Prologue: End of The Union
The question of how the United States, beacon of democracy and republican ideals, collapsed is a complex one. Entire books could be- and have been -written on the subject, and even then it only scratches the surface. Even so, to understand the birth of the Confederation, one must understand the death of her progenitor.
The United States was a nation of contradictions, during and after the destruction of the Weltkreig. Potentially powerful, with an industrial might that even the German Empire in its new position as global hegemon could not equal. And yet, this potential withered away, and saw no use. The fiercely isolationist government of the time kept the United States out of the Weltkreig, despite pressure to assist the Entente. Any student of history can identify this, more than anything else, as perhaps the reason the Entente lost that war. Such is speculation however, and outside the scope of this work. As in any case, the United States did not interfere, and the Central Powers did win the war. The results of which sowed the seeds for the Second American Civil War.
With the collapse of the British Empire, and the shifting of power to the German Empire, the United States saw its primary source of income fade away. The new Syndicalist governments- the Union of Britain and the Commune of France -showed little interest in trade for years after their formation, preferring to stamp out any resistance to their proletarian rule. Germany, by now in control of vast amounts of African territory, had little need to trade for American resources. The economy entered into an almost unprecedented slump, as dissent simmered just beneath the surface. The government did its best to control the situation and improve the economy, but most attempts failed. Couple this with a revolving door of isolationist Presidents, and the American situation refused to improve.
This opened the door for radical parties to begin to form from the disillusioned public...most notably, the Combined Syndicates of America and the America First. Polar opposites...but at the same time, almost identical in their goals.
John 'Jack' Reed and Huey Long could not have been more different...or more alike.
Upsetting the traditional 'Two-Party System' in American politics, the CSA and America First began rallying supporters on both sides of the political fence. Union workers and socialists alike began drifting to the CSA in the industrial north, primarily the city of Chicago. Supported clandestinely by the suddenly interventionist Syndicalist Internationale
1. the socialists became a serious contender in the 1936 election. Added into this fact was the sudden arrival of the 'Totalist' doctrine. Totalitarian Syndicalism, this doctrine was one that many in the CSA's more extreme outlying membership endorsed wholeheartedly. Reed himself was more moderate, but that meant little to those observing the CSA at the time. It was really little wonder how so many Americans could support the following events, with the knowledge that the extremists in the Syndicalist camp would the exact same thing.
Huey Long's America First was not as popular, nor as powerful as the CSA. What he did have was money, and the support of the rich Southern landowners who had no desire to see their estates go the way of the French and British. Toss in the extreme right-wing and their supporters, and the America First with their 'Minute Men' left the South heavily divided. Those who supported the traditional parties, and those who supported Long. There was no room for socialists of any stripe, the America First pushing them into the CSAs waiting arms. And in so doing, radicalizing that group even further.
In this climate of unrest, President Hoover was left with a hard decision to make. He could have allowed the elections to go forward, with the result likely being his own Vice-President, Charles Curtis, winning the election by a small majority. However, there was always the chance that the CSA may win. And if that happened, Long would surely revolt. The same went for the CSA, should they lose, especially if the victory was as small as most political observers believed it would be. Neither option was palatable...the United States was fragile, too fragile. If revolts began, they would spread...and then, the Republic would collapse. A stronger hand was needed...a stronger
military hand.
Douglas MacArthur, 32nd and final President of the United States
Working on this logic, Hoover invited Douglas MacArthur, a noted leader of the anti-syndicalist movement in the army, into office. While, for the moment, MacArthur acted in a 'housekeeper' role, this move was the eventual deathknell of the Republic. Such was unknown at the time however...most Americans welcomed the stability. 'Most', of course, not including Reed and Long. The former especially so. MacArthur was infamous for his hatred of 'The Reds', and as such, initiated the infamous 'Crackdown'
2. Socialists, Social Democrats, Unioners, any connected with the CSA were arrested. Clashes with the army became a regular occurrence in Chicago and Detroit, even as Reed attempted to defuse the situation. The man was every bit a Socialist who hated the 'bourgeois oppressors'. What Jack Reed was
not was a warmonger who wanted America to collapse. MacArthur, on the other hand, had no interest in a bargain. The Crackdown intensified, forcing Reed's hand.
The Combined Syndicates of America declared itself a new nation early in 1937, beginning the Second American Civil War. This set off a cascade of events, tearing the nation apart. From Long's declaration of the American Union State in the South, to Canada's annexation and subsequent release of New England. Even the Pacific Coast was not untouched, as the short-lived Pacific States of America declared itself independent. And, of course, the Kingdom of Hawai'i bears mentioning, as the one nation to declare independence in the chaos of the Civil War to remain to this day. The course of the Civil War is outside the scope of this volume however, a more recommended text would be 'America Aflame: The Second Civil War.' by my colleague James Gardner.
Suffice to say, the war was hard and damaging. Chicago took years to fully recover, and Atlanta never truly did. Thousands of brave men and women- the CSA conscripting anyone and everyone who was willing to fight -died defending their ideals. In the end however, MacArthur proved to be an able military leader. By the middle of 1937, the United States was reunited aside from Hawaii and Alaska, the latter taken by Canada. Most would have expected this to be the end of the problems that had gripped the nation. The radicals had fled, to France and Cuba respectively. The Nation was united once more, and the war had at least kick-started the economy with the need to rebuild the war-ravaged territories of the CSA and AUS. Most expected a new golden age, where MacArthur would graciously step-aside, allowing emergency elections to create a new government he could loyally serve in his post as Chief of Staff.
Such was not to be.
The Army remained in its positions, patrolling the streets of American towns. MacArthur didn't go as far as tearing the Constitution to pieces...in fact, he did say elections would come in 1940. However, this was a front. The Army, lead by the old general, remained in control. 'President' MacArthur was little more than a dictator, something he didn't even really try to hide. The rebellious territories weren't rebuilt in a mirror of President Lincoln's Reconstruction plans for the First Civil War. In fact, an increasingly large security apparatus began to take shape, with the express goal of 'hunting down those who may threaten the Union'. Realistically, this should have referred to spies from the Internationale or Mitteleuropa. There were certainly many of those to go around.
What actually happened, was far more troublesome for an already war-weary and fractured nation. The Crackdown continued, as more and more 'dissidents' were rounded up. In addition, the Constitution became more and more sidelined. Freedom of Speech, something held near and dear to the pre-war government even as Reed and Long's groups- if not necessarily their leadership -became more radical, was restricted. If one did not tow the Conservative Party
3. line, they were at serious risk of being arrested and sent to a 'reeducation' center. As a man who lived through this, I can attest to the fear and paranoia of the time. You did not know who you could trust, or if you would be taken by the Army for merely speaking out.
And yet, for all of this, there was still hope that MacArthur would give up power at the scheduled election. In fact, it seemed like that might be the case. In an apparent moment of weakness, the General allowed the democratic opposition to run in the election instead of merely allowing his puppet party to win.
John Nance Garner, 33rd President-for a month
The result was a- temporary -victory by John Nance Garner and the Democratic Party. The new President almost immediately began repealing most of the moves made by President MacArthur, restoring some semblance of normalcy to America. Those arrested in the Crackdowns were released from prison and sent home with compensation. The massive security apparatus was dismantled. Freedom of Speech was restored. All in all, Garner was on a fast track to become one of the most popular Presidents in American history, if only because of his predecessor's mistakes.
The last of which was launching a coup, and restoring himself as President. This was the 'straw that broke the camel's back' for the old General. Not long after MacArthur restored himself to power, and began his Crackdown again, the opposition against him began to become more radical once more. Even the most democratic and nonviolent of Americans began to chafe under the obviously dictatorial rule of the General-President. It was little wonder that the opposition began to radicalize. They had no choice if they wanted to restore democracy to the Republic. Behind the scenes, plans began to take shape to depose MacArthur in a counter-coup, to bring America back to her roots.
These plans would never come to fruition, despite all archives found in Washington indicating they were far along. Because Douglas MacArthur, one of the most hated men in American history, was shot by a poor European farmer in the West. The President died before he could reach a hospital, setting off a scramble for power. His deputy, Dwight Eisenhower, attempted to take control in Denver, to stabilize the military junta. On the East coast, the opposition suddenly found themselves thrust into power...and divided. Attempts to establish control just lead to more chaos as the nation began to fracture...
Giving birth to the Confederation of the Great Lakes, the Federated Union of America, a reborn New England and Pacific States, Puerto Rico, and the rump that would become known as the Plains Republic. The Union was no more.
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1. The Syndicalist Internationale was formed by the Union of Britain, the Commune of France, and the Socialist Republic of Italy. The primary goal of this Alliance was spreading the revolution abroad...to varying degrees of success.
2. The Crackdown was a series of bills and laws aimed at neutering the Unions and the Socialists. It gradually grew worse, until it became little more than an attempt at stamping out any 'Reds' in America.
3. The Conservative Party was the Political Party formed by MacArthur to control Congress and the Executive Branch. Little more than a front for the Army, its popularity figures were always inflated.