I like the way this AAR seems to portray the "dark side" of life even in a nation's greatest triumphs. Sometimes it can be hard to remember that not everything is a bed of roses...
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
I bet the Dark Side is thousands of revolts in Columbia and Ecuador which fry the brain of anyone with less patience than a cat.
Thank you all for your kind words and comments and now for the promised "Dark Side." Sorry about lack of frequent updates.
Despair Alienation and Poverty-The Dark side of 1873-1890
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
The risk of revolt in 1890
Contrary to many contemporary accounts of the Federal Republic of Central America. The Federal Republic of Central America experienced an unpreceedented rate of poverty and despair despite being the most industrialized Latin American nation. A risk of revolt was visible in many of the new states and also in the states that were historically part of the Union.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Central American Parliament House
The changes made which eliminated the role of the Executive and changed the constitution led to an increasing concentration of power at the hands of the well-moneyed and well-born classes. More and more, the Liberal Party strenghtened it's hold in Parliament managing to retain a majority of the seats. The hopelessly conflicted position of the opposition consisting of a motly collection of Anarcho-Liberals in the mould of the "Three Kings," Hardened Reactionaries, Moderate conservatives, socialists and revolutionary communists did not have a chance of even denting the disciplined Liberal Party.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Karl Marx
Increasingly, Marxist thought and theories became popular among the opposition. Particulary potent were Marx's phrase "the dictatorship of the bourgeiose." It was not only socialists and communists that could use this phrase with obvious relish but disenfranchised conservatives and reactionaries.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Slums in Guatamela City
Despite the economic growth the conditions for both the urban and the rural proletariat grew increasingly worse. The ascendancy of the Liberal Party and their secularized principles meant that the parishes and church organizations that under the Three Kings gave economic and social aid to the poor were all but anihilated and their assets confiscated. The situation for rural landowners grew increasingly worse as their lands were purchased by capitalists in the big cities. Many had to flee to cities into slum tenements as shown above.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
The famous 1888 Strike
Strikes were the only means of agitating for reform, but even then they were usually overcome by the Army who had become nearly fused by bureacratic Nepotism into the Liberal party. The 8/8/1888 Strike at a railroad in Panama was dispersed with a cavalry division consisting of the noveau rich sons of the new aristocracy. The waves of immigration only compunded the plight of the Central American Worker.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Man falling into himself
A new art movement grew out of this. Expressionism was borrowed by many Central American artists to create pieces that expressed the sorrow and anger at the seemingly declining situation.
A new crisis in 1890 combined with an Industrial recession would test the fabric of this "rotten corrupt structure" as the Central American socialists described the republic. Everybody knew that a crisis was coming. The only question was to whether or not the Republic could survice.
Despair Alienation and Poverty-The Dark side of 1873-1890
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
The risk of revolt in 1890
Contrary to many contemporary accounts of the Federal Republic of Central America. The Federal Republic of Central America experienced an unpreceedented rate of poverty and despair despite being the most industrialized Latin American nation. A risk of revolt was visible in many of the new states and also in the states that were historically part of the Union.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Central American Parliament House
The changes made which eliminated the role of the Executive and changed the constitution led to an increasing concentration of power at the hands of the well-moneyed and well-born classes. More and more, the Liberal Party strenghtened it's hold in Parliament managing to retain a majority of the seats. The hopelessly conflicted position of the opposition consisting of a motly collection of Anarcho-Liberals in the mould of the "Three Kings," Hardened Reactionaries, Moderate conservatives, socialists and revolutionary communists did not have a chance of even denting the disciplined Liberal Party.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Karl Marx
Increasingly, Marxist thought and theories became popular among the opposition. Particulary potent were Marx's phrase "the dictatorship of the bourgeiose." It was not only socialists and communists that could use this phrase with obvious relish but disenfranchised conservatives and reactionaries.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Slums in Guatamela City
Despite the economic growth the conditions for both the urban and the rural proletariat grew increasingly worse. The ascendancy of the Liberal Party and their secularized principles meant that the parishes and church organizations that under the Three Kings gave economic and social aid to the poor were all but anihilated and their assets confiscated. The situation for rural landowners grew increasingly worse as their lands were purchased by capitalists in the big cities. Many had to flee to cities into slum tenements as shown above.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
The famous 1888 Strike
Strikes were the only means of agitating for reform, but even then they were usually overcome by the Army who had become nearly fused by bureacratic Nepotism into the Liberal party. The 8/8/1888 Strike at a railroad in Panama was dispersed with a cavalry division consisting of the noveau rich sons of the new aristocracy. The waves of immigration only compunded the plight of the Central American Worker.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-16
Man falling into himself
A new art movement grew out of this. Expressionism was borrowed by many Central American artists to create pieces that expressed the sorrow and anger at the seemingly declining situation.
A new crisis in 1890 combined with an Industrial recession would test the fabric of this "rotten corrupt structure" as the Central American socialists described the republic. Everybody knew that a crisis was coming. The only question was to whether or not the Republic could survice.
I'm sorrylikk9922 said:I would laugh at this if it wasn't so sad.
I have like so many exams. I swear to Victoria that after Friday this week there will be daily updates.
Tomorrow I have biology proceeding accounting, two unrelated and very difficult subjects.
Once again sorry
No problem RL takes priority over games in cases of necessity. Take the time to study, and do your best.
Just don't forget about us entirely
RL takes priority over games in cases of necessity. Take the time to study, and do your best.Just don't forget about us entirely
1890-1892 From Liberalism to Socialism.
It is often noted that trivial events cause great changes in history. The great changes that would occur in the United States of Central America in only two years would allow a party that once commanded 75% of the vote to dwindle to 30%. And conversely, these same changes would allow a once minor third party with barely 10% of the vote to achieve a massive landslide in the election.
The trivial event which has been likened to a falling pebble causing an avalance was the declaration of the Parliament that. "Merit was the guiding succession principle in Government." Although this was true the particular timing of the declaration to coincide with a tragic accident in a Guatamelan factory seemed to prove the socialists point that the liberal dominated parliament did not care about the plight of the poor and highlighted the callous attitude of the noveau rich towards the underclass.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
The response of the socialist party was cryptic and unusually slow, It ran a large campaign for Pacifism in April 2 1890, almost 4 months after the declaration. The liberals were unpetredbed by what they saw as idle chatter of an ineffective small party. Little did they know how much this newspaper campagin would pay off. Although the move, in hindsight was a very wise decision, it would be wrong to claim that this move was in any way deliberate. Newly opened diary and medical reports of the Party President of the time Hippolito Rodriguez indicate that he was suffering from an acute form of syphillis which lead to rash, unpredictable decisions
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
This payoff was sparked off by a completely random event. In November 5 1890, smugglers from Venezeula were caught trying to sneak arms and ammunition to pro-colombian rebels. The governemnt response was severe, the smugglers were publically hanged and the cargo shipment seized. Relations between Venezeula and the USCA previously warm as the latter tried to build alliances were cut. However no matter how severe the response was, it did not lead to war. There were many factors involved in why a declaration of war failed to materialize, chief among those were the undready state of the army, a loss of prestige, the dislike of the noveau rich for war. But the Socialist Party took it as a sign that it was because their earlier newspaper campaign for pacifism worked.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
Compared to 1890 and 1892, the year 1891 was unusually quiet and it was in terms of actual dramatic happenings it was. However the processes which began in 1890 accelerated. The number of strikes more than doubled this year and the Socialist Party more than quadruppled in membership despite falling poll nubmers.
The real strenght of the pary was proven the year after. In August 2 following the announcement of elections. The party went into overdrive, it organized large anti-war rallies around the country which bought the party's diffenciating quality from all the other parties into fore and gained much support from the veterans. After the rallies were held the party poll numbers shot up from 8% to almost 20%. This was a remarkable gain and would prelude many other remarkable gains the party would make. The party grew from strenght to strenght and by September 26, it was polling slightly ahead of the Liberal Party.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
This panicked the capitalists into immediate reaction.Three days later in September 29 1892, all of the factories in the United States of Central America were closed, ostensibly for repair. The workers were all "temporarily laid off" without compensation. It was apparent that the real reason was to starve the proletariat into voting for the liberals. This move was counterproductive. It threw even the liberal minded craftsmen and clerks firmly behind the Socialist Party.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
The Liberal Party's support base eroded even further and further. When the elections were held in November 2 1892 the Socialist Party won 58% of the vote. A new era dawned for the United States of Central America America
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
It is often noted that trivial events cause great changes in history. The great changes that would occur in the United States of Central America in only two years would allow a party that once commanded 75% of the vote to dwindle to 30%. And conversely, these same changes would allow a once minor third party with barely 10% of the vote to achieve a massive landslide in the election.
The trivial event which has been likened to a falling pebble causing an avalance was the declaration of the Parliament that. "Merit was the guiding succession principle in Government." Although this was true the particular timing of the declaration to coincide with a tragic accident in a Guatamelan factory seemed to prove the socialists point that the liberal dominated parliament did not care about the plight of the poor and highlighted the callous attitude of the noveau rich towards the underclass.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
The response of the socialist party was cryptic and unusually slow, It ran a large campaign for Pacifism in April 2 1890, almost 4 months after the declaration. The liberals were unpetredbed by what they saw as idle chatter of an ineffective small party. Little did they know how much this newspaper campagin would pay off. Although the move, in hindsight was a very wise decision, it would be wrong to claim that this move was in any way deliberate. Newly opened diary and medical reports of the Party President of the time Hippolito Rodriguez indicate that he was suffering from an acute form of syphillis which lead to rash, unpredictable decisions
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
This payoff was sparked off by a completely random event. In November 5 1890, smugglers from Venezeula were caught trying to sneak arms and ammunition to pro-colombian rebels. The governemnt response was severe, the smugglers were publically hanged and the cargo shipment seized. Relations between Venezeula and the USCA previously warm as the latter tried to build alliances were cut. However no matter how severe the response was, it did not lead to war. There were many factors involved in why a declaration of war failed to materialize, chief among those were the undready state of the army, a loss of prestige, the dislike of the noveau rich for war. But the Socialist Party took it as a sign that it was because their earlier newspaper campaign for pacifism worked.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
Compared to 1890 and 1892, the year 1891 was unusually quiet and it was in terms of actual dramatic happenings it was. However the processes which began in 1890 accelerated. The number of strikes more than doubled this year and the Socialist Party more than quadruppled in membership despite falling poll nubmers.
The real strenght of the pary was proven the year after. In August 2 following the announcement of elections. The party went into overdrive, it organized large anti-war rallies around the country which bought the party's diffenciating quality from all the other parties into fore and gained much support from the veterans. After the rallies were held the party poll numbers shot up from 8% to almost 20%. This was a remarkable gain and would prelude many other remarkable gains the party would make. The party grew from strenght to strenght and by September 26, it was polling slightly ahead of the Liberal Party.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
This panicked the capitalists into immediate reaction.Three days later in September 29 1892, all of the factories in the United States of Central America were closed, ostensibly for repair. The workers were all "temporarily laid off" without compensation. It was apparent that the real reason was to starve the proletariat into voting for the liberals. This move was counterproductive. It threw even the liberal minded craftsmen and clerks firmly behind the Socialist Party.
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
The Liberal Party's support base eroded even further and further. When the elections were held in November 2 1892 the Socialist Party won 58% of the vote. A new era dawned for the United States of Central America America
By franciscovich at 2007-12-01
Interesting turn of events. The Liberals really bungled that election, apparently...
Incidentally, are there any other socialist states elsewhere in the world?
Incidentally, are there any other socialist states elsewhere in the world?
Once again apologies for lack of frequent updates. Battlefield 2142 is fiendishly addictive, even moreso than Vicky I'm afriad. Now, now don't burn me yet, I'll update tonight though.
Now, now don't burn me yet, I'll update tonight though.
The Rise and Fall of Socialism
Socialism in the United States of Central America like all the other poltical ideologies would have a spectacular rise and an equally spectacular fall. From a minor party would less than 5% of the vote it would become the first ever ruling socialist party and crash and burn into a faction ridden split party.
In order to understand the origins of the quick demise of the Socialist Party, it is important to understand the background in which they came to power. The Socialists managed to win power in November 1892. The government was utterly discredited by a succesion of economic crisis and utterly mismanaged them, closing down factories. Thus, the party did not win on the basis of it's programme, for it had none and was led by a drunken syphillitic with no prior politcal experience. Hippolito Rodriguez may have been an effective opposition leader and mobiliser of men (his image as an eccentric genius no doubt influenced this,) but he was utterly inept and corrupt as a leader of a nation of more than 7 million people. As one historian put it bluntly "Rodriguez was the wrong man, at the wrong time, at the wrong job"
The ineptness of the Socialist Party was also exarcebated by it's lack of formal ideology. It declared itself in it's party programee a "socialist party" and professed "total adherence to the doctrine of the working man" The total vagueness of the programme would allow it to promise everything to everyone but would lead to conflict among the bright young students who formed the new leaders of the party and were not just content to leave the ideology vague. These bright young students would be the party's greatest asset and liability.
THe first act of the Socialist Party, predictably was to forcibly open the closed factories and plantations that were closed. This was the only action of the Socialist Party which was did not affect the country negatively. The Socialist Party would from then on build a series of factories that would cause a bank sector crash. The Economic rationale was complex yet simple, there were already too many factories and not enough people, without enough population and with a new "southern block" being formed by Ecuador, Venezeula and Colombia which imposed heavy tariffs against Central American products, there was no demand for the goods.
By the time of elections in August 2 1897, the Socialists had alienated virtually everyone and had become little more than a beer hall debating society riddled with intercinnine factional struggles and byzantine personal politics. The Wheel of history had gone full circle and consigned the socialists to the rubbish heap of history. For the first time in nearly three generations, the Conservative Party was in charge again.
Socialism in the United States of Central America like all the other poltical ideologies would have a spectacular rise and an equally spectacular fall. From a minor party would less than 5% of the vote it would become the first ever ruling socialist party and crash and burn into a faction ridden split party.
In order to understand the origins of the quick demise of the Socialist Party, it is important to understand the background in which they came to power. The Socialists managed to win power in November 1892. The government was utterly discredited by a succesion of economic crisis and utterly mismanaged them, closing down factories. Thus, the party did not win on the basis of it's programme, for it had none and was led by a drunken syphillitic with no prior politcal experience. Hippolito Rodriguez may have been an effective opposition leader and mobiliser of men (his image as an eccentric genius no doubt influenced this,) but he was utterly inept and corrupt as a leader of a nation of more than 7 million people. As one historian put it bluntly "Rodriguez was the wrong man, at the wrong time, at the wrong job"
The ineptness of the Socialist Party was also exarcebated by it's lack of formal ideology. It declared itself in it's party programee a "socialist party" and professed "total adherence to the doctrine of the working man" The total vagueness of the programme would allow it to promise everything to everyone but would lead to conflict among the bright young students who formed the new leaders of the party and were not just content to leave the ideology vague. These bright young students would be the party's greatest asset and liability.
THe first act of the Socialist Party, predictably was to forcibly open the closed factories and plantations that were closed. This was the only action of the Socialist Party which was did not affect the country negatively. The Socialist Party would from then on build a series of factories that would cause a bank sector crash. The Economic rationale was complex yet simple, there were already too many factories and not enough people, without enough population and with a new "southern block" being formed by Ecuador, Venezeula and Colombia which imposed heavy tariffs against Central American products, there was no demand for the goods.
By the time of elections in August 2 1897, the Socialists had alienated virtually everyone and had become little more than a beer hall debating society riddled with intercinnine factional struggles and byzantine personal politics. The Wheel of history had gone full circle and consigned the socialists to the rubbish heap of history. For the first time in nearly three generations, the Conservative Party was in charge again.
as always good work, who will rule the nation now?
*over 10 days and no comments, sorry about that, hopefully my bump will revive this great aar!
asd
*over 10 days and no comments, sorry about that, hopefully my bump will revive this great aar!
asd