A Destiny Made Manifest - Part 28: Redemption

With the Election of 1932, a conservative government would be in power in Philadelphia for the first time since the presidency of Judson Harmon. It marked the end of the First Progressive Age and signified shift back towards militarism in popular culture, which had dulled since the First American War.

President John Nance Garner, a former Texan rep, was the 31st President. The goals set for his administration were quite high; he pushed for another war with Canada to properly annex the Maritimes and settle a now seventy year-old debt with the Canadians, as well as officially restore the Union. While many found his ambition a bit surprising especially considering the slow nature of unification so far, Garner looked the reader square in the eyes and said "This game ends on January 1st, 1936, and we need to get this show on the road."

The introduction of light tanks into the military in the '30s gave us basically the same style of army used today, replacing the older and clunkier models of the early 20th Century.

Congress is reshuffled a bit in 1932, with the Workingmen regaining much of their lost ground. However, the Militants had largely eclipsed the Traditionalists at this point, which led a strong pro-war coalition forming between conservative and moderate elements of all four parties.

In order to appease progressives and get the Workingmen fully on board with a war, new legislation is passed limiting the length of the workday is passed.

Last tech! *Wipes away tear* who in here cutting onions, man

On March 9th, 1933, Augustus Ford passes away while stationed with his men preparing for the invasion. Ford, one of the principal heroes of the Wars of Unification and the Democratic nominee in 1924, was a beloved and famous man across the nation. A grand burial ceremony takes place in Philadelphia, with hundreds of thousands of people attending.

The New English Fleet is still here, y'all. Ungrateful bastards won't even help me. Whatever, they can do Enclave stuff over there.

On April 9th, the decision is given to mobilize the American people. To war, for one great final triumph! America Irredenta!

On June 20th, 1933, Congress declares war on the Dominion of Canada over the American claim on the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, citing the reasoning of John C. Frémont and James Buchanan - that American citizens left over in New Brunswick from the now ninety year-old Forsyth-Ashburton Treaty gave them justification for this land grab.

By now, hardly anyone in Canada identified as American, and everyone knew it. This was land grab, a war of naked aggression pushed by irredentists.

(Of note: Tanganyika is Canada's only ally. Curiously, they only hold the Zanzibar Archipelago; meanwhile, the Republic of Zanzibar holds mainland territory in Tanzania, but does not hold Zanzibar itself.)

The invasion had been meticulously planned out and diagrammed by American high command, who were determined not to be humiliated as they were in 1863. It helped that the fight was just against Canada instead of the entire United Kingdom, but hey, it's the principle of the thing.

Huge victories are won early on as Third Republic troops cross into Canada, supported by Confederate regiments.

In Sherbrooke, just a handful of miles north of the FSA border, the Confederates manage to score a major victory against the Canadians almost entirely by themselves. American unity!

Out in the West, the Canadians are putting up a valiant defense. While it might have been smarter for Ottawa to guard itself more vigorously, it's a good attempt by the Canadians.

A massive push into Montreal leads to bloody and violent fighting in the streets, soon becoming a free-for-all as American chlorine gas swept the city streets and artillery pounded the grand old city.

A number of Canadian troops slip through American lines and attempt to surround our men and cut off their supplies. A force of conscripts is sent to deal with these expeditionary forces.

Huge American losses are sustained in North Dakota, where the invading General John Stanley managed to set up a vast series of defenses in order to slow the American war machine. The Western front of the war was characterized by these setbacks.

Both sides send further reinforcements into Montreal, which quickly became a living hell. American bombers pounded the city from above while gas attacks and artillery fire from both sides resulted in countless civillian deaths.

The American eventually force a retreat from Montreal, but not before taking nearly 100,000 casualties doing so. The Battle of Montreal became famous for being one of the most hellish and bloody affairs in the history of American warfare, rivaling the Battle of the Gas.

Efforts to remove Canadian presence on our soil is equally bloody, with the Battle of Burlington claiming far more American lives than Canadian.

The push into Eastern Canada appears to be unstoppable.

The Canadians sent a lot more troops out here than I had anticipated, considered they basically ignored it when I fought them ten years earlier. I get slapped around over here.

Measured successes continue to be won in the East.

The Battle of Dupree is an unmitigated failure for the Free States. General Eugene Abbott is crushed and his entirely army is either killed or taken prisoner. It's humiliating for the government in Philadelphia.

Speaking of humiliating losses, another entire army is wiped off the map. The West was an entirely unsustainable front.

To counter this, a massive American victory is won in Fort Albany, with nearly 60,000 Canadian troops falling dead before a retreat can be forced. Peace negotiations begin around this time, with meetings being held in Syracuse.

A Canadian Army that I've been routing for a good long time has managed to run all the way to Pennsylvania, because they WILL NOT DIE

On September 28th, 1933, Canada agrees to the Treaty of Syracuse, resulting in a humiliating defeat for the Labor Party of Canada. Thanks to the immense number of American prisoners languishing in Western Canada, President Garner agrees to taking just the Maritime provinces in exchange for all prisoners being returned, as well as a five year term of peace.

In just three short months, the Second Maritime War is over, Garner wins his great success. Canada is utterly humiliated by their quick capitulation, and fails to ever be considered as one of the Great Powers again. The loss to the Britain exactly seventy years ago is avenged.

While the three provinces annexed are already a civilized place, they do not receive formal statehood until 1938, with the decision to add them as one unified state rather than three - the Maritimes. In the time before then, Americans moved there en masse, and American-led local governments are formed. While the Maritimes remain in distinct cultural contrast with the rest of the Free States to our modern day, within a generation, they become just as American as those from Pennsylvania or Washington or anywhere in between.

Despite this revenge and final gasp of Manifest Destiny, there's one last thing to be done.

Thanks for reading. Join us next time as we finish things once and for all.