These Divided States

The origins of the Estado del Norte was formed early on in the collapse of the United States of America. Hispanics were increasingly marginalized by racist laws being passed by reactionaries attempting to hold power. They used the idea of massive immigration into the United States was the reason for the downfall of the United States, and therefore they had to "kick the barbarians out before they destroy Rome". Anyone who was suspected from originating south of the Rio Grande saw their voting rights suspended, curfews imposed, and even illegal arrests and detaining. Soon, this evolved into anyone who even resembled from being from Latin America, without any care to their birthplace or origin. Those in powers merely wanted a scapegoat, and anyone who looked Mexican was good enough for them.

However, the loss of rights only fueled anger and resentment. Some fled into the desert, taking up arms to fight for freedom. Taking inspiration from not only Washington and the founding fathers, but also Latin American revolutionaries such as Bolivar and Guevara, the guerrilla fighters formed their own communities based on the ideas of democracy and anti-authoritarianism. These groups were more often than not left wing, and some were outright socialist in nature. The various bands of fighters would, when they needed supplies or felt threatened by other bands or the Federal Remnant, would join together and create larger groups. The fall of Albuquerque in late 2017 marked the last major Resistance by the USA Remnant in the Southwest to these guerrillas, and the largest bands met together in the revolutionist hotspot of Phoenix to discuss post-war life.

A new constitution would be written by the successful warlords, detailing a new government similar to the style of the old United States federal government. However, there would be no state governments; there would be only one full federal government to run the nation. Also, only one house of 100 representatives would exist, in order to prevent the political deadlock that plagued the old United States. The President was also afforded expanded powers including leeways to implement presidential orders without approval of Congress, once again to prevent deadlock. Although Spanish would become the main official language due to how the nation was formed, the new country would not exclude Anglo-Americans. English would also be an official language, and the hand of revenge was, except for a few isolated cases, stayed.

The name of the nation, El Norte, was derived from a political theory outlying that the American Southwest formed a distinct nation not only different from the rest of Americas, but also from the rest of Latin America. Although the name El Norte, coming from the same paper, was considered questionable, no other names were noticeably better received, and thus it stuck. The two main parties to emerge from the session were the Americanos Libres, a liberal party with policies not unlike the more left wing elements of the old Democratic Party, and the Frente de Guevara, a socialist party which espoused for total liberation of all Americans from their repressive governments.

The first, and so far only president, Isabella Salamanca, was considered to be the leader of the siege against Albuquerque, and thus she was easily elected as el presidente of the new nation due her war success. Also one of the leaders of the Americanos Libres party, her liberal party edged out ahead of Frente de Guevara in Congress as well, but only in a slim majority. Salamanca has served reasonably competent in her elections, although crisis may brew due to the recent advancements of the PAU on the West Coast. Even the Frente de Guevara is wary of the Asians, feeling that they are too authoritarian and steered too far from true socialism. The socialist party is therefore split down the line in whether or not to support them as the lesser of two evils against the reactionaries in the east or if they're just another threat to the nation. The Libres, however, is more unified in their opposition of helping the PAU. However, at the same point, few want to actively fight them, and would rather just be left alone in the territory they have.

It is unknown what El Norte will do in the upcoming years. Although 25 seats in Congress are up for election every year, Salamanca's seat as Presidente is not contested until her 4 year term is up in late 2022 (Isabella's term started in 2018). Theoretically, there is no maximum term limits in the constitution for Presidente, although many expect 2 terms will be the norm.