Second American Civil War

## Stirrings(1921-1930)

In the Aftermath of the Weltkrieg, the United States began a long descent into barbarism. The events that occurred within this time are numerous, and below are only a few of the many major incidents that would come to pass.

The Battle of Blair Mountain, the Seattle general strike, and the ascendance of revolutionary Jack Reed (hot off his observation of the French revolution) to prominence in the socialist party would provide subtle cracks in the roaring 20's facade, but it's illusion would mostly remain intact.

It would not be until April 20th, 1925 that the false American prosperity would come to a screeching halt. Faced with unpaid wartime debts, the destruction of American trade partners, and German hegemony in European markets The New York stock exchange crashed.

Socialist growth would explode as the depression would intensify, as would the draw of Huey Long's unique brand of southern populism (Its dictatorial methods inspired by Long's impeachment over an imposed oil tax). Huey Long becomes a beloved senator.

The reelection of President Hoover by the house of representatives in 1932 would cement this decline. It was perhaps the most contentious election in United States History so far.

By 1936 Black Monday had arrived. The already cruel depression turned into a stark black nightmare. As socialists gained elected seats around the country alongside the AFP, political violence gripped the nation. The 1936 election loomed.

## The Road to War (1936-1941)

   Despite the Socialist party mostly underestimating its chances of success in the 1936 election, many within the status quo watched the campaign of Jack Reed with bated breath. As the past campaigns of Eugene Debs, as well as the election of many socialist senators had shown, revolutionary socialism was rapidly gaining appeal within the United States. Prominent Republicans and Democrats feared an outcome similar to that of France or Britain, and so attempts were made to unite the center in a "National-Unity Party". However, the effort was hampered by Southern Democrats and uncooperative Liberal Republicans.

With few options remaining many turned their hopes to the Garner-Wagner bill. This became viable when President Hoover wisely indicated he would no longer veto it. Despite this, its passage narrowly failed. Riots broke out across the nation. The government had systematically failed in every conceivable measure to contain the depression and most Americans felt intense alienation.

Faced with desperation, the establishment hoped a shot of Southern Populism might be enough to calm the situation down. Backroom deals were crafted over a period of months, and the Republicans and Democrats unofficially backed Huey Long. While there was no official alliance little campaigning occurred in AFP states or for status quo presidential candidates. In exchange, Huey gave up a number of cabinet positions to moderate Democrats and Republicans, as well as the Vice presidency. Thus, Huey Long narrowly secured the 1936 presidential election, promising an end to the economic turmoil and the radical anti-Americanism of the SPA.

However, the establishment's gamble would prove foolish. A gulf soon developed between the president and his own ministers. Long's radical ambitions and disregard for the constitution infuriated his subordinates, who chafed hard against his paternal attitude towards administration.Long began to truly stoke the fires of outrage when he attempted to ban the IWW via an executive order, declaring it a "Seditious organization". Riots occurred across the Red Belt, and many socialist governors and senators openly challenged "King Long's edicts."

In response, the National Guard was deployed to contain many overzealous and abortive revolutionary actions. The president proved entirely unable to contain the situation, and after much partisan violence, the supreme court declared the order unconstitutional despite Long's best efforts. After this spectacle, many within the establishment lose faith in the AFP's ability to actually control the Reds, while the presidents supporters rail against the supreme court for allowing radicals to roam free.
The final blow to Long’s tenuous alliance with the moderates comes when he attempts to nationalize the Bank of America to give aid to farmers. When this effort is blocked by a joint SPA-moderate vote, Long retaliates, dismissing all the most his cabinet and staffing it with AFP loyalists, ending any remaining semblance of a coalition. Amidst the crisis of the Right, Jack Reed and the SPA pulled together a coalition of left wing groups in preparation for the upcoming election being. Thus,the Socialist Party, Farmer-Labour Party, a portion of the Progressive Party and the infamous sectarian Socialist Labor Party began to rally.

As the 1940 election approached, the establishment tried one last gamble to save the Republic, fielding a joint Republican-Democrat progressive candidate. However, this was to no avail.The election saw the votes split between the right parties, while the progressives have abandoned the Dem-Rep to find refuge in the SPA camp over long years of falling. Jack Reed is thus elected president of the United States in the most violent and chaotic election in its entire history.

Reed would stride into office with promises of extensive social democratic reforms and promises to end the crisis that wall street had caused. However, much like Long before him, almost all his attempts were blocked on the floor of congress. The establishment resisted Reed at every turn, and newspapers openly called for the president's removal. Finally, only months into his administration, before executive orders could even be brandished, that fateful day struck.

On March second, General Douglas MacArthur sprung into action a plan dormant since the Hoover administration. As Coxey's army did once before, armed men marched once again on Washington. The public watched in horror and fascination, as the Military headed for the white house to depose the president for "Treason" and the "French nightmare."

    While surprised, the President had predicted that the forces of capital might suspend their pretenses of democracy, should the SPA gain significant sway. Therefore, a plan of his own was sprung into action, and Reed escaped into Chicago with the help of Red Guard Paramilitaries.

A rival "Provisional revolutionary government of America" was quickly established to oppose MacArthur's coup and "warlordism". MacArthur, from the seat of American power, took immediate action.

On March 5th, 1940, the general demanded that Reed and his socialist cartel cease all “illegal” activity of the PRG and surrender himself or suffer the consequences. Meanwhile Chicago, having been entirely under Socialist control over 8 years of governorship, mobilized swiftly. The police and national guard were disarmed, and arms redistributed the mass of volunteers ready to defend the rightful president.

The very next day, two infantry regiments and one marine regiment entered the City. Their operation looked grim. Union men took to derailing trains, cutting all lines of communication, and refusing to supply the invading army. Soon however, it would fail entirely. The first marine regiment, more sympathetic then its command realized, would revolt. All it's top officers were arrested by a conspiracy within the rank and file, and the remnants of the Regiment would declare themselves on the side of the legitimate president and the American people.

The stranded regiments had nothing left to do but to surrender. Their arms were redistributed across the General Defense Committees (GDCs) - the core militia of the leftist coalition. With now most of the north west in open rebellion with cities and police everywhere disarmed by the growing GDCs, it was designated rebel territory. MacArthur took command of loyal US Armed Forces.

    It was in the fallout of these events Huey Long would give yet another infamous speech. He demanded that MacArthur step down and be hanged for treason, as well as announcing the formation of a Union Government of the United States, or commonly the American Union State. It had three stated missions; to crush the Reds and "Military Thugs", restore order, and reform the country around new ideals.

With most of the government of the United States in total disarray and split to multiple warring factions. A coalition of governors in the pacific states declared the formation of the Pacific States Provisional Government and mobilized the armed forces to protect the west from the potential threats in the pacific northwest, as well as to oppose the tyrant MacArthur.

The second American Civil War, a multi faceted calamity, had begun.

## Untold devastation(1940-1949)

### 1941

After a period of calm, seizures of state counties and capitals began in earnest. This marked the true start of the war, though its front-lines were not clearly defined. Terrified of a Red United States directly to their south the Canadian government under the revanchist Edward began a program of indiscriminate aid to all factions fighting the PRG. They hoped to encourage a united front against them.

On August 12th PRG militia forces attacked the Federal held St. Louis in an attempt to support socialist rebels there and take control of the Mississippi River. This would be the first of many battles for the city. Despite fervor, the green and unorganized PRG forces are easily repelled. While this defeat was upsetting, it was overshadowed by success elsewhere. The PRG had quickly overrun the cut off national guard units in New England and seized the entire region.

Those successes drove the Canadian government into a frenzy. After citing letters from the governor of New York petitioning for aid King Edward moved the government to declare war upon the PRG. In doing so Edward hoped to destroy the threat before it had fully mobilized its industrial potential, as well as halt the increasing Socialist and Quebecois Agitation at home.

The Canadian Gambit was initially very successful and took back several states. These states were swiftly formed into a New England Provisional Government in the interest of legitimacy. However, the Canadians were halted at New York City itself. The fighting died down on both sides for different reasons.

The PRG now found itself forced into a multi-front struggle, and many in Chicago worried the future was grim even if the industrial might of the nation lay in their hands.

### 1942

Supreme Commander of the PRG Army Smedley Butler, as well as the revolutionary Marine Regiment, had been attempting to organize the various ad-hoc militias and disparate loyal units into a professional fighting force. They were successful in this endeavor, and in 1942 it began to bear fruit.

    The new "Revolutionary Armed Forces" of the PRG would get it's trial by fire that year with "Operation White Sun", a maneuver designed to retake DC and boost the legitimacy of the president. The AUS government had been drafting a similar plan for similar reasons.

Both AUS and PRG forces converged on the desperate defenders of Maryland. Vicious fighting gripped the state, but eventually, PRG forces triumphed on November 5th. This was a devastating blow to the morale of white forces nationwide. The symbolic return of the "rightful president" to the white house signified the real possibility of a PRG victory to many.

Leftist activity and agitation in the traditional labor powerful state of Washington intensified in the aftermath of the D.C victory, having been suppressed originally in 1940. With the realization of such an important milestone and the help of trained operatives of the PRG a massive insurrection broke out in Seattle.

The Seattle Revolutionary Committee overpowered the police and initiated additional mass revolts within the surrounding area creating what is historically referred to as the Republic of Seattle. This also happened along with several other smaller riots, general strikes, and uprisings across the Pacific States, later revealed to be coordinated by the PRG's Military Revolutionary Committee of the West.  The Pacific government panicked and mobilized to crush the rebels.

Meanwhile, AUS forces were shellshocked by the fall of Washington. In New Orleans, many debated the real possibility of a socialist victory, and the end of the United States as they knew it. Thus, negotiations started with the National Salvation Junta of MacArthur. Macarthur gladly accepted the outcome of these talks, which came to conclude with the formation of a unified coalition civilian government to direct efforts against the socialists.

The PSA however, refused to move their troops east to join these efforts, especially when their own security was being compromised by the Washington rebels. In addition, allying with the Tyrant who started the whole damned mess was still an untenable proposition.

As 1942 neared a close Pacific forces found themselves still embroiled in a war for the northwest. While most of the Seattle area itself had been pacified, as had the broader state of Washington, guerrillas continued to harass national guard patrols in the Puget sound, forests, and many surrounding hills. Using the the terrain they were able to inflict horrific losses against PSA forces.

1942 also saw the Second Battle of St.Louis. Forces under the fresh General Oliver Law fought valiantly but were once again repelled. While much was learned from this engagement, the city was heavily damaged and General Law would be criticized by Butler for allowing this defeat.

The final development of the eventful year was shocking to all sides. Canada suddenly collapsed into a civil war of its own! Crippling draft riots in Quebec, frequent spillover violence on their borders, and radical socialist agitation in the cities were likely to blame. In the ensuing chaos, the Trans-Canadian rail lines between the East and West were heavily damaged. This development was a deathblow, trapping large amounts of Canadian loyalist forces in Vancouver.

### 1943

Pacific states forces finally put down the stubborn Seattle Communard resistance as part of Operation Wild Rose. The resulting white terror was horrific, an it remained a rallying cry for Socialist forces throughout the war.

A mutiny developed amongst the Longist forces gripped the now-demolished city of Saint Louis. This mutiny would spiral into an outright battle, marking the third Battle of Saint Louis. The conspirators were defeated but not before causing further damage to the city, which is steadily gaining an infamous wartime reputation as a hellscape.

### 1944

On October 11th General Douglas MacArthur was killed unceremoniously by a rouge artillery shell that hit his command center in Kentucky. The fall of the tyrant inspired a wave of joy across PRG territory, while within white forces his destruction meant chaos. General Eisenhower assumed control of the Junta and assured Huey Long personally of his continued commitment to their alliance.

On December 24th the PRG began what would become known as the 1944 General Offensive and Uprising (GOU). PRG forces launched a massive offensive on all fronts that pushed the US troops out of Kentucky and further down south. Progress is swift towards New Orleans.

The fourth and deadliest battle in the Ruins of St.Louis occurs as part of the GOU. By the battle's end, the city center has switched hands a dozen times and it effectively has been razed to the ground. PRG forces were finally victorious, but the costs were incalculable. This is considered a definitive turning point in the war and much postwar entertainment media will focus on this battle.

### 1945

In an action reminding many of the Anaconda plans from the first civil war, the PRG Army launched a GOU offensive known as "Operation First of Arkansas". The objective was to cut southern white forces in half and reach the sea. This operation was aided by increasing industrial productivity within the red belt as well as a now more competent cabal of commanding officers.

### 1946-1947

The GOU continues its unrelenting march using newly produced tanks and armored cars to smash through the Georgian countryside. Their attacks were done in coordination with the Atlanta Red Guards, who liberated the State Capitol themselves in the process.

After the fall of Atlanta, April 6th brings the "Second Phase of the GOU". This phase began with "Operation Daring One." Defenses were severed in the Southern US and AUS pockets started to crumble one by one. Tens of thousands of troops were encircled. New Orleans fell a month later, with notable casualties including silver-legion sympathetic General George Van Horn Moseley. Huey Long and the units loyal to him are forced to flee into West Texas. William Dudley Pelley and his Silver legion flee as well. These Texan forces will attempt to hold the line, as will the now cut off defenders of Southern Florida.

The Total collapse of the Southern Front and the crushing of the Republic of Seattle by PSA forces had changed sentiments. The PSA government was finally read to act and joined with the Macarthur-Longist government on its own accord.

While 1946 started in a state of euphoria for Red forces, it would quickly take a turn. Not only did the mobilization of the PSA damage the war effort, but so too did the actions of the government in Chicago.

In September the PRG passed the Constitutional Bill of 1947 in their own House of Representatives. This bill would officially created the “Socialist Republic of America”, spelling the final end of the United States. President Reed believed that with PRG victory seeming apparent, the time had come to fully complete the social revolution.

This act was cataclysmic in unforeseen ways, and mass disillusionment occurred among less-revolutionary parts of PRG forces. Until now, much of the professional units that comprised the army had remained loyal under the belief that they were serving the rightful president of the United States, as well as the constitution. These individuals had long chafed under the increasingly Socialist nature of the government but had endured until now. The straw had broken the camel's back.

A conspiracy began to develop on multiple levels of the PRG Army. Led by General Joseph Stilwell, they intended to seize control of the military.

This conspiracy was unpopular amongst the rank and file and many junior officers. Despite this, however, it would still be executed. In what would come to be known as "Stillwell's Mutiny", a total of nine divisions (two armies, the 9th and 12th) of the PRG revolted. Four of these divisions had been stationed in the midwest and were only somewhat successful. The 26th infantry, however, who had been fighting in Northern Texas, managed to take full control of the region. Another division of this mutiny was in Florida at the time, fighting white forces there, and managed to merge with them . Dual anti-socialist footholds had been established.

Soon following his plot, Stillwell offered to assist the other whites forces on the condition that they restore the United States government. Only a portion of the white government was opposed to that endeavor, and they were in no position to refuse. This arrangement was accepted quickly.

Huey Long and General Walter Bedell Smith (representing the Eisenhower junta) met with the Pacific States Governors in Sacramento. Here they formed a joint agreement known as the "Act of Emergency Government and Powers." Thus the unity of the white forces was officially and permanently cemented. The coalition government had evolved into a new formal government of the United States of America. The capital was hosted in Sacramento until the reclamation of America might be victorious.

Thomas Dewey was elected by the reorganized US Senate as the first President of the New United States.

As the combined military forces of the anti-Socialist coalition united t last, a stable frontline was achieved. US high command believed counter-offense was possible. Thus, operations were drafted to retake the lost territories in the midwest plains and to relieve the still barely existent Southern Front. The New Year Offensive or more officially "Operation Takoma" was begun by US forces.

SRA soldiers began to bear the brunt of the American attack and were forced into a massive retreat. While Young western soldiers lacked experience, they were fresh and fully equipped by the relatively unscathed industrial power of the West Coast. This reality was in stark contrast to the exhausted and now battered SRA forces.

### 1948

Operation Takhoma had reached as far as western Kansas and Louisiana by 1948. In addition, naval operations were underway in Florida.

However, like the Reds, the US front was overextended. The massive endeavor of reuniting the country meant had begun to make the resources of the West dry up. Slow PRG gains forced the offense to withdraw to a secondary line. Operation Takhoma had regained some territory but failed in its objective to rescue the Southern Front and the Florida Pocket.

Admiral William D. Leahy came to command the last of the trapped forces in the South Florida Campaign following the death of Joseph Stillwell. Leahy was an intelligent man and realized the hopelessness of the situation there. In light of this realization, he organized mass evacuations in Miami. As for where these evacuees would go, the nationalist revolution in Puerto Rico had made any attempt at relocating naval forces there impossible. so another option had to be considered.

Leahy himself was a man of divided loyalties, and he was no Stilwell. He strongly believed in the Democratic process, and while it was true that the Western government called itself the United States he held extensive doubts regarding its Frankenstein nature. After all, this government was sheltering seditious individuals like Pelley, Long, and Eisenhower.

The Admiral came to the harrowing conclusion that neither side could call itself truly democratic or legitimate. As the evacuation commenced, he decided to stay true to what he believed was right. The Evacuation party set course for East Texas, which was still held by the 26th Infantry Division and some civilian allies following Stillwell's original mutiny.

The US Government In Sacramento ordered the Admiral to return, yet their calls would fall on deaf ears.

1948 ended with a bold, or depending on who you ask, foolish order by SRA command in Chicago; stage three of the GOU. It was a final push to retake the territory seized by Operation Takoma. Such aspirations were dashed by US troops, owever, who while not advancing had managed to dig in across the Rocky Mountains and West Texas. SRA forces were also unable to put down the mutineers in the East of the Lone Star State, much to their frustration. The war had stagnated on both sides and was beginning to become untenable politically. While it was unthinkable to leave the North American continent in such a divided state, the people and the soldiers on all sides were beyond exhausted.

The bloody, fruitless fighting would last for the next year.

## Ceasefire and Armistice (1949)

A final attempt was made by PRG forces to use the Trans-Canadian railway alongside the new Canadian socialist government, to break the stalemate. However this failed when White Canadians in tandem with the RAF razed it to the ground. While the network was already damaged during the Canadian revolution, this effectively destroyed it, and separated Canada into two for the foreseeable future.

As the reds dug in to defend their territory, various attempts by the US forces too came to failure. The stalemate would last for half a year, with a few meters of frontline gained on each assault in exchange for thousands of casualties.

The conclusion that a ceasefire and Armistice would be in their best interests of both sides gradually dawned. This made sense for the West given the depleted status of the economy since the beginning of the civil war and the Second Great War in Europe. In the East, the reasons were numerous and obvious.

Even if production had climbed during the war, the red belt industrial heartland was heavily destroyed in the initial revolution and most cities were now unrecognizable from battle, uncontrolled fires, and air bombings. Nearly 5 million soldiers had died militarily and still unknown amounts of civilian refugees were missing and presumed dead. The fervour of 1941 had been replaced with soft crying, and a seething hatred for the white forces who had performed such cruel scorched earth tactics in their retreat. This level of carnage meant that alongside reconstruction, the SRA was also contending with massive counter-revolutionary insurgency mostly concentrated in its southern possessions. Life in the east was categorised by extensive rationing and desperation. A reprieve needed to happen, and soon.

The “Dewey Plan” for peace was drafted and passed in the (Western) US Senate, despite small but strong opposition from Longist and Eisenhower aligned representatives. This would set the status quo of Pacific Civilian Dominance in the new nation, which relieved the many critics of Eisenhower and infuriated the Longists, who had lost 90% of their home territory and were now forced to act as a minority pressure group in the larger government. Huey long himself resigned from public life, delegating command of the faction to his Brother Earl.

In Chicago, Jack Reed finally passed away from illness surrounded by family and friends. According to his wife, Louise Bryant, his last days were spent pleading for an end to the "Intolerable destruction" and for a truly “Libertarian” government for the American people. William Z. Foster took office in his stead, intending to fulfill this wish and announcing in a strong declaration that he would secure peace by any means

Minor protests composed of some militiamen rocked the Chamber of Representatives in Chicago briefly, but were dispersed. After Two weeks of debate Chicago concluded they would accept a modified version of the Dewey Plan. Formal Negotiations began in Denver soon after. All the while, last minute battles and petty acts of revenge still raged on across the front.

An Armistice was finally agreed to on the 30th of December. Its effect was felt the next day across the continent. The “New Years Peace'' was the title widely employed in place of its official name; the “Agreement on the Cessation of Hostility and Exchange of Prisoners-of-War in the North American Continent”.

With peace,at last, reconstruction plans were fast-tracked. The Socialist Reconstruction Plan (SRL) drafted by Foster, forced its way through the Chambers. A similar, though much smaller plan was adopted in sacramento.

Speaking to the media, Foster would utter his infamous quotation. “ We cannot build socialism between ruins and corpses” would become a mantra repeated by many.

Finally, it was over. Until the armistice’s inevitable demise, the people would rest.