A Destiny Made Manifest - Part 20: The Free States

As the sun sets on the Commune, there's a rising in the East. Philadelphia, the grand old city, is the seat of the Third Republic. While just a few short years old, the Free States of America is poised to take a leading role on the North American continent. As the controllers of Washington D.C., the nation holds the most legitimacy of any of the breakaway states. Despite having just Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, the FSA is quite a formidable economic and military force.

President Robert E. Pattison. He served as the Governor of Pennsylvania from 1883-1887. Just 46 years old, he is determined to maintain the peace and defeat socialism, whether it be from within or without. He considered the rise of the Workingmen's Party to be the cause of the collapse of the Union, and sought to keep a strong and conservative regime in power of the FSA.

Having assumed the office in 1896 from the unremarkable Daniel H. Hastings, the Democrats have loads of momentum in upcoming elections.

The nation as it stands. While the Free States are small, we are fueled by liberty, freedom, and massive industry placing us above our neighbors.

(MUCH THANKS TO u/Jurkus1000 FOR THE VERY VERY NICE MAP)

The laws in place, as we can see here, hearken back to an American before the Southern Rebellions. Despite the generally strong conservative beliefs of the time in the Northeast, it is certain that such an illiberal regime will not be able to operate without reform. Already, the women's suffragette movement is expressing their frustration with their rescinded rights.

The industrial Northeast that the Free States controls prides itself on technological modernity, and as such research into improving the rail system is undergone.

Soon after conflict with the Commune stops, President Pattison makes contact with New American President William J. Stone to sign an official military and economic alliance. While Pattison regarded the NAA as another illegal breakaway state that would eventually need to be annexed, a temporary alliance to serve as a bulwark against the Commune, the Confederates, and New England would be beneficial in the short term.

In Baltimore, a city with heavy socialist leaning, a large strike has frozen much of the city's industry. Pattison, not eager to allow radical socialist forces to gather strength, orders the strike to be forcefully broken by Pinkerton detectives.

In a similar show of seriousness, Communist propaganda in the sleepy community of Watertown is not to be tolerated in an age where socialism toppled the Union. Policemen in the town crack down on the sedition.

While the truce signed in late 1897 stated that there should be peace between the FSA and the Commune for five years, Pattison urges Congress to allow him to move troops into the Midwest anyway. As the NAA cut off this particular territory from the rest of the nation, seizing Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky would not be difficult. In order to appease the Confederacy, Pattison would not consider annexing Tennessee.

On February 2nd, 1898, Third Republic troops crossed into Ohio illegally. While the Congress in Philadelphia did not officially offer a declaration of war, this movement was enough to show the Commune that hostilities remained.

Despite suffering greater losses than his opponent, Matthew Bradley is successfully in his efforts to dislodge the Communal troops from Indianapolis. The army there, interestingly enough, was commanded by Adam Barnes. What Chairman Albert did to ensure Barnes's service is a mystery to those in the FSA, as he evades capture.

The main four armies of the FSA were led by James Pope, John Grant, Matthew Bradley, and Nathaniel Phelps - all older generals who had managed to escape the purges of disloyal generals that Quinlan had undertaken just eight years previously.

Adam Fry, having evaded capture in the previous fight against the Commune, is finally destroyed at the Battle of Cincinnati. While Fry claims to still hold loyalty to Benjamin Harrison, that particular president is nowhere to be found. Important to remember, I think, that the FSA seceded while the Harrison administration still ruled the continent.

Thanks to superior technology, the armies of the Free States sweep across the Midwest with ease.

Back in Philadelphia, Congress bows to an alliance between socialists and progressives and passes a bill reintroducing an education system to the nation. As far as reforms go, Pattison found this one benign, so he signed it.

Our friends in the NAA allow our troops to march through their territory. In order to fully cement his control over the Midwest, Pattison intended to raid a bit of the middle states and then offer his terms to the Chairman.

Thanks, NAA friends!

The 4th Army under John Grant proceeds through Illinois to Iowa. Surprisingly, the troops are met with a moderate amount of fanfare from those who are pleased that the Commune is under fire.

I honestly don't know Freud equals more reinforcement, but hey, whatever works.

Despite the fact that our army is more than capable, it is comprised mainly of drafted miners, craftsmen, and farmers, many of whom using improvised weaponry. Pattison champions an elite and professional army to replace the current ones, and his proposal is approved.

As Knoxville is taken, the last Communal town east of the NAA has fallen.

In the western part of Kansas, we continue to sweep aside any and all opposition. The 1st Army pushes towards Denver.

In the fall of 1898, ambassadors from Boston come to offer an alliance. While we do, of course, intend to annex New England, as they are allied to the Confederates, it's simply not possible for such a move at the moment. We agree to a military alliance in order to keep the peace on the East Coast.

Interestingly, the Chinese and Japanese Empires have come to blows over Korea. Japan, having installed a puppet monarchy in the peninsula, has had Korea entirely occupied by the Chinese. Since the Japanese have indisputable naval supremacy, however, China is unable to do much else.

The New American Alliance declares war on the People's Republic of America on October 27th, 1898, declaring their intention to annex Wisconsin. While the Commune is certainly sickly, the Free States are quite a bit stronger than the NAA, so it is wondered by Pattison and his cabinet if the war is viable.

Just a month later, diplomats from the Commune agree to a truce. In exchange for peace, The Commune hands Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky over to the Free States. As the old state governments are quickly reinstated, Congressional elections are due soon. Despite the low number of states in the Third Republic, the old ways of electing Senators are still observed.

Feeling the walls closing in on him, Chairman Kasprzak relocates his government to Sitka, Alaska. Seriously.

As peace is ushered in, plans to create a professional standing army are realized and the mobilized forces are sent home.

Somehow, Italy has gotten itself into a war with Russia, France, and Austria-Hungary. And they don't even have Rome! Poor guys are getting even more abused in this timeline than in real life.

Unfortunately, the Brits and their Irish puppet state hold hegemony over most of Africa. *Shakes fist* We will have our revenge! THE MARITIMES WILL BE OURS DAMMIT!

Also, the Qing are invading Japanese Indochina and have established hegemony in Burma. If only they could build a navy!

As Congress is assembled, the Republicans and Democrats decide to form an alliance against the Workingmen's Party, fueled by anti-socialist thought. Since four of these Workingmen senators come from recently annexed states, many worry that these states might be too socialist to be able to be re-admitted to the Union. Meanwhile, a Democrat plurality in the House ensured that the government under Pattison would remain mostly unified.

As part of the compromise struck by the leader of the Democrats in Senate (Thomas Quincy) and the Republican leader (Garret Hobart), the Democrats were expected to aid the Republicans in certain reform measures. Soon into the new Congress's reign, a new education bill was drafted and passed through both houses.

In addition to military expansion, the naval capacity of the FSA is to be expanded. A fleet of transport ships is created, capable of moving an entire army.

As pressure from the more progressive Republicans and the Workingmen in the House are leading to what the Democrats perceive to be possible socialist agitation, the Walker-Johnson Workplace Standards Act is passed in 1899. The Democrats in the House and Senate are able to force through a bill rolling back a bill signed in 1895 that enforced a 10 hour work limit, re-expanding the limit to 14. Progressives are *livid*.

The new states are proving more trouble than they're worth! As the policy of women's suffrage was rolled back upon the establishment of the Free States, suffragettes across the country have protested. In the name of reestablishing order, we maintain our position, but quietly release a particularly irritating suffragette in Indianapolis who went on a hunger strike.

Despite the radical socialist government of the Confederacy, President Pattison meets with Confederate President Farnsworth in Huntington, West Virginia to discuss trade. Our trajectories will likely force the FSA into conflict with Dixieland, but in the name of stability, we will not draw our sword just yet.

Since we've done all the other techs and are waiting for 1900 to hit so we can keep doing important stuff, we look into naval professionalism. Very important stuff!

Grim news from Cuba. It seems as though the government that saved the Second Republic in their fight with the Confederacy six or so years ago is in danger of being toppled by damned Communists.

An embarrassing episode occurs in the capital. The Porterfield Affair, as it became known, was the scandal that occured when a senior officer of the 2nd Army, Nathan Porterfield, penned an editorial for the Philadelphia Inquirer in favor of women becoming more integrated into the workforce. He is quietly told to shut up, but he is not fired. His words begin a surge of feminist sentiment across the Free States, whose name is frequently poked fun of by suffragettes for being incorrect.

In Ohio, a law is passed in an attempt to suppress the suffragette trend of hunger strikes. As the hunger striker's health would suffer from the not-eating thing, they would be released from prison and allowed to recover, thus avoiding the negative PR of force-feeding. However, as soon as the suffragette returned to full health, she would be jailed again. Dubbed the "Cat and Mouse Act" in feminist propaganda in the state, Pattison does not intercede, citing federalism.

We learn from New American diplomats that the troops sent against the Commune have run into a bit of trouble. While the NAA occupies Wisconsin, most of Iowa, and parts of Nebraska, the army under Alexander Bartlett (that son of a bitch) has walked right into the trap of General Barnes in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As the NAA begins to look a bit weak, Pattison considers putting the knife in President Stone's back.

(Author's note: Watching Barnes kick the shit out of Bartlett fills me with me glee. There's some justice in this world after all)

A new and exciting innovation in the agricultural sphere, the tractor, is developed in Central New York. These new vehicles promise great changes in the field.

*sits on hands waiting for 1900*

In response to overwhelming pressure from progressive forces in the government, the Child Labor Act of 1899 is signed, forbidding all children younger than twelve to work, and establishing strict hour limits for those younger than sixteen.

Quick question to y'all - what does coring provinces in Victoria 2 even do? Are these pop-ups worth the infamy?

The NAA has seemingly run headfirst into a brick wall. Their war effort is likely compromised.

While the Free States have not nearly reached its full potential, the Third Republic controls enough territory and industrial power that Europe cannot ignore it. While some had still believed the Commune to be the strongest power in North America, that is clearly no longer the case. We are undeniably ascendant.

A massive strike in Indiana is suppressed by police, and a conservative backlash takes place. Meanwhile, Pattison twirls his evil bourgie mustache off-screen while laughing cruelly.

*whistles impatiently*

The Royal Geographic Society in London has announced that a generous award will be given to the first explorer to reach the North Pole. The prestige that would come along with such a scientific achievement cannot be ignored. Frederick Cook, a young ethnographer who previously went on expeditions to Patagonia, is chosen to head an expedition under the Free States flag.

In a show of support to the proper Cuban regime, diplomats meet with President Fidel Cisneros in Havana.

Good news arrives on the desk of Pattison. The American suffragette movement appears to have factionalized and split for a series of asinine reasons. As such, conservatism is resurgent.

As the 20th Century dawns, the strife across America causes a bit of an anti-rational renaissance. These ideas would eventually lead to the Silver Legionary movements of the upcoming decades.

In a speech on New Year's Day, President Pattison declares that "the 20th Century shall belong to the American people." We'll see if he's right.

In Albany, a new professional army is assembled, 60,000 thousand strong, commanded by Edward Hayes. Plans to construct more of these armies are drawn up.

As expected, the Brothers of the Revolution have pushed for a war as they enter an election year. While Pattison doesn't like to see the radical socialist Confederacy gain any more power, we must bide our time.

As the Commune continues to push to the east and turn the tide of the war, Pattison becomes concerned that they might attempt to annex parts of the New American Alliance. This is entirely unacceptable.

On February 14th, 1900, the Senate declares war on the New American Alliance at the urging of Pattison and his Democrats. The pretext of the invasion, delivered in a speech by Pattison to the people of the Third Republic on that Valentine's Day, was "the preservation of democracy and liberty in the face of socialists who would take these things away."

While the Democrats were certainly not into the idea of the Commune expanding, Pattison himself was also motivated by the simple fact that annexing the Alliance would give him a lot more territory.

Sadly, the New England government does not support our invasion. President Pattison cancels the alliance as a result.

Free State armies roll into Alliance territory practically unopposed. The new army is sent to liberate the good city of Detroit.

Frederick Cook's first expedition to the Arctic fails, but a second is funded. The financial state of the Third Republic is rather good - as a wise poet would once write, Pattison had "half a milli' in the safe, another in the pillowcase."

On March 7th, 1900, Chicago is officially captured by the Free States. The Alliance government flees to Rockford, and already begins to communicate with Third Republic officials in order to negotiate a peace.

While the war continues on, the Election of 1900 quickly approaches. The Democrats, confident in their position, decides to renominate the popular Pattison. His VP, George B. Fielder, stays on.

The Republicans, hoping to recapture the Age of Beatty, nominates William McKinley. Previously serving as Governor of Ohio before the fall of the Second Republic, he was a fiscal Republican all the way through, supporting a protective tariff (the tariff under Pattison was 20%). A staunch friend of industry, he was the definite elitist candidate.

The Workingmen's Party decides to again nominate Eugene V. Debs, Senator from Indiana. Debs attempted to position himself as simultaneously anti-Communist and as a compromise candidate - under his presidency, he declared, the Third Republic would not go to war; instead, the focus of his term would be internal improvement.

Debs's platform served as the basis for the Workingmen's Party for the next, oh, century or so.

Speaking of socialists, the Communists have officially seized control of Cuba. President Cisneros was execute by firing squad in the yard of his mansion, and Rodrigo Moruga establishes a petty dictatorship over the island. As the Third Republic is in no position to intercede, President Pattison merely denounces the regime.

As peace talks stall, the war against the Alliance slogs on. General Barnes manages to take the city of Kansas City, which scares Pattison enough that he becomes willing to seek a concession.

While the invasion of the Alliance included few actual battles, a skirmish took place in Rockford that resulted in the last remnant of the NAA's army being routed, always instantly surrendering.

In Ohio, the home territory of Governor of McKinley, President Pattison begins to turn the people against their man. On the topic of foreign policy, McKinley is made to look like a coward in a debate with Pattison, who argues for the aggressive reunification of the American nation.

The last remnants of Bartlett's army is crushed at the Battle of Peoria. President Stone now openly begins to seek a settlement with Pattison.

After some months of planning, Frederick Cook is ready to have another go at the exploration of the North Pole. Go get it, young men!

On June 21st, 1900, the New American Alliance is officially annexed by the Free States of America. As part of the deal, the local government in these states largely remains the same, but the central government is dissolved. Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan are admitted to the Union - they get to vote in the Elections of 1900 as well.

LET'S TRY AGAIN. STRAIGHT CASH HOMIE

In Ohio, a radical movement in favor of a pacifist government is shouted down by the Democrats and the Republicans, and quietly chastised by Debs, who says that fighting can be necessary sometimes.

As the election approaches, the popularity of Pattison makes it seem likely that he will win reelection.

The electoral votes are cast, and the results are in: Robert Pattison has, indeed, won reelection. While McKinley managed to win five states, New York and Pennsylvania proves to be a boon to the Democratic cause.

Thanks for reading! Check back in to see President Pattison continue his effort to restore the Union!