United States of Columbia (World of Alternatives)

The United States of Columbia (USC), or Columbia, is a Federal Republic that consists of 41 states, a Federal districts, 6 major territories, and various possessions. The 17 Contiguous states are in the mainland Columbia below the state of Panama reaching all the way down to cape horn, whilst 20 states took the Lesser Antellies islands of the Carribian sea, and 2 of them consists of Puerto Rico, and the Hispanola, as well as one more called Panama, which is originally Panama and Costa Rica united to make one state, and the Falkland Islands. Its territories are scattered around the pacific ocean, mid atlantic and southern atlantic ocean, parts of the indian ocean, as well as Oceana. With a total area of 18,068,611 Km2 and a population of 434,140,324 it is the largest country in the world and the third, or fourth most populated country rivaling that of its sister country the United States of America. It is also one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicutural nations, and is the product of large scale immigration from many countries, also rivaling that of the United Staes. The geography and the climate of the Columbia is also extremely diverse, and the country is home a large variety of wildlife.

Around 20,000 years ago, many indians migrated from the Eurasia to what is now the USA, and further migrated south, with further European colonization beginning in the 16th century. For much of the century, the Spanish and the British fought to gain territory in Columbia with the British dominating the south as they did with the french in the North. United States of Columbia emerged from the british colonies along the North eastern coast. The same with their northern counterpart, there have been many disputes between great britain and the colonies which lead to the Columbian Revolution, inspired by the American revolutionary war. On June 7,1777 as Columbian colonies were fighting against great britain, delegates from the Columbian colonies unanimously adopted its own Declaration of Idependence also inspired by their northern American counterpart. The war ended in 1783 two months after American revolution with the recognition of the independence of the United States of Columbia by the Kingdom of Great Britain, and was the second successful war of independence against a European coloial empire. It also ended Great Britain's dominance over South America. The Columbian Constitution, an equivalent of the American Constitution, was adopted on August 19, 1787, almost a month before the United States Constitution. The first 9 Amendments, named the "Amendments of the People's Rights" were ratified in 1791 the same year as the USA's amendments, and like the USA amendments were designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties.

Because of their successful war against the British Empire and many similarities in ideaology and government, the United States of America and the United States of Columbia signed the "Treaty of America and Columbia" (TAC) 1792 which was a military, economical and industrial alliance between the two countries.Also because of their drastic similarities, America and Columbia have been referred to by the world as "Sister Nations." America being the older sister and Columbia being the younger.

Inspired by their Northern counter parts "Manifest Destiry", the United States of Columbia embarked on an expansion across South America throughout the 19th century. Which like its northern counterpart, involved the displacing of Amazonian tribes, acquiring new territories and admitting new states to the Union. By 1850, the nation had spanned the entire South American continent, eventually becoming larger than the United States of America, and overtaking Canada as the largest nation in the Americas. Unlike their northern Counterpart, the United States of Columbia never legalized slavery for the original idea was that the country be opened to all ethnicities. However this didn't mean there weren't slaves in Columbia. During the American Civil War, the United States of Columbia helped their American allies fight against Confederate States of America by launching an invasion via Florida so that the Confederacy fought on the north and the south. The Bloody war came to a conclusion with the passing of the thirteenth amendment in 1865. That same year, Columbia abolished slavery, this of course created some uprising with some owners, and the Columbian government feared their own Civil war, but it never happened. By the end of the 19th Century, the United States of Columbia had extended to Cape Horn, and its economy, driven largly by the industrial revolution, began to soar. During the Spanish American war, Columbia, along side its Northern counterpart, admitted new states from the lesser antellies islands, and parts of greater antellies. The Spanish-American war, and World War 1 had established the coutry's status as a global military power. Columbia, alongside its northern counterpart, emerged from WW2 as a superpower, the second country to develop nuclear weapons, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution fo the Soviet Union left America and Columbia as the only superpowers.

The United States of Columbia is a developed country and has the world's second largest national economy by nominal and real GDP. It remains one of the worlds largest manufacturer and accoutns for 32% of global military spending, and 20% of world GDP, it is the second foremost military and economic power, a prominent political and cultural force and is second to the United States of America in Scientific reseach and technological innovations.

Indigenous and European Contact
Some of the first indigenous people came into the Americas from Asia over 15-20 thousand years ago, though increasing evidence suggested earlier times. Many natives before achieved advanced agricultural, and state level societies, by the time the Spanish Conquistadors entered, the native populations had dwindled by wars, but mostly diseases such as smallpox and measles. Portugal claimed Brazil in the 1500 and encountered Natives divided into several tribes. The first settlement was found in 1532.

Land Disputes between Britain and Spain
After the Conquistadors settled, Brazil was claimed by the Portuguese to expand their imperial presence to south America, whilst Spain was expanding down to the south and western area of the continent. Meanwhile the British empire was focusing on the Northern part of the continent and expanding their territory much to Spain and Portugal's surprise.

During Anglo-Spanish war in 1585-1604 the English had managed to expand their military presence west to what is now Panama, and renamed the province of Colombia to Britannia, a name that was once England's name when it was under Roman domination.

The war ended with a Status quo ante bellum and the Treaty of London, but in the South American theater, the war ended in British favor with Britain dominating the Northern part of South America from what is now Alexandria all the way to Equator. Britain also established settlements in the southern part of the continent below Brazil.

Second Anglo-Spanish war
With Britain expanding their presence in North America, and with British colonies expanding in South America, there have been many disputes between the great powers of the time. The Second Anglo-Spanish war was the South American theatre of the world wide Seven Years War. The war was fought between the five colonies of British South America and new Spain, with both having military support from their parent countries. The British were officially outnumbered and relied on Amazonian tribes for their knowledge of the land to defeat the superior in numbers Spain. Britain had 2 million settlers, versus the almost 3 to almost 4 million Spanish. The British did however had an additional colony in what is now Argentina, which added 1.6 million people.

Though the Spanish did outnumber the British in western south America, The British reign supreme with a powerful navy that is large enough to send ships to the pacific ocean side of South America and reign down death and destruction on the Spanish colonies. With this, the Spanish thought that British invasion would come from the pacific ocean, this of course led the Spanish to fortify their coastal towns in what is now New Spain, however this was false, for the British came in from Britannia and completely took the Spanish by surprise. The unorganized Spanish were defeated. Of course they did re-organized themselves and presented themselves as a formidable force for the duration of the war British army had the support of the Navy. The Second anglo-Spanish war ended with the treaty of paris, which also ended the world wide Seven Years War. The war was successful for the British having taken what is now New Spain, the Spanish having to cede what is now New Virginia and Veronica to the British Empire. The Brits decided to leave Chile to spain, the only territory that spain has left in the continent, thus ending their dominance in South America.

The British won the war but it was the Five Colonies of South America that endured the cost. Nevertheless, excluding the Amazonian tribes, who were being displaced and conquered by the colonials, the original Five colonies had a population of over 1.9 million, almost a third of Britain. But like their Thirteen colonies counterpart, the rate of natural increase was such that by the 1770s, only a small percentage of colonials were born overseas. Whats more, the long distance from their parent country allowed the Five Colonies to develop a self-government system, much like their Northern counterpart. The success of this however motivated the monarchs to reassert royal authority.

Independence and Expansion
Since the end of the seven years war, the Thirteen colonies, and Five colonies have established relations with each other, and were both exhausted from the seven years war. The two colonies had realized that they had much in common, both were self governing, both were under British rule, and both were looking to the future of possible independence. By 1773 the two colonies were once again buckling under British rule again. The success of their self governing system has prompted the British to reassert Royal law.

The Five Colonies were also being taxed and they felt as if they weren't being treated as they would be if they were British citizens living in Britain. They demanded the taxes to be gone but were denied by the British government. This eventually escalated into a war.

Originally, it was considered that this new nation should be called the United States of South America, however the five colonies felt that they needed a new name that gives them their own Identity and not just copies off of Americans. Some colonials felt that South American was necessary for it was the name of their continent however, many felt that the name had already been taken and they needed to find a new one.

The Name "Columbia" was also given as an alternative to America when the thirteen colonies felt the need to establish their own identity different from that of their British cousins. A ship named Columbia was constructed in 1773 and became famous for its exploits. However America was more favorable and it officially declared themselves as the United States of America. With this, the politicians from the five colonies seceretly journied to the United States of America to seek permission to use the alternative name for their identity. In the first US international meeting of September, 1776, the Five colonies governor named Thomas Wellimngton told the US congress that they too wanted independence and that the Five colonies wanted to adopt the alternative name to America, Columbia. It was also here that Columbia would be called "America's sister." The US congress granted them permission to use the name, and with this Thomas Wellimngton and his group of forefathers returned to the five colonies, and easily gathered support for their cause.

On June 7, 1777, almost a year after the American Declaration of independence, the Newly formed United States of Columbia declared its own Independence and Sided with the Americans. Their adopted their own declaration of independence based on the idea that all men are created equal and will have unalienated rights that Great Britain wasn't protecting, and that the five colonies were an independent state and have no alligience with the British crown. June 7th and July 4th are celebrated annually by both countries.

Following their defeat at Yorktown, the Kingdom of Great Britain recognized the United States of America and the United States of Columbia. American sovereignty was recognized from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi river. Whilst Columbian Sovereignty was recognized from the northern Caribbean coast to what is now New Spain.

The Nationalist led the Britannian convention of 1787 in the writing of the Columbian Constitution, which was ratified the following year. The USC government followed their American counterparts footsteps in splitting the Government into three branches on the concept of creating their own checks and balances. William Lexington, the George Washington equivalent was elected as the first president of the United States of Columbia via this new government system. The "Amendments of the People's Rights" forbidding federal restrictions of personal freedoms and guaranteeing a variety of legal rights, was adopted at the same year as America's bill of rights.

Columbian's eagerness to expand southward prompted a series of Amazonian wars. The Brazilian purchase of Portugal claimed territory in 1805 more than doubled the nation's size. The War of 1812 declared by the United States of America against Britain also contributed to Columbia's expansion south. After America declared war on Britain, Columbians felt obligated to fight alongside their ally once more against British aggression. The war also strengthen American and Columbian nationalism. The war also caused Britain to cede their remaining territory to Columbians. A Series of Columbian military incursion into Chile led Spain to cede it to Columbia in 1820. Like the American counterpart, the steam power increased the speed of the expansion, with steamboats traveling through Columbia's large rivers, then the faster railroads stretched across the nation's lands.

Columbia Annexed Argentina in 1835, and Portugal Ceded Uruguay and Cape Horn ten years later, completing its mainland expansion. Argentina was rich with gold as was Brazil and Britannia. This discovery spurred southern migration, and migration to Columbia in total, same with the California Gold Rush in America, increasing the populations of both countries.

American Civil War and Reconstruction
Columbia was fighting for a divided America this time. Due to Columbia's relations towards the United States of America, Columbia obviously fought for the Union. When the war started, it was at first in the Union's favor, however Abraham Lincoln and his Columbian Ally president Franklin Underhill brought about a second war, the war to end slavery, though this was more of a political war.

As the Confederate states was Invading the Union, the United States of Columbia planned and launched an invasion of Florida, which was part of the confederacy at the time, to relive Union suffering from the northern part. This also marked the first and only time Columbia has issued an invasion of her sister nation's land. Columbian victory in Florida, and Robert E Lee's defeat at Gettysburg was a tremendous blow for the confederacy, their invasion of the north had failed and they had lost a state to the American/Columbian coalition.

The war came to an end with the fall of the confederacy, and the abolishment of slavery. The war still remains the deadliest conflict in American military history resulting in the deaths of 618,000 Union soldiers, and the deaths of 216,000 Columbian soldiers.

Following the Union victory three amendments to the American Constitution brought about the prohibition of slavery, granted African americans citizenship and promised them voting rights The War also brought about new amendments in Columbia fully outlawing slavery, and granting almost 3 million African Columbians citizenship.

The war also demonstrated Columbian military power in the late 19th century, and have achieved technological advances they were researching alongside the Union. During the reconstruction era, Columbia supported America in their reintegrating and rebuilding the southern states. Columbia withdrew their troops from Florida and made way for the Union.

industrialization
In both coutries, Urbanization and an increase of immigrants from Europe, and Asia had supplied a surpluse of labor for both nations industrialization and transformed their culture. In Columbia, as well as America, the transcontinental railroad and the telegraph spurred economic growth, and greater development of settlements in the Southern part of the country. The invention of the electric light, and the telephone in America also translated to Columbia and forever changed urban life in both nations forever.

The end of the Amazonian wars also brought about the expansion of acreage under mechanical cultivation thus increasing international market. Columbian presence expanded towards the Caribbean islands when the United States of Columbia bought Lesser Antilles islands from their respected owners at the same time for almost $10 million in 1868, almost a year after the Alaska Purchase. The nation also bought the Falkland islands from Britain. During the Spanish American war, Spain ceded Puerto rico and whatever was left of its empire in the Caribbean to both nations, and that same year, the United States of Columbia Annexed Haiti and the Dominican Republic and renamed established the state of Hispanola whilst the United States of America bought Jamaica and the bahamas from Britain for $5.2 million, and Spain ceded the Philippines and Cuba to the United States of America, thus ending the Spanish empire. America and Columbia split the Philippines islands 50/50.

Rapid economic development in both nations during the late 19th century produced many industrialist, and both nations economies became the largest in the world. Dramatic changes brought about social unrest, and the rise of populist, socialist, and anarchist movements. The period eventually ended with the emergence of the Progressive Era in both nations with the goal of ending corruption in both governments. The progressive era also saw many reforms in societal areas, including women's voting rights, regulation of consumer goods, and greater anti-trust measures to ensure competition and greater attention to worker conditions.

World War I and Great Depression
Columbia along with its northern ally remained neutral from the outbreak of World War 1, to 1917 when it joined the war along side its northern counterpart as an "associated ally" helping turn the tide against the central powers. In 1919 American president Woodrow Wilson and Columbian President Victor Preston strongly advocated that the USA and USC join the league of nations. The senate refused to approve this and didn't ratify the treaty of Versailles that established the league of nations.

National Anthem
Columbia and America still didn't have official National Anthems, though America wouldn't accept an official anthem until March 3, 1931, the United States of Columbia adopted its own National anthem "Hail, Columbia" on May 16, 1835 The Anthem adopts the tune of two songs: the American original "The Presidents Song" and "Adeste Fidelis" (O Come, All ye Faithful). The Two songs are edited and combined together to create one single song that is officially adopted as the Columbian Anthem. The first half of "The President March" verse was adopted as Hail Columbia, whilst the second half of "O Come, All ye Faithful" main verse is adopted as the second part of "Hail, Columbia.

Lyrics:
 * Hail Columbia, happy land!
 * Hail, ye heroes, heav'n-born band,
 * Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
 * Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
 * And when the storm of war was gone
 * Enjoy the peace your valor won.


 * Independence be our boast
 * Let its altar reach the skys
 * In our land of Liberty
 * In our land of Liberty
 * In our land of Liberty where Freedom shines.