Republic of Watchung (1983: Doomsday)

The Republic of Watchung is a sucessor state of both the United States and the State of New Jersey. It is located around the Watchung mountains in Central and Northern New Jersey

HISTORY: POST-DOOMSDAY

The area that now is the Republic was hit very hard on Doomsday. Due to the proximity of New York and Philadelphia, the fallout from both locations easily reached the area by the end of September, 1983. By the end of the year, an estimated 35% of all people in the area have died from either fallout or starvation, as a shortage of food hit the area hard. To many in Watchung, there was no hope for a new beginning, but they soon learned they were wrong.

A NEW BEGINNING:

On December 23rd, 1983, The mayors of the towns of Berkley Heights, Mountainside, New Providence, Summit, and Springfield all signed a Constitution that delcared them to be the Confederation of Watchung. The leaders of the towns felt that in order to survive in this new post-Doomsday world, they would have to work together. However, the Confederation was very weak; it unifed the towns, but they had no Legislature or President, or an army, apart from a small militia. Depsite this, the Founding Five, as they are know now, felt that Watchung had great potential, and could be a vivable and prosperous nation, just as it is today.

EXSPANSION:

On January 28th, 1985, The neighboring towns of Scotch Plains and Fanwood joined the Confederation of Watchung, which quickly triggered a wave of exspansion in the Confederation that lasted throughout the decade. The exspanded west towards the Cranford river, east to Plainfield, Somerset, north to Morristown and Essex. Most of the annexations were done peacefully and witht he consent of the citizens, though some, like the conquering of Cranford and Clark, were performed with more force. By 1991, The Confederation of Watchung included all of Eastern Union and Essex counties, nearly all of Somerset county, and all of southern Morris county. But soon, the flaws of the Confederation were becoming more and more apparent; On September 15, 1993, the mayors of the towns converged on the capital (Berkley Heights), and called for a constitutional convention

FOR A MORE PERFECT UNION:

Much like the situation in 1787, the towns in the Confederation wanted to greatly revise the original 1983 constitution for a more unifed, more able governement. All 49 towns sent delgates, totaling 98 in all. Througout the fall and winter of 1993, they debated over the future of the Confederation, argued over the powers the government would have, but evantually found comprimise and agreement. On January 16th, 1994, the new Constitution was woted for by a 76 percent margin in a special election, and the Confederation of Watchung became the Republic of Watchung.

MODERN TIMES AND BEYOND:

The first President of the newborn Republic was Plainfield delegate and President of the convention Gerlad Green. However: he would only be a provisinal President: On November 8th, 1994, the voters of Watchung would vote for the "first" president and vice-president of the Republic, along with members of the new Assembly and Senate. The most likely choice was Fanwood mayor Linda Stender. She was famous around the Republic for providing the citizens of her small town with security, nessecary provisions, and prosperity during her 7-year tenure as mayor. Due to her popularity, she ran unopposed, and got 96% of the vote. She went on to serve her term as president, and is considered by many to be the best president of the Republic.