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Pride & Providence
A History of the American Empire


The Mexican-American War

Praise to the Damned

The Mexican-American War was winding down in intensity; though Mexico still refused to give into the demands of the American Empire. In a ploy to make the Mexican government see the light, a public announcement was made; stating the Grand Army of the Empire would be greatly reinforced and march upon Mexico City; and would destroy every last building. Mexico finally began negotiating; but would still not satisfy American demands by giving up California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Texas.

With negotiations still on-going, the American Legion continued it’s destruction of the Mexican army; that had been rebuilt. In a series of battles, beginning May 15th, the Mexican Army would lose a total of 35,000 killed soldiers; with thousands others deserting the Army. All this glory would come at the cost of roughly 8,000 American soldiers, killed or wounded. Sadly, for the soldiers, the American public showed minor interest in far-flung Mexican towns; which were depicted as dirty, rat-infested, and unworthy of civilization – to them it was just another victory in war that was already won.



The Second Battle of Reynosa, May 15th-18th, 1838. The most lopsided battle of the five battles of the Summer of 1838. The other four battles: Second Battle of Delicias; Battle of Monterrey; Battle of Chihuahua; and the last battle of the war, Battle of Parral.​

Finally, on December 1st, 1838, the American public would have their desired announcement – the Mexican government, with the Grand Army of the Empire fifty-three miles away from Mexico City, give into American demands. The American Empire would now stretch from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean; fulfilling what John L O’Sullivan described as America’s “Manifest Destiny.” Little known to most, the acquisition of this territory would not satisfy the royal family; whose desire was to liberate the continent of control by European states.

Immediately after the peace agreement was ratified by the Senate, and signed by Emperor Jackson, California was admitted into the Empire as a slave state. Liberals in the North were greatly agitated by this move; threatening secession from the Empire. In a daring article, Emperor Jackson challenged the liberals to declare themselves an independent nation – who would help them? Britain, engulfed in a world war?




The American Empire after the Mexican-American War.​
 

Pride & Providence
A History of the American Empire



Chapter 3: Patience is a Virtue

The Other Blessing

One of the main blessings that Providence provides is the military ability to defeat our enemies in sound; but with the war aspect of Providence over, her good graces would be needed elsewhere. The American Empire now stretched from sea to shining sea, yet hardly had a industry, a rail system or any other infrastructure to support the claim of a great a power, at least in the minds of the elitist Europeans; mostly notably among the former Mother Country. Providence, along with Emperor Andrew Jackson I, would show the Europeans what a mighty nation looked like; though it would take a few more years, possibly a decade or two to complete the task.

In order to assist with the task of truly becoming a global power, construction of ports began in San Francisco, San Diego and Houston. While the navy was acquiring new ports to operate from, the American Legion began another round of expansion, recruiting eight infantry regiments and two artillery regiments. Once completed the regiments would be formed into the 2nd Imperial Army of the Empire; with the Grand Army of the Republic becoming the 1st Imperial Army. In order to expand our military presence in our hemisphere, a military alliance was signed with the nation of Venezuela; which would support the American interest in the continent. A similar offer would be declined from the United States of Central America, who kept insisting for American protection every few months.

On July 19th word reached Washington that the United Kingdom and Belgium had reached a peace agreement with Russia, the Netherlands and Portugal. The Dutch would lose their state within South America; have their European holdings significantly reduced. Before a full month could pass of a European war; the Germanic kingdoms were at each others throats with Prussia leading one camp versus Austria and the other camp. The American Empire interest in the war was enormous, it was the hope that either side would be able to unite into a stronger empire; attracting the attention of the other Great Powers from America’s ambition.

Meanwhile, back in America, Oregon was declared a territory of the United States. Officials would now finish with directing settlers to Washington before trying to settle Idaho. With the west being settled surely but slowly; the attention of the capitalists and government had turned back east. In September, the government; along with capitalists, began the expansion of the profitable fabric factory located in Manchester, New Hampshire; along with the steel factory located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the cement factory in Albany, New York. Along with industrial expansion; the capitalists, with zero funds provided by the government, had expanded railroads across the entire state of Pennsylvania.

On December 12th, the Clay Douglas Act passed the Senate; and reduced the fears of secession across the Empire; though most knew this would be an uneasy truce; but for how many years was up for debate. In the interest of national unity; Emperor Jackson I declared the admission of additional states into the American Empire would be placed on hold – territories could and would be acquired. The great debate would continue to rage…



Belgium's new territory after the peace agreement.​
 
Hmmm with the newly acquired mexican states admitted to the Union as Slav states, a sort of "Wilmot Proviso" will have to be passed, saying that all states acquired from Canada and the Oregon country, as well as states in the great plains, will have to be free-soil, otherwise the balance of power in the senate will be upset.
 
An invasion of Canada? Will Cuba be liberated from Spanish Imperialism and become the 49th State of the Union? In five years will Mexico's Lower California be reunited with its northern territory by American arms? I look forward to finding out.
 
Hell is loose everywhere!

This is an understatement. This is my first game where I have seen the AI go crazy and declare war like mad.

@Aetherius - God save the Emperor!

@John Forseti - I think we'll find out soon enough on where's America's ambition lies next.

@twcAxeman - I think I can come up with something to save the Empire from this imbalance.
 

Pride & Providence
A History of the American Empire



Chapter 3: Patience is a Virtue

Six Thousand Miles

On January 6th, 1840, the American Empire welcomed the Washington Territory into the fold. Official American policy quickly switched from encouraging settlers from Washington to move north into Columbia; which was already partially colonized by the British. While this would greatly agitate the British; the American armed forces were ready to deal with the threat. A month earlier; the construction of sixteen additional warships began construction in the harbors of Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans and Tallahassee.

On a bitterly cold February 1st, in Chicago, Illinois, Emperor Jackson I, along with Crown Prince Andrew Jackson and other distinguished guests had gathered for the unveiling ambitious plans. Significant resources had built up within the government’s coffers; along with interest from northern businessmen, a trans-continental railway would be built. Outrages from the southern aristocrats had preceded the plan; but were quickly pacified at the unveiling ceremony. Two railways, both spanning the continent were to be built. The Northern Line depart from Chicago and reach to San Francisco; while the Southern Line would depart from New Orleans and connect with San Diego.

The diplomatic front would soon provide a minor distraction for the administration. On February 15th, the Russian Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire. American diplomats in Saint Petersburg were expressing interest with the Russians about purchasing Alaska from them; but were rebuffed. The Russians would quickly overrun the Caucasus border with the Ottoman Empire. Within months, peace was declared and the Kars region flew the Russian flag instead of the Ottoman flag.

December 31st, would prove to be a sad day for the nation, as General Robert Benton, hero of the Mexican-American War died. Before Ulysses S Grant, Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson, but after George Washington and Andrew Jackson, there was Robert Benton.




The Trans-Continental Railways​
 

Pride & Providence
A History of the American Empire



Chapter 3: Patience is a Virtue

The Calm Before the Storm


The Calm Before the Storm“The skies are darkening”, proclaimed a liberal pastor from upstate New York, near Buffalo, “Providence is dissatisfied with the enslavement of the millions of people within the southern lands. A great rising shall come and liberate those who are shackled to the land.” The rabble of the pastor was easily dismissed; as the debate about slavery was hardly one worth fighting militarily; the nation had calmed down recently. The Jackson Administration was beginning to propose numerous plans to create economic development in the southern states; beyond the federal-owned paper mill in the South.

On January 23rd, 1841 Idaho was welcomed into the American Empire was a territory, and would later be joined by Columbia on April 24th, 1841. Of interest, on February 17th, Belgium announced to the world a declaration of war against Tunis; which was a surprising move, considering France and the Ottoman Empire both had claims over the land but refused to act in any measure. A few days later, Washington received news that Prussia and Austria had signed a peace agreement – returning to the status quo; a disappointing result as the American Empire was secretly funding the Prussian war effort.

As the year passed on, ‘Ideological Thought’ was discovered; increasing the way the educated masses of the Empire thought. The educated minds in Washington quickly began thinking of a way to increase Americans desire to serve in the American Legion. A full scale national campaign was desired, but in reality it was targeted to New York state, the Empire’s most populous region.

As the year passed from 1841 to 1842, America had good news. On January 24th, both the Northern and Southern Lines of the Continental Railroad had been completed, ahead of schedule and on budget. Shortly after the completion of the lines, two additional lines were announced and work would begin on them post-haste. These were the Eastern Lines (Council Bluffs, Iowa to New Orleans) and Western Lines (Seattle to San Diego).

Recruitment in New York state began to pay off, as 9,000 recruits had signed up to join the Imperial Cavalry; while other recruits signed up to join the Imperial Navy, and would be deployed to the nations main naval bases of Boston, Norfolk, Baltimore or New Orleans; which were currently undergoing expansion.

On December 12th, the New England Journal, reported on a sermon from an upstate New York pastor: “The day of liberation has come for the Afro-American. The North industrial north is greatly disturbed by the mistreatment of our fellow brothers and sisters. Providence has called for their freedom, and we shall answer providence’s call.”

 

Pride & Providence
A History of the American Empire


Chapter 4: Disgrace of the Empire

Opening Moves


REVOLUTION!” proclaimed the morning’s headlines of the New Hampshire Gazette, the nation’s oldest publication, established in 1756. “Thousands protest the draconian practice of slavery that has been creeping across this great land, spreading sickness and destruction where-ever it goes.”

Thousands was an understatement; reports came in from American Legion armories across the New England and the mid-Atlantic that soldiers with a liberal leaning had defected; and allowed several armories to be raided by civilians; who now had arms. Three thousand armed citizens in Philadelphia, and another three-thousand in Scranton; six thousand in New York City, nine thousand in Massachusetts; and several thousand spread across the rural areas of New England and upper New York.

“Order must be restored. The Empire must be preserved. Send, in the troops!” barked Crown Prince Andrew Jackson; who had become the de-facto emperor, since Emperor Jackson has an incurable disease – tuberculosis, along with heart failure. Few knew, that his adoptive father suffered chronic headaches, abdominal pains and a hacking cough that were caused by a musket ball that penetrated his lung, but was never removed.

Orders were distributed to the mixed Northern and Southern origin 1st and 2nd Imperial Armies. The 1st Imperial Army, marched from outside of its barracks near Washington would march towards Philadelphia; while the 2nd Imperial Army would march from Chicago towards upstate New York to deal with the rural rebels. Time was of the essence, the rebels were to be quashed before a declaration of any form could be signed. Rumor was already trickling in from the state capitol in Boston of a “Republic of New England”, that would be aligned to the interest of all slave-free people; worst of all, a republic that would be friendly to the British interest.


The Revolution is proclaimed, December 12th, 1842.​

 
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I'm sure the Empire shall hold. :)


Also:



Sorry, that just made me chuckle.



Can't wait for the next installment.

Opps. He is an incurable disease. YOU DON"T F WITH JACKSON =p
 

Pride & Providence
A History of the American Empire


Chapter 4: Disgrace of the Empire

Gunfire


FIRE!” yelled the commander of the 37th Philadelphia Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, 1st Imperial Army of the Empire. “Fire! God damn it!”

At first the troops reluctantly began to fire, but as they saw their comrades firing they all began to fire in unison. Aided by the fact that their once fellow countrymen were now shooting at them; also increased the urgency of the soldiers to reload and fire. Kill or be killed quickly became the mentality of the soldiers; who were putting down fellow Philadelphians. The result was horrendous, of the three-thousand men strong revolt 2,736 of citizens had been killed in several skirmishes with Imperial troops. Any rebel caught alive was summarily condemned and sentenced to death.

Quickly the scene began to spread across the mid-Atlantic; as the rebels in Scranton soon felt their mortality slip away against hardened troops of the 1st Imperial Army; which had become use to slaughtering once former citizens. Emperor Jackson; who by now was merely a figurehead within his own administration, had signed a decree declaring all people revolting traitors. People could still claim their loyalty to the Empire, if they forbade arms; however few heeded the call.

On January 18th, Imperial troops marched through the streets of New York; which had mostly become ghost town. Most of the citizens remained shuttered within their dwellings; knowing the ruthlessness in which all rebellions were being quashed against the iron boot of the Empire. Word began spreading across the remaining rebels in New England, the cause to end slavery was useless. On February 1st, Imperial troops marched into Providence, Rhode Island. Local townspeople had taken up courage and arrested the majority of the rebellion’s ring leaders; who were put on trial and sentenced once the military arrived.

By February 17th, the revolution was declared over. An estimated 30,000 revolutionaries had taken to the streets of Philadelphia, Scranton, Watertown, New York City, Providence, New Bedford, Boston and Concord. Of the 30,000, 27,329 of them were either killed in battled, arrested and sentenced to death. The remaining few were granted clemency, as they routed out the financial supporters of the rebellions; who in turn were sentenced and put to death for crimes against the Empire.

 
Pretty dang good. Will there be a real Civil War later, or will freeing the slaves go rather peacefully?