TIMELINE AND GAZETTEER

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Okay this thread will be for an overall timeline of this alternate-history game (my version slightly different than 'cannon' Crimson Skies a la Fasa/Wizkids/Microsoft) and a gazetteer of the world circa 1937


Timeline: Pretty much the same as our world thru 1918

-Summer/Fall of 1918: Last great German offensive of WW1 is an unexpected success leading to massive gains for the Germans along the Western Front and only stopped thanks to the arrival of ever-increasing numbers of American troops and military equipment. Casualties are very high and discontent with the war grows in the U.S. thru the long winter of 1918-1919.

-Spring of 1919: The Western allies rally and in a massive offensive the German gains of the previous year are taken back and Germany is soon forced to sue for peace while further to the East the Russian Empire collapses into a Civil War. The technological advances in aircraft and weaponry by the Germans is of MAJOR interest to the rest of the world

-The massive losses of the World War are compounded by one of the worst pandemics in world history in late 1919 thru early 1920; the so-called 'Spanish Flu'. Throughout the world the loss of life, particularly among males between the ages of 18-50; leads to gaps in the workforces which are filled by women and minorities; leading to significant social change over the next 15+ years.

-The Prohibition movement gained enough political 'juice' in the United States to have the 18th Amendment passed (criminalizing the sale, transportation and manufacture of alcohol) and go into effect on January 1st, 1920. With the return of surviving U.S. servicemen from the Great War virtually wholesale this year, along with the major loss of life from the flu epidemic; Prohibition became deeply unpopular in a very short time.

-Newly elected President Harding almost immediately runs into major headaches due to several states (notably Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia) whose economy was significantly influenced by the sale of alcohol follow thru with 'repeals' of the 18th Amendment and allowing the sale and transportation of alcohol within the borders of their own states. Harding surprisingly allows this to happen, but then counters the moves by imposing stiff Federal tariffs on all sales and transportation of alcohol within these states limits and he soon uses the National Guard to enforce these tariffs. Very soon, several shooting incidents occur and a growing 'States' Rights' movement begins to crop up throughout the nation. In 1922; in a small town in Kentucky called 'Bluefield'; a U.S. Army unit opens fire on a rowdy group of protestors who had gathered around a Military 'inspection blockade' on a major road to ensure that bootleggers weren't transporting alcohol without paying tariffs. In all, some 17 people are killed and the 'Bluefield massacre' soon sends shockwaves throughout the United States. A group of state's rightists in Texas, drawing on the precedent of Harding having allowed Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia to repeal a Constitutional Amendment they didn't agree with; gather together and on June 18th, 1922 they declare that the Republic of Texas has seceded from the Union. By the end of the year, several other states had done the same and the writing was on the wall for the end of the United States.

-In the spring of 1923; with about 15 states having already decided to secede from the United States and set up new nations; a group of radical Communist Christians in Iowa and Kansas who have massive popular support, declare the creation of the 'People's Collective' and announce that Kansas and Iowa and several neighboring states are breaking apart from the United States. For embattled President Harding; this is too much and he decides to send the might of the United States military to put this uprising down by any means necessary. However, due to numerous factors such as the long distances involved and the reluctance of U.S. troops to fire on massive groups of their fellow Americans largely standing in the open, unarmed and praying with a fervor; the 'Collective War' ends with hardly a shot fired and Harding pretty much finished as an authority figure. Harding was perhaps saved from a possible Impeachment due to his death from a brain hemorrhage brought on by his bad heart condition and his successor Calvin Coolidge decided to try a different tactic. Coolidge was clearly sympathetic to the States' Rights movement, even if he didn't agree with it and unlike his predecessor, he formally recognized the existing new nations of America and called for any who wanted to remain in the 'United States' to have free entry and any who wished to leave to the new nations; to be able to do so peacefully as well. He also soon pushed for the recognition of the District of Columbia as a State; (to be known as Columbia) which duly occurred on September 22, 1923 (the city now officially known as 'District City') and the new nations of America soon began referring to the "old" United States as "Columbia".

-1922-1937: The United States collapses into no less than 16 individual nations and several former territories and possessions are still in a state of 'limbo' in regards to their 'official status' (Alaska and Puerto Rico to name two). Of the other two nations in North America; Canada also soon deals with a 'break up' as the City of Quebec and much of its French-speaking Province declare their Independence in 1931 and the city of Vancouver and the surrounding area decide to break away from Canada and join the nation of Pacifica in 1929. Mexico in contrast seems to become more united and better developed industrially than ever before; a strong alliance with Nazi Germany in 1935 helping the nations' economy as well; particularly after the stinging defeat in a badly advised land-grab for much of southern Texas in 1934 culminated in the 'Second Battle of the Alamo'; which this time was not a pyrrhic victory for the Mexicans, but a flat-out defeat.

-1929: The great crash of 1929 impacts the world in a massive way; leading to what many are calling 'The Great Depression'. By the current year (1937); many nations are beginning to recover, due to major industrial expansion, particularly in the realms of aviation and due to the numerous conflicts raging throughout the world. It is decidedly unclear if this is a temporary 'blip' in the grand scheme of things or an indicator of more mobilization and its associated industrialization to come….

-1920s-present: Strong fascist, nationalistic movements have led to major changes in several nations including Italy, Germany and Japan; each dominated by a single man; Mussolini, Hitler and Tojo respectively. The 3 nations formed a strong alliance in 1935 and all 3 nations have began to conquer territory with very little international efforts to stop them.


More to come….

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GAZETTEER

-A quick look/run down of various nations in this 1937 alternate history


The 'Disunited' States of 1937:

-The Atlantic Coalition: Consists of the New England states: Mass., Conn., Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire. Capital City: Boston.

-The Empire State: consists of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; Capital City: NYC

-Appalachia: consists of Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia; Capital City: Lexington

-The United States of America i.e. Columbia: Delaware, Virginia, Columbia (Washington D.C.), Maryland; Capital City: Washington District City (Washington D.C.)

-Dixie Confederation: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri; Capital City: Atlanta

-Louisiana; Louisiana; Capital City: New Orleans

-Industrial States of America a.k.a. I.S.A.: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota; Capital City: Chicago

-The People's Collective: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana; Capital City: Omaha

-Republic of Texas: Texas, Oklahoma; Capital City: Austin

-Colorado Free State: Colorado; Capital City: Denver

-Arixo: Arizona (parts of), New Mexico (parts of); Capital City: Phoenix

-the Navajo Nation: parts of New Mexico and Arizona; Capital City: None

-Utah: Utah; Capital City: Salt Lake City

-Nation of Hollywood: California, Nevada, parts of Oregon; Capital City: Los Angeles

-Pacifica: Washington State, parts of Oregon; Vancouver and surrounding area; Capital City: Seattle

-Kingdom of Hawai'i: Hawaii; Capital City: Hilo


More to come