1906: Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC-DEAD]

[Danceria]

I think we may have severed and may be more of a Dominion a la OTL Canada. We don't necessarily dislike Continental Frenchies due to cultural ties, but we may have questioned the oversight they've given us. (A rough example would be the permissibility of religious minorities and cultural plurality within our nation, where the French Commonwealth is pretty nationalistic.)

That would work well for me. France is ethically and historically opposed to the idea of empire, so it would make sense for Brazil to have become independent peacefully; French troops would be very reluctant to fight on the overlord's side in an independence war. A dominion-like status, where Brazil gets to decide for itself about pretty much everything while remaining in some sort of political relationship with the Commonwealth, is a natural compromise.

There may have been some bad blood (ironically, being more religiously tolerant, having African slaves for the Cash Crop plantations), but it was less of a revolutionary war and more of a separation. We don't really have tales of Republics colonizing outside of U.S. doing so in Liberia, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. It makes little sense for the respective republics to not have formed, and for a cultural identity being formed from the European pioneers (such as present day U.S./Canada and U.K.)
I also have noticed a sizeable portion of West Africa being under French control. Perhaps during the Reconquista and French colonialization, there may even be a few Muslims, either fleeing the violence, emigrating for new opportunities, or studying abroad.

Looks to me like much of my surrounding cultures would be Spanish and Breton, with a semi-recent influx of German immigrants.

[Finland SSR]

• Those who are accepted are free to post, and reserves that has been applied BEFORE this post are all applied to the Dreadnaught contest

I ain't gonna even try.

[Kazarogkai]

Full Nation Name : Free Guyana Revolutionary State
Majority/Official Culture : Guyanese Maroon
Territorial Core : https://photos.app.goo.gl/XvH2sUNyQEGMPMoa6
Territorial Claim : https://photos.app.goo.gl/LVGvYuYoNaDsNSDL8
Capital City : Elamana (Kajana, Suriname)
Population : 3,114,880
1800 150,000
1825 300,000
1850 600,000
1875 1,200,000
1900 2,400,000
1905 2,880,000

Government Type :
De-jure Revolutionary Government
De-facto Parliamentary Single-Party Federal Theocratic Republic
Government Ideology/Policies : Militant, Siege mentality
Government Focus : Maintaining independence, the liberation of the america's from old world colonialism, the destruction of Monarchism, and finally but certainly not least fighting the good fight in the name of heaven.
Head of State : The Grand Committee and by extension the Speaker of the National Assembly who heads it
Head of Government : De-jure Grand Committee, De-facto a tossup between the Consul of War, the Premier Chairman of the Faction, The High Elder of the Phalanx
Government Description :
GENERAL HISTORY
At its most basic the government of the Free Guyana Folk State, simply known as Guyana by most, as explained in the constitution is simply titled a revolutionary government. The Formal Government of Guyana generally is traced all the way back to the revolutionary freeman's council set up by Solomon Day who traveled with his 24 companions companions deep into the interior in order to elicit the support of the various maroon tribes in what would become a general rising among the slaves and maroons. When him and his 24 companions arrived into the interior and were able to convince the local maroon elders in Elamana of his intentions and bring them into the fold from here he set up his first stronghold from which he would continue to expand from. At first he largely concerned himself with military matters delegating administration to local civilians in a hands off approach shaping civil policy only in the abstract. As his government's influence and by extension his army began to expand he would set up within each maroon village a small and large council with the former comprised of the villages various headman and elders of note while the latter was composed of the entirety of the villages adult inhabitants. When he felt the time was ripe, spurred on by a local slave rebellion near the cost around Georgetown, he led his army in what became known as "The March to the Sea". Along the way as his troops captured the various mostly sugar plantations that dotted the landscape he would set here to set up small local forums as they were called composed of the able bodied adult population of the former plantation and organize them into in effect a democratic commune tasked with organizing the provision of men material for the war effort. Up until wars end there was no really true central government other than himself, the army, and a personal civilian entourage consisting of the aforementioned companions plus 2 representatives derived from each maroon village and freemen commune who with time were organized into what came to be known as the National Assembly. The period from independence all the war until the death of Solomon was a rather anarchic time with the central government being a rather adhoc affair almost entirely consisting of and being concerned with the military and it's affairs due to the rather hostile surroundings with Solomon ruling largely by decree both in religious and temporal affairs. During this time it was largely the local units set up by Solomon in the form of the Maroon Village Councils and the Freeman Commune Forums who bore the brunt of day to day governance. This is also the time in which Solomon Wrote his magnum opus collectively called Solomon's twins the consisting of: The Golden Manuscript and The Manifesto of a Heavenly Revolution. The former was a codification of Solomon's Religious beliefs and ultimately would serve as a sort of Bible for what became the Phalanx of Heaven, while the Latter would as sorta implied be a political manifesto on his own beliefs of what he believed would be a revolutionary society and of the government necessary to run it. Upon Solomon's Death in 1820 at the age of 100 years his successors would go on making use of the aforementioned to create a society in what they believed he had personally Envisioned. The results were much more beautiful in theory than in practice like many such things.

GENERAL OVERVIEW
The structure in reality in it's fully encompassed form is best described as a Parliamentary Single-Party Federal Theocratic Republic. To break that down the overall government atleast in theory is meant to be centered around the National Assembly with the various other branches acting as pillars of support to uphold it and by extension the entirety of the nation. But the reality of the situation things play out a bit different.

BASIC STRUCTURE
I THE COMMITTEES AND DIRECTORS
- Starting from the top the executive is comprised of and appointed from members of the National Assembly and consists of small bodies that are known as Committees. These serve as the arms of the Legislative and handle the enforcement of laws and play an important part in the making of said laws too with the initial drafting and debating of laws beginning in the very Committees charged with that area of policy. Trade laws in the Committee of Diplomacy, education in the Committee of Culture, etc. All the various Permanent Committee heads known as consuls are organized into what is known as the Grand Committee whose membership consists of the aforementioned but also includes the Speaker of the National Assembly and a few officers of the government who have been empowered by the National Assembly notably the Premier Chairman of the Faction and the High Elder Marshal of the Phalanx of Heaven. Operating in a Parliamentary manner members of the executive, namely the consuls, are appointed by and consist of members of the National Assembly as mentioned before and serve at the pleasure of said body. Though technically they do have a official term length consisting of a single year at which they are individually required to face a mandatory confidence vote and by extension pass a budget, if either fails then a new consul(s) must be appointed and by extension a budget. If either is unable to occur then the Assembly can with a simple majority call for a snap election in which current incumbents are barred from running in.
II THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
- Continuing on from before the National Assembly serves as the Legislative body making and debating the laws of the land, appointing members of the executive, and determining a government budget. Though structurally a Unicameral body it is in effect divided into 3 coequal divisions known as colleges who all serve together. These colleges consist of representatives of local units, representatives of the guilds, and representatives for the Phalanx, each numbering 144 in total. All members serve a term of 4 years which while not term limited cannot be served consecutively. They are elected via Block voting from multi member districts whose representative numbers are based on population size, more specifically their number of voters. In the case of members of the first college said districts correspond with the aforementioned local administrative units, In the case of the second college this is done with each Guild(main economic units) functioning as a district, and finally the third college has it's own districts drawn up based on parish borders(known as regiments). Upon the completion of an election members are tasked with both forming a government, appointing the Consuls to the Permanent Committees and a speaker for the National Assembly, and finally making a budget. If unable to do either a vote for a snap election can be made with a simple majority, with the exception in times of war in which case it takes 2/3 of the body.
III THE TRIBUNES AND ARCHONS
- The Judiciary is an odd ball of sorts in part inspired by the French Commonwealth, atleast in terms of basic ideals of Judicial Liberty, but in many areas very different. The basic structural component of the Judiciary is the Tribunes who are organized into 3 types high, district, and judgement. High Tribunes are standing bodies consisting of multiple members known as Archons and also Clergy members who are chosen via lot from eligible members of the public and serve a fixed non-consecutive term of 8 years in total. Each High Tribune numbers a total of 12 members and consist of 2 sub types: Constitutional and Statutory divided based on their role in terms of the law with the former being concerned with Constitutional Law and the latter being the highest courts of appeal in terms of the regular statutory law as set forth by the various Law Codes of Guyana. District Tribunes in contrast are temporary lasting only the length of their formation, investigation, and formal trial function both as courts of first instance and of appeal and are unlike their High varieties have defined judicial districts and henceforth jurisdictions based on where the Archons in question live. Judgement courts like the aforementioned are temporary bodies but are only formed after a formal trial is complete and ones appeals of been either exhausted or expired and unlike District Tribunes are composed of Jurists instead. Specifically 1 jurist from the victim(s) and/or their family. 1 from the guilty party and finally 10, with exceptions, other jurists from neutral parties.
- Now defining the 3 different members of tribunes: Archons, Jurists, and Clergy. Archons are those of the public who have been recognized and declared themselves as law speakers and are considered experts of secular law in all it's forms. In order to become one one must achieve a doctorate equivalent degree in law in a Guyanese University and declare themselves as an Archon and be vouched on by other Archons upon doing so becoming a member of a local district judicial pool. Jurists are similar to Archons but instead members of the public chosen by them to represent them in judicial affairs and are by extension meant to represent the spirit of the law in contrast to Archons who represent the word of the law. To become a Jurist one must have at the least a university degree in law and or humanities and upon doing so gain followers who are willing to be represented by you on court. Finally their is the Clergymen who have their own standards and are chosen via lot. They are there to make sure the law and by extension the enforcement of said laws is done in a manner that corresponds with Phalangite religious principles.
IV THE FACTION
- Officially titled The National Heavenly Workers and Farmers Unity Faction, commonly referred to as simply "The Nationalists Faction" or more Informally "The Faction" in day to day parlance. Within the writings of Solomon Day he very much expected similar to France that political factions were an inevitably and would emerge regardless of the best intentions and desires. He had an old cynical bone within him admittedly. Said factionalism would in his eyes be a threat overall to the unity of the nation and could tear it apart in times of great national stress, namely war. Hence in order to preempt such a thing he believed that a single party state was necessary within his system and would avoid much of the excess that came with typical political factionalism ultimately aiding in keeping the country on the righteous and revolutionary path that he set fourth and while keeping out those who might seek to internally derail the whole thing. That or at the very least contain the whole thing and keep it from poisoning the rest of the nation. At least in theory.
- Functioning in a manner Similar to many other organized political factions it does though have a few weird quirks to keep in mind. Organized in a somewhat hierarchical manner with the most basic and lowest organizational level being known as the block consisting of multiple party members within a given neighborhood. Each Block consists of a Forum composed of said members who operate along Direct-Democratic lines and who elect both an executive council who run day to day affairs for the block and delegates who are meant to represent the block in the forum above themselves. From this point onward in a manner similar to council democracy delegates chosen from the lowest level represent and also elect delegates above them from local to regional to finally national. The highest level is the national forum composed of delegates from the regional forums who themselves are delegates from the local forums and so on. The national forum like all the forums below them chooses from among their members an executive council which functions as the highest level executive organ of the party and they themselves choose from among themselves the Premier Chairman who is the head of the Party.
- Though independents are technically allowed to run for election to public offices the vast majority of the competition for said offices comes from members of the faction who in order to do so must seek the approval of the Faction and by extension the Premier Chairman of the Faction who wields untold power within the nation as a whole due to his position and ability to make or break an individuals candidacy for office.
V THE VOTERS
- Within Guyana elements of Direct democracy pervade through much of society but by far the most important of these is in the form of referendums and technically the election of various public officials within the National Assembly and Local Forums. Referendums are used exclusively for constitutional amendments and for the creation of a new constitution which occur every 8 and 40 years respectively. In contrast the election of public officials atleast on the national level occurs every 4 years while at the local level it varies.
- In terms of how to become a voter one must first be a citizen, and two finished their national service. In order to become a citizen one must either having been born within Guyana finished ones mandatory education, and declared and signed an oath of allegiance to the nation and the constitution or if not gone through the naturalization process which takes on average about 4-6 for immigrants. After one becomes a citizen to become a voter and by extension a full citizen one must finish their national service and have reached the age of 24. In the case of men this requires them to fulfill military conscript service whose duration depends on education level but varies from 8-4 years, with those achieving a university degree required to serve at the low end while those who only completed primary school required to serve at the higher end, and finally those who completed secondary being somewhere in between. Women in contrast, who've technically been able to vote since the first Constitutional period thereby making Guyana one of the first with female suffrage, must fulfill their national service via having 4 live born children(defined as those who have reached the age of atleast 2 years of age)
- The in terms of the amendments and referendums for them the process works as follows: In a manner similar to how laws bills are made, a initiative as it is known must be created within the respective committee from which it pertains too(War, Economy, Diplomacy, etc) and be put up for debate and ultimately approved by the Consul who heads the Committee in question. This Initiative then goes to the Grand Committee who then must debate and must ultimately approve of it. If such occurs then the speaker will introduce said initiative at a scheduled point in the Legislative Calendar at which point it will face a debate and initial vote which must see to it that approval is atleast 2/3 of the body. When that is done it will be put up upon the referendum calendar. When the next national referendum occurs voters within the nation may vote yay or nay to the proposed initiative and add unto the constitution so long as said vote equals 2/3 of the vote in which case it becomes an amendment.
- When it comes to making a new constitution, for each constitution by law is required to have an expiration date of 40 years after its creation. this works in a manner similar to how the amendment process works but a bit more convoluted and complicated requiring the establishment of Constitutional Forums and the like in the last 8 years of a constitutions existence. As of now Guyana is currently on it's 4th constitutional period with the period preceding Solomon's death regarded as the first despite the technical lack of a real substantial constitutional instrument with law being more or less a factor of his personal decrees, commandants, and local ordinances done in part in response to the former.
Majority/State Religion : Phalanx of Heaven
Religious Description : It's a bit of a local thing but is atleast technically christian but maintains certain rather heretical tenets as set fourth by Solomon Day the prophets "Golden Manuscript". In some ways it's a weird cross between elements of Catharism believing that earth is hell and ruled over by Satan and his minion while heaven is separate and ruled by God and his own in a giant holy war esque situation, Unitarianism believing that Jesus was a prophet in a long line of ones, with elements of Voodoo believing in many other sorta minor deities like saints and and angels and demons and the proscribed battling alongside God and Satan in their cosmic battle for power. It is led by the High Elder and was founded and spread by Solomon Day in the period during and after the war of independence. It's a bit weird and is unsurprisingly considered an utter and complete heresy by the Romans and those living in general christian dome.

Economic Ideologies : Quasi-Socialist, Georgist, National-Syndicalist
Major Production : small arms, artillery, steel, textiles, raw rubber, glass, concrete, gold, aluminium, fish, tropical fruit, timber, livestock, agricultural implements, mining equipment
Economic Description : The overall system is a rather strange breed quite unique for the world they live in. The majority of the factors of production in terms of both the tertiary, secondary, and the primary sector are run along syndicalist/communal lines with all business organizations above the family being in effect required to be run on cooperative lines with all members benefiting more or less equally and running it as such along democratic lines. Said cooperatives range in size from a single factory all the way up to large nationally run federations known as guilds run via a council based delegate system in a manner along the lines of the aforementioned faction's political system. With delegates from below electing those from above. Said guilds receive direct representation and are technically incorporated into the national government to help create overall policy.

On the otherhand elements of state socialism do persist with certain strategic resources like precious metals and even whole industries like arms manufacturing being a state interest and being the principle element. These are meant to be used to help the nation as a whole but are also found quite significant sources of revenue especially the aforementioned arms manufacturing with said weaponry produced being typically sold to various government approved armed revolutionary groups that prove a menace to many nations present in the new world. This has earned them quite a bit of hate despite efforts to keep it on the down low. The socialist element also comes into play to some degree due to despite the fact that Guyana is technically a market based economy the government does provide a tremendous role serving as the main regulator of the whole chaotic morass and safe guarder of consumers and workers health. This is rather heavily exemplified by the incorporation of the various Guilds, national cooperative federations and major industries, into the government to represent their interests and providing the government a way to help influence and direct the overall flow of the economy.

One important factor to consider is natural resources namely Land, Water, and Air. These three are regarded as the providence of all members of the community and hence are organized and considered to be under community ownership though individuals and their families have the right to manage said resources so to speak. In effect this means that local governments, namely municipalities, are given the duty of administering said resources with said duty being their principle job and the rent derived from the use of it being a significant source of their revenue.

Elements of protectionism are at play primarily serving to protect from foreign competition who might flood the local market with cheap goods and thereby destroy the still rather fragile industries that comprise Guyana. Despite this the country is rather reliant on exports, most notably decent quality steel and alongside that weapons due to the rather small population and hence small market that is Guyana being insufficient to properly sustain the continuing industrialization of Guyana alone in spite of talk of and a desire for autarky by the government. This is kinda the dirty secret of the whole thing and hence the sever effect their isolation has had on their economy resulting in it being known as a rather poor country both in raw size and in per capita manners.

Development: Semi-Industrialized
Development Description : Though the elements of Industrialization came into play sometime in the post war period is didn't really hit off properly until the 2nd constitutional period sometime in 1840. Compared to most nations it was largely a state based initiative due to the rather weak capitalist class present. The initial focus was a two fold mix of the need for arms to equip the armed forces but also a need to feed and connect the growing population. The end result has been a rather excessively specialized system whose primary focus is centered on supporting the other 2 sectors of the economy the service and agriculture rather than being an independent and principle body of the economy in it's own right. One of the principle manufactured goods for example is agricultural and mining equipment to better allow for greater resource extraction(primary sector), another example is the arms manufacturing used to equip the military(service sector). Hence most of it's industry is categorized as being light rather than of the heavy variety and overall exports principally derive from the agricultural sector with only surplus production from the secondary sector being exported in rather sparing amounts. Still for a what is regarded as a rather small and poor new world nation it's still pretty good in areas where it does focus on namely being one of the premier arms manufacturers and producers of steel in the world with Guyanese guns and steel being found all over the place ranging from the bummest parts of non-colonial Africa to equipping the armies of other new world nations too poor to have their own significant development in that regard.

Army Description : In a manner of speaking the Land Command of the Black Revolutionary Brotherhood Phalanx of the Heavenly Crusade, known simply as the Black Phalanx the world over, operates in many manners despite the time more like an old guerrilla liberation army than that of a modern European fighting force. Ranks are simple and name wise are largely functional with officers being all known as Commander followed by whatever they lead. For example Contingent-Commander is the name for a leader of an contingent(corps equivalent) in contrast Column-Commander for a leader of a column(battalion equivalent). With the exception of the term Legion which is rather archaic and a reference to the name of the personal army of Solomon Day himself most names are different from what they would be in other countries. block for companies, line for platoons, front for armies, ext. In some ways the Land Command and by extension the Military is more political than functional having a whole host of important duties attributed unto it being for example the main gateway for males to vote.

All this leads to as kinda stated a quote on quote "functional albeit not necessarily smooth machine" of a system which for the most part serves its main purpose keeping the enemies of the state off their back. A role from which it has done rather decently for most of it's history. The overall system Is quite heavily based around defense and keeping others out due to the all pervading fear of both real and imagined potential enemies that lie on the proverbial horizon. This hasn't been helped due to the multiple post war attempts at reconquest done by the Spanish State and it's continued refusal to recognize the Independence of Guyana leaving said nation being a rather isolated one with few friends and making it feel that peace is only an illusion and simply preparation for the next war. This in part explains the rather excessive military spending of the government regularly equaling about 50% of the national budget or around 15-20% of the nations raw GDP. With the Land Command receiving the Lions share of that. Not even taking into account the extensive fortification systems prevalent along the coast and with their principle access points to the east and west.

The use of legions is used in a manner similar to how other countries use a regimental system with legions maintaining long lines of history

Army Weakness : Probably the biggest problem in general has to do with as mentioned the military being so political. In order to keep control and in general prevent a coup certain precautions have been made especially towards the officer corps that could be argued have resulted in a severe issue in terms of efficiency and competence. Things like Political commissars and the use of civilian courts to try military personnel in peace time and in some circumstances wartime and the tremendous emphasis placed on civilian control of the armed forces leads to much of the officers being barely above that of political cronies who are more interested in keeping their necks and hence are lacking in terms of things like personal initiative, lest they be seen as a nail that needs to be hammered down, and are rigidly procedural leading to a force largely devoid of much in the way of innovation outside weapons procurement to some degree. In terms of equipment though regarded in many areas as being brilliant by foreign observers from the legion level downward most of their weapons tend to be previous generation and they have a tendency to fall behind other nations while only barely keeping up at the best of times. Troops though well trained and disciplined their the cult of elan that pervades the thinking of much of the military is sometimes emphasized to a detriment. Soldiers in battle are known for and expected to hold their ground and refuse to retreat or surrender even when it would be best to do so, and their commanders tend to place a too great emphasis on mass infantry tactics which can lead to heavy losses which honestly they can't really afford too much. Mix that in with a reputation for brutality leading to a force with issues related towards hearts and mind in the eyes of those living outside Guyana.
Naval Description : A rather small force more for show than anything else. Their is little to no reasonable expectation that in any large scale war with a conventional power that it would last particularly long. This in part is a factor of previous experience seeing so many ships get destroyed whenever the Spanish came back or another power tried to strong arm them. The hope is they can take down a few with them and atleast provide some relief and time for the land forces to get ready to repel the enemies back.
Naval Weakness : It kinda got stated already but in a nutshell the Sea Command is more or less the ugly step child that they sorta want and need but only sorta. Being that is the case it is almost purely a brown water force being concerned primarily with coastal defense and patrolling interior water ways like rivers. It always ends up at the bottom of the bucket in terms of funding and gets only the scraps of whatever the Land Command has taken in terms of the conscription pool. Hence it tends to be were the rejects and loosers of society end up and has a reputation that is accordingly as such.
Further Military Description :

In relation to conscription: Going into the nitty gritty the backbone of the whole thing is more or less reliant on conscription with all males upon finishing their education being required to serve in form or another effectively until they either have reached the age of 70 or have achieved 48 years of total service, whichever comes first. Upon first completing mandatory education and depending on what level they young men will enter their first conscription period lasting from 8-6 years. The first 2 year of which is basically spent in training, the first in camp the second on the field. For those who pass Secondary School and during so went through the Gymnasium making them eligible for university they can take a temporary deferment until they complete it upon doing so they will be inducted into service for 4 years. The system makes use of conscription classes which more or less determine ones place when they do get conscripted. Those who passed primary school are made regular enlisted, those who pass secondary school usually become regular enlisted but are usually used for certain specialist positions pertaining to their education like combat engineers, those who passed Secondary school and during so went to Military Academy can become NCOs and later field officers if they apply themselves, while finally those who finished university go on to become staff officers. This allows for a rather functional if not always smooth system to be maintained with everyone kinda from the get go having their place. Now for conscripts upon completing the initial period of conscription males go into the first reserve whereby they will be subject to the allotment system whereby they will be organized into groups of 12 who over a period time will be required to return to serve for 120 day periods of time in one by one for the next 12 years serving in active or A-type legions alongside those in the first conscription period. Upon finishing this up they enter the second reserve who are organized into reserve legions and are required to train every 60 days or so for the next 12 years but in turn are only subject to serving when war mobilization takes place. Finally their is the 3rd and final reserve lasting until they turn 70 or have completed the last of their 48 years of required service. Those who are within the second and third reserve are able to gain deferments of service relating to occupation but those are rather rare.

In terms of Organization, The Black Revolutionary Brotherhood Phalanx of the Heavenly Crusade consists of the following distribution of forces:
144,000 active personnel(115,200 conscripts,28,800 allotment troops)
144,000 second line reservist
144,000 3rd line reservist

A Land Command 120,000 + 120,000
- 12 A-Type Infantry Legions
- 12 B-Type Infantry Legions
- 4 A-Type Cavalry Legions
- 4 B-Type Cavalry Legions
- 4 A-Type Artillery Legions
- 4 B-Type Artillery Legions

B Sea Command 12,000 + 24,000
- 6 Coastal Defense Columns = 120 Guns
- 6 Reserve CD Columns = 120 Guns
a Warships = 30 + 120
- 5 Destroyers
- 10 Frigates
- 100 Light Vessels(Gun Boats,Torpedo Boats)
- 35 Other vessels(Mine layers, Tug boats, etc)
C Capital Guard 6000
- 1 Guard Legion
D War Department Staff 6000
a Division of Logistics
b Division of Personnel Affairs
c Division of Planning
d Division of Operations

National Goals :
- Do something about Swedish Venezuela, having a colony next door feels a little insulting in their eyes.
- Get the economy in a better place somehow
- Secure their independence from Spain, a more permanent solution is necessary.
National Issues : Being a rather isolated land of ex slaves that remains largely unrecognized by much of the civilized world is a rather huge one. The economy i also rather poor and struggling to keep up with their neighbors
National Figures of Interest :
- Solomon Day, Founding Father, Prophet, Statesmen, Educator, Deceased
- High Elder Amon Brian Head of the Phalanx
- Premier Chairman Abraham Taylor
- Consul of War Samson Herald
- Speaker of the National Assembly Lot Tyler
National Ambition/Aspirations : The general hope is to bring an end to old world dominance of the new world and see to it the independence of the entirety of the continent and with that spread the good word of the Phalanx of Heaven if at all possible and with it their revolutionary ideals.

History :

THE PRE-REVOLUTIONARY COLONIAL ERA 1650-1774
- The period preceding the revolution was a period of time rather that in most ways was rather similar to the world of OTL with European colonization of the new world beginning with earnest in the 16th and 17th centuries. The first settlement of Guyana named Georgetown had it's start in 1650 and was done by the British who sought to create a sort of anchor for their sugar producing colonies in the lesser Antilles plus it was meant in a sort of way to put pressure on the Spaniards who at that point largely controlled the majority of South America. Said colony would come to be known as the Province of British Columbia and would like much of the surrounding lands became a largely plantation based economy centered around mass enslavement of African slaves and sugar production. Some of said slaves invariably would escape from bondage hiding in the interior and would come to be known as Maroons hiding from British cavalry raids and clinging onto what little cultural traditions that they had bought with them over from their homelands.

- A major change came about though during the Atlantic wars Britain would not only lose it's North American colonies but so too would British Columbia fall to the Spanish forces near the end of said war. More so as an afterthought then anything else. While North America was regarded as a large prize British Columbia, which was joined to and came to be known as the Eastern Counties of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, was kinda like the grizzle. Not bad but nothing too substantial or important. This combined with the continued period economic and political weakness that categorized Spain in the post Atlantic wars era led to this land being rather neglected filled with bare bones administration and economic malaise.

- It was within this world that the man known as Solomon Day who would come to define this nation would be born into. Born in 1720 The son of a runaway named Awa who had gone Maroon after having led a small revolt that had killed his master after said master had killed his mother and escaped in the face of massive chase conducted by the colonial militia to the jungle of the deep interior. His mother, named Maylen, was a daughter of a chief and said to have been a witch. He grew up spending his formative years within his little maroon village constantly having to move to avoid Spanish Patrols when one day everything would change. At the age of 12 while trying to run from Spanish Cavalry company who had spotted their village Solomon fell behind and was captured. He became a slave on one of the local sugar plantations for the next 2 years and would see the full brutality of the world his Parents had always spoken of. He would in the dead of night escape running to and stowing away on a ship during the dead of night. Though it was only a few years the whole experience left a significant impression on him leaving behind both mental physical scars that haunted him to the day he died.

- He would go onto become a traveler starting his life as a ship boy and making his way around the world where he would meat see and learn of a world that he had never known of living within his little village. He learned to read and write and found a great talent in linguistics being able to speak in 5 languages: dutch, french, English, Spanish, and Latin besides the one of his fathers. During this time while working under a merchant he found himself in the land of the French and it is said that this would influence him greatly in his later years. Seeing of the commonwealth, how it functioned so much differently then so many other places, would help arouse what would eventually become the soul of a revolutionary. It was all during his trips to France that he became rather acquainted with various branches of Protestantism in various different flavors that challenged and intrigued the personally held religious beliefs of this man influencing his later course in life.

THE REVOLUTIONARY CRUSADE 1775-1805
- At the age of 55 Solomon Day having spent the better part of his life in some ways running away from his past would find himself at the center of what came to be the beginning of something extraordinary. After having more or less settled in the Spanish controlled Island of Trinidad Solomon got in contact with a small group of would be revolutionaries known as the Black Horizon who influenced by the ideas of the Radical land that was France and believing in the creation of a nation in which all men were free would go onto start the first leg of what came to be known as the Revolutionary Crusade on their island home. They would go onto lead a large scale revolt among the small population of freemen and black slaves in 1775 after having their plans discovered by the local authorities and their warehouse filled with guns raided. Solomon would find himself near the center of this who despite his age proved himself an able tactician helping the Revolutionaries achieve some minor gains. But Solomon realized rather early on a fundamental truth. The rebellion was doomed. The power of the Spaniard State, the small and limited population of the island plus being that it was an island it would be rather easy to isolate said rebellion and crush it soon after. The only hope was for a more large scale mass rebellion over a far larger area, only then could they hope for victory. So it was at this point Solomon would set a new plan in motion organizing small groups of Expeditionary units, one of which he would lead, who would armed with weapons and ammo go on to attempt to incite rebellions in the surrounding lands. Solomon would with a few companions, 24 in total, lead his forces back to a land he had called home so long ago.

- I 1777 Solomon and his 24 companions would land upon the coast of OTL Guyana and despite the heavy Spanish presence would be able to successfully evade discovery and made their way into the interior whereby he would link up with the local Maroon population. The proverbial son had returned and he came bearing with him revolution. For the next 10 years Solomon spent bringing the various Maroon chiefs onto his side, trying to convince them that a change was coming and it was time to act. Whether by guile, charisma, or in some rare cases force, he was eventually successful in his goals of unifying the the maroons into a cohesive force. During this time he gained contact with the French, seeing what he was doing and thinking it could potentially be rather useful for their own goals, and hence gained a rather large source of arms. Nothing too amazing, mostly pre gen stuff, but it would tip the balance far more into their favor than it had been

- At this point the Spanish having long since put down the Rebellion in Trinidad along with that appeared to be all the various smaller scale rebellions that had broken out in response were not expecting a hole lot and had believed and hoped they could finally relax when the unthinkable occurred. Solomon leading a unified force of Gun armed Maroons numbering around 2,000 strong led an offensive against the rather scattered and coastal focused Spanish Militia units who caught utterly by surprise nearly collapsed in the face of the whole thing. During this time Solomon made contact with the slaves on the sugar plantations and with french guns armed and incited them to rebellion allowing him and his forces an absolutely awesome source of manpower that gave him the ability to nearly total overrun all who stood in his way. By the time the spanish regulars arrived to try to put it all down they were faced with a crisis that was teetering on disaster. They ultimately using their superior weaponry and training were able to more or less stabilize the front turning the whole thing into a slog of attrition that in the end would nearly break the Spanish State.

- For the next 13 years what came about for the

SOLOMON'S REIGN 1806-1820

THE REVOLUTIONARY STATE ERA 1821-PRESENT

RP Sample:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=348283&p=25335065&hilit=Cornelius+%22Cannibal%22+Willow#p25335065
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=326874&p=23421024&hilit=Cornelius+White#p23421024

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

Almost done, just got to finish up the remainder of the war with Spain and write up the post war. I'm really sorry for screwing up guys this was supposed to be done literally today but I slacked and paid the price dammit. Procrastination is my sin.

But what I do have I'm just wondering if everyone is cool with it in it's current form. Any major concerns or criticism, possibly personal thoughts and the like you might want to get off before I hammer the whole thing down?

[Danceria]

Reservation

Nation Name: Bresil, United Federation of/Brésil, Fédération unie du
Territory: The remainder of Brazil, Bolivia, and the “No Man’s Land” between Argentina and Colombia
#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 72 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

[Theyra]

I am done with my app.

App

[Tracian Empire]

I am done with my app.

App

Which you have posted before, it will be reviewed as soon as possible.

[Tracian Empire]

Reservation

Nation Name: Bresil, United Federation of/Brésil, Fédération unie du
Territory: The remainder of Brazil, Bolivia, and the “No Man’s Land” between Argentina and Colombia
#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 72 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

accepted

[Zepplien]

Reservation

Nation Name: United Trade Conglomerate
Territory: Took the pleasure of adding it to the existing map https://i.imgur.com/FzFh2Uu.png

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 72 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

[Oscalantine]

Quick question: the IC says that the current year is 1855 - can we assume that's a typo? And if so, what month is it of 1906?

Dammit, did that happen? XDDD

Yee that is 100% my bad. The year indeed is Jan of 1906

[Reverend Norv]

I'm halfway done my IC post. I know that a couple of players have plans for stories involving France, but I will leave it to them to make contact; this first post is just to set the stage.

[Tracian Empire]

Reservation

Nation Name: United Trade Conglomerate
Territory: Took the pleasure of adding it to the existing map https://i.imgur.com/FzFh2Uu.png

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 72 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

I am a bit confused about this reservation, so before accepting it, I'd like you to explain:
1. Your concept. The name sounds pretty fictional, so to say.
2,. Your territories - you seem to have territories on two different continents, which region should be your core?

[Insaeldor]

Alright my app is finished and opened to op review.

[Zepplien]

Reservation

Nation Name: United Trade Conglomerate
Territory: Took the pleasure of adding it to the existing map https://i.imgur.com/FzFh2Uu.png

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 72 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

I am a bit confused about this reservation, so before accepting it, I'd like you to explain:
1. Your concept. The name sounds pretty fictional, so to say.
2,. Your territories - you seem to have territories on two different continents, which region should be your core?

Meant to be a kinda East India style Megacompany that managed to survive into the "modern day", operating far more autonomously than even the VOC it is quasi based on. It is going to be meant as a sick man of the world, the last glory of the Great old Megacompanies, a last hoorah for the force of private arms over nationalism.

As for core territory, they are European, so all their lands are Colonial, but their greatest investment and capital will be in Nigeria.

[Pasong Tirad]

Will try to get a post up by this week as well. Just an introductory post setting up the storyline I have cooking in my head - which others are free to join in on, of course, since collaborative worldbuilding is what makes RPs like this so great.

[The Frozen Forest]

Full Nation Name : The Free Republic of Mexica
Majority/Official Culture : Nahuatl and Mayan
Territorial Core : Mexico, those bits of land between Mexico and the western half of America, Central America up till the Colombian border, and Isla Isabela/neighboring islands.
Territorial Claim : Texas and Colombia
Capital City : Tenochtitlan
Population : 27,400,000

Government Type : Federal Representative Democracy
Government Ideology/Policies : Liberalism
Government Focus : Survival, and should that be accomplished-Economic Growth
Head of State : President Necalli Tlexicma
Head of Government : President Necalli Tlexicma
Government Description : The Free Republic of Mexica is a Representative Democracy with a unicameral legislature. The head of State and Government is the President-who is elected by the people using a first past the post system. The President has a number of powers given to him constitutionally by the people. These responsibilities include but aren't limited to: Responding to international or domestic crisis, Rallying support for various causes through campaigning, directing the efforts of the nation and meeting with foreign leaders. A new President is elected every four years and former Presidents may not run for a second term-except during a crisis, where the National Council must vote to allow the President to run for a second term, they must vote 2/3rds in favor for.

The National Council is the single legislative branch of the Mexica government. Its Legislator's are elected every five years through the single transferable vote system. Councilmen are limited to three terms in office, but may run for President, just as a President may run for Councilman after his term is up. The National Council is in session the whole year apart from December and Councilmen are required by law to be in attendance, though they are allowed a number of sick days each month.

Cities and large and/or wealthy towns are required to fund their own Police force, area's too remote or too poor to fund their own Police are protected by the Military. Criminal cases are handled in bench trials, where a jury is not present and decisions are made by appointed judges. These judges are appointed by the Calpixqui (Stewards, translatable to Mayor by 1906) for cities, towns and villages. For rural area's where the population is too dispersed to select a judge, one is appointed by the National Council. Decisions made by a judge can be challenged and if a High Judge decides to accept the case, it will move up and a new trial will begin. There are eight High Judges in the Republic and legal precedents are set by them. They do not rule as a single court, but as individual judges for different trials. Courtesy demands that they do not set up contradictory judgements in regards to different trials-so as not to create a confusing legal precedent.

All children are required to attend school if they are able. Only children from the most rural area's of the country are omitted, as schools do not exist in some areas. Where schools do exist however, children must attend until the 10th Year, with education beginning at age 6. Students may elect to remain in school until the age of 19 and these students are given preference for higher education. Both higher education and smaller schools are owned and operated by the government and are free. The costs of running the schools is taxed off of the local population, though the education budget is considered average by international standards. Healthcare is funded by local area's and is dependent on the amount of tax that each area brings in. Citizens may elect not to pay the Medical tax, but are ineligible to receive healthcare as a result-or must pay the full price of any visit they make to a clinic or hospital.

Public transportation is handled entirely by the private sector, with the exception of railroads-which are owned and operated by the government. Due to a recent initiative by the government, citizens may opt to pay money to the railroad instead of their medical tax and still receive the bonuses they would have if they were paying for their medical. Thus there has been an explosion in railroads since the founding of the republic five years prior. There are no government plans for dental services, thus this sector has been taken over by the private sector.

Majority/State Religion : Traditional Nahuatl
Religious Description : Traditional Nahuatl is the name given to the primary and most popular religion within Mexica. Consisting of 29 Gods, it is a remnant of Mexica's traditional mythology, which was reformed in the early 1500's to have codified rites and a holy book in the form of the Holy Texts. Typically, a Mexica will worship either one or all the gods. It is believed that one will have more effective prayers and sacrifices by dedicating themselves to a single God, but this is a belief limited to Tenochtitlan and other major cities.

Economic Ideologies : Capitalism (Free Trade)
Major Production : Fruit, Agricultural Products, Textiles, Alcohol/Grain, Opium
Economic Description : The Mexica take a free market approach to the economy, with the government preferring to stand aside and let things play out as they will.

Development: Modern
Development Description : Mexica, previously the Aztec Empire, reformed from its primitive ways throughout the 1500's and 1600's and by the 1700's could be considered a modern nation, with all the benefits that entails. Mexica maintains strong ties with other developed nations, it also has an advanced railway network.

Army Description :
The Mexica Army is comprised of two armies, each numbering 250,000 Men. The President is considered the Commander in Chief and the Generals of both armies answer to him directly. Each army is divisible into 4 Corps of 62,500 Men and is led by a Corps Captain. Dividing further, each Corps is divisible into five Otomi's, numbering at 12,500 Men. In each Otomi there are 20 Battalions with 625 Men. Within each battalion there are 25 Regiments with 25 men each. The final division is the Rifle Team, consisting of 5 groups of 5 Men.

Officers are typically commissioned from the enlisted, though many exceptions were made when the Royalist Army was incorporated into the Rebel Army when the Mexica Republic was founded. Officers tend to work themselves out of the woodwork themselves, though when there is a need for a capable leader then a survey is done by other officers with the intent of finding talented individuals. Officers tend to allow their subordinates some degree of autonomy and discipline is usually enforced on the most unruly or undisciplined of soldiers. Officers must be no younger than 20 and no older than 55, apart from Corps Captains, Otomi Captains and Battalion Captains.

Soldiers in the Army are recruited between the ages of 16 and 37 and are required to serve for at least 5 years, though typically soldiers are expected to sign 7 or 9 year contracts. Regular soldiers are only allowed to be 45 or younger, thus a 37 year old could not enlist with a 9 year contract. There are bonuses for those that sign contracts for longer periods of time, with a 9 year bonus providing a whole years pay immediately after signing. Soldiers are paid by the government through taxation. If and when the Army is unable to pay all of its soldiers in cash, it will instead offer valuable equipment or items instead. Only men are able to become soldiers, though there is a special caveat for children to become soldiers. Those orphaned or abandoned by their families may be pressed into service. They receive a 1/4th pay and are required to serve until their 16th Birthday, when they are allowed to sign a normal contract or leave the Army.

All soldiers in The Mexica Army are equipped with the Gewehr 98 or the Carcano M1891 as their primary rifle. Officers may equip themselves with a rifle and also have the opportunity to equip themselves with either the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless or the Smith & Wesson Model 10, the latter of which is the more popular of the two. Officers may also carry a saber of their choosing, and normal soldiers may carry a knife. Machine Gun teams operate using the Madsen machine gun. There are 61 Artillery Pieces in the Mexica Army in the form of the Canon de 75 modèle 1897. Soldiers are equipped with a sleeping roll, ammunition, at least a few weeks rations, cooking supplies and at least two water canteens each. They are afforded a rucksack to carry these things.

Soldiers in The Mexica Army undergo 4-6 months of training, depending on the level of discipline and battle readiness of a unit at its predetermined training-end date. Extensions may be given for groups of soldiers to receive additional training, should the instructors of training camps determine to do so. The training itself is grueling, with each soldier getting on average only six hours of sleep. They undergo training to learn how to use their rifle, deal with difficult terrain, administering first aid, tactics and idealogical conditioning. After a soldier has finished his initial training, he is assigned to an Army. During peacetime the Army's are required to spend 4 out of the 12 months in a state of partial training-doing drills and exercises to maintain a strong physicalness and mental fortitude within the soldiers. Both armies are not eligible to train at the same time and in times of war, both armies are immediately mobilized.

The Northern Army is led by General Coszcaxochitl Chimalli and the Southern Army is led by General Yaomara Acaland
Army Weakness : While pay is stable, it is not remarkable by any means. The Military is susceptible to bribery and corruption.
Naval Description :
The Mexica Navy is led firstly by the President, who is the Commander in Chief of all Mexica Forces. After the President is Admiral Cuetzpalli Zelyna, an experienced former Royalist Admiral who is credited with destroying piracy off the coast of Mexica. Under him is Vice Admiral Itzcoh Xoton, whose mother was Incan and father was a prominent sailor. Sailors in the Mexica Navy are-much like in the Army, promoted to Officers if they prove to have skills relating to leadership or the intricacies of naval warfare. Unlike in the Army however, a bit of nepotism exists within the Navy that has allowed for less qualified men to take on leadership roles on a good number of ships.

Sailors are given the same length contracts as the Army offers, with better bonuses and pay. Sailors are given only two months of training, typically on merchant ships who are contracted to allow the instruction. All sailors are taught basic first aid and how to navigate and operate a ship, should their captain become incapacitated. Further training may be required by the Captain or Admiral of a ship. though this is left to their discretion. The Navy consists of 1 Battleship, 4 Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 2 Hospital Ships, 2 Ammunition Ships, 1 Repair Ship.
Naval Weakness : The Navy's weakness is primarily centered around the nepotism that exists within its ranks. Many officers are unqualified for their positions, which may lead to confusion or chaos if a war were to break out.
Further Military Description : (N/A) (May extend Naval Info later on)

National Goals : Strengthen the economy by transitioning it towards manufacturing as opposed to agriculture | Increase the literacy rate to 80% (Currently at 67%) | Maintain good relations with neighboring nations
National Issues : Corruption and nepotism must be eradicated throughout the nation, after this the Mexica must continue to industrialize further.
National Figures of Interest : WIP
National Ambition/Aspirations : Higher Economic Prosperity than any other nation in North or South America.

History : In 1517, Spaniards under the command of Hernández de Córdoba landed on the shores of the Yucatan. Comissioned by the Cuban governor to explore the jungled lands to the west, Cordoba and fifty other men ventured forth. They came upon a number of small villages whose inhabitants began to fall ill with diseases brought along with Spaniards. Before Cordoba could reach any of the major Maya cities his forces were ambushed twice, both times they were decimated by shadows from the forest. The natives fell upon the invaders and slaughtered them, the only survivor was a young man named Juan Andrés Fernandino. Fernandino was wounded but survived and was taken to Chichen Itza as a prisoner. There he met with the local ruler, a man by the name of Kinich Kakmo. Fernandino was able to escape sacrifice by agreeing to share information with Kakmo.

Disease spread through the Yucatan in the form of smallpox, wiping cities from the map forever. 45% of the Maya were killed by pestilence without ever having seen a single European. Huge amounts of refugees fled from their destroyed homes to the rural area's, taking over smaller villages and food supplies. Stability in the Yucatan was shattered and only a handful of settlements persisted, Chichen Itza being one of them.

Over the course of three months, Kakmo was taught about the Old World. Explanations as to the diseases now ravaging the peninsula, who the Spanish were and what kinds of weapons they used was all gathered. Fernandino gradually transitioned to being an honored advisor, who taught the warriors of Chichen Itza all he knew about warfare. Though skeptical, Kakmo utilized this knowledge to move and conquer the weakened city-states around him, proclaiming himself as Emperor of the Mayan People in less than two years.

He fought of two more small Spanish incursions, in both cases leaving no survivors to return to Spain. His luck did not hold out though, as he caught smallpox and nearly died. Fernandino took control of the Mayan City States in Kakmo's absence and proceeded to launch a massive purge that killed an additional 2% of the Mayans. Power was centralized around Fernandino, who ruled for a year before being killed by an assassin in his private quarters. Kakmo ascended back onto his throne.

Refugees fleeing smallpox fled northwest and eventually came upon the Mexica people. As information began to trickle in and coinciding with omens of war for Montezuma II, Mexica warriors were alerted and a close eye was put on the coastal enemies of the Mexica. In 1519, Hernan Cortes landed on the coast. Montezuma's warriors waited until nightfall of the third day and then fell upon the conquistadors. The Mexica were defeated but the Spaniards were bloodied and Cortes himself lost an eye. The Spanish proceeded onto Cempoala, where they received help from the natives. Montezuma attacked the settlement and forced Cortes to flee with only a quarter of his men, the settlement was purged and many Totonac's were killed.

Cortes and his men escaped, though Cortes died of his wounds on the way back to Spain. Already having trouble with the Mayans and now facing what was assumed to be a massive native Empire, the Spanish incursions slowed and then stopped entirely by 1530. Montezuma eventually reformed the federation of City States that were the Mexica. He built a proper Empire and began to conquer states directly, using the model of governance of a new rival in the far south-east. Simultaneously the Maya began to expand themselves into Central America and west. By 1569, the Maya and the Mexica dominated their respective area's. A period of mistrust began between them as they continued to fill out and grow, absorbing more people gradually and trading with the Europeans to gain an advantage over one another.

European-Mesoamerican Trade was lucrative for both parties. Plants such as cocoa found their way to Europe. Blackpowder firearms, metal, horses and

The Maya-Mexica War broke out in 1789. Emperor Tlacolotl II of the Mexica met fierce resistance from the forces of Emperor Q'uq'umatz of the Mayan Empire. 150,000 Mayans were slaughtered as Tlacolotl tore through dozens of Mayan settlements, conscripting able-bodied men and killing anyone who resisted. By 1793 the Mayan Empire was subdued and Emperor Q'uq'umatz captured and subsequently executed. Mayan women were married to Mexica men and Mayan men were sold into slavery to the Europeans. What would later be known as the Mayan Genocide was eventually ended after a few years when a massive rebellion broke out in Central America. The Mexica overtook the Maya however, the damage had been done.

The Empire of Mexica persisted in relative diplomatic isolation. A massive modernization process, which had been persued since at least the later 1600's went into full effect and by 1880, the Nation was on par with many of the Europeans in terms of technology. Still unrest boiled up and in 1903 another massive revolt broke out in the Yucatan, led by the minority Maya there. The Turtleshell Revolt eventually grew into the Mexica Civil War as more states broke off and joined the rebels. In less than eight months the Monarchy collapsed and the government was destroyed. Traitors fled into South America and the Royal Family was executed after being convicted by kangaroo courts. A new government was formed and three years later the new Free Republic of Mexica persists.

RP Sample: I have three samples in my signature, i was also a participant in the 1850 Alternative Divergence

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

Finished App

[Reverend Norv]

Posted! For those countries seeking to open discussions with France, I will leave it to you to broach those topics in your first posts. And while France will be entering the dreadnought race, in a nod to the delays inherent in democratic politics, it will only be doing so after the October elections: this post is just laying the groundwork in that regard.

[SCP Institution]

Secure our interests - Contain our threats - Protect our peoples

Full Nation Name : The Enlightened Republic of Britannia.

Majority/Official Culture : Mainly are British, Irish, Scottish. Beyond the Isles, the culture of oversea British colonies are quiet diverse with French and Dutch influences combines with heritages of the natives.

Territorial Core : British Isles.
Territorial Claim : Canada.
Capital City : London.
Population : 52,000,000 peoples.

Government Type : Aristocratic Meritocracy / Elective Monarchy.
Government Ideology/Policies : Nationalism mixed with some liberal elements and heavily influenced by the Celestial Church.

Government Focus :

• Maintain the superpower status of the Republic.
• Increase economic growths and technological advancements.
• Expand influences of the Republic to the rest of the world.
• Maintain a powerful modern armed forces and navy.
• Free the colonies from their colonial overlords.

Head of State : All members of the Grand Council.
Head of Government : All members of the Grand Council.

Government Description : Britannia became a republic after the nobility executed King Charles at the end of English Civil War. In this Republic, the land is divided into thirty eight provinces each under control by a noble house, they pay tithes to the central government and although the houses are allowed to rule however they please but most major legislative and executive matters must be handled by the bureaucratic system under the Golden Circle, which consists of 28 most influential elites. Meritocracy plays an important part in the selection of governmental members.


Majority/State Religion : Celestial Church.
Religious Description : [[OPTIONAL]]

Economic Ideologies : Corporatism and Mercantilism.
Major Production :
Economic Description :

Development : Modern.
Development Description : [Explain further why your nation is in one of the above categories]

Army Description : [[Describe your nation's army in as much detail as you can]]
Army Weakness :
Naval Description : [[Describe your nation's navy in as much detail as you can]]
Naval Weakness :
Further Military Description : [[OPTIONAL]]

National Goals :
National Issues : [[what needs to be fixed in order for your nation to achieve its true potential]]
National Figures of Interest : [[OPTIONAL]] [[Are there any Mother Teresas or Moses that we need to know about?]]
National Ambition/Aspirations : [[OPTIONAL]] [[Not really a set objective, but rather the big picture that your nation is drawing towards]]

History : [[Can be in paragraph or bulletpoint timeline.]]
RP Sample: [[Either a link to a past post, or an example written right here.]]

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

There are final exams by next week and I will be busy studying for them, so can I ask for more times to prepare my application ? Thank you !

[Kazarogkai]

Full Nation Name : The Free Republic of Mexica
Majority/Official Culture : Nahuatl and Mayan
Territorial Core : Mexico, those bits of land between Mexico and the western half of America, Central America up till the Colombian border, and Isla Isabela/neighboring islands.
Territorial Claim : Texas and Colombia
Capital City : Tenochtitlan
Population : 27,400,000

Government Type : Federal Representative Democracy
Government Ideology/Policies : Liberalism
Government Focus : Survival, and should that be accomplished-Economic Growth
Head of State : President Necalli Tlexicma
Head of Government : President Necalli Tlexicma
Government Description : The Free Republic of Mexica is a Representative Democracy with a unicameral legislature. The head of State and Government is the President-who is elected by the people using a first past the post system. The President has a number of powers given to him constitutionally by the people. These responsibilities include but aren't limited to: Responding to international or domestic crisis, Rallying support for various causes through campaigning, directing the efforts of the nation and meeting with foreign leaders. A new President is elected every four years and former Presidents may not run for a second term-except during a crisis, where the National Council must vote to allow the President to run for a second term, they must vote 2/3rds in favor for.

The National Council is the single legislative branch of the Mexica government. Its Legislator's are elected every five years through the single transferable vote system. Councilmen are limited to three terms in office, but may run for President, just as a President may run for Councilman after his term is up. The National Council is in session the whole year apart from December and Councilmen are required by law to be in attendance, though they are allowed a number of sick days each month.

Cities and large and/or wealthy towns are required to fund their own Police force, area's too remote or too poor to fund their own Police are protected by the Military. Criminal cases are handled in bench trials, where a jury is not present and decisions are made by appointed judges. These judges are appointed by the Calpixqui (Stewards, translatable to Mayor by 1906) for cities, towns and villages. For rural area's where the population is too dispersed to select a judge, one is appointed by the National Council. Decisions made by a judge can be challenged and if a High Judge decides to accept the case, it will move up and a new trial will begin. There are eight High Judges in the Republic and legal precedents are set by them. They do not rule as a single court, but as individual judges for different trials. Courtesy demands that they do not set up contradictory judgements in regards to different trials-so as not to create a confusing legal precedent.

All children are required to attend school if they are able. Only children from the most rural area's of the country are omitted, as schools do not exist in some areas. Where schools do exist however, children must attend until the 10th Year, with education beginning at age 6. Students may elect to remain in school until the age of 19 and these students are given preference for higher education. Both higher education and smaller schools are owned and operated by the government and are free. The costs of running the schools is taxed off of the local population, though the education budget is considered average by international standards. Healthcare is funded by local area's and is dependent on the amount of tax that each area brings in. Citizens may elect not to pay the Medical tax, but are ineligible to receive healthcare as a result-or must pay the full price of any visit they make to a clinic or hospital.

Public transportation is handled entirely by the private sector, with the exception of railroads-which are owned and operated by the government. Due to a recent initiative by the government, citizens may opt to pay money to the railroad instead of their medical tax and still receive the bonuses they would have if they were paying for their medical. Thus there has been an explosion in railroads since the founding of the republic five years prior. There are no government plans for dental services, thus this sector has been taken over by the private sector.

Majority/State Religion : Traditional Nahuatl
Religious Description : Traditional Nahuatl is the name given to the primary and most popular religion within Mexica. Consisting of 29 Gods, it is a remnant of Mexica's traditional mythology, which was reformed in the early 1500's to have codified rites and a holy book in the form of the Holy Texts. Typically, a Mexica will worship either one or all the gods. It is believed that one will have more effective prayers and sacrifices by dedicating themselves to a single God, but this is a belief limited to Tenochtitlan and other major cities.

Economic Ideologies : Capitalism (Free Trade)
Major Production : Fruit, Agricultural Products, Textiles, Alcohol/Grain, Opium
Economic Description : The Mexica take a free market approach to the economy, with the government preferring to stand aside and let things play out as they will.

Development: Modern
Development Description : Mexica, previously the Aztec Empire, reformed from its primitive ways throughout the 1500's and 1600's and by the 1700's could be considered a modern nation, with all the benefits that entails. Mexica maintains strong ties with other developed nations, it also has an advanced railway network.

Army Description :
The Mexica Army is comprised of two armies, each numbering 250,000 Men. The President is considered the Commander in Chief and the Generals of both armies answer to him directly. Each army is divisible into 4 Corps of 62,500 Men and is led by a Corps Captain. Dividing further, each Corps is divisible into five Otomi's, numbering at 12,500 Men. In each Otomi there are 20 Battalions with 625 Men. Within each battalion there are 25 Regiments with 25 men each. The final division is the Rifle Team, consisting of 5 groups of 5 Men.

Officers are typically commissioned from the enlisted, though many exceptions were made when the Royalist Army was incorporated into the Rebel Army when the Mexica Republic was founded. Officers tend to work themselves out of the woodwork themselves, though when there is a need for a capable leader then a survey is done by other officers with the intent of finding talented individuals. Officers tend to allow their subordinates some degree of autonomy and discipline is usually enforced on the most unruly or undisciplined of soldiers. Officers must be no younger than 20 and no older than 55, apart from Corps Captains, Otomi Captains and Battalion Captains.

Soldiers in the Army are recruited between the ages of 16 and 37 and are required to serve for at least 5 years, though typically soldiers are expected to sign 7 or 9 year contracts. Regular soldiers are only allowed to be 45 or younger, thus a 37 year old could not enlist with a 9 year contract. There are bonuses for those that sign contracts for longer periods of time, with a 9 year bonus providing a whole years pay immediately after signing. Soldiers are paid by the government through taxation. If and when the Army is unable to pay all of its soldiers in cash, it will instead offer valuable equipment or items instead. Only men are able to become soldiers, though there is a special caveat for children to become soldiers. Those orphaned or abandoned by their families may be pressed into service. They receive a 1/4th pay and are required to serve until their 16th Birthday, when they are allowed to sign a normal contract or leave the Army.

All soldiers in The Mexica Army are equipped with the Gewehr 98 or the Carcano M1891 as their primary rifle. Officers may equip themselves with a rifle and also have the opportunity to equip themselves with either the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless or the Smith & Wesson Model 10, the latter of which is the more popular of the two. Officers may also carry a saber of their choosing, and normal soldiers may carry a knife. Machine Gun teams operate using the Madsen machine gun. There are 61 Artillery Pieces in the Mexica Army in the form of the Canon de 75 modèle 1897. Soldiers are equipped with a sleeping roll, ammunition, at least a few weeks rations, cooking supplies and at least two water canteens each. They are afforded a rucksack to carry these things.

Soldiers in The Mexica Army undergo 4-6 months of training, depending on the level of discipline and battle readiness of a unit at its predetermined training-end date. Extensions may be given for groups of soldiers to receive additional training, should the instructors of training camps determine to do so. The training itself is grueling, with each soldier getting on average only six hours of sleep. They undergo training to learn how to use their rifle, deal with difficult terrain, administering first aid, tactics and idealogical conditioning. After a soldier has finished his initial training, he is assigned to an Army. During peacetime the Army's are required to spend 4 out of the 12 months in a state of partial training-doing drills and exercises to maintain a strong physicalness and mental fortitude within the soldiers. Both armies are not eligible to train at the same time and in times of war, both armies are immediately mobilized.

The Northern Army is led by General Coszcaxochitl Chimalli and the Southern Army is led by General Yaomara Acaland
Army Weakness : While pay is stable, it is not remarkable by any means. The Military is susceptible to bribery and corruption.
Naval Description :
The Mexica Navy is led firstly by the President, who is the Commander in Chief of all Mexica Forces. After the President is Admiral Cuetzpalli Zelyna, an experienced former Royalist Admiral who is credited with destroying piracy off the coast of Mexica. Under him is Vice Admiral Itzcoh Xoton, whose mother was Incan and father was a prominent sailor. Sailors in the Mexica Navy are-much like in the Army, promoted to Officers if they prove to have skills relating to leadership or the intricacies of naval warfare. Unlike in the Army however, a bit of nepotism exists within the Navy that has allowed for less qualified men to take on leadership roles on a good number of ships.

Sailors are given the same length contracts as the Army offers, with better bonuses and pay. Sailors are given only two months of training, typically on merchant ships who are contracted to allow the instruction. All sailors are taught basic first aid and how to navigate and operate a ship, should their captain become incapacitated. Further training may be required by the Captain or Admiral of a ship. though this is left to their discretion. The Navy consists of 1 Battleship, 4 Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 2 Hospital Ships, 2 Ammunition Ships, 1 Repair Ship.
Naval Weakness : The Navy's weakness is primarily centered around the nepotism that exists within its ranks. Many officers are unqualified for their positions, which may lead to confusion or chaos if a war were to break out.
Further Military Description : (N/A) (May extend Naval Info later on)

National Goals : Strengthen the economy by transitioning it towards manufacturing as opposed to agriculture | Increase the literacy rate to 80% (Currently at 67%) | Maintain good relations with neighboring nations
National Issues : Corruption and nepotism must be eradicated throughout the nation, after this the Mexica must continue to industrialize further.
National Figures of Interest : WIP
National Ambition/Aspirations : Higher Economic Prosperity than any other nation in North or South America.

History : In 1517, Spaniards under the command of Hernández de Córdoba landed on the shores of the Yucatan. They had been comissioned by the Cuban governor to explore the jungled lands to the west, and thus Cordoba and fifty other men ventured forth. They came upon a number of small villages whose inhabitants began to fall ill with diseases brought forth from the Spaniards. Before Cordoba could reach any of the major Maya cities his forces were ambushed twice, both times they were decimated by shadows from the forest. The natives fell upon the invaders and slaughtered them, the only survivor was a young man named Juan Andrés Fernandino. Fernandino was wounded but survived and was taken to Chichen Itza as a prisoner. There he met with the local ruler, a man by the name of Kinich Kakmo. Fernandino was able to escape sacrifice by agreeing to share information with Kakmo.

Over the course of a month, Kakmo was taught about the Old World. Explanations as to the diseases now ravaging the peninsula, who the Spanish were and what kinds of weapons they used was all gathered. Fernandino gradually transitioned to being an honored advisor, who taught the warriors of Chichen Itza all he knew about warfare. Though skeptical, Kakmo utilized this knowledge to move and conquer the nearby city-states, proclaiming himself as Emperor of the Mayan People in less than two years. He fought of two more small Spanish incursions, in both cases leaving no survivors to return to Spain. His luck did not hold out though, as he caught smallpox and nearly died. Fernandino took control of the Mayan City States in Kakmo's absence and centralized power around Kakmo. When he returned to power, Kakmo had full control over the Peninsula. This dramatic change left many in the other city states to be rebellious. It was more by good luck that rebellions never took hold and gradually Kakmo was able to remain in power.

Refugees fleeing smallpox fled northwest and eventually came upon the Mexica people. As information began to trickle in and coinciding with omens of war for Montezuma II, Mexica warriors were alerted and a close eye was put on the coastal enemies of the Mexica. In 1519, Hernan Cortes landed on the coast. Montezuma's warriors waited until nightfall of the third day and then fell upon the conquistadors. The Mexica were defeated but the Spaniards were bloodied and Cortes himself lost an eye. The Spanish proceeded onto Cempoala, where they received help from the natives. Montezuma attacked the settlement and forced Cortes to flee with only a quarter of his men, the settlement was purged and many Totonac's were killed.

Cortes and his men did escape, though Cortes did of his wounds on the way back to Spain. Already having trouble with the Mayans and now facing what was assumed to be a massive native Empire, the Spanish incursions slowed and then stopped entirely by 1530. Montezuma eventually reformed the federation of City States that were the Mexica. He built a proper Empire and began to conquer states directly, using the model of governance of a new rival in the far south-east. Simultaneously the Maya began to expand themselves into Central America and west. By 1569, the Maya and the Mexica dominated their respective area's. A period of mistrust began between them as they continued to fill out and grow, absorbing more people gradually and trading with the Europeans to gain an advantage over one another.

The Maya-Mexica War broke out in 1789. Emperor Tlacolotl II of the Mexica met fierce resistance from the forces of Emperor Q'uq'umatz of the Mayan Empire. 150,000 Mayans were slaughtered as Tlacolotl tore through dozens of Mayan settlements, conscripting able-bodied men and killing anyone who resisted. By 1793 the Mayan Empire was subdued and Emperor Q'uq'umatz captured and subsequently executed. Mayan women were married to Mexica men and Mayan men were sold into slavery to the Europeans. What would later be known as the Mayan Genocide was eventually ended after a few years when a massive rebellion broke out in Central America. The Mexica overtook the Maya however, the damage had been done.

The Empire of Mexica persisted in relative diplomatic isolation. A massive modernization process, which had been persued since at least the later 1600's went into full effect and by 1880, the Nation was on par with many of the Europeans in terms of technology. Still unrest boiled up and in 1903 another massive revolt broke out in the Yucatan, led by the minority Maya there. The Turtleshell Revolt eventually grew into the Mexica Civil War as more states broke off and joined the rebels. In less than eight months the Monarchy collapsed and the government was destroyed. Traitors fled into South America and the Royal Family was executed after being convicted by kangaroo courts. A new government was formed and three years later the new Free Republic of Mexica persists.

RP Sample: I have three samples in my signature, i was also a participant in the 1850 Alternative Divergence

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

Finished App

WIth the exception of the Republic of Korean North America, cant remember the name, all the rest of the various north american countries seemed to have generally settled on being Semi-industrialized rather than going full tilt modern like that of say Europe. It just seems slightly unfair and a little unlikely, considering your a native state without significant European influence that you yourself would be full on modern while the rest of us have agreed to be a bit behind more or less. The Aztecs didn't even have metallurgy in significant amounts or for that matter any sort of decent pack animals and yet somehow they became a modern westernized tech bearing society? You didn't provide much information on how that could have occurred other than one Spanish dude becoming sorta king I guess, but a single man I can't see being great enough to bring that much of a change to what was still a rather primitive late-stone age bare early bronze age society and turning it into something that is on par with the best of those in Eurasia within just a few centuries something that took Europe itself millennia to gain without a great amount of explanation to explain why. Seems a little mary suey.

I'm not an OP and it's up to them, but that is just my concerns on the matter.

[Oscalantine]

Full Nation Name : The Roman Empire

Finally finished reading it.

Normally I would thank you for ironing out your prior histories with Babylon and be done with this, but since you are one of my OPs and I need to put you on a higher standard, I do have a nitpick, although you still receive an ACCEPTED tag nevertheless:

Your history literally peters out towards the end of 13th century. I am not sure you have lost interest or you couldn't fit in any more words in the posts, but I do object to this lack of more modern history. A history of your nation is supposed to show not only your PoD (point of divergence) and how your nation came to be, but also your current state of affairs and where your nation stands at this moment. In 1850 when I am sure you joined my RP, this was alright: missing 300 years is not as disruptive as missing 400 years of history. It will certainly cause some issues with those you want to create a rich RPing experience with you if you do not have some basic understanding of what your nation's current history is, unless you want your nation to be seen as a stagnating empire on decline, which I know it is not.

As of this moment, though, that is a nitpick and I do not wish to penalize you just because I hold you in higher regard. I would ask, however, that you rectify this in your first post, so that those who wish to interact with you can have a general gist of your nation's recent history and have a point of reference to RP with you in.

[Pasong Tirad]

What is the history of left-wing political thought in this world? Socialism, communism, Marx, etc? I plan to incorporate maybe something about that in my story, even if only tangentially.

[Oscalantine]

Full Nation Name : The Free Republic of Mexica

I do share my concerns with Kazarogkai: I am not sure if you are talking about being equipped militarily to fend off European invasion of that your society has completely industrialized as a nation.

Allow me to first clear some points out about military section: as long as you are not primitive, you have military technology on par with the West. That will be given, and you will enter into Dreadnaught Race that I have going with best naval description. What I am meaning by "Modern" is how your cities and society has industrialized and urbanized, and how your infrastructure as a whole has been improved. You... seem to lack in this department.

As much as I would debate Busang's modern status, Busang is ex-colony of a Oriental superpower of the time that has eventually won the independence. At the same time, he also has stated historical reasons as to why his territories have infrastructure and urban centers. I would still debate that he should be semi-industrial, but I won't disregard him for saying this because he has stated it clearly in his history the reasons why.

However, this is a different story for Mexica. The previous Aztec player (yes, we did have one for a long time... now Babylon player, actually XDDD) had to convince me of how his people has suffered and survived the coming of Smallpox and how a visionary's 200 year plan through ups and downs... through kings giving up on the hope and regaining them... eventually led to a regional superpower which had their unique culture and development on par with any European or Oriental powers. Your application does not have this. At best, your application mentions a hint that it has been developing, but nothing is there for me to judge. Only at the last paragraph do I get a hint that your nation has been developing since 1600s.

The point is that there is not legitimate reason for your people to continue to develop through these 200 years. There is no mentioning on how your people somehow survived the smallpox epidemic when clearly refugees were coming in, and what was the spark that jolted the region and your nation to decide to industrialize and fight off the Europeans. From where I stand reading into your history, it really seems like your nation doesn't have any reason to modernize, since you have managed to push out the Spaniards with your existing forces.

Alright enough of my reasoning. I would like for you to re-write your history. By this I don't mean start over, but add more details. Paragraphs detailing how your people survived Smallpox and what motivated them to modernize. Then, give me some details on exactly why your nation started to modernize since 1600s and how in the world your people continued to build up your infrastructure when CLEARLY your people had more pressing priorities such as disease, European invasion, and general unrest in the region. Let's talk more about your application once your history's detail is added.

[Oscalantine]

There are final exams by next week and I will be busy studying for them, so can I ask for more times to prepare my application ? Thank you !

Unless I send you a direct TG... and I do this only to those whom my OPs pester me on... I usually keep reservations longer than 72 hour period. Only when I hear NOTHING from you do I consider removing your reserves. Your Britain will be here when you come back from finals, don't worry.

... having said that, we do need to move our pace since our IC has started. You may not be in the running for the Dreadnaught race. Just means that you don't start with one even if you do not, and you will have every right to construct one from your day1 post. So don't worry about you losing out a lot... because you won't be.

[Oscalantine]

What is the history of left-wing political thought in this world? Socialism, communism, Marx, etc? I plan to incorporate maybe something about that in my story, even if only tangentially.

Errr... as I don't recall your app so I cannot exactly tell you. It wasn't beneath (or would it be above?) me to approve socialist applicant if the rationale was good enough, though. We once did have a very elaborated Socialist French Republic that has successfully transitioned from Monarchy to Revolutionary Republic to actual republic without becoming Napoleonic Empire.

However and at the same time, I must give some... errr... caution. Marxism as a whole was still relatively untested philosophy at this time and, although its ideas recognized in some circles, having a mere 20-ish years to develop your nation may lead to a lot of issues in continuity. I would strongly discourage you to form your nation based on Marxist ideals due to this fact. However, if you do feel the zeal to create a Communist... err... I am not sure where your reserve is at the moment, so I may need to double-check your status with my OPs... whereever, you are free to TG your potential neighbors to trace back your socialist origin or, if you are willing to REALLY push this somehow... create your own socialist theory beyond Marxism. I won't stop you, but I wll comb your app with a fine brush.

[Pasong Tirad]

What is the history of left-wing political thought in this world? Socialism, communism, Marx, etc? I plan to incorporate maybe something about that in my story, even if only tangentially.

Errr... as I don't recall your app so I cannot exactly tell you. It wasn't beneath (or would it be above?) me to approve socialist applicant if the rationale was good enough, though. We once did have a very elaborated Socialist French Republic that has successfully transitioned from Monarchy to Revolutionary Republic to actual republic without becoming Napoleonic Empire.

However and at the same time, I must give some... errr... caution. Marxism as a whole was still relatively untested philosophy at this time and, although its ideas recognized in some circles, having a mere 20-ish years to develop your nation may lead to a lot of issues in continuity. I would strongly discourage you to form your nation based on Marxist ideals due to this fact. However, if you do feel the zeal to create a Communist... err... I am not sure where your reserve is at the moment, so I may need to double-check your status with my OPs... whereever, you are free to TG your potential neighbors to trace back your socialist origin or, if you are willing to REALLY push this somehow... create your own socialist theory beyond Marxism. I won't stop you, but I wll comb your app with a fine brush.

I've already been accepted. I mean to touch on some left-wing ideas in the RP, while my nation itself isn't left-wing at all, it's an empire.

[Tracian Empire]

Full Nation Name : The Roman Empire

Finally finished reading it.

Normally I would thank you for ironing out your prior histories with Babylon and be done with this, but since you are one of my OPs and I need to put you on a higher standard, I do have a nitpick, although you still receive an ACCEPTED tag nevertheless:

Your history literally peters out towards the end of 13th century. I am not sure you have lost interest or you couldn't fit in any more words in the posts, but I do object to this lack of more modern history. A history of your nation is supposed to show not only your PoD (point of divergence) and how your nation came to be, but also your current state of affairs and where your nation stands at this moment. In 1850 when I am sure you joined my RP, this was alright: missing 300 years is not as disruptive as missing 400 years of history. It will certainly cause some issues with those you want to create a rich RPing experience with you if you do not have some basic understanding of what your nation's current history is, unless you want your nation to be seen as a stagnating empire on decline, which I know it is not.

As of this moment, though, that is a nitpick and I do not wish to penalize you just because I hold you in higher regard. I would ask, however, that you rectify this in your first post, so that those who wish to interact with you can have a general gist of your nation's recent history and have a point of reference to RP with you in.

Well.. the app is not ready yet xD

I've told you that you could start reading it since I was aware that the app is rather huge and that your time was limited, but I did tell you that I still have to work on my population and history. The issue was that by myself, I could only add a single paragraph - the 1500-1600 reconquests of the Levant and Egypt. I need Kai to discuss with her and Exil the crusades, I need her to establish how involved the ERE would have been in the defense of the WRE, and I need Novacom to establish the history of my eastern border, and as you know, Nova has been ignoring me.

So I will try to properly finish the entire app as soon as possible