Colt Caddam

**Colt Caddam** was a famous politician in Tedesu who was born on the 5th of October 1927 and died on the 9th of August 2003. He was known for being Governor of Tedesu from 1966 1970, President of the Union of Tedesu from 1976 to 1979, and State President of Tedesu from 1979 to 1999. He declared the independence of the Union of Tedesu in 1976 as an independent country but subsequently reentered the union with Sheaman after striking a deal with King Ivan of Sheaman.

He became a politician in 1950 when he joined the Tedusians for Independence Party and won a seat in the 1950 Tedusian State Election. He would remain TMP until 1954 when he lost his seat, but he would return after winning his seat in the 1956 Tedusian State Election. He became the leader of TFP in 1957 when the previous leader resigned and later died a few months later. Caddam began seeing an upturn in seats in the 1962 Tedusian State Election when his party won 22 seats, then 45 seats in the 1964 State Election, and finally entering into government in 1966 with 68 seats, a minority. He would then lead his party to victory once again in the 1968 Tedusian State Election, this time winning a majority. In 1974, Caddam's government would end after the 2nd Sheaman Civil War ended in a victory for ROSP but in 1976 Caddam would declare independence as the Republic of Tedesu. The Tedusian War for Independence was a semi-victory for Tedesu as they were given a lot more powers a state but had to remain a part of Sheaman.

The 1980s saw Colt Caddam's TFP government change by no longer supporting independence (unless there was a reason to) as well as seeing a more moderate/progressive set of policies. His party was continuously elected (except from 1982) until the 1992 State Election when Caddam failed to form a majority because of the rise of TIP, leading to Caddam forming a coalition with DEMOT, lasting between 1992 - 1997. In 1997, Caddam and the leader of DEMOT came together and formed the United Alliance of Tedesu Party (UAT) which completely rejected Tedusian Independence and wanted to equalize Tedesu's powers with the rest of the Sheaman states. In 1999, due to Caddam's depression from the death of his wife, he resigned as Governor of Tedesu but remained a Senator until the 2000 State Election. Caddam would later die in 2003, remarking his life in an autobiography he wrote between 2001 to 2003, later published in 2006 titled "Colt Caddam: My Story."

## Early Life: 1927 - 1950

Colt Caddam was born on the 5th of October 1927 to Frank Caddam and Anna Caddam in Samprier, Tedesu. Caddam's parents were supporters of independence for Tedesu which, in 1920s, 30s, and 40s, was mostly unpopular due to the establishment of local governments and the figure of Joseph Jacks, leading the state to support unity with the rest of the country.

Caddam attended Egan Primary School in 1932 and until 1949 when Caddam began attending Egan & Eran Secondary School and then left in 1945 at the age of 18. After school, Caddam would attend Doughtan University, a relatively prestigious university in Jose & Sator. He studied Politics whilst he was attending Doughtan University and after finishing his course in 1949, he returned home to Tedesu.

## Early Political Career: 1950 - 1979

### Early Years: 1950 - 1966

When Sheaman became a federal state in 1950, Caddam took advantage of this opportunity to join the Tedusian for Independence Party and he was quickly chosen to contest in the 1950 Tedusian State Election. the Leader of TFP, Fred Miller, believed that Caddam had "great potential" as well as the fact that Miller believed that younger candidates would make the party appealing to younger voters. Caddam won a seat in the 1950 Tedusian State Election and entered the state legislature for the first time on the 1st of September 1950. After entering parliament in 1950, Caddam would go on to keep his seat in the 1952 but then lose his seat in the 1954 Tedusian State Election. After losing he seat, Caddam thought that he had little hope of returning, but after some campaigning and asking the TFP committee to let him try again, he was accepted to contest the 1956 Tedusian State Election, where he was once again reelected as MP.

In 1957, the leader of TFP, Fred Miller, resigned as leader, leaving the position wide open for those who wanted it. Caddam had a powerful way of speaking, and had quickly become one of the leading figures in the party, so Caddam contesting the leadership election wasn't a surprise. He won the leadership election in the 3rd round, winning 38% in the first, 48% in the 2nd, and 72% in the third, showing he was clearly the favorite candidate. After becoming leader, he would contest the 1958, and 1960 Tedusian State Elections with no luck of going above 10 seats in the state legislature, but after Sophie White became Prime Minister and the safety of Joseph Jacks of was gone, the independence movement in Tedesu rose. In the 1962 Tedusian State Election, TFP won 22 seats of 158, becoming a record high for the party. The 1964 Tedusian State Election was an even bigger success, leading to TFP winning 45 seats in the state legislature which was 3 more seats that PSUP, making them the 2nd largest party in the legislature.

### In Government & Fate: 1966 - 1976

In the 1966 Tedusian State Election, Colt Caddam and his party would win 68 seats in the election, giving them the most seats in the legislature and leading to Colt Caddam to form a minority government. The success of TFP made Prime Minister, Sophie White, discredit the party and flat out reject their victory. White believed that TFP was a sign of badness for the country and attempted to legally remove the party from power in Tedesu but she was quickly blocked by her own MPs as they feared "public backlash." Caddam would lead TFP to win the 1968 State Election and this time barely form a majority government. Caddam hoped to demand that Sophie White give Tedesu a binding referendum on the independence of Tedesu but TFP began having internal struggles over the issue of actually wanting independence. Along with that, Sophie White banned elections in early 1970 and very quickly removed every governor from office and replaced them with a SWLDP governor who was directly appointed by Sophie White. Caddam was one of the first Governors to be replaced and not long after that, the State Senate was removed and replaced with governor-appointed senators.

Throughout most of the 1970s, Caddam organized a following against Sophie White and her regime. Caddam organized his own army called the Tedusian Freedom Army (TFA) that he intended to use against Sophie White if she won the civil war. When Sophie White lost the civil war and was imprisoned, Caddam decided to put his army on halt for about a year as he believed that Ivan Jacks was going to be more just and bring about free and fair elections. When Ivan Jacks failed to announce any elections and crowned himself king, Caddam reorganized his army. Ivan Jacks found out about the Tedusian Freedom Army and organized a plan to eradicate Caddam's army as well as a plan to assassinate Caddam himself. Upon hearing about this plan, Caddam, his army, and those loyal to him, decided to establish a country and declare independence from Sheaman.

### Secession: 1976 - 1979

See Also: Union of Tedesu, 1st Tedusian War for Independence

Colt Caddam and his allies declared the independence of the Union of Tedesu on the 13th of March 1976 with Colt Caddam as the President. Caddam was immediately undermined by President, Ivan Jacks, who decided to declare war on the Union of Tedesu on the 16th of March 1976. Caddam decided that even though there was a war, that he wanted to introduce democracy into the nation. He decided to find a building to establish a parliament and then called a parliamentary election on the 12th of April 1976. The 1976 Tedusian Parliamentary Election led to the Tedusians for Independence Party winning 103 out of the 185 seats in parliament. The opposition party which was called the Unity Party, won 82 seats, failing to object to the idea of independence.

After the declaration of war on the Union of Tedesu, the Sheaman Government began deploying troops to the border in Tedesu and the troops that were already stationed inside the borders of Tedesu were to "fend for themselves " according to Sheaman General, Faruk Tosh. Those roughly 3,900 Sheaman troops inside the border of Tedesu quickly engaged in conflict. Colt Caddam appointed a plethora of positions in the army as to officially organize his military. Caddam immediately went to the front line at the border of Tedesu as well as attempting to entrap Sheaman troops that were stuck inside the country. Around 1 division of the troops surrendered after being found, 8 divisions of the troops put up a fight but eventually surrendered, and division of the troops never surrendered, fighting until they were all eliminated by Tedusian forces. On the front line of the war, slow but steady conflict began and minimal casualties were happening.

By Summer of 1977, casualties were rising and Sheaman had set out a plan to puncture the front line. They planned concentrate more troops at one point of the front line, push in that area, begin bombings near civilian areas as to deceit Tedesu, and then finally begin bombing Tedusian soldiers. The plan initiated on the 15th of August 1977 and was very successful. A bulge was created in the attacked area of the front line, leading to large quantities of Tedusian soldiers to enter the front line. After that, bombings near civilian areas began and led to Tedesu retracting a quantity of fighters to eliminate the bomber planes. Whilst that was going on, Sheaman brought in a large force of fighters and bombers to the front line and obliterated the Tedusian army before some retreated and others surrendered. Caddam was shocked by this attack and the UN classified the attack as a war crime because of the supposed endangerment of civilians. Some soldiers that were captured by Sheaman were even tortured into giving information about attack plans from Tedesu which was later found out in 1981. The attack was a major success for Sheaman but Sheaman lost many fighters, bombers, other planes, troops, and equipment, during the attack, leading to the attack being halted by the 11th of December 1977. The ceasefire also occurred due to the fact that is was nearing Christmas time. This ceasefire gave time for Caddam to reorganize his military, draft plans, and suplly themselves and After the Battle of Laurice, western powers began giving more and more support towards Tedesu. Tedesu was seen as the last hope for a democratic country in the Isle of Sheaman and so western powers put much trust in its victory in the war.

War reignited in February 1978 with countless battles taking place. Each battle became better and better for Colt Caddam's armies and soon by November 1978, Caddam's armies were making rapid advances in the front line. Sheaman's King, Ivan Jacks, began having discussions with Colt Caddam in February 1979 because of the crippling front line. After months of lengthy discussions and on and off conflict in March, April, and July, an agreement was reached between President, Caddam, and King Ivan on the 22nd of August 1979. The agreement was that Tedesu would remain a part of Sheaman but with an expanded area of powers that included: allowing Tedesu to keep their military, removing Sheaman military from Tedesu, allowing Tedesu to write their own state constitution, allowing Tedesu to control certain areas of the Sheaman economy, allowing Tedesu to control welfare, and even certain aspects of trade. After being agreed upon, the Treaty of Tedusian Freedom was signed on the 10th of October 1979 and instantly became active that same day. Some point to the irony of the treaty as only 7 days later, the Capitol Rising took place in Sheaman that replaced the dictatorship/monarchy with a democracy.

## Late Political Career: 1979 - 2000

### Reentry & Early Government Years: 1979 - 1992

After Tedesu reentered Sheaman, no elections took place until the restoration of democracy in Sheaman under the Republican Kingdom of Sheaman. The first election in Tedesu took place on the 1st of May 1980 to elect 200 MTSs and to elect the State President of Tedesu. In the constitution of the State of Tedesu, it was decided that State Senate elections would take place every two years instead of four, the title of Governor would become State President, and that State President Elections would take place every four years. Caddam based this system off of the United States' midterms as he had a fondness of their politics.

The 1980 Tedusian State Election led to TFP winning 93 out 200 seats, PSUP winning 89 seats, and DEMOT winning 18 seats. Since no party had a majority and no party was willing to enter coalition talks, TFP formed a minority government. The governor election saw TFP receive a higher vote count, enough to barely win the election. The government only lasted two years after the 1982 Tedusian State Election saw PSUP win slightly more seats over TFP, leading to PSUP forming a minority government. PSUP also only lasted two years in government and their progressive and left-wing policies that they attempted to or managed to implement were generally disliked by the public, leading to TFP gaining attraction once again. The 1984 State General Election led to Colt Caddam remaining State President as well as leading his party to win a majority government of 103 out 200 seats in the State Senate. Caddam then continued to control the State Senate with a majority for the next three election ins 1986, 1988, and 1990. Caddam also won the 1988 State President Election as well. During Caddam's government's term in office, he introduced Value Added Tax, reduced income and company tax, health and education spending was increased, disability benefits were increased, increased the number of state houses, and denationalized the Tedusian Coal and Tedusian Steel companies.

### Late Government & Formation of STA: 1992 - 1999

The Tedusians for Freedom Party failed to win an outright majority in the 1992 Tedusian State Election because of the newly formed Tedusians for Independence Party that was led by Caddam's son Jean Caddam. Caddam decided to enter into a coalition with the Democracy for Tedesu Party or DEMOT to form a majority. This problem happened once again in the 1994 Tedusian State Election and led to the coalition being retained. The government struggled to pass laws because of the coalition but after having the reform the coalition in 1996 again, the two parties decided to work more closely together to achieve a more similar political position.

Under Colt Caddam and Mathew Harris' lead, the two parties would merge together and become the United Alliance Party of Tedesu. The merger was welcomed by many and the party began setting out their new goals and policies. Caddam and Harris both became co-leaders of the party and agreed that Caddam should remain State President and that Harris would become State Vice President which was a newly created position. The party's new policy on independence was that independence was no longer an option/last option for the party but they still wanted top uphold the special powers that Tedesu had as a state.

Caddam contested the 1998 State Election as co-leader of UAT but failed to win a majority of seats in the State Senate and after failed coalition talks with PSUP, they decided to just form a minority government. The media saw the election defeat for UAT as a bad sign for Tedesu remaining a part of Sheaman but Caddam assured the public that the election was "just a mishap."

### Resignation as State President & Final Year: 1999 - 2000

Caddam developed Parkinson's around two years earlier in 1996 but it had been rapidly deteriorating Caddam and leaving him "crippled" in the eyes of the public. Caddam had become diagnosed with depression in April 1999 after his wife died earlier in the year. This led to the Senate agreeing on a binding referendum that woud determine whether Caddam would remain State President or be forced to resign. The referendum took place in June 1999 and led to 52% of voters agreeing that he should be removed from office and 48% agreeing that he should not be removed from office. Colt Caddam was removed from office on the 19th of September 1999 and was replaced by co-leader of UAT, Mathew Harris, as State President.

Caddam remained as a Senator until the 2000 State Election, after which, he resigned for another person to take his position as Senator.

## Later Years & Death: 2000 - 2003

After resigning as a Senator in the Tedusian State Senate, Caddam spent most of his remaining life in his home in the South Region of Tedesu. He began writing an autobiography about his life in late 2001 which he finished writing in early 2003. Caddam never officially released the book whilst he was alive because he feared both public backlash and as well as believing that his writing skills were not fleshed out.

Colt Caddam died of natural causes on the 9th of August 2003 in his house. His body was discovered after his maid found went to check on him in the afternoon during his afternoon nap to discover him dead.

Many tributes were paid to Colt Caddam including: Prime Minister of Sheaman, Aeron Cobius, Colt Caddam's son, Jean Caddam, First Minister of Shea, Evan Illian, Prime Minister of Dissau Lawrence Ottertail, and Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd.