| |||||
| Capital | Kristinasborg | ||||
| Largest city | Kristinasborg | ||||
| Other cities | Nya Orlins, Trenton, Nya Stockholm, | ||||
| Language official |
Swedish | ||||
| others | English, French, Spanish, Gaelic | ||||
| Religion | Protestantism (Lutheran) | ||||
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy | ||||
| King | Karl XVI Gustaf | ||||
| Prime Minister | Olaf Svensson | ||||
| Population | (2007 est.) | ||||
| Established | 1764 | ||||
| Independence | from Sweden | ||||
| declared | 1867 | ||||
| recognized | 1867 | ||||
| Currency | Dalar | ||||
| Organizations | Swedish Commonwealth | ||||
The United Swedish States of America has played a strong role in the development of the western hemisphere. Begun as a loose collection of European colonies, the United Swedish States of America has evolved into a true melting pot since its official creation in 1765.
History[]
With the settlement of the Seven Years War, Sweden took control of the British colonies south and west of the Hudson River. In an effort to stem the tide of unrest that was already prevalent against the British, the Riksdag, which effectively held power during the reign of Adolf Frederik I, initiated the Utlandsråd in 1765. This Outlands Council was to serve as a ruling council under the direction of the Swedish Riksdag, yet empowered to manage the territories they ruled individually. The Riksdag, for its part legislated that it would rule "med Utlandsråds råd" or with the Outland Council's counsel. This same situation remained in force until {{SV|Karl XV enacted the Nordamerika Statttut in 1860.
The Utlandsråd for the USSA (known at the time simply as Swedish America) was elected from the governors of the provinces initially until a Svenskamerikas Riksdag could be formed. Meeting initially in Richmond, Virginia, the Svenskamerikas Riksdag was later relocated to Kristinasborg when it became the designated capital of the nation.
When the first elected Utlandsråd was elected by the Parliaments and Congresses of the newly acquired colonies it was comprised of the following:
- Philip Livingston, New York
- John Jay, New York
- Richard Stockton, New Jersey
- Abraham Clark, New Jersey
- Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania
- George Ross, Pennsylvania
- Caesar Rodney, Delaware/Nya Sverige
- Thomas McKean, Delaware/Nya Sverige
- Thomas Stone, Maryland
- Samuel Chase, Maryland
- George Washington, Virginia
- Thomas Jefferson, Virginia
- Joseph Hewes, North Carolina
- John Penn, North Carolina
- Edward Rutledge, South Carolina
- Arthur Middleton, South Carolina
- Archibald Bulloch, Georgia
- Button Gwinnett, Georgia
Because the Utlandsråd was given such wide powers by the Riksdag, a constitutional convention was held in the newly acquired American territories under the auspices of Count Johan Christopher Toll and then Crown Prince Gustav IV. Patterned on the Swedish constitutions of the past, coupled with the ideas of the Utlandsråd and the convention delegates, the constitution proved to be one of the most progressive constitutions ever created.
When he ascended to the throne Gustav IV affirmed his support of the American constitution. When revolution broke out between the provinces of what was to become United New England came out in open revolution against the British government, Gustav IV lent support to them through open borders, and many New Swedes volunteered in the armies of New England. Benjamin Franklin was invited to attend the court of Gustav IV and did so, from 1775 to 1783 when he returned home to Pennsylvania.
Count Johan Christopher Toll had been discredited and otherwise abused by the Cap party while they remained in power. Because of the friendship that was cultivated between himself and Crown Prince Gustav IV, when Gustav IV ascended to the throne in 1771 Toll was given the post of Prime Minister. Introduced at a ball held for the members of the Utlandsråd, Count Toll fell in love with Thomas Jefferson's sister Elizabeth Jefferson, and in 1772 they were wed. Jefferson, who had perfected his Swedish at that point performed the ceremony in both English and Swedish. This language ability permitted him to succeed Toll when he stepped down from the Prime Minstership after his beloved Elizabeth died unexpectedly in 1774.
Jefferson's Ministry[]
Under the Utlandsråd's guidance Jefferson instituted the Amerikasråd, or American Privy Council, composed of men from the gentry of Swedish America who were tasked with overseeing the internal affairs of the nation, and notifying Jefferson and the Utlandsråd of a need for further legislation.