V2 Beta AAR: A house divided

[Darkrenown]

The USA in 1849 was one of the most powerful nations in the world. After intervening in the Texan war of independance, crushing Mexico and annexing a grateful Texas, and colonising the Pacific coast the USA spanned the entire continent:

A rapidly growing industrial base in the north ensured prosperity for the growing middle class and the rich Capitalists who funded the growth:

(There's also a Steel mill in Pennslyvania)

Diplomatically, things were also looking good. Much of South America was already considered part of the USA's Sphere of Influence and a system of alliances ensured their security:

However, politically the US wasn't so healthy. In the Southern states resentment was growing, both due to the anti-slavery arguments of the Abolitionists, and the growing population and industrial might of the North.

Finally, on the 12th of July 1849, the issue comes to a head. The Sourthern states declare that they have seceeded from the Union:

 

[Darkrenown]

The first days of the war were chaos. As word of the seccession spread like wildfire through the nation(s) the various armies began to fight amoungst themselves as Yankee and Dixie brigades declared their loyalty to their respective states:

The initial battles went poorly for the CSA, the one exception was the Battle of Charleston, where what would become known as the Army of Georgia defeated the 2nd Union Army. Afterwards the Union troops fled to Savannah where they were chased down and destroyed:

The US made good use of their navy throughout the war, much of the southern coastline was kept under a close blockade:

The CSA wasn't entirely without economic weapons of its own though. A not so subtle hint that the North's blockade wasn't helping cotton exports was enough to raise the possibility of the European Great Powers intervening on the CSA's side:

Meanwhile, the Army of Georgia races north to protect the CSA's capital, Richmond:

 

[Darkrenown]

As 1850 starts the CSA's first election ends and the New America party win it quite handily. Elected on the issues of Jingoism and State Capitalism they vow to both strain every sinew in support of the war and begin the process of industrialising the South:

And that is just what they do. State sponsored industry begins to sprout up throughout the CSA. The tide of war starts to turn against the USA too as the Army of Texas defeats the Union's Army of the South in Little Rock. At the same time the Army of Georgia has reached Washington DC and is occupying the area:

Short on troops the CSA manages to find some patriotic immigrants to take up the colours:

But as Washington falls the US is finally convinced of the need to conscript larger armies and their reserves are mobilised:

 

[Darkrenown]

As soon as the Union new soldiers know roughly what side of a rifle should be pointed towards the enemy they are gathered into an army and sent to retake their capital. The Northerners have the numbers, but a well-organised force is never outnumbered by a mob, and Edmund Mosby's vetern Army is victorious
once again:

As 1851 draws to a close the USA's reserve armies have been wiped out. The Northern leaders, finally realising that they won't be able to restore the Union begin to send out peace feelers, while their South American allies do the same. The former's are rejected while the latter's are accepted.

Much of 1852 is spend occupying Northern states and putting down small rebellions in the South as the length of the war takes its toll on the population. Typically, as the war is almost over, the CSA's newest general turns out to be the greatest of them all. Also note that the very useful Army Professionalism tech is only just now about to finish:

As the year ends, so does the war. An acceptable peace is finally offered by the USA and it is accepted by the CSA:

The Conferate States have won their freedom, but where will they go from here? Although defeated for now, their Northern neighbour is still larger, more industrialised, and more populous. Even if the USA doesn't seek revenge, the CSA retains a claim on the US states of Maryland and Washington DC, so both sides have reasons to fight again in the future.