United States of America: Circuit
Presidential Dictatorship: Curtis Wareing (Conservative)
Capital: Washington D.C.
Manpower: 9,226 (+92)
Economic Points: 62 (+394)
Domestic Spending : -90 EP
-Education: -90 (93)
Stability: 6
Army: 157 Infantry Brigades, 22 Cavalry Brigades, 23 Artillery Brigades
Army Quality: 11
Army Doctrine: United States Army 1890
Navy: 17 Early Submarines, 45 Early Destroyers, 19 Early Light Cruisers, 12 Early Heavy Cruisers, 15 Virginia-class Battleships
Navy Quality: 11
Colonies: 35
Spending:
93 EP on domestic policies
230 EP for joint research of Battleship Improvement 1&2 with the Lotus Pact
6 EP to be sent to the Roman Empire, at the bequest of Persia, to whom we owe a loan and will be deducted from the loan balance
22 EP in loan payment to Persia
42 EP in loan payment to the Empire of Spain
Domestic:
END OF US ELECTIONS SEE GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO END SLAVERY: While the US elections went as predicted, the US government, in response to international pressure, has declared that it is now committed to ending slavery.
President Wareing declared that the Martial Governance Council, the ruling military body able to outrank the Congress, has voted unanimously to begin ending slavery, as the issue has become a national security concern as international animosity grows.
The President has emphasized the government's commitment to a
smooth from a slave-labor to wage-labor economy in the South, and to ensure that profits of industries are only moderately impacted, if at all.
The program is slated to take place over several years.
The first step of the program is the closure of slave markets, and a ban on all sale of slaves in which the government is not a participant in the transaction.
This step was enacted at the end of this year.
The next step, to begin next year, is the initiation of the Slave Liberation Program, where the government will exercise its right of eminent domain to purchase slaves from their owners and then immediately grant them their freedom.
The government recommends that businesses that owned slaves hire them on as wage laborers and provide them room and board so that the laborers have a job and the businesses have labor.
State governments (OOC COMMENT: I wouldn't be surprised if state government varied considerably, from governors being "little Presidents" and being just as tyrannical as the Federal Government, and some still maintaining a republican tradition) are free to enact whatever laws they feel necessary to ensure a stable transition for their economies and societies.
The Federal Government calls for the support of the humanitarian organizations campaigning for the end of slavery, and the society as a whole.
In the event of a hint at insurrection, the military will respond immediately and forcefully.
The following is a transcript of President Wareing's speech:
President Curtis Wareing said:
Speech given by President Curtis Wareing before the Congress of the United States of America on November 10th, 1904:
Fifty-six years ago, General Alfred Scott led the Second American Revolution, and pledged to ensure the security of this great nation. He also promised to protect the rights of American citizens that were endangered, and to guarantee those rights to perpetuity. After the War of the American Presidency, he kept his promises, and since then the United States has only grown stronger. Under the guiding hand of the Presidency, the Party of the Republic, the Congress, and the Martial Governance Staff, the United States has made a place for itself in world politics.
The institution of slavery has existed for as long as the United States. One could say that it is an integral part of the American culture. President Scott and his successors, including myself, have recognized this. But one must ask how long this institution can endure. The rest of the civilized world has moved on. Slavery has become a blight on American culture, isolating it from the rest of the civilized community. This is not merely a loss of reputation; it is a significant security risk for the United States of America. The United States position on the issue of slavery was largely responsible for the recent anti-American elections in Spain that resulted in the loss of an important defensive pact between the Empire of Spain and the United States of America. Intellectuals across Europe read books depicting the United States as barbarous and evil; in fact, it is, in many cases, considered required reading.
It is clear that, as a member of the civilized community, the institution of slavery can no longer perpetuate. However, we understand that it represents a significant proportion of the economy. Thus, a stable transition must be made from an economy based upon slavery, to one based on wage labor. Furthermore, slaves are legally property in the United States. Thus, the United States government, under the constitutional right of eminent domain, shall begin the Slave Liberation Program. Under this program, the United States will purchase slaves from their legal owners. The first step of this program, to be implemented this year of 1904, is to close the slave markets and to ban the purchase or sale of slaves to anyone but the United States government. All slaves purchased in this manner will be immediately granted their liberty. This program shall take place over several years, and upon its completion, slavery will no longer be legal in the United States of America. We hope to obtain the assistance of the humanitarian groups who have been preoccupied with tarnishing our name up to now. The Martial Governance Council has already unanimously voted for this measure, and this morning, I have signed it into law.
A large portion of society will consist of unemployed free men, and a large portion of industry will have lost their labor. We recommend that the industry hire these workers, and these workers accept the employment. This will certainly ease the transition process from an economy of slave labor to one of wage labor, with little to no economic harm in between. One may even argue that the economy shall be more prosperous under this system.
At this present time, the United States is ostracized from the international community. Thus, the institution of slavery can no longer stand. However, we feel after the completion of the Slave Liberation Program, the United States will not only be prosperous, but also resume its position as a leading nation in the world, and a proper member of the civilized community. We ask for the support of the American people in this critical time in American history.
International:
REPAYMENT OF PANAMA CANAL LOANS BEGINS: The United States is beginning to repay the loans taken for the construction of the Panama Canal.
The United States owes money to Persia and the Empire of Spain, in the amount of 220 and 330, respectively.
The loans are to be payed off in eight years.
This year, Persia requested that some of their loan payment be sent to the Roman Empire to aid them after the cataclysmic disaster that befell them.
Military:
MILITARY DEPLOYMENT: The Scottson Garrison will remain in Scottson.
The I Army Corps and the VI Army Corps are deployed in Panama, with their stated objective being to protect Panama in general, the Panama Canal in particular, from sabotage, rebellion, or foreign intervention.
The II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, and IX Army Corps are to be deployed in the United States, with the II and VII in the Northeast, III and VIII in the West and West Coast, IV and IX in the South, and the V to react to wherever it is needed.
The objective of these units is to protect the United States from invasion, and to quell any unacceptable insurrections, and otherwise guarantee the security of the United States at the home front.
The 1st Fleet will be deployed in the Atlantic, where it is on defensive duty guarding the coasts.
The 2nd Fleet is deployed in the Caribbean, on defensive duty.
The 3rd Fleet is deployed in the Pacific, guarding the West Coast.
The Panama Canal Squadron is to protect the Panama Canal from any foreign sabotage or intervention.
CONTINGENCY PLANS: Should Brazil and its allies, including Britain and Brazil's South American allies begin a war, the IV, IX, and III Army Corps are to be sent to Venezuela, escorted by the 2nd Fleet (and perhaps, if deemed safe, the Panama Canal Squadron), and prepare for an invasion of Brazil.
The V Army Corps will be deployed to Panama.
The II, VII, and VIII will remain in the United States and prepare for a potential British or, more threatening, Vinnish invasion of the United States.
The II Army Corps, in particular, should prepare to invade Prince Edward Island, invading from New Brunswick; the 6th Infantry, 7th Infantry, 10th Infantry, and 2nd Cavalry may be involved in this mission, though it's up to the commanding Lieutenant General, should he see that deployment unacceptable.
If the Vinnish declare war, the II and VIII will invade Vinland from both the East and West.
Table of Organization and Equipment:
Army:
Navy
OOC: Noticed that Scottson is still being called Alaska. Please change the name.
