History of the UASC
Colonization (Pre-1765)
The area that would become the UASC was inhabited by numerous indigenous tribes. Starting in the 17th century, settlers from Europe began colonizing said area. They brought over African slaves and established plaintations. There were also conflicts between settlers and tribes.
Later in the 17th century, Anglois allowed religious dissidents, especially Huguenots and Puritans, to migrate to the New World. In the New World, the Angloisean colonies were divided between English-speaking colonists in the north and the French-speaking ones in the south, while Iberia controlled areas southwest of the Angloisean colonies, as well as present-day Florida. From 1692 to 1693, witch trials took place in Salem, Massachussetts, where more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft, which resulted in 19 of them being hanged.
In the 18th century, Anglois began consolidating control of its North American colonies. From 1754 to 1763, Anglois waged war on Sweden and Ireland in the New World. The war ended with the Treaty of Dublin, where Ireland and Sweden had to cede Maine, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and the Northwestern Territories to Anglois.
Rebellion (1765-1789)
Rebellion started to flare up on the East Coast in 1765 when Anglois passed the Stamp Act, which required the use of specialty stamped paper for legal documents, playing cards, calendars, newspapers, and dice for virtually all business in the colonies. The act was unpopular among colonists and led to a meeting being organized by colonial governments in New York City. The main goal of the meeting was to devise a unified protest against Angloisean taxation. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Angloisean colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina. Five years later, the horrific Boston Massacre took place, which led to the deaths of five colonists. In 1773, the Tea Act was implemented, which led to the infamous Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party saw protesters dress up as indigenous people and destroy an entire shipment of tea sent by the East Indian Company. The event led to the passing of the Intolerable Acts in 1774. The Intolerable Acts were meant to punish the Massachussetts colonists for their defiance in the Tea Party protest in reaction to changes in taxation by Anglois. One of these acts was called the Massachussetts Government Act, which abrogated the Massachussetts Charter of 1691 and gave its royally-appointed governor wide-ranging powers. The colonists said that it altered, by parliamentary fiat, the basic structure of colonial government. As a result, they vehemently opposed it and adopted the Suffolk Resolves, which led to a boycott of imported goods from Anglois. At the same time, the same nine colonies met again at the Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This meeting, now dubbed the "First Continental Congress", was soon joined by delegates from North Carolina, Virginia and New Hampshire. During the opening weeks, the delegates conducted a spirited discussion about how the colonies could collectively respond to the Angloisean government's coercive actions, and they worked to make a common cause. A plan was proposed to create a personal union between Anglois and the colonies, but the delegates rejected it. With the endorsement of the Suffolk Resolves, the delegates ultimately agreed in the Continental Association to impose an economic boycott on Angloisean trade, and they drew up a petition pleading for redress of their grievances and repeal of the Intolerable Acts. That appeal had no effect once the inevitable happened.
Between 1774 and 1775, members of the defunct Massachussetts General Court formed the Westhaven Provincial Congress and began calling for local militias to train for possible hostilities with Anglois. The congressional government exercised effective control of Massachussetts outside of Angloisean-controlled Boston. As a result, the Angloisean government declared Massachussetts to be in a state of rebellion and began sending troops to capture and destroy military supplies reportedly stored by the local militia at Concord. Colonial leaders had received word weeks before the expedition that their supplies might be at risk and had moved most of them to other locations. On the night before a potential confrontation, warning of the Angloisean expedition had been rapidly sent from Boston to militias in the area by several riders with information about Angloisean plans. The initial mode of the Angloisean soldiers' arrival by water was signaled from the Old North Church in Boston to Charlestown using lanterns to communicate "one if by land, two if by sea".
On April 19, 1775, all hell broke loose. The first shots were fired just as the sun was rising at Lexington. Eight militiamen were killed, including Ensign Robert Munroe, their third-in-command, while only one Angloisean soldier was killed. The militia was outnumbered and fell back, and the Angloisean troops proceeded on to Concord, where they broke apart into companies to search for the supplies. At the North Bridge in Concord, approximately 400 militiamen engaged 100 regulars from three companies at about 11:00 am, resulting in casualties on both sides. The outnumbered regulars fell back from the bridge and rejoined the main body of Angloisean forces in Concord. The Angloisean forces began their return march to Boston after completing their search for military supplies, and more militiamen continued to arrive from the neighboring towns. Gunfire erupted again between the two sides and continued throughout the day as the regulars marched back towards Boston. Upon returning to Lexington, one expedition was rescued by reinforcements under Brigadier General Hugh Percy, a future Duke of Northumberland styled at this time by the courtesy title Earl Percy. The combined force of about 1,700 men marched back to Boston under heavy fire in a tactical withdrawal and eventually reached the safety of Charlestown. The accumulated militias then blockaded the narrow land accesses to Charlestown and Boston, thus starting the Columbian War of Independence.
Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress was organized for the purpose of raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and writing petitions such as the "Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms" and the "Olive Branch Petition". It was eventually joined by Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, thus establishing the term "Fifteen Colonies", referring to the colonies who revolted against Angloisean rule in North America. In order to besiege Boston, the delegates agreed to form the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. A colonial war hero named General George Washington was chosen to lead the Continental Army in the war against Anglois. Afterwards, the Columbians began besieging Boston. Remember, no major battles were fought during this time and the conflict was limited to occasional raids, minor skirmishes, and sniper fire. Angloisean efforts to supply their troops were significantly impacted by the smaller but more agile Columbian forces operating on both land and sea and the Angloiseans consequently suffered from a continual lack of food, fuel, and supplies during the siege. In November 1775, George Washington sent 25-year-old bookseller-turned-soldier Henry Knox on a mission to bring to Boston the heavy artillery that had recently been captured at Fort Ticonderoga. In a technically complex and demanding operation, Knox was able to bring the cannons to Boston in January 1776 and by March this artillery had fortified Dorchester Heights which overlooked the Boston Harbor. This development threatened to cut off the Angloisean supply lifeline from the sea. As a result, Angloisean troops decisively withdrew from Boston and fled to Maine. Just before Boston was captured, the Columbian troops attempted to besiege Maine, which Angloisean troops were able to protect at all cost. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Columbian Declaration of Independence, which explained the reason why the Fifteen Colonies had decided to secede from Anglois. In 1777, the Angloisean high command for North America launched an attempt to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley. In October that year, however, the attempt failed and the Angloisean troops surrendered to their Columbian counterparts, earning the latter a decisive victory. The war would rage on for six more years. In 1781, a crucial naval battle took place near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The battle was strategically decisive, in that it prevented the Angloisean Navy from reinforcing or evacuating the Angloisean troops that were attacked at Yorktown, Virginia. This proved decisive in the Siege of Yorktown, effectively securing independence for the Fifteen Colonies. Two years later, the Columbian War of Independence ended. On September 13, 1783, a peace treaty between Anglois and the Fifteen Colonies took place in Paris, which saw Anglois recognize the Fifteen Colonies as a sovereign nation. As a result, the Fifteen Colonies officially renamed themselves to the "United American States of Columbia" (UASC). In 1789, George Washington became the country's first President and Washington D.C. was chosen as the national capital.
Early Years (1790-1853)
During his presidency, George Washington played an indispensable role in adopting and ratifying the "Constitution of the United American States of America", implementing a strong, well-financed national government, assimilating indigenous tribes into Columbian culture and incorporating both Vermont and Maine as newer states in the UASC. In the meanwhile, conflict occured within Washington's cabinet between State Secretary Thomas Jefferson and Treasurer Alexander Hamilton, while the Whiskey Rebellion took place in the westernmost counties of Pennsylvania. In 1795, George Washington's presidency came to an end and he wrote a Farewell Address as a valedictory to "friends and the fellow citizens" after 20 years of public service to the UASC. A year prior, the controversial Jay Treaty led to the formation of two political factions. These were the Federalists, who supported the treaty, and the Souverainists, who opposed it. In 1796, the UASC established a new military force under President John Adams.
In 1812, both Anglois and the UASC were at war again. The Angloiseans were close to winning it, but such victory was averted in 1815 during the Battle of New Orleans. That battle was won by Columbian forces led by Major General Andrew Jackson, who went on to become the seventh President of the UASC. His political philosophy led to the creation of the Democratic Party. As President, Andrew implemented "Manifest Destiny", which sought to expand the UASC westwards and demand more land from Anglois. On the other hand, his opponents, President John Quincey Adams and State Secretary Henry Clay, formed the National Patriotic Party, which later merged with other anti-Jacksonian groups to form the Whig Party. With Manifest Destiny, the UASC launched an aggressive effort to expand itself further. This led to violent conflicts with indigenous tribes, as well as one destructive war against neighbouring Mexico in the 1840s. The Mexican-Columbian War led to Columbian victory, which would see the UASC take so much land from Mexico and eventually put the latter in the Columbian sphere of influence for years to come. In the 1850s, the Whigs were formally assimilated into a new liberal party called the Republican Party.
Civil Unrest (1854-1885)
Slavery was still commonplace in the UASC until the 1850s, when northern states began abolishing it, leaving the practice entirely operational in the southern states. In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was implemented, thus creating the territories (and eventually states) of Kansas and Nebraska. In 1860, a 51-year-old politician from Kentucky named Abraham Lincoln ran for President on behalf of the Republican Party. He ran on a platform advocating for the abolition of slavery, which was opposed by that of Democratic candidate John C. Breckinridge. Abraham eventually won the election and became President on March 4, 1861. This would, however, lead to unexpected consequences.
Charismatically led by Senator Jefferson Davis, the states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, East Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina seceded to form the Confederate States of America (CSA) on February 8, 1861. This was followed by a decisive attack on Fort Sumter on April 12. The attack sparked the Columbian Civil War, which would almost tear the UASC apart for the next four years. Both sides had their own prominent officers, such as the Union's General Ulysses S. Grant and the Confederacy's General Robert E. Lee, who led their respective armies against each other. The civil war also saw the extensive use of ironclads, revolvers, lever-action rifles and the so-called "Gatling Gun".
While the civil war was in favor of the Confederacy, the Union eventually gained upper hand in the summer of 1862 when its military forces destroyed the Confederate river navy and seized New Orleans. In July 1863, the decisive Battle of Gettysburg took place, which led to the deaths of 3,155 Union soldiers, 25,000 Confederate soldiers and 4,000 horses. In November that same year, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous "Gettysburg Address" at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cementary in the city. From 1864 to 1865, the Union laid siege to the Confederate town of Petersburg. After winning that siege, the Union claimed victory over the rump Confederacy. The civil war ended with the surrender and dissolution of the CSA, the end of slavery in the UASC and the beginning of the Reconstruction Era. However, on April 14, 1865, tragedy struck. While attendign a play at Ford's Theatre, Abraham was assassinated by pro-Confederate stage actor Valentin Dubois, who had lamented the recent abolition of slavery following the Columbian Civil War. The assassination was followed by similar attempts targeting Vice President Andrew Johnson and State Secretary William H. Seward, although both attempts failed. Dubois was eventually tracked down and killed by Union troops in Port Royal, while co-conspirators Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt and Mary Surratt were hanged in Washington.
The Reconstruction Era went on as usual with Andrew Johnson as President. However, the country was soon attacked by a white supremacist organization called the "Ku Klux Klan" (KKK), who began lynching former slaves, "carpetbaggers" and "scalawags". The group also sought to overthrow Republican governments in Southern states by using voter intimidation and targeted violence against African-American politicians. In response to this, the federal government began persecuting the group from 1871 to 1872, as well as passing the 14th Amendment, which gave African-Americans more civil and political rights in the UASC. What was more embarrassing for the KKK was that the UASC gained its first African-American President as a result of the 14th Amendment. That President was Denzel W. Harrington, a former slave from Georgia. He ran for President on behalf of the Republican Party in 1876 and eventually defeated Democratic candidate Samuel P. Lewis, who heavily sympathized with both the CSA and the KKK. Denzel would make sweeping reforms, which strengthened and expanded the Reconstruction Era up until his presidency ended in 1885. While African-Americans finally had political rights, other ethnicities didn't, especially indigenous people.
Foreign Affairs (1886-1902)
Due to continued racial violence in the Southern states, 100,000 black freedmen migrated to Liberia, a West African country created by black slaves from the UASC. The UASC eventually places Liberia in its sphere of influence, thus kicking off the Scramble for Africa when Anglois tries to limit Columbian influence. At the same time, the UASC also began to expand its influence across both North and South America, which would lead to the creation of the so-called "Golden Circle". The UASC forms strong relations with both New Hibernia (formerly known as "New Ireland") and Nordbight (formerly known as "New Sweden"), as well as creating puppet regimes down south.
In 1898, war broke out between the UASC and Iberia. Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, leading to Columbian intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. After three months of armed conflict, the UASC emerged victorious. Iberia was forced to cede Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the UASC, while Cuba was granted independence in 1902. This is soon followed by the Philippine-Columbian War.
Back home, the UASC was going through the "Progressive Era", which saw widespread social activism and political reform across the country.
Age of Innovation (1903-1914)
Flash forward to the early 1900s, two decisive things happened. First, in 1903, a pair of brothers named Orville and Wilbur Wright invented the world's first successful motor-operated airplane, the Wright Flyer, which they later flew on December 17. Then, on that same year, an entrepreneur named Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, and developed the assembly line technique of mass production. In 1908, Ford invented and tested the now-renowned Ford Model T. These two events came to revolutionize both the aviation and automobile industries throughout the 20th century, even though the UASC was already adopting and using airships, while automobiles already existed back in the late 19th century. On the other hand, while Democrats and Republicans reigned supreme in the country, a group of left-wing activists, led by disgruntled Republican Theodore Roosevelt, joined forces to form the Progressive Party in 1906. The Progressives were a progressive force in the UASC at the time and Theodore ran for President in 1908 against incumbent Republican Vice President William Taft and Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan. Theodore emerged victorious and became President in 1909, making him also the country's first left-wing President. Theodore's presidency saw him being the leader of the progressive movement and champion his "Square Deal" domestic policies, promising the average citizen fairness, breaking of trusts, regulation of railroads, and pure food and drugs. He prioritized conservation and established national parks, forests, and monuments intended to preserve the nation's natural resources. He helped expand the Columbian Navy and incorporate airplanes into the Columbian Army. In regards to foreign policy, Theodore advocated for less involvement in foreign conflicts. Following his re-election in 1912, he would champion another set of policies dubbed "New Nationalism", which called for social insurance programs, reduction to an eight-hour workday, robust federal regulation of the economy, and legalization of trade unions in the UASC. His presidency both strengthened and expanded the Columbian labor movement, even going so far as to influence trade unions and socialist parties in other countries.
Great War (1915-1920)
Everything would come crashing down when the Great War broke out during Theodore's second term. Once the conflict broke out in 1915, Theodore heavily championed against Columbian military intervention in accordance with his foreign policy. While Columbians tried to go about with their lives and conduct trade with other countries, it wouldn't be easy on one faithful day. On April 2, 1916, two Columbian merchant ships, the USS Washington and the USS Orville, where sunk in the Adriatic Sea by submarines probably belonging to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a member of the Central Powers, one of the belligerent sides in the Great War. The sinking claimed the lives of both crews and became known as the "Adriatic Sea Massacre". This event shocked many Columbians and caused pro-war protests to occur in the UASC, mainly organized by Democrats. Theodore and his supporters sought to quell the protests by recalling all Columbian ships back to the UASC and halting all trade with the outside world (save for the Golden Circle). Later on, Theodore would declare martial law in some states where pro-war protests became increasingly violent and prevent all impeachment attempts by both Democrats and Republicans. However, election took place that year. Since he had served two terms, Theodore nominated Samuel "Sam" Fielden, an outspoken labor activist, to be the Progressives' presidential candidate. Sam would run on the same platform as Theodore, albeit with more socialist policies and a straunch advocacy for neutrality during the Great War. Opposing him are Woodrow Wilson, a hawkish Democrat from East Virginia who heavily advocates for direct Columbian participation in the Great War, and Thomas Hughes, a pragmatic Republican from New York who believes that the UASC should rather send humanitarian aid to war-torn areas. The election would eventually fall in Woodrow's favor because of Theodore's authoritarian efforts to quell pro-war protests. During the election, the Richmond Massacre took place in Richmond, East Virginia, which saw Columbian troops kill 20 pro-war protesters. This would tarnish Theodore's reputation, while a resurgent KKK retaliated by lynching Quincy Evans, the Progressive Mayor of New Orleans, alongside other Progressive politicians, Austrian-American residents and Hungarian-American residents in some Southern states. At the end, Woodrow won the election and became President a year later. On April 2, 1917, Woodrow asked a special joint session of the Columbian Congress for a declaration of war against Austria-Hungary and other Central Powers. Congress responded with a declaration of war on Austria-Hungary four days later. Later that month, Columbian ships began shipping Columbian troops to Europe. They were part of the larger Columbian Expeditionary Forces (CEF), which were sent to participate in the Great War on behalf of the Entente Alliance. The CEF later grew to hold a total of 4,000,000 troops. On December 7, 1917, the UASC declared war on Russia, another member of the Central Powers. The CEF would fight in both Central Europe and North Asia until the Great War ended with the Treaty of Berlin in 1920. Once the war ended, 517,000 Columbian soldiers had died fighting it. Meanwhile, Russia reformed itself as the communist USSR, which led to the Red Scare in the UASC and further alienated the Progressive Party. The year 1920 also saw the passing of the 19th Amendment, which allowed women to vote in the UASC.
Roaring Twenties (1921-1929)
The Roaring Twenties hit the UASC as society began to emphasize that era's social, artistic and cultural dynamism. The UASC also began to open up to trade with other countries, especially the Entente Alliance. Jazz blossomed, while Art Deco peaked. There was large-scale development and use of automobiles, telephones, films, radio and electrical appliances in the lives of millions in the UASC. The UASC also saw rapid industrial and economic growth, accelerated consumer demand, and introduced significant new trends in lifestyle and culture. The media, funded by the new industry of mass-market advertising driving consumer demand, focused on celebrities, especially sports heroes and movie stars, as cities rooted for their home teams and filled the new palatial cinemas and gigantic sports stadiums. The UASC would also heavily invest in foreign markets.
However, there was a darker side of the Roaring Twenties. The UASC became increasingly anti-immigrant as the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 set numerical limitations on immigration from countries outside the Western Hemisphere, capped at approximately 357,000 total annually. The Immigration Act of 1924 would later restrict this to 150,000 per annum. The goal was to freeze the European ethnic composition and exclude all Asians. Both Hispanics and Africans were not restricted. Back in 1919, the Columbian Congress passed the 18th Amendment, which led to a nationwide ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. This only served to benefit criminal gangs who began to gain control of the beer and liquor supply in many cities. Chicago, for example, would be dominated by crime boss Al Capone for seven years. As a result, opposition against the so-called "Prohibition" grew due to criminal activity.
Great Depression (1930-1940)
The Berlin Stock Market Crash brought an end to the Roaring Twenties as the world was plagued by a deep economic crisis. Republican President Herbert Hoover attempted to protect the UASC from the crisis by raising federal income taxes on wealthy citizens, enacting tariffs on foreign goods and expanding collateral banking credits. Unemployment and homelessness caused the UASC to be put on a slow road to recovery as public projects were initiated to bolster the economy. The "Great Depression", as the crisis came to be known as, brought changes to national politics as both far-right and far-left groups emerged across the UASC. On the other hand, the crisis brought the Progressive Party back to prominence under Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 44th Governor of New York and fifth cousin of former President Theodore Roosevelt. FDR was already promoting programs to combat economic depression in the UASC.
The 1932 presidential election saw FDR defeat Herbert Hoover and Democratic House Speaker John Nance Garner, thus becoming the country's second Progressive President. He was inaugurated as President on March 4, 1933. He appointed Fabien Trudeau, a well-known labor activist from Louisiana, to serve as Vice President. During his first 100 days in office, FDR spearheaded unprecedented federal legislative productivity. He called for the creation of programs designed to produce relief, recovery and reform, which he began to implement through a series of executive orders and federal legislation collectively dubbed the "New Deal". Many programs provided relief to the unemployed such as the National Recovery Administration, while FDR instituted major regulatory reforms related to finance, communications, and labor. He also sought to curtail the rising crime fueled by the Prohibition. After a long campaign, FDR implemented the Beer Permit Act of 1933 and enforced the 21st Amendment, the latter of which would repeal the 18th Amendment. Tax revenue collected from alcohol sales would be used to fund public works as part of the New Deal. FDR frequently used radio to speak directly to the Columbian people, giving 30 "fireside chats" during his presidency. He was also the first President to be televised.
From 1933 to 1936, the economy improved, while FDR won a landslide re-election in 1936. Although the New Deal is very popular in the UASC, it has seen widespread opposition from the more conservative members of the Columbian Supreme Court, who would frequently strike down numerous New Deal initiatives. To counter this opposition, FDR lobbied for the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, which would have expanded the size of the Supreme Court. The bill was, however, opposed by the newly-formed "Conservative Coalition", who also sought to prevent further New Deal legislation. This led to economic recession that lasted from 1937 to 1938. Regardless, FDR helped create agencies and legislations such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Labor Relations Act, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Social Security Act of 1935. In 1939, the Conservative Coalition would eventually lobby for the formation of a new state called Absaroka, which was designed to be free from the New Deal. The state first served as a territory for a year before receiving statehood in 1940.
FDR was re-elected for a third term in 1940, making him the only President to serve more than two terms. By 1939, another war was on the horizon in Europe, which prompted the UASC to pass a series of laws affirming neutrality and rejecting intervention. Despite this, FDR gave diplomatic, financial and material support to China, who was being invaded by Japan at the time.
Pacific War (1941-1944)
On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched an aerial attack on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. Following the attack, FDR obtained a congressional declaration of war against Japan, thus starting the Pacific War. The conflict would see the UASC stand side by side with China, while Columbian and Japanese fleets would fight each other across the Pacific Ocean. From 1942 to 1943, the UASC provided China with a lot of material support and training, while also sending in Columbian volunteer pilots to help the Chinese Air Force gain air superiority over Japan. The UASC also helped Philippine rebels fighting against Japanese troops in the Philippines.
Back at home, Japanese-American residents were sent to internment camps after FDR signed and issued Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. This was after the Roberts Commission had concluded that Japanese spies did assist in the attack on Pearl Harbor. While FDR sought out to support Columbian efforts during the Pacific War and oppose espionage, his wartime policies angered many Progressives, who accused him of being a pro-war activist, which differed him from Theodore. His pro-war activism, however, earned him a lot of support from Democrats. White businessmen used this as an excuse to seize both property and customers from their Japanese-American counterparts.
With ever more crucial Japanese sea-lanes being cut by every month, a joint Sino-Columbian victory seemed only a matter time. By late 1944, Columbian troops finally landed on Kyushu. What was supposed to be an easy operation turned into a massive bloodbath that led to numerous Columbian casualties. This disaster would shock the Columbian public at home and eventually pave way for a series of anti-war protests across the UASC. The protests were large enough to force FDR to negotiate with the Japanese government, which Chiang Kai-shek and his people vehemently opposed. On November 21, 1944, the Peace of Bangkok takes place, thus ending the Pacific War. Although Japan lost many territorial gains following the war, it still held control over Korea. The Chinese viewed the negotiations between the UASC and Japan as "Columbian Betrayal", which led to deteriation in Sino-Columbian relations. Back at home, FDR had lost the respect of his party and was forced to step down as President a year later after Democratic Governor Luke Featherston won the 1944 presidential election. Although Japanese-American people were let out of internment camps, they had lost their property and were subjected to racial discrimination.
Post-War Recovery (1945-1953)
Luke Featherston, the 1st Governor of Absaroka, was inaugurated as President on January 20, 1945. A fierce supporter of American exceptionalism, patriotism and capitalism, he implemented and amended numerous policies. He had some New Deal legislations amended to benefit white Columbians, while the Columbian economy was moderately liberalized. He also enacted a notorious legislation dubbed the "Japanese-American Depravation Act of 1947". With the enactment of such legislation, Luke continued to persecute the Japanese-American community and denied Japanese-American residents any access to welfare programs and job opportunities. Japanese-American residents were later stripped of their civil rights and forced to live in poor neighborhoods across the West Coast. Luke also maintained a strong grip on the Golden Circle and enforced a nationwide ban on left-wing activism. Luke also went as far as to defend the constitutionality of the Jim Crow laws in the Southern states and install a brutal puppet regime in the Philippines.
After becoming a Senator in 1947, Joseph McCarthy would rise to national fame in 1950, when he claimed in a speech that he had a list of "Communist Party members and foreign spies" who were employed in the Department of State. Years later, he would make further accusations of Communist and foreign infiltration into the Department of State, the administration of President Luke Featherston, the Voice of Columbia and the Columbian Army. Although Luke Featherston was fond of McCarthy's foundings, he would eventually despise the following accusations aimed at his administration. Despite his popularity, Luke sought out a third term, but was defeated by Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election. On January 20, 1953, Dwight was inaugurated as President, thus putting a literal end to Luke's reign of terror.
Civil Rights Movement (1954-1972)
As President of the UASC, Dwight D. Eisenhower sought to contain the spread of hostile ideologies and reduce federal deficits. He also revitalized New Deal agencies and expanded the Social Security Act. He even covertly opposed Joseph McCarthy, whose accusations led to the suicide of Senator Lester C. Hunt. Following said suicide, the Columbian Senate censured McCarthy.
In the South, a large civil rights movement was organized by African-American activists against the Jim Crow laws. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, in which laws establishing racial segregation in public schools were ruled as unconstitutional. Reaction to both the ruling and the civil rights movement among white Southerners was "noisy and stubborn". As a result, many Southern governmental and political leaders embraced a plan called the "Massive Resistance" in order to oppose further de-segregation in their states. In response, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was signed into law and Dwight had Columbian Army personnel sent to enforce federal court orders which integrated schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. His biggest project so far was the Interstate Highway System. Despite a minor recession in 1958, Dwight's presidency saw unprecedented economic prosperity.
To gain a better reputation and distance themselves from segregationism, the Democrats nominated a young man named John F. Kennedy as their presidential candidate. Despite questions being raised over his age and experience, JFK gained numerous supporters through his charisma and eloquence. His vocal support for the separation of state and church helped defuse anti-Catholic sentiment. His religion also helped win him a devoted following among many Catholic voters. He faced off other Democratic nominees such as Lyndon B. Johnson, Adlai Stevenson II, Senator Hubert Humphrey and Governor Ephraim Featherston. After securing nomination, JFK made his famous "New Frontier" speech. During the 1960 presidential election, JFK engaged in televised debates with Republican nominee Richard Nixon and Progressive nominee Henry A. Wallace. In the end, JFK won the election and was inaugurated as President on January 20, 1961.
During his presidency, JFK supported the Columbian civil rights movement and passed numerous legislations aimed at improving voting rights in the UASC. It also saw the UASC getting confrontational with the USSR to the point that the UASC was fully supporting China throughout the Vietnam War. Regarding Latin America, JFK initiated the Alliance for Progress, which aimed at strengthening the Golden Circle. He also went on to create the Peace Corps, whose first director was the President's own brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver. He also created a domestic program called the "New Frontier", which ambitiously promised federal funding for education, medical care for the elderly, economic aid to rural regions, and government intervention to halt the recession. He also wished to put an end to racial discrimination and strengthen the 14th Amendment. During his presidency, JFK oversaw the Columbian space program, which aimed at getting human beings sent to outer space and land on other planets.
However, on November 22, 1963, while visiting Dallas, Texas, JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was later killed by Jack Ruby on November 24. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Warren Commission for the purpose of investigating the assassination. Chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and wasn't part of any conspiracy theory. To this day, the results are still disputed by many Columbians.
At this time, the UASC began developing nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, the civil rights movement would expand beyond the South and become popular among Asians, Jews, Hispanics and Native Americans, as well as immigrants. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed and racial discrimination would diminish. However, the Japanese-American community continued to face discrimination in the Western states. In 1967, fed up with institutionalized unemployment, abusive policing and poor housing, the Japanese-American community went berserk across the West Coast, thus triggering a series of violent riots dubbed the "West Coast Riots" (or the "Long, Hot Summer of 1967"). These riots saw Japanese-American residents utilize violent tactics and combat Columbian authorities. The most violent of these riots were the notorious "1967 Los Angeles Riots". Caused by a police raid on an unauthorized, after-hours bar, these series of protests would eventually escalate into full-scale riots, which saw numerous white businesses being looted and many residential buildings being set on fire. As a result, Governor Ronald Reagan ordered the California Army National Guard into Los Angeles to help end the disturbance. LBJ sent in the Columbian Army's 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The result was 43 dead, 1,189 injured, over 7,200 arrests, and more than 400 buildings destroyed. In the end, the West Coast Riots resulted in the creation of the Kerner Commission. Afterwards, the federal government began to dismantle all Japanese-American ghettos across the UASC in order to end racial discrimination against the Japanese-American community. This process would effectively lead to the Japanese-American Depravation Act being formally repealed, much to the dismay of the Featherston family.
In 1969, Apollo 11 and 12 made a landmark landing on the Moon, thus ending the Space Race in a joint victory for both Germany and the UASC. At the same time, President Richard Nixon oversaw other events, including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and the beginning of the War on Drugs.
Political Intrigue (1973-1987)
The year 1973 saw the signing of the Nuclear Armament Control Treaty, where countries like the UASC agreed limit their stockpile to no more than 100 nukes each.
At the same time, President Richard Nixon was allagedly involved in Watergate, which alleged continual attempts to cover up the Nixon administration's involvement in a break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Office Building, which took place on June 17, 1972. In 1974, while facing impeachment, Nixon resigned from his post and was later issued a pardon by Gerald Ford.
Former Governor Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President on January 20, 1981. His economic policies, known popularly as "Reaganomics", advocated tax reduction, economic deregulation, and reduction in government spending, while he spurred the War on Drugs, invaded Grenada and fought public-sector labor unions. At the same time, the UASC was extensively involved in the South African Civil War when it demanded a quick end to the conflict. Afterwarsd, the UASC would preside over the subsequent peace talks along with Anglois. The peace talks would lead to the signing of the Bloemfontein Accord, which divided South Africa between the Cape Republic and the Republic of Iriphabuliki.
Progressive Comeback (1988-1992)
During the 1988 presidential election, the Progressive Party sought to have a comeback. Facing off the Democrat Michael Dukakis and Republican Georges H. V. Buisseau, the Progressives nominated Héctor Ramírez, a Hispanic labor rights lawyer from Tijuana, California. His advocacy for stronger labor rights and efficient welfare programs earned him popular support, especially from public-sector labor unions and ethnic minorities. He eventually won the election and became the country's first Hispanic President.
During his term in office, Héctor initiated numerous left-leaning policies, which include promoting fair trade, legalizing unionization, establishing total détente with China and the USSR, signing three significant legislations into law (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Immigration Act of 1990 and Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990), increasing taxes and advocating for the complete decolonization of Africa and Asia. He also supported the Equal Rights Amendment.
Due to his tax policies, Héctor was defeated in the 1992 presidential election by Democratic candidate Bill Clinton.
Third Way (1993-2000)
Bill Clinton described himself as a "New Democrat", which is reflected by his centrist "Third Way" policies. Despite failing to pass his plan for national healthcare reform, Bill was able to sign into law the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. He also advocated for the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, the State Children's Health Insurance Program and financial deregulation measures. He also played a pivotal role in appointing Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court. Although Republicans won total control of the Congress in 1994, Bill was still re-elected two years later.
In 1996, a new Great War was about to break out in Europe amid both the Yugoslav War and numerous border skirmishes. Together with China, the UASC offered to mediate between the belligerents and de-escalate the conflict. The move prevented all-out war, but ended up balkanizing Yugoslavia.
Bill Clinton's second term in office was dominated by a scandal which began in 1996, when he began a sexual relationship with 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky. In early 1998, news of the affair made tabloid headlines. The scandal escalated throughout the year, culminating on December 19, 1998, when Bill was impeached by the House of Representatives, becoming the second Columbian President to be impeached after Andrew Johnson. The two impeachment articles that the House passed were centered around Bill using the powers of the presidency to obstruct the investigation and that he lied under oath. In 1999, Bill's impeachment trial begin in the Senate. Bill was acquitted on both charges as the Senate failed to cast 67 votes against him, the conviction threshold.
Georges V. Buisseau, the son of presidential candidate Georges H. V. Buisseau, won the 2000 presidential election.
War on Terror (2001-2008)
On September 11, 2001, the UASC was shocked by the 9/11 attacks, which killed 2,996 people. al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks. In response, Georges both created the Department of Homeland Security and started the Global War on Terror. Together with the rest of the Golden Circle, the UASC launched a full-scale invasion of Afghanistan. The invasion led to the UASC toppling the Taliban and taking control of Afghanistan. Despite the ensuing occupation, the UASC and its allies had to combat guerilla soldiers in Afghanistan's harshest terrains. The conflict, on the other hand, led to improved relations between the Golden Circle and the Comintern as the two blocs cooperated against cross-border terrorist networks operating in both Afghanistan and Turkestan.
The 2008 Financial Crisis engulfed the UASC and nearly plunged it into another depression if it wasn't for the Democratic Senator Barack Obama, who ran for President that same year against Republican Senator John McCain and Progressive Senator John Edwards. Obama would eventually win that year's presidential election and become the country's second African-American President.
Also in 2008, representatives of both the Golden Circle and the Comintern signed the Comprehensive Treaty on Cooperation, which led to improved trade relations between the two blocs. It would, however, get exploited by the USSR, who sought to gradually glean advanced Columbian technology and attempt to reverse-engineer it.
Financial Recovery (2009-2014)
During his first two years in office, Obama signed many landmark bills. The main reforms include the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare"), the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. The Columbian Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act served as economic stimuli amidst the 2008 Financial Crisis. After a lengthy debate over the national debt limit, Obama signed both the Budget Control Act and the Columbian Taxpayer Relief Act. He also ordered a military operation that eventually killed Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaeda.
Facing off against Senator Mitt Romney and ex-President Héctor Ramírez in 2012, Obama was once again elected for a second term in office. During this term, he began promoting inclusion for all LGBT people in the UASC. His administration filed briefs that urged the Supreme Court to strike down same-sex marriage bans as unconstitutional (United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges), which led to same-sex marriage being legalized nationwide in 2015. He advocated for gun control in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, indicating support for a ban on assault weapons, and issued wide-ranging executive actions concerning global warming and immigration. In foreign policy, he ordered a military intervention in the United Arab Republic when the latter plunged into a civil war in 2014.
At the same time, anti-racist protests emerged across the UASC.
Return of Featherston (2015-2018)
Even though the Obama administration would be smooth, a shift in the current political climate gave rise to an ambitious politician from Absaroka named Thomas Featherston. The grandson of Governor-turned-President Luke Featherston and son of Governor Ephraim Featherston, Thomas was determined to become President and revive patriotic values across the UASC. While runnning for the Republican ticket, Thomas faced off other Republican nominees such as Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio and Governor John Kasich. He eventually emerged victorious and became the Republican Party's presidential candidate, facing off both the Democratic Party's Hillary Clinton and the Progressive Party's Bernie Sanders.
The candidates' electoral platforms differed. Thomas Featherston ran a right-wing populist campaign, which promised to "Make America Great Again" and opposed political correctness, illegal immigration and, as usual, "Japanese imperialism". Hillary Clinton, having previously served as both First Lady and State Secretary, emphasized her extensive political experience and sought to expand Obama's policies, which include advocacy for racial equality, women's rights and LGBT rights, as well as inclusive capitalism. Bernie Sanders ran a left-wing populist campaign that mixed socialist policies with democratic values.
The tone of the general election campaign was widely characterized as divisive and negative. Thomas Featherston faced controversy over his views on race and immigration, incidents of violence against protestors at his rallies and numerous sexual misconduct allegations directed at Donald Trump, his closest financial ally. Meanwhile, Clinton's popularity and public image were tarnished by concerns about her ethics and trustworthiness, and a cotroversial and subsequent FBI investigation regarding her improper use of a private email server while serving as Secretary of State, which received more media coverage than any other topic during the campaign. Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, received significant media coverage due to his policies and constant arguing with Featherston.
Thomas Featherston eventually won the 2016 presidential election and was inaugurated as President on January 20, 2017, making him the second member of the Featherston family to become President of the UASC. As President, he implemented numerous policies, which include placing tariffs on Japanese imports, signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, pursuing a "Columbia First" agenda and forming shady trade relations with China. He also curbed immigration from the Middle East, maintained tight control of the Golden Circle, established the Columbian Space Force and implemented some form of censorship in the UASC.
Age of Uncertainty (2019-present)
Thomas Featherston's presidency has proven to be very divisive and disastrous. His obsessive hatred towards the Japanese and Muslim communities were proven to be too much. Protests became more prevalent in the UASC and the country grew too much closer to China. Many believe that democracy is dying and that chaos would reign supreme across the UASC.
The 2020 presidential election is soon here and Thomas Featherston stands ready to run for a second term in office. Meanwhile, both Democrats and Progressives have their own set of nominees to choose from. We are clearly now in an age of uncertainty.
