A Destiny Made Manifest - Part 12: An American Empire

Published: 2017-02-23, edited: 1970-01-01

Part of the campaign:

A Destiny Made Manifest

Previous part:

Game: Victoria 2

A Destiny Made Manifest - Part 11: The Age of Beatty

Images: 59, author: CargoShortsSensei, published: 2017-02-23, edited: 1970-01-01

Roscoe Conkling, at the young age of 47, has been sworn in as the 16th President. Leading the Stalwart faction, he supports an aggressive colonial policy: Africa, he believed, must be colonized in order to protect the poor souls there from European savagery. Manifest Destiny, he believed, extended to the entire world.
As Conkling's administration began to transition in, his appointed Secretary of War, Alexander Ramsey, advises that he target the Kingdom of Loango. Situated north of the more powerful Kingdom of Kongo and Portuguese Angola, Loango was ripe for the taking. A good baby step for a new empire.
Almost instantly, French ambassadors get wind of the plot and expose the imperialist desire of the new American administration. The European Powers, who had not considered American expansion in Africa (with the exception of Liberia), strongly disapproves the action.

(Holy shit, that is so much infamy for such a small thing!)
The 45th Congress is elected, and while the Republicans maintain their plurality in the House, and the Senate remains in Democratic hands. The Workingmen's Party refuses to work with the Republicans, disapproving of the imperialism of the Stalwarts, as well as their approval of political machines, which they detest.
In the spring of 1877, the Republic of the Philippines is declared, led by insurrectionist general Romano Ruedas, occupying just the Visayas Islands. In their constitution, the republic declares its intent to span the entire Philippines.

American diplomats are sent to the nascent republic.
On March 28th, 1877, the Conkling administration recognized the sovereignty of the Philippines. This greatly strains relations with Spain.
While the Gatling gun had been around since the Southern Rebellion, it was used sparingly. New methods to produce the weapon are developed, and they become more widespread in American regiments.
In August of 1877, the 3rd Army under Ulyssess Fry embarks onto the 3rd Fleet. While the Workingmen's Party and the Half-Breeds complain loudly, the Democrats are more than enthusiastic about a new Manifest Destiny.
BLESS OUR BOYS DOWN IN AAAAAAAAAAAFRICAAAAAAAAAAA
In the summer of 1877, America shocked the word by passing the 16th Amendment:

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

Women, after just a few short years, gained the ability to vote, thanks to a coalition of Half-Breeds, the entire Workingmen's Party, the Communists, and some sympathetic Stalwarts and Democrats. Across the nation, parades broke out, with almost as many anti-woman demonstrations happening at the same time.
Frederick Frelinghuyson, Secretary of State, is successful in his attempts to influence Joseph Napoleon to turn his back on the newly coronated French Emperor Napoleon IV, implying that the French saw him as a mere pawn. Meanwhile, Frelinghuyson gets together with Secretary of War Ramsay to consider further ways to influence the Mexican government.

After all, who says Manifest Destiny must be squarely aimed at Africa?
On September 26th, an American trading ship sent to deliberately stir shit up is attacked by an agent of King N'Gangue M'voumbe Makosso Ma N'Sangou. In response, Congress declares war on the Kingdom of Loango just three days later.

Why did we have an army nearby ready to go? Shhhhh
A month later, the 3rd Army lands on Loango soil. The primitive natives wielding spears and the occasional matchlock musket are dispelled by Fry's men, who lose just 91 in the fighting.
Back on the home front, new ways to refine steel are being introduced into American industry. This will lead to the incredible boom of industrial America in the 1880s.
Quickly, the coastal capital of Loango is taken, but King N'Gangue M'voumbe Makosso Ma N'Sangou (and that is seriously his name) has fled inland. We shall pursue him.
While President Conkling doesn't have the same mind for the military that Augustus Beatty did, the top general of the army, Jeffrey Chapman, develops the concept of wargames, leading to increased performance on the battlefield.
On January 10th, 1878, King N'Gangue M'voumbe Makosso Ma N'Sangou surrenders to General Ulysses Fry, signing away his country.

Fry, in his missive back to Washington, says "It's even easier than beating the Indians!"
Quickly, Fry is set up as the interim Colonial Governor of the Congo, and organizes the territories to fit a more Western administrative structure. The 3rd Army is to be stationed in the new territory until the African people are willing to accept Western rule.
On January 12th, 1878, Emperor Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte is shot and killed by a Mexican nationalist, becoming the third straight Mexican Emperor to be assassinated! After a few weeks of chaos, American agents in Mexico City ensure the succession of Jaime Rubio, a wealthy agriculture baron, to the throne, being coronated on January 28th.

Emperor Jaime, owing his ascension to the throne to American support, signs a unequal trading deal with Secretary Frelinghuyson. Conkling, in his personal diary, writes "We have taken Mexico, without a single drop of blood shed but that of Napoleon."

While the French ambassadors in Mexico City file complaints and quickly sniff out American involvement, the Bonapartist regime has too much on its plate to consider retaliation against the United States. This has been a great diplomatic coup (both literally and metaphorically) for Conkling's administration.
The Free Republics of America gain another empire. We're playing fast and loose with the concept of what constitutes a "republic" nowadays.
Under the watchful eye of General Fry, a naval base is to be constructed in Loango, in order to ensure that the American garrison receives the supplies it needs.
Less than two years into the Conkling presidency, America has reached greater international heights than many thought possible. The great cities of the Republic are host to vacationing European aristocrats, come to see the empire rising in the west. Washington D . C., once a backwater town, is slowly blossoming.
We slowly continue to modernize the Navy - Conkling knew that Britain maintained her empire thanks to her navy - but the progress is slow.
Before this, we literally did not have organized factories.
The Philippines are officially integrated into the Free Republics of America system, proving that the name literally means nothing anymore.
Quietly, and independently of Communist Party USA (CPUSA for short), a communist movement designed to overthrow the state and institute strict Marxism is founded. This group, calling itself the Red Vanguard, recruits its membership largely from destitute immigrants.
The book is finally closing on the Romantic period of American art, leading to a trend towards more realistic aesthetics. This is called... well, Realism.
The 46th Congress is assembled, and the Democrats once again find themselves with a plurality. The Republicans can't figure out how the Democrats perform so well on a local level, but utterly fail in presidential elections.

*Glares at Victoria 2*
In early 1879, the Half-Breeds and Workingmen's Party work together once again to ensure the passing of the Criminal Transportation Act, fully shifting American penal policy away from capital punishment to transportation, at least on a national level. Federalism being what it is, the states can still basically decide for themselves what they want to do.
The political machines operating in the big cities (whether Republican or Democrat) begin to exert their influence against the Red Vanguard, forming what are essentially secret polices to ensure the status quo.
The Spanish Empire is clearly crumbling. The small island of Puerto Rico declares independence, establishing a republic in the model of the United States. While some American imperialists advocate the annexation of the island forcefully (many of these same people also wish to reconquer Cuba), Conkling decides that such a brazen act of aggression might incur the wrath of Europe. We decide instead to bring the island nation under the Eagle's wing.
Relations with Mexico have improved and stabilized, and a formal military alliance is signed between the two North American nations. The Democrats, many of whom were hoping for further war against Mexico, are annoyed with the Stalwarts, who they believed would be on their side on such an argument.

A small wing of Republicans begins to rattle the saber towards the Mexico. Adopting the name taken by their forerunners during the Election of 1860, they dub themselves the Deserthawks. This faction is led by Robert Todd Lincoln, which greatly disappoints his retired old dad whose name I can't quite remember.
General Chester Jackson, a veteran of the Southern Rebellions and the Maritime War, passes in his sleep. The command of the 2nd Army is given to Edward Crittenden.
In response to increases in communication technology, the Army continues to tidy up logistics and sets up a Board of Statistics.
The Workplace Standards Act of 1879 is signed into law, thanks to the tireless effort of the Workingmen's Party and the Half-Breeds, who form a powerful Progressive Alliance in Congress and the House.
30 POPS LIVE IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, VICTORIA 2
In South America, a crisis has erupted over the Ecuadorian state of Pastaza, which Peru considers to be its rightful territory. Both nations contact America to support their claim, but Conkling has no interest in the conflict.
None of the Great Powers interfere, because who on earth cares?
Puerto Rico is formally included in the Free Republics of America. As they are a true republic run by a liberal party, they get along swimmingly with Conkling.
Aaaaaand we spoke too soon. Shockingly, Partido Communista is elected into power in the first election of the baby republic. While the few Communist Congressmen loudly applause the result, relations cool quite a bit between the two republics.
As authors like Mark Twain and William Dean Howells lead the realist charge in literature, painters like Ty Wilson and Lithuanian immigrant Kasparas Lapauskis help bring America a realistic image of their society. Realists tended to focus on poverty and similar topics, attempting to show the American people the world as they saw it.
A socialist tide is seemingly sweeping the world. Bavaria, one of the Great Powers of Europe, has fallen under the sway of the Sozial. Arbeiterpartei, much to the dismay of King Ludwig II.
Communists have risen in France! Napoleon IV is truly holding onto his Empire by a thread.
In the Congo, several natives were cut down by 3rd Army rifles during a riot against American rule. General Fry meets with several tribal leaders and attempts to come to some sort of compromise, but little real progress is made.
It seems like we have been in Egypt for about 2,000 years now.
Interestingly, the Kingdom of Ireland has been liberated from the United Kingdom, at least domestically. While Queen Victoria remains the Head of the State of Ireland, and Britain will control the nation's military and foreign affairs, the island (outside of Ulster) has been given home rule.
People continue to stream in from Europe to the Americas. The weak and ineffective Russian Federation, the French Empire, and the Kingdom of Spain are the nations shipping the most people to the republic.
The works of Plato and Socrates spread amongst the rich peoples of America. How on earth that Plato, an aristocrat who hated democracy and argued seriously for a totalitarian censorship state in "Republic," inspires a liberal idealogy is beyond me.
On February 8th, 1880, the 17th Amendment is passed, forbidding the labor of children under the age of sixteen, save for specialized circumstances. It is a great victory for the Progressive Alliance, led by Patrick Ingleson and James G. Blaine.
I have no idea what this is, straight up. You can google that if you want. I'm a dumb dumb dumb lady.
Save for a remote minority amongst the oldest of the population, the Dixie culture is mostly gone from the South.
The Great Powers of Europe meet in Paris in 1880 and agreed to carve up Africa between them. While Secretary of State Ramsey made several attempts to get in on the Paris Conference, America is excluded from the deal.

While the pop-up says that "any civilized country will largely be seen as justified in aggression towards uncivilized African nations," that's untrue. That means *European* countries.. Any American effort to colonize the Dark Continent will be met with suspicion and aggression.

Roscoe Conkling is furious with this decision, but is basically powerless to challenge it.
In immediate response, the 3rd Army under General Fry embarks and sails north to West Africa
While the Kingdom of Warri has been brought under American influence in the Age of Beatty, our designs on the kingdom are now decidedly less than friendly.
The 3rd Army, armed with Gatling guns, is ready to "negotiate" with the natives.
Our sister republic, Liberia, claims more territory inland. Good for them!
On March 30th, 1880, the remaining German states except for Bavaria submit to Wilhelm I of Prussia, declaring the man the Kaiser of Germany. Wilhelm accepts, and sends a letter to King Ludwig II of Bavaria to accept his authority or face German rifles. Ludwig decides to go out fighting, but the result is inevitable: the rise of a united Second Reich.
As the Election of 1880 approaches, the schism of the Republican Party is not nearly mended. While Conkling secures his renomination thanks to the success of his foreign policy, his vice president, Rutherford B. Hayes, formally resigns from his office on April 22nd, 1880 to go rejoin the Half-Breeds. James Garfield, another Half-Breed, agrees to be the running mate of Conkling, hoping that some sort of compromise would be reached.

It would not!
The Half-Breeds once again leave the Republican convention. However, this time, James G. Blaine (left) turns to the Workingmen's Party. Patrick Ingleson (right) is convinced by Blaine to be his running mate on an "Allied Progressive" ticket, hoping that the combined might of the Workingmen's Party and the Progressive Republicans would be enough to push him past Conkling.

(The man whose face I have stolen and given to Patrick Ingleson is John St. John)
The Democrats decide to run Thomas Bayard again, because making creative and unique decisions are hard. Indiana Congressman William Hayden English is chosen as his running mate.
Blaine and Ingleson quickly attack Conkling's imperialist foreign policy, calling it immoral and evil. Conkling, with supporting arguments from Bayard, argues that his statecraft has uplifted America to the world stage.
The official religious policy of the Allied Progressive ticket is secularized politics, which manages to find a small amount of traction amongst the Freedmen in Mississippi.
The Great Powers of Europe convene once again, this time in Berlin. The Great Powers declare their intention to stabilize the Balkans, which pisses off the Ottomans A LOT.
Just two months before the election, the 3rd Army invades the Kingdom of Warri, not bothering to wait for a declaration of war from Washington. Blaine and Ingleson cry out against the naked aggression, but the majority of Americans support the invasion.
We decide to randomly dunk on Chile for not having women's suffrage for some reason.
The Board of Statistics develops a formula to model hypothetical battles. The older generals hate this egghead bullshit, but it is integrated into the Army.
In New York, Conkling's home state, Blaine cannot hope to find purchase.
In the fall of 1880, Germany is formally united by Kaiser Wilhelm I. Europe has a new great continental power.
As the election approaches, it becomes clear to the nation that, despite the valiant effort of the Allied Progressive campaign, Roscoe Conkling will continue to hold his office.
Thanks to the success of President Conkling's foreign policy, Blaine isn't even able to replicate his success in 1876. Conkling smashes both him and Democrat Thomas Bayard to win his second term. Blaine, in a speech given after the results are revealed, declares that he will not run for president a third time in 1884. He returns to Congress to lead the Half-Breeds legislatively.
Thanks for reading, everyone! Check back in soon to see the second term of President Conkling!

Next chapter:

Game: Victoria 2

A Destiny Made Manifest - Part 13: The Corrupted Years

Images: 53, author: CargoShortsSensei, published: 2017-02-23, edited: 1970-01-01

Check out another AAR:

Game: Civilization V, Sid Meier's

Rhode Island Bowl - Part 0 - Yo, I heard you liked unhappiness

Images: 6, author: PoblanoLimozeen, published: 2018-06-07