Forward | |||||||
| Capital | Madison | ||||||
| Largest city | Madison | ||||||
| Language | English | ||||||
| President | Tommy Thomson | ||||||
| Vice President | Jim Doyle | ||||||
| Area | 5,000 mi² | ||||||
| Population | Est. 200,000 | ||||||
| Independence | 2001 | ||||||
| Currency | Superiorian Dollar, barter | ||||||
The Republic of Wisconsin is an American nation in the former US state of Wisconsin, established after the Republic of Superior intervened in the city of Madison in 2001. Established from a failed state in the capital Madison, it has emerged as a left-wing, strict-but-safe environment for refugees from all of Wisconsin. Corruption still dots the government, but a recent right-wing "peaceful revolution" has begun to change the political landscape.
History
Also see: History of Superior
Pre-Doomsday
Wisconsin was a manufacturing based economy, along with agriculture. The commercial industry was big business in the cities of Milwaukee and Madison. It was also considered to be the home of America's best cheese. Tourism had also been a fledgling industry, but all of this came to a screeching halt on Doomsday.
Doomsday
Compared to other states, Wisconsin was not hit as hard, receiving a legitimate chance at recovery. However, the south-west received heavy bombardment, as well as the northern city of Superior. The city would soon suffer from tons of radioactive ash coming from the western bombardment of silos, killing around 40 to 80 thousand people.
Originally, the capital city of Madison managed to to hold onto the immediate areas of Iowa, Green, Sauk, and Greenlake-Columbia, Jefferson, and Rock counties, but when about 350,000 people began to become dependent on an agricultural area that produced enough food for 50,000 people, starvation and chaos ensued. One by one, the communications grid began to fall into disarray, entire areas would become barren of life, and those areas that did survive fell into barbaric conditions until eventually the State of Wisconsin controlled only Dane and Iowa counties. In these areas, martial law was declared, food rations were placed in effect, and able-bodied citizens were often forced into the vigorous task of producing food in a heavily damaged area.
Contact with Superior
In the coming years, the conditions within the area would soon deteriorate even faster, leaving a population of 90,000 by the end of the century. Civil war and gang riots also did little to help the area. Eventually, the Republic of Superior intervened, establishing peace in the area in weeks. This action was viewed as a laying the pavement for the "Republic of Wisconsin", which would essentially be a city-state composed of the capital city of the former state, Madison.
Expansion
After several years, the growing republic began to see shortages of food and lack of space as a growing problem. This was mainly a result of a growing population of people who had come from other less stable areas. This led to the former county of Iowa coming under Wisconsinite control. Aside from a population boost, this annexation helped create a larger agricultural region, as well as a fledgling industrial market.
Siege of Boscobel
A Determined Future
Following the Siege of Boscobel, Wisconsin officially declared the Wisconsin River as its northern border and began constructing along the shores of the river in order to better facilitate trade with Superior. This has caused an small exodus from Madison as much of the population has been lured by governmental incentives to re-populate some of the run-down towns along the River.
Economy
The economy of Wisconsin is primarily controlled by industry and cattle farming. Madison in particular is known for its food processing industry, which allows local foodstuffs to be preserved and sold without fear of it spoiling immediately.
It is also considered to be the "banking capital of the Mid-West" as several Superior banks have relocated their headquarters to Madison in recent years for tax purposes.
Culture
Culturally, Wisconsin is very much like the rest of the surviving Midwest.
Media
Due to Madison being spared nuclear destruction, the survivors which inhabit the region still have access to the Wisconsin Historical Society, which houses thousands of films, vinyl records, and otherwise all pre-Doomsday American culture. Local historians and local CRUSA suppoorters hope to use this collection to help educate the younger generations on the world they lost.
Military
Being a former state capital, Madison was home to a rather large detachment of the Wisconsin National Guard. The EMPs completely crippled the Air branch, but Superior helped restore several of the aircraft, also taking some for their own air force in the process. All local affairs are handled by the Madison state police.
Wisconsin also operates an emergency militia in case of acts of terrorism or raiding.
International Relations
Wisconsin is a member of the Template:83DD, where it frequently follows Superior's voting patterns regarding measures taken by the organization.
In addition to this, they have also opened a dialogue with the North American Union regarding admission.
