Background[]
The second half of the 20th century saw the United States endure a series of paradigm changes on the cultural, political, and social level. Spread out over the span of some 50 years, the population has become the anecdotal boiling frog, unaware of the danger it is in; however, in this alternate timeline, that is not the case: the dramatic demographic changes, overstepping of federal power, and polarization of ideologies all occurs within the span of a single decade giving rise to religious zealotry, ethnic tribalism, extreme views on authority, and more.
Lore[]
Pre-War[]
On November 22 1963, the Kennedy assassination sends the country into shock. Kennedy's alternate successor, a McCarthy-accused communist known only as "President 36" takes the seat of power.
On November 28, "President 36" would establish a think-tank of scientists, economists, and social-engineers in what would become known as the "International Cabinet". The Cabinet would become "President 36's" primary advisers, and guided many of the president's new policies in the coming years, beginning with the shutdown of NASA by executive order to divert resources toward Advanced Research Projects under the SARPA and Nautilus Programs.
Following early peace talks with Soviet and Cuban leadership, tensions would rise with China and Vietnam over loyalty to Communist ideology, and a perceived weakening of the USSR, leading to an escalation of American intervention in the Vietnam War.
The following months would see the passing of the Economic Provisions Act, Model Metropolis Program, and the Civil Rights and Reparations Acts. Economic provisions had taken to taxing the upper 30% of the population, and redistributing it to low-income communities within major cities. The Model Metropolis Program had implemented a number of new socialized services, grid-projects, and developments exclusively within urban areas, including universal medical coverage, free public transportation, and education subsidies. The net gain to cities, along with the developments of the SARPA and Nautilus programs would pave the way for Silicon Valley and a series of Bio-Tech projects.
The passage of Civil Rights and Reparations would drive tensions in the south to a boiling point; acts of civil disobedience were carried out in both black and white communities, acts which at times escalated to violence when met with federal forces, initiating the beginning of the Southern Troubles.
In 1965 the Enlightenment and Education Act is passed, granting unprecedented funds to public schools nationwide; however, also placing the education system fully in the hands of the federal government. Christian groups would resist the act for its secularization of the education system, and promotion of a curriculum not approved by the local population. This year would also see the passing of the Hart-Cellar-Morganthau Immigration Reform which opened up American immigration to more countries than ever before, and sought to create with Canada and Central America a free trade and movement zone similar to the EU. The Western Troubles begin soon after the passing of the 1966 Firearms Surplus Act.
President 36 narrowly won reelection in 1968 following the mysterious death of his competitor, as well as the large boost in support from high-population cities, and voting immigrants. Dixiecrats rule the election illegitimate and push for impeachment, facing great difficulty as much of congress supports 36, and the supreme court had successfully been expanded to 15 Justices.
President 36 makes it a crucial matter to crackdown on the growing domestic threats, and organizes a series of sting-operations and weapon-raids to restore civility within the country. The compounds of The Saintly Order, The Kirk Army, The New Amerika Movement, and Davis Militia are marked as high priority threats to be dealt with immediately. Believing these groups would stand down if met with the full strength of the federal army, tanks and soldiers are readied to confront these groups, beginning with the Kirk Army who refuses to surrender, successfully retaliating with a series of rocket propelled grenade strikes, securing the compound, and initiating the Texan Revolution, a rising which would be followed by similar revolts within Dixie, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, New England, and later Louisiana.
Second American Civil War[]
The New Texan Revolution, Southern Rising, Deseret Foundation War were gradually united into a cohesive front by the Commander of New England, Augustus Doctor. Commander Doctor, or Augustus, would lead a Northern invasion of New York City and Washington D.C, bringing an official end to the war, although conflicts still carried on regionally for the yet to be united commonwealths. Deseret would be at war with California (a Federal loyalist state), Dixie would attempt to seize Louisiana, New England would combat remaining Federal forces in the Rust Belt, and several minor conflicts carried on in Cascadia.
Post-War[]
Commander Doctor would be killed in battle during the siege of Pittsburg, being succeeded by his most senior general, Del Kirk, a Texan. Commander Kirk would publicly announce and push forward Doctor's plan to preserve American strength and unity without compromising on regional liberty, proposing the creation of a Confederation of Commonwealths, of which New England, Texas, Dixie, Deseret, and Louisiana would be founding members.
Several uprisings emerge across the nation under the banner of the Red Technate, a movement with the aim of creating an urbanized socialist utopia by uniting all major urban centers into a unified network or Megalopolis, and leaving the remainder of the country virtually unpopulated so that it can be used exclusively for resources and automated farming. The Red Technate believes in total equalization of the human race, and automation of all laborious jobs, including governing, which is to be carried out by an impartial and all knowing computer. It is yet unknown what the Technate achieved during it's existence, however it was ultimately wiped out in the later California War.
Commonwealths[]
Texas[]
The Texan Commonwealth encompasses the pre-war states of Texas and Oklahoma. It holds itself to the standard of the American constitution, but has compromised on freedom of religion to protect the region's distinctly Christian character.
Deseret[]
The Commonwealth of Deseret was founded by the Saintly Order of Smith, a radical off-shoot of the Mormon faith. The Commonwealth is strictly Mormon (the Saintly Order variety), and exists in a long standing rivalry with California over several valuable territories (Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, etc.), as well as ideological differences (Deseret being extremely conservative, and California very left leaning).
Cascadia[]
The Cascadia Commonwealth is unique in it's adopting of a highly decentralized model which has led to it housing several sub-cultures within it's borders, from white supremacists on the coast, to anarchists along the mountains. It remains united much as the Confederation does, protecting regional identity while preserving the strength of unity.
California[]
Pre-war, the state of California had become the hub of technological innovation in the country, and was to become a Megalopolis like Metro in the East.
When the Civil War broke out, California remained loyal to the Federal government, however, as Deseret grew in power, California found itself exercising more autonomy, and proceeded to annex as much land as it could to deny it to Deseret, and create a buffer zone between the two. Upon the collapse of the Federal Government, California saw the new Confederation as illegitimate, but felt pressured to join at risk of Deseret turning the other commonwealths against it.
As a member of the Confederation, California was considered very troublesome and repeatedly violated the principle of non-intervention in the policies of other commonwealths, leading it to face several sanctions and restrictions which ultimately led to the California War.
Notes[]
- The name New Amerika is based on the real life New Afrika movement.
- Though President 36 is confirmed not to be Lyndon Johnson, a number of his policies are similar, although also draw inspiration from other presidents such as FDR, Reagan, Nixon, Obama and George W. Bush. It's been said, however, that 36 is an epitomized representation of modern democrat campaign promises (i.e., Gun Confiscation, Reparations, Social Programs, Globalization).
- In Monsieur Z's Youtube lore series it's revealed that President 36 aimed to turn the east and west coasts into mass population hubs, leaving the lands in between to be used for farming, resource production, and creation of a mass wildlife preserve, a concept eerily similar to the "Simulated Reserve and Corridor System to Protect Biodiversity" proposed by Agenda 21.