United States of America

Flag of the United States of America

The **United States of America** is a country in North America comprised of 49 states. Its borders are shared to the south by the United Mexican States, to the west by the Pacific Ocean, to the north by the Dominion of Canada, and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.

The United States is the leader of the **Organization of Free Nations**, an alliance made up of members in the entire globe who advocates for a free democratic world.

## History

### Pre-War & Great Depression (1929 - 1939)

The United States experienced a similar trajectory as the real world in the 1920s, with a period of economic prosperity followed by a devastating crash and the onset of the Great Depression.

However, during the 1932 Democratic National Convention, Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, presented a passionate argument for a New Deal to counter the Depression, which made him win the elections that same year, and the next in 1936.

### Second World War (1939 - 1945)

Fast forward to the 1940 presidential election, where the Republican candidate Thomas Dewey secured a narrow victory. Unlike Roosevelt, Dewey supported isolationist policies, advocating that the United States should avoid getting involved in the conflicts brewing in Europe.

The United States chose to remain neutral during World War II, even as Nazi Germany and Japan made rapid advances across Europe and the Pacific. President Dewey refused Prime Minister Churchill's plea for aid and the American people enjoyed a period of economic prosperity and safety.

The situation changed drastically on December 7th, 1941, when Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, destroying the US Pacific fleet and killing thousands of Americans. Despite efforts to combat the aggression of Germany and Japan, the United States was caught off guard and had few time to fight back.

In 1945, a devastating explosion destroyed Pearl Harbor, killing thousands more. The United States was forced to seek a conditional surrender with Japan and Germany, surrendering Hawaii and most of its Pacific possessions. Although many Americans were relieved that the war was over, others were outraged that the United States had lost its first-ever war in history.

### Post-War Period (1945 - 1962)

The aftermath of the Second World War saw a significant political shift in the United States, with the Republican Party suffering a massive defeat in the 1948 elections. The public perceived Republicans as the losers of the war, and the Democrats emerged as the clear victors. The election results were a sweeping Democrat victory, and the former general and war hero, Dwight D. Eisenhower, emerged as the new face of the party. However, Eisenhower's policies were considered too radical by some, and the Republicans slowly but surely regained their relevance in the political arena.

Despite the Republicans' efforts, they were unable to convince the American people by 1952, Eisenhower was re-elected as President for a second term. His popularity remained high, and his policies continued to benefit the country, with the Republicans remaining in the shadow of the Democrats.

In the 1956 elections, the Democrat candidate Estes Kefauver ran against the Republican candidate Everett Dirksen. The election results were no different from the previous ones, with the Democrats winning once again. The country was still riding high on the wave of Democrat victories, and it seemed that the Republicans would never regain their footing.

But in 1960, the tide finally turned in favor of the Republicans. Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate, won the elections against the incumbent President, ending the Democrats' winning streak and marking a significant political shift in the country. The Republicans had finally managed to convince the American people that they could lead the country in a better direction.

### A New Cold War (1962 - 1972)

Nixon's administration is characterized by a series of domestic and international challenges. The civil rights movement and Martin Luther King's activism became pressing issues for Nixon's government. As part of his foreign policy, Nixon creates a new doctrine focused on supporting anti-fascist regimes around the world, attempting to decrease the influence of Japan and Germany's sphere of influence. The first victory under him is the Malayan Emergency, a communist revolt against Japanese-controlled Malaysia. This victory marks the beginning of a period of US foreign involvement around the world.

However, Nixon struggles to contain the spread of fascism in other parts of the world. The government of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean becomes aligned with Iberia and Germany, leading to a US-backed invasion. However, the invasion fails, and the government of Rafael Trujillo remains in power. In another instance, after the Yasuda Crisis, Nixon attempts liberation of the Philippines Islands, which results in a protracted conflict that lasted for several years and took up tons of valuable resources, money, and equipment. Despite support from the United States, the Japanese forces eventually emerged victorious.

Down in Africa, the collapse of Reichskommissariat Madagaskar lead to a power vacuum that resulted in a prolonged conflict between remnants of the German authority and the natives, who eventually win during the conflict. Despite significant US support for the rebels, the situation of their alignment towards the USA or Japan ends with the PADSEM taking the upper hand and abandoning the US. Meanwhile, as Germany was left in a state of a power struggle following Adolf Hitler's death, its African colonies formed the Afrika-Schild, an alliance between the three Reichskommissars, and promptly invaded South Africa to support their Boer allies. However, they were stopped by the United States and the Organization of Free Nations, who manage to push the Schild back and sign a ceasefire favoring the OFN.

During the runup to the 1964 elections, Nixon faced a major scandal after news comes out about his dealings in Madagascar and illegal selling of weapons. This allowed Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Baines Johnson and Senator and former primary opponent John F. Kennedy to win the election decisively, securing a Democratic mandate for government.

However, Johnson's presidency was also marked by significant foreign policy challenges. The United States was deeply embroiled in the Indonesian Civil War, a conflict that was quickly becoming one of the most divisive issues in American politics. Johnson believed that the United States had a responsibility to support the allied coalition against the Japanese and prevent the spread of fascism in the region. However, the war proved to be a costly and protracted conflict, and it ultimately undermined Johnson's presidency and his domestic policy agenda, especially after Japan managed to keep Indonesia under its boot, despite the death of nearly 18,000 Americans.

Johnson also attempted to exert US influence in several other regions of the world. The Colombian Civil War was a brutal conflict that tore apart the South American country, pitting various factions against each other, with the Organisation of Free Nations supporting the Colombian Revolutionary Union, who ultimately emerged victorious. The West African War was another bloody conflict, with Free France and Cameroon fighting for control of West Africa, with the United States supporting Free France and Japan supporting Cameroon. Despite the heavy toll taken on both sides, Free France emerged victorious, marking the beginning of a new era in the continent's history. Both wars were stark reminders of the toll that war takes on a country and its people, and their scars would remain for decades to come.

While the Johnson administration had a rather contentious foreign policy his domestic policy was broadly popular and brought about sweeping reform. Through his "Great Society" Johnson expanded education and welfare to an extent not seen since the New Deal, created Medicare and a public health insurance option for low income Americans and greatly expanded civil rights and the space program. Passing the Civil Rights Act of 1965, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Hart-Cellar act, under Johnson the United States also landed astronauts on the moon in 1968.

During the 1968 elections, Johnson narrowly wins re-election, however, he unexpectedly suffers a heart attack the following year which along with pressure from others in the executive branch forces his resignation. However, his successor John F. Kennedy doesn't last very long, being shot a few months after entering office, leading to Speaker of the House Carl Albert assuming the Presidency.

### A World Divided (1972 - 1980)

Albert's Presidency faced a major crisis in the form of the Oil Crisis, causing oil prices to increase, inflation to skyrocket and a global economic crash.

As the Oil Crisis raged on, it became clear that Albert would not be the one to end it. Instead, the 1972 elections saw George Romney from the Republicans win after three consecutive Democrat Presidents. Romney's administration faced numerous challenges, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.

In the Iranian Civil War, the United States failed to ensure the Republican forces won, resulting in the constitutional Shahdom winning instead. Meanwhile, Egypt and Sudan remained in the grip of fascist powers after an Italian direct intervention, while Oman and Yemen's status-quo prevailed in their respective civil wars, and the United Arab Emirates also gained a modicum of independence around the same time, remaining a client state of the Italian Empire. Syria and Iraq united to form the United Arab Republic, which was openly hostile towards the United States.

The demand for oil continued to grow, despite efforts to invest in alternative energy sources and encourage domestic oil production. Saudi Arabia preferred to trade oil with Italy, while Iraq and Syria refused to trade with the United States altogether. The grain embargo with Germany caused prices to fall, affecting farmers' incomes and rural communities, highlighting the need for energy independence and a stable market for agriculture exports.

Despite these challenges, Romney was able to win a second term in the 1976 elections. Romney's second government faced even more challenges, including the Shaba I, which saw the victorious Einheitspakt support Zaire against the OFN-backed FNLC. The Mozambican Civil War rages on, with the OFN and the USSR united in their efforts against Japan. In Central America, the Contras War in Nicaragua sees the United States divided over whether to support far-right guerrillas or not, which would allow the socialist government to persist. Over in Asia, the Indian-Afghan War, with the OFN, Japan and Germany taking interest into supporting the respective side, continues as what may eventually result into the end of Afghanistan's influence in Central Asia, or a great humiliation for India after a decade filled with victories.

That isn't to say the Romney Presidency hasn't been without its successes, his administration has expanded housing access, effectively handled civil rights, brought the economy back to a growing rate and brought gas prices down to a reasonable high as well as making a more cost effective welfare state with a balanced budget, Romney has also helped reinvigorate the country and strengthen the armed forces. (edited)

The world remains on a knife's edge. As the cold war continues to escalate and tensions between the United States and their foes grow ever more strained.

## Politics

### Overview

The United States is led by a series of Presidents from both the Democratic and Republican parties. The Democrats were generally seen as more center-left, following liberal and progressive ideals, while the Republicans were the more center-right party, sticking to more conservative and traditional tenets.

* The Democratic Party tends to support policies that promote social welfare, civil rights, and international cooperation. These policies are often aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Americans and preventing the spread of rival ideologies through the promotion of democracy and capitalism.
* The Republican Party, on the other hand, tends to support policies that emphasize on individual liberty, free markets, and a strong national defense. These policies are often aimed at protecting American interests and preventing the spread of rival ideologies through military strength and economic power.

Despite these differences, both parties are committed to the idea of democracy and the American way of life, believing in the importance of alliances and international cooperation in promoting American interests and values around the world.

### Foreign Relations

The OFN, or the Organization of Free Nations, is an international coalition lead by the United States whose members include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, South Africa and Brazil. Its aim is to promote and preserve democratic values around the world.

Since the end of World War II, the United States has been locked in a cold war between Germany, Japan and more recently, the Soviet Union. The relationship with Iberia and Italy, which threaten the US's sphere in the Americas, has also been tense.

Despite the United States' defeat in World War II, the country gradually regained its composure and began to rebuild its military and political power. In the early days of the Cold War, the US suffered some humiliating losses in proxy wars against rival powers and their allies. However, over time, the US perfected its strategies and began securing victory after victory.

## Trivia

* In the somewhat alternate timeline that TFO takes from TNO, the Republican-Democratic Coalition and National Progressive Pact never formed, resulting in the same bicameral domination seen in OTL.