The Cascadian Republic commonly referred to simply as Cascadia, is a large Republic located in the northwest corner of North Columbia. The Republic of Cascadia stretches from 42° to 60° north latitude. Its western border consists of the Pacific coast and a portion of Alyaska. It also borders Mexica in the south, Louisiana in the southeast, and Western Elizabeth in the east. Cascadia, although underpopulated, is a great power, at least in the Colmbias, exerting its influence across the world. It has the highest standard of living in the world and has the highest GDP per capita in the world. Cascadia is divided into three prefectures: British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington.
Cascadia has been occupied by a diverse array of indigenous peoples for millennia. The Pacific Coast is seen by some scholars as a major coastal migration route in the settlement of the Columbias by late Pleistocene peoples moving from northeast Asia into the Columbias.
The coastal migration hypothesis has been bolstered by findings such as the report that the sediments in the Queens Cave on Nootka Island indicate the possibility of survivable climate as far back as 16 kya (16,000 years ago) in the area, while the continental ice sheets were nearing their maximum extent. Other evidence for human occupation dating back as much as 14.5 kya (14,500 years ago) is emerging from Paisley Caves in south-central Oregon. However, despite such research, the coastal migration hypothesis is still subject to considerable debate.
Due in part to the richness of Cascadia and river fisheries, some of the indigenous peoples developed complex sedentary societies, while remaining hunter-gatherers. Cascadia is one of the few places where politically complex hunter-gatherers evolved and survived to historic contacts, and therefore has been vital for anthropologists and archaeologists seeking to understand how complex hunter and gatherer societies function. When Europeans first arrived on the Northwest Coast, they found one of the world's most complex hunting and fishing societies, with large sedentary villages, large houses, systems of social rank and prestige, extensive trade networks, and many other factors more commonly associated with societies based on domesticated agriculture. In the interior of the Pacific Northwest, the indigenous peoples, at the time of European contact, had a diversity of cultures and societies. Some areas were home to mobile and egalitarian societies. Others, especially along major rivers such as the Columbia and Fraser, had very complex, affluent, sedentary societies rivaling those of the coast.
In Central and Northern Cascadia as well as Southeast Alyaska, the Tlingit and Haida erected large and elaborately carved totem poles that have become iconic of Pacific Northwest artistic traditions. Throughout the Pacific Northwest, thousands of indigenous people live, and some continue to practice their rich cultural traditions, "organizing their societies around cedar and salmon".
European Contact[]
Sir James Marlowe, traditionally held to be the first European to arrive in Cascadia.
The English explorer Sir James Marlowe, is traditionally believed to be the first to reach Cascadia, though recent analysis has suggested that other explorers, such as Bartholomew Columbus and Robert Callthorp, may have arrived in the area earlier. Regardless, Marlowe was sailing upwards along the Pacific coast, disembarking in what is now the Cascadian province of Marloweland, a name which was eponymously created later in the 17th century, in 1542 or 1543. He established a trading post somewhere in modern Juopolis, which subsequently established the western Columbian fur trade and became a hub for the trade.
Though nominally claimed by the English, actual English control of this region was effectively nonexistent and the local English populous went on with life without meddling from London. The city of Juopolis was officially founded in 1614 by Juan Mason, an Anglo-Spaniard who the city was named after, originally as Juapolis. The word was corrupted in English as Juopolis.
Heartport was founded as a fur trading post in 1619 by Henry Lawrence, marking the beginning of a period of great expansion of the colony. An influx of people from Mexica and Scottish fur traders, combined with a booming frontier population, sparked massive population growth from around 1630 to 1830, where the population grew from 1,000 to possibly as high as 100,000. The colony was effectively its own independent country, with some historians as a result proclaiming that it was the first country in the Columbias to become independent.
During the Twenty Years War, French troops from Louisiana occasionally raided the colony. From 1759 to 1763, 3,000 people were killed in these raids. A militia organized by colonist Gideon Scott defeated the French at the Battle of Camble Hills in 1764, driving them out.
Official English colony (1803 - 1873)[]
British forces disembarking in Cascadia, by Jayden Monroe
By the dawn of the 19th century, Marloweland, despite being a colony of England for close to two centuries had all the typical aspects of an English colony absent. This increasingly began to dismay the English due to its vital importance in the fur trade.
On April 17, 1802, an English official named Sir Isaac Eisenhower was shot and killed on accident by Cascadian fur trappers somewhere in southern Cascadia. The death was kept a secret until June for mysterious reasons. News reached London in January of 1803, spurring outrage in Westminster Palace. The English claimed that this was an act of war and used it as a pretext for war. On January 17, war was declared against Marloweland (although it was officially "military action against an armed insurrection" since England recognized Marloweland as their own). On October 13, several English vessels sailed into Heartport Harbor, issuing orders to the government of Marloweland. When the local leader, Clement McConnel, refused, Captain Henry Moffett ordered his squadron to fire upon the city, destroying large parts of the city. English troops disembarked in Heartport and swiftly occupied the city.
Spencer Jenkinson, First Governor of Marloweland.
Following the British occupation, QueenMary I reaffirmed English control of the colony, and appointed Spencer Jenkinson as Governor of Marloweland. The English quelled any native revolt and forced the new regime upon the local populace. On May 27, 1804, English troops occupied Juopolis, followed by the seizing of other settlements such as Fulburne and Aynesworth.
Spencerite Era (1803 - 1845)[]
Spencer ruled Marloweland for over forty years from 1803 to 1845. His tenure saw Marloweland be integrated as a proper English colony. This era, eponymously known as the Spencerite era by historians, saw the centralization of the government of Marloweland and the beginning of a population boom.
During the Spencerite Era, the fur trade in Cascadia boomed with a stable and official state to export trade from. Cascadian fur was sold as far as China and Russia. Efforts by Jenkinson to encourage migration from neighboring colonies and the mainland in an effort to boost the amount of loyal colonists succeeded and the colony became an integral part of the English Empire.
The Revolts of 1846 and 1848[]
In 1846, a major revolt occurred in upper Marloweland. The revolt was headed by Horatio McMullen, an oldie (a term that refers to Cascadian settlers who arrived prior to the English reconquest) that had grown increasingly displeased with the new government. On April 26, 1846, he rose up in revolt in the settlement of Leeper and occupied the city. The rebel army met colonial forces at the Battle of Ligget on May 16, were McMullen was defeated. He was taken captive, but he escaped and fled to Mexica.
Battle of Heartport.
Two years later in 1848, a Mexican filibuster named Edward Cole instigated a revolt in Sharpton. On November 2, 1848, the Republic of Marloweland was proclaimed, however, this new nation was short lived. Following the occupation of Juopolis on November 8, 3,000 rebel troops marched on Heartport, besieging the city. They entered the city on November 19 and fighting in the streets ensued. The colonial general, Henry Nelson, lured rebel troops in a narrow but long alley way in a slum. There, he flanked the rebel troops from both sides and slaughtered them, killing 2,400 people, many of whom were trampled to death in the chaos. Cole was killed during the battle and the rest of the army that survived were taken as POWs.
Some historians have proposed that Cole was McMullen, as he had similar descriptions of his appearance and personality.
Following the revolts, delegates from across the colony convened in the 1849 Snydersville Conference. There, the populace were given voting rights and government control was reduced.
Cascadian Gold Rush (1854 - 1858)[]
Matthias Pedan was a settler living in modern day Whitebridge. In 1854, while sailing in the Nelson river, he discovered gold in the water. He kept his discovery a secret, however, local fur trader overheard him informing his wife of the discovery and traveled to Arkaley, where they informed the local newspaper. News spread, sparking a massive exodus of settlers to the region. Juopolis' population swelled from 30,000 to 130,000 and Heartport's from 23,000 to 103,00 between 1854 and 1858 in what became known as the Cascadian Gold Rush.
Merchant ships fill the waters of Heartport, c. 1857
A settler cabin on the Nelson, c. 1859
Nearly 30,000 people packed there bags for Cascadia during this period. 6,000 were of Chinese origin, often being cited as the beginning of Chinese-Cascadian History. In Addition to Chinese immigrants, Europeans, Japanese, and British Colonial immigrants (primarily from Mexica, Elizabethia, and Louisiana) arrived. Cascadia was transformed from a declining backwater to a massive population center. By 1870, the region had a population of 600,000.
Colonial Expansion (1856 - 1873)[]
With Marloweland's swelling population, expansion was inevitable. In 1856, the Colony of Sadredor was founded to Marloweland's north and by 1870 had a population of 20,000. From 1857 to 1873, 13 more colonies would be created, including Towhar, New Limerick, and Spencershire, would be founded.
In 1861, the Gawen Kersey Company was founded by its eponymous creator, Gawen Kersey. King James III granted the company a Royal Charter "encompassing the lands of the Pacific Northwest from the Alyeskan border to the Dominion of Mexica." This began the process of consolidating the Cascadian colonies.
The area was raided in 1866 by Kohkahycumest's forces as part of the Second Kohkahycumestian War. The attack devastated the coasts of Cascadia, culminating in the Heartport Massacre, where 2,400 whites were killed. This lead to further calls for unification. Kohkahycumest attacked Cascadia again in 1869, causing the Third Kohkahycumest War.
Workers constructing the railroad in the Cascadian Wilderness, 1869.
In 1871, the Transcontinental Railroad of the Horizon was built. The line was originally to run west from Pulchraria to Stathford, Sanctusia, however, large parts of the original line was controlled by the Great Indigenous League, headed by Kohkahycumest. As such, a revised line was drawn, stretching from Heartport to Stathford. The construction further contributed to internal growth within the Cascadian Colonies, along with additional gold rushes in the latter half of the 19th century. The population swelled from 400 thousand to 600 thousand in 1875, increasing by 50%.
Dominion of Cascadia (1873 - 1945)[]
Kohkahycumest again made incursions into Cascadia in 1872, assaulting the city of Sidall on May 21. Although the attack was eventually respelled, the repeated forays by the Cheyenne leader led to further calls for a unified, cohesive Cascadian polity. In 1873, an appeal was issued towards the central authority in London to unify the Pacific Northwest colonies under one colonial name. Cascadian Unification was a controversial topic within Cascadia as many say uniting as a threat to local systems and way of life. There was great fear that a united Cascadian government would entail a centralized and powerful government, as much of the primary proponents of it were members of the big Government Whig Party. Regardless, 33 delegates from across the 14 Cascadian colonies convened in Heartport Convention on March 4. News reached London on the 8th of November. Parliament accepted the appeal and on December 3, 1873, King James III appointed Sir Isaac Howard as Governor of the newly created Dominion of Cascadia.
When news arrived in Cascadia in June of 1874, reactions were mixed. Proponents were in a celebratory mood, however, opponents were outraged. One opponent, Jason Woodworth, went so far as to massacre proponents in Nelson.
The Great Kohkahycumest War from 1875 - 1877 largely evaded Cascadia, however, forces under the
Union of Cascadia (1945 - 2003)[]
Independence (2003 - Present)[]
Government[]
Cascadia is a constitutional republic that guarantees its citizens their basic rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial with a jury of peers. It has a strong democratic tradition and universal suffrage. The seat of the national government is in the capital city of Cascadia, which is tucked safely away from centers of urban decadence.
Resources[]
Cascadia has abundant natural resources. Vast forests provide it with ample timber for both export and domestic use. Rich fish and shellfish stocks also supply valuable exports as well as powerful brain-food for its citizens. Raging rivers and vulcanism offer cheap and renewable forms of hydrodynamic and geothermal power generation. Its many harbors and protected waterways give Cascadia an edge when it comes to trans-Pacific shipping.
Its natural resources are exceeded only by its industrial resources. The Cascadian software and biotechnology industries lead the world in innovation and market-share dominance. Cascadian-produced software is on 97% of the world's computers, and that figure will continue to rise. (Although it has not yet achieved sheep-cloning technology, it is close -- watch out Scotland!) The Republic of Cascadia is a nuclear power with the ability to process weapons-grade plutonium and also advanced missile technology. Cascadia has the facilities and technical expertise to produce a wide range of fighter, support, and commercial aircraft, as well as space vehicles. Besides being a global leader in vehicle technology, Cascadian industry is also developing sea-based launch capabilities for orbital payload delivery and possible lunar conquests.
But why conquer the moon when you can win the stars? The Republic of Cascadia has long been sought by movie and TV producers for use in location shooting -- and even production work -- because of its scenic beauty; commercially popular image; and cheap, non-union labor. This is just a part of Cascadia's plan to become a global media powerhouse, the likes of which Hollywood couldn't imagine. Cascadia has a proven track-record in producing trends in music, fashion, food, and other forms of product consumption, which it can profit from by building on its brand recognition and loyalty. Furthermore, with its space program providing satellite technology and its software industry providing cutting-edge Internet technology, Cascadia is poised to control the means of infotainment distribution -- and thereby consumer demand -- on a global scale.
Flag[]
The Cascadian flag contains the following symbolic elements:
Waving blue and white stripes: Evokes both the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound as well as the snow capped mountains of the Cascade range
Field of green: For the lush vegetation of our nation
Field of Red: For the volcanism and tectonic forces that burn beneath us
Setting sun: Represents our place at the western edge of the American continent
Fir cone: Represents rebirth, renewal, and our natural forest resources
The Cascadian Postal Authority[]
Like any sovereign nation, the Republic of Cascadia reserves the right to operate its own postal system and issue its own postage stamps.
Stamps of the Republic of Cascadia are educational and fun to collect. Cascadian stamps feature the best of our natural, cultural, and industrial products. Some of our recent commemorative issues include:
Mountains of the Cascades
Rainer, Adams, Hood, St. Hellens, not only are they the backbone of our nation but their majestic peaks make stamps that any collector would treasure.
Micro-breweries of Cascadia
From BridgePort Blue Heron to Redhook Rhy, all your favorites are here! Part of the Beverages of Cascadia series. (Available in blocks of six.)
Starbucks Coffee Blends
Also part of our Beverages of Cascadia series. Includes such popular blends as Guatemala Antigua, Colombia Nariño Supremo, and of course, Starbucks' House Blend.
The Geoduck
Our lovable natural treasure is honored in a commemorative sheet.
Versions of Microsoft Windows
From version 1.0 to 98, NT, and CE, and beyond!. Explore the wonders of Cascadian software technology through stamps.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
