California Republic (1983: Doomsday)

The Commonwealth of California is a survivor nation located in the central region of the former US state of California.

Pre-Doomsday
Prior to Colombus discovering North America, this reigon was home to more than 70 distinct groups of Native Americans. However, during the 18th century, the Spaniards colonized it and added it to the first Spanish empire. After years of colonial rule, Mexico was eventually granted independance. Shortly after, Americans in the reigon declared it a free Californian Republic. After the Mexican-American War, it was ceded to the United States, later to be added to the Union as the 31st state. In the 20th century, it was the most populous state in the United States, as well as the second most populous entity in the Western Hemisphere.

Doomsday
On Doomsday, several strikes near or within the reigon were San Fransico, Sacramento, and Fresno, among others within Nevada. The area recieved massive fallout in the southern half of the reigon, but the areas of Auburn, Placerville, and Sonora were spared the worst of the nuclear attack. However, the destruction of the state capitol caused many counties to spiral into a panic. After several months, with no word from the federal government, politicians from the Placer, El Dorado, and Tuolumne counties met in Placerville to discuss the forming of a provisional government to help distribute needed supplies to the surrounding areas and to stabilize growing problems such as starvation, cannibalism, suicide, and radiation and radiation-related sickness. They were soon joined by representatves of several neighboring counties. After nearly a week of nonstop debate, the committee at Placerville agreed in a landslide vote to create the "Provisional State Government of California".

Post-Doomsday
After nearly 13 years with no word from the federal government, the Provisional Government was beginning to see it fit to secede, seeing that its current status was only that of a placeholder for the American government. After rumors spread within the final months of the provisional administration that an American Provisional Administration had visited the future area of the MSP, many hoped that the APA could take control of the area, as the PAC could only do so much as a confederation of counties. However, many of these rumors were soon crushed when word came in that the American government had been disbanded, albiet recieved several years after. Eventually, a second committee was held to discuss the possibility of forming a new nation, being one of the first committees in years. After another episode of intense discussion, a verdict of 7 - 1 resulted in the creation of the Commonwealth of California.

Government
The government of the Commonwealth of California is closely similar to that of the United States. The simplified Legislature has one representative per county, at a total of 8 representatives.

Religion
The religion of the area is a mirror image to that of Pre-Doomsday California. However, it has been noted that there has been an increase of athiesm.

Military
While the reigon has no true army, it is home to the Californian National Guard, which is composed of approximatley 10,000 members and another 10,000 in reserve, acts as a placeholder for the Army. While it acts as a military presence in the area, and has succeded in stopping countless slave raids on towns from Santa Cruz, and also helped establish order in areas which recieved minor to moderate amounts of nuclear damage, it has no official ties to the Commonwealth government, and is still officially the National Guard of the State of California. Other notable organizations are the Commonwealth Air Search & Rescue, whose name implies its functions.

Media
So far the only media presence is the Commowealth of California Mountain Democrat (formerly the Placerville Mountain Democrat). Other media presences include several local newspapers.

Travel
Unlike many other Post-Doomsday nations, the roads of the Californian Commonwealth are relatively safe. This is mainly due to the presence of the fully armed Californian National Guard, which takes many functions of policemen. Traveling outside of the controlled areas, and into the claimed areas of the Commonwealth, however, are dangerous due to the mostly un-disturbed reign of local warlords and thieves that terrorize small communities and villages. Since gasoline is scarce in the reigon, most people prefer to travel by horse, or in cities, bicycles and the well-appraised public transportation system.

Economy
Like most post-Doomsday countries, one of California's main priorities is agriculture. However, small, locally based farms are favored then farms in outlying territories. One thing that has recently become popular was a government funded oil company, Cali Hydro and Petro, who primarily exports to the Municipal States of the Pacific.

Foreign Relations
Other than the Municipal States of the Pacific, a problematic encounter from Santa Cruz, and a visit by the ANZC, the Commonwealth of California has not had direct contact from any other nation.

Since they are their main allies of buisness, many have been in support of joining the Municipal States of the Pacific. However, President Patricia Borelli has stated such a union will not be possible until the MSP supports a stronger central government.