holdings. A movement was made in Congress to purchase the narrow strip of coast the society had bartered for with local tribes, putting it under the direct ownership of the government.
The motion saw wide, bipartisan support-with the recent annexation of Texas into the Union, Americans in general were in an optimistic, and very expansionist, mood.
Additionally, politicians like Henry Clay strongly advocated purchasing, funding and supporting the Society’s preexisting project, which had involved sending free Afroamericans back to Africa in order to create their own society free from white persecution, rather than attempting to integrate them into American society (which wasn’t really working anyway).
Of course, some of the advocates just didn’t like the idea of there being any non-enslaved blacks in their country, but regardless of the various motives involved, the proposal passed by a comfortable margin.
America’s sole African colony was heavily invested in by the government, as well as several independent companies and entrepreneurs (including many notable black ones). Through the rest of the 19th century, the Colony of Liberia saw a large surge in population and development (despite massive hurdles such as decimating tropical diseases, hostile tribes, etc).
Probably the most significant accomplishment of the immigrants, called Americo-Liberians, was the building of mostly positive relations with the natives of the surrounding areas (eventually within the borders of Liberia itself), and gradual assimilation into civilized life. This allowed for relatively remarkable growth and prosperity, especially for the region of West Africa (pretty much all of the rest of which was a cesspool of cruelty and disease).
When the American Civil War broke out, Liberia decided to finally, fully recognize the dream it had been founded upon. Its major leaders sent a proclamation to the Union, declaring the Republic of Liberia independent of the American government. The provisional government made a deal with the President, saying that if the US recognized Liberia’s independence, then they could expect troops to assist in the war effort, as well as a continuing monopoly (relatively speaking-Americans weren’t eager to repeat the mistakes of their former British overlords) on Liberian trade until the conclusion of the war. If the US chose not to recognize Liberia as an independent entity, they would break all economic and diplomatic ties, and seek such elsewhere (perhaps with Great Britain, the ambassadors threatened). While the US didn’t really need the Liberian’s troops or goods for the war, the government wanted to preserve friendly relations between their two countries, and anyway it was a pretty stupid idea to make enemies while already fighting a Civil War.
Liberian soldiers would prove themselves to be ferocious fighters during the war- while their contributions were generally small but many, they made a very significant contribution during the defense of Petersburg, repelling the final desperate Confederate attempt to retake the city, with heavy losses.
After the Civil War, Liberia’s Golden Era hit its stride. Freed slaves all over the US flocked to its shores, and the region saw its highest numbers of immigrants ever. Liberia continued to grow through the rest of the century, and by 1900 is the most prosperous place in Africa, by far in West Africa. It is also one of only two wholly independent nations on the continent, the other being Ethiopia.
11. The Republic of the Philippines-. The 1880’s saw a surge in the movement for American imperialism. The US had long prided itself as the ultimate “anti-colonizer,” freeing foreign-ruled states from their oppressors. However, some argued that with countries like Great Britain spreading their colonial empires over the face of the Earth, America needed to play the same game. “Fight fire with fire” and all that. The imperialists argued that conquering lesser states in areas like East Asia would benefit everyone, by “protecting” the natives from European (mostly British) imperialism, bringing Christianity to pagan lands, and providing a sure source of tropical goods in the event of increased embargoes from the European countries, who were rapidly gaining a monopoly on such materials. Americans couldn’t rely solely on the admittedly limited materials/output of Liberia, after all, especially since Liberian independence.
When revolutionaries in the Spanish Philippines rose up in favor of independence, the USA seized the chance and declared war on Spain.
The war was pretty easy, since Spain’s fall from grace following the loss of its American colonies had been swift and hard. The Philippines were basically the only colonial territory they had left, and they gave it up almost without a fight due to their complete inability to respond to the Filipino patriots, let alone the mighty American War Machine.
With the Spanish defeated, the Americans debated fiercely over what to do with their newfound acquisition (as the Spanish had refused to recognize the Filipino country and in the treaty of Cebu had ceded the land to the US; recognizing the ‘savages’ that had broken free would, in Spain’s eyes, be a blotch on the country’s already tainted honor. At least the Americans were of the superior race, they reasoned).
Some argued for an independent Republic of the Philippines under American protection, while others voted for proclaiming it a full-fledged colony, completely subservient to the American government.
Interestingly, a large portion of Congress approved of the idea of making it merely a territory of the US, such as Hawaii was at the time, with a plan to eventually grant statehood to the Philippines. This would make it the most distant US state from the continental US by far, the only one not in the Western Hemisphere.
After much debate, it would be this last idea that would win out, establishing the Philippines as a US territory. The Filipinos were not included in the decision.
Obviously, they weren’t happy that they had not gained the sovereignty that they had fought fiercely for- they had welcomed the legendary American forces as saviors, not as overlords.
The leader of the rebel forces, Emilio Aguinaldo, sent a representative to Washington, D.C., through which he implored the government to change its mind. When his pleas fell on deaf ears, he threatened to campaign across the country to raise awareness about the unjustness the supposedly freedom-protecting government was enforcing over his people, hinting at the possibility of a national incident and a drawn out and embarrassing debacle for Congress. And if that didn’t work, he could always lead his forces into troublesome rebellion against the Americans, just as he had the Spanish.
While many were doubtful that he would be able to successfully lead an awareness campaign or convince a sufficient amount of people to support his cause, his impassioned letters and shrewd arguments convinced enough people in Congress (mostly of the party originally for Philippine statehood, incidentally) to change their minds and support the first group, who were in favor of supporting the revolutionaries to begin with.
Thus, under US protection, the Republic of the Philippines was established. The transition from colony to country was surprisingly easy- due to their Spanish Catholic tutelage, the Filipinos understood and worked comparatively well with American diplomats and others.
By 1900, the country is the most heavily Westernized nation in Southeast Asia, and very prosperous considering the circumstances (it is shockingly difficult to build up infrastructure and services on a collection of 7,641 disconnected islands). It is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia, and a bastion of Asian sovereignty and democracy amid a sea of European colonies and disintegrating Asian kingdoms.
12. The Republic of Vietnam- While the Philippine War was going on between the US and Spain, a similar crisis was unfolding in French Indochina. Vietnamese nationalists, desiring freedom from French rule, rebelled, fighting with modern(ish) weapons smuggled into Vietnam from China and Japan instead of the more common flintlock muskets and spears the French were used to dealing with.
The French actually lost their holdings in Vietnam, unprepared for the well-organized and motivated rebel movement instigated by the nationalists. Unfortunately, the rebels soon collapsed into two main warring factions, one wanting to restore the old Vietnamese Emperor as an absolute monarch, the other favoring a more modern constitutional monarchy along the lines of Great Britain (where the monarch held mostly cultural/symbolic power) or even a flat-out Republic (because since when had there ever been a good emperor in Vietnam?).
Normally this kind of event would be beneath the notice of the US, who generally had more important things to worry about than the incompetent French colonial administration, but with the fate of the Philippines starting to tip more and more in favor of becoming a free country, the imperialists were frustrated and out for blood. They spotted the vacuum in the region left by the French, and raced to fill it back up with American influence. The troops were already out in that area anyway, they reasoned; it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to suggest they briefly “go next door and meddle around a little.” So, with the uneasy stalemate between Filipino rebel forces and American troops still in full force, a large portion of the Army was sent over to Vietnam to aid the democratic rebels (d’oh!).
Long story short, the Americans were able to tip the balance in favor of the republicans, and reunited the region under provisional native rule. Of course, the main campaign took around two years to complete (fighting in the jungle is hell, no matter what century you live in), and by the time it was finished the Filipino nation was solidly on the path to becoming an independent republic.
With the precedent of liberation over colonialism firmly established in Asia, as elsewhere, there was little point in arguing for making Vietnam into a colony or territory or whatever else. So, the imperialists own plan backfired on them and basically caused America to get drawn into a war in which it had nothing really nothing to physically gain. Reluctantly, the imperialists accepted the motion to extend the same assistance to the new Republic of Vietnam as was already being given to the Philippines.
By 1900, Vietnam is a somewhat stable/prosperous country- its main export is rice, the major religion is still the indigenous folk religion (despite the efforts of Christian missionaries, the majority of the population are quite reluctant to accept anything exuding that much perceived Frenchness), and the standard of living is still pretty low. But hey, at least they can vote. Sort of. Things are improving.
13. The Kingdom of Scandinavia- The latter half of the nineteenth century saw increased American interest in the world at large. While this period is most famously known for the Independence Wars, it also saw the reunification of the ancient Kalmar Union of the 1500s. The US had long had an interest in having a strong ally in Europe- since the Second American Revolution, relations between Britain and her former colonies had been quite sour. US diplomats and entrepreneurs focused much of their time and effort on increasing leverage over the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, all of whom were fairly isolated from the rest of Europe and without much power (economic or otherwise).
By the mid-1890s, all 3 were extremely dependent on the US through trade and other mediums. The US convinced (a.k.a. bribed/Big-Stick-Diplomac-ied) the monarchs of all 3 countries to come together and create a new state. While nationalists abhorred the idea of joining with their longtime rivals and oftentimes competitors, they couldn’t really complain too much, for under the united leadership of a single Scandinavian king, the region saw its greatest surge in prosperity and relevance in centuries.
Finland was invaded and integrated before the Russians could get to it, which the Finns considered the better of two evils.
Scandinavia is still a pretty divided nation, with little in the way of a common culture or identity, but things are gradually improving. Under a constitutional monarchy, the Norsemen enjoy greater individual freedoms than many of the mainland Europeans do, and government/privately-funded ventures such as railroads connect and unite the country in more ways than one.
As of 1900, the Scandes are in a somewhat uneasy truce with the rest of Europe- mainlanders view the Northern Kingdom as the big, looming threat in the north, much as Russia is the big, looming threat in the east. In fact, Scandinavia’s main rival is Russia- the two neighboring countries harbor much tension towards each other, and are constantly trying to outdo the other. As of yet they have not actually come into open war, as the Russian Tsar fears (perhaps unjustly) that attacking the Scandes will draw the economic and military might of the United States upon the Motherland if provoked. Such a war might actually be good for Scandinavia- a common threat is an excellent way to unite a people.
14. The Republic of Ireland- The proud people of the Emerald Isle had been under British oppression for centuries. In 1896, Irish Republicans rebelled against Great Britain and proclaimed an Irish republic. A bloody war ensued, and the Irish eventually gained their independence from Britain.
They were funded in large part by the Kingdom of Scandinavia, and through Scandinavia, The USA. Though most Americans were still staunchly against intervening in strictly European affairs, Scandinavia had no such qualms. The restored Union had few friends in Western Europe (or Europe in general), and Ireland was in an ideal position to protect Scandinavia against threats from other Great Powers. If necessary, it would also be a good staging point for an invasion into Britain.
Ireland would suffer for several years from severely damaged architecture, debt, and rebels in the north who wanted to return to British control, but eventually the government pulled itself together and life improved dramatically for the average Irishman. The new Republic of Ireland isolated itself from the rest of Europe, basically taking a leaf out of the US’s book and focusing on more important internal issues. Even though it had been Scandinavia who had directly helped them out, most Irishmen understood that the US had had an important role in securing Irish independence, and relations were friendly. The US obviously wasn’t willing to officially enter into an alliance, but it was in its interests to keep Ireland independent and Britain as weak as possible (though honestly even the loss of all of Ireland couldn’t really put a damper on the might of the British Empire at that point. Colonialism was still going strong, and with the US mostly keeping to its sphere, the UK dominated world politics).
Ireland as of 1900 is in an alliance with their good buddies the Scandinavians, in an agreement known as the North Sea Pact. They are happy and getting richer, but an anxious undertone permeates the collective consciousness- just across the Irish Sea, the Great Menace lies in wait, ready to strike at any time.
The Americas [New World Alliance]
1. The United States of America (USA)
2. The Republic of Mexico
3. The Caribbean Federation
4. The Federal Republic of Central America (FRCA)
5. The Republic of Gran Columbia
6. The Republic of Guiana
7. The Empire of Brazil
8. The Andine Federation
9. The United Provinces of La Plata (UPLP)
Europe
10. The Kingdom of Scandinavia
11. The Russian Empire1
12. The Republic of Ireland
13. The Kingdom of Great Britain
14. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands
15. The German Empire
16. The Kingdom of Poland
17. The Kingdom of France
18. Switzerland
19. The Austro-Hungarian Empire
20. The Kingdom of Romania
21. The Kingdom of Portugal
22. The Kingdom of Spain
23. The Kingdom of Italy
24. The Yugoslavian Empire
25. The Byzantine Empire2
Africa
26. The West African Administrative Zone
27. The State of Libya
28. The Sultanate of Egypt
29. The Republic of Liberia
30. The United Republic of Western Africa(Nigeria)
31. The Central African Administrative Zone
32. The Kingdom of Ethiopia
33. The East African Administrative Zone
34. The Dominion of South Africa
I don't really know what's going on with all of the Administrative Zones, honestly- I just really hate the look of the millions of small countries in Africa created by the horrible decolonization process (it's dumb, but pet peeves are dumb). So I guess that technically most of Africa is non-canon-compliant with the rest of the map, since it is meant to show Africa sort-of post-colonization but before they start putting up national borders and stuff (which obviously happened after WW2, not before freaking WW1). So, sorry about that. Liberia, Egypt, Ethiopia (minus small amounts of land, I think), and South Africa are all fine- It's just Nigeria and the Administrative Zones that I messed up on.
The Middle East/Central Asia
35. The Ottoman Empire3
36. The Kingdom of Omani Arabia
37. The Republic of Georgia
38. The Kingdom of Armenia
39. The Imperial State of Iran
40. The Khanate of the Golden Horde (Baluchistan)4
41. The Kingdom of Afghanistan
Asia
42. The Chinese Empire of the Shān
43. The Empire of Japan
44. The Indian Empire
45. The Republic of Vietnam
46. The Kingdom of Siam
The Pacific
47. The Republic of the Philippines
48. The Republic of Indonesia
49. The United Australasian Republic
50. Various Pacific island nations/colonial holdings
Notes:
· Notations 1,2,3- the name displays a good deal of wishful thinking.
· Notation 4- Kind of depends on the week/ the whims of the country’s leader. Things have been kind of chaotic in the area since the rebellion against Russia.
· It kind of sucks to live in this world’s Europe, since most of its countries are totalitarian or absolute monarchies. Asia isn’t great either. And I wouldn’t put to much stock into expensive ideas like “law” or “order” in any of the African Administrative Zones. So basically, everybody should move to the Americas (or Australasia).
Thanks! I feel like its better than the Integralist Brazil one that I made a while back. Its still not perfect (or plausible/possible?) but I'm getting better.
By the way, I'm sorry if it triggers anyone that I posted a thing technically meant for Vic2 in the Hoi4 category. Problem is, I don't own Vic2, and for some dumb reason I can't actually post anything under it for that reason.
Anyway, questions, comments? I'd appreciate feedback, even if it's critical.
Anyway, questions, comments? I'd appreciate feedback, even if it's critical.
By the way, I'm a corporal now. Please don't ask how I managed that. I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you
Anyway, does anybody have some feedback about the narrative itself?
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