Magistracy of Leonard Godsforth

The **Magistracy of Leonard Godsforth** began on Beginnings 20, 87;2E, when Godsforth was inaugurated as the seventeenth Magistrate of Southambia, and ended on Beginnings 20, 107;2E. Godsforth took office after the 86;2E Southambian Magistracy Election, the nation's twenty-eighth quinquennial magistracy election, in which he was elected with 44.89% of the vote beating out incumbent Magistrate Zacharias Richmond. He was reelected thrice with 50.39% in the 91;2E Magistracy Election, 53.62% in the 96;2E Magistracy Election, and 53.34% in the 101;2E Magistracy Election, where he beat Édouard Vidal in the former two elections and Philibert Laframboise in the third election.

## Election of 86;2E

*Main Article: 86;2E Southambian Magistracy Election*

With the controversial opinions and actions of then-Magistrate, Zacharias Richmond, Godsforth was seen as an able candidate to oust him in an election. Godsforth had remained as the magistracy candidate of the Populists Party since he founded it in 76;2E. With the establishment of the National Union Coalition in 83;2E, and the entry of the NLPL in 84;2E, Godsforth attracted the vote of the centre-left and centre-right.

In the general election, Godsforth faced off incumbent National Federalist Magistrate Zacharias Richmond. Godsforth promised a national reform and rebuilding from the effects of the civil war and outlined an anti-loyalist policy in several of his speeches. Godsforth ultimately won 124,441 votes, and 44.89% of the total vote, making him the first non-Republican, Socialist, or Independent candidate to be elected since 36;2E when Richard Nickson was elected magistrate as a Nationalist.

## Personnel

Godsforth appointed several influential and powerful men to his cabinet. As with all cabinets since the National Council's establishment, it is composed of members of the Magistrate's party in the National Council. The Magistrate, and Deputy Magistrate are the only members of the cabinet who do not serve as members of the National Council but are instead elected by the people.

## First term

### Domestic Affairs

#### Loyalists

Upon the commencement of Godforth's term in 87;2E, he enacted immediate measures to be used to combat the massive loyalist presence that had exploded under Zacharias Richmond's term. One of several measures enacted was one prohibiting the open expression of political views within the Southambian Army. Godsforth further cracked on Loyalist activities in the major cities. Godsforth has been recognized as one of the strongest, and boldest opponents of the Loyalists since the First Southambian Civil War.

#### Economic Reform

Godsforth economic reform plan set out numerous safety regulations, the shortening of the legal workday and subsequent overtime, and overtime pay, environmental reforms for the newly booming Industry, and stimuli for those severely affected by the First Southambian Civil War.

Upon entering office, he focused on introducing stimuli to those affected by the war, then focusing on safety and environmental regulations. Safety regulations included training programmes, proper lighting, safety railings surrounding equipment, and the prohibition of loose clothing, and long hair. Environmental regulations included the prohibition of industrial activities near important public parks, spaces, residential areas, or national parks, government buildings, and offices.

Following the introduction of regulations, Godsforth introduced a shortened legal workday from 12 hours to 8 hours, and introduced a mandatory overtime pay. Godsforth economic reform plan is recognized as one of the most influential pieces of legislation in recent Southambian history.

#### Education Reform

Godsforth's "Academic Deradicalization Plan" was set out on the National Curriculum about a year into Godsforth's first term. The plan included several anti-loyalist policies, and enacted mandatory lessons on the terror of the First Southambian Civil War, and the actions committed by the Conservative Loyalists. Initially considered a failure, half a year into the introduction of the plan, it would be successful in overturning the radical loyalist thought that was in place for the past 7 years.

Godsforth also introduced legislation placing all academic facilities under the control of the state as public schools with free admission. He also laid out a budget on improving the size, capacity, and materials of schools nationwide. Though resilient on not enforcing the plan in Stotford, the Vasarite government came to a compromise with Godsforth and his government allowing non-Stotfordians to be educated separately from Stotfordians.

#### Political Reform

One of the most influential reforms that Zacharias Richmond had enacted during his term as Magistrate of Southambia was a policy drastically decreasing the size of the National Council from 164 to 107. Several influential policies was the granting of almost total autonomy for Stotford. Upon entering office, Godsforth laid out a plan to increase the size of the Council to 125, and limit some sections of autonomy for Stotford. Godsforth also implemented policies that included an oath of allegiance, and an oath of office, he also introduced the prohibition of bribery, and the punishment of treason by death.

Unlike his policies in education, and the economy, Godsforth is notably more conservative to political reforms, and did not want a drastic change in the judiciary under his term.

#### Dissolution of the National Guard

Initially a Loyalist-controlled branch of the Southambian Army, the Southambian National Guard would grow to become a larger and diverse element of the Army. When Godsforth came to office, and following several terror attacks by the Loyalists, he dissolved the National Guard and subsequently purged the Army of Loyalists. Remnants of the National Guard who were Loyalists came together to form The Answer, a neo-Loyalist terror group rejecting the thought of Richmond (and later Vidal as well). The Stotford National Guard was the sole exception to this as it was considered independent from both the Army, and the Guard, and was kept active to appease to the Vasarites.

### Foreign Affairs

#### Axrorough

During meetings with Axrorough, members of the Kotsaue (Axrorough), and Koryo (Southambia) cultures were employed as translators as both cultures managed to speak almost identical languages. During one meeting, Axroroughian translators mentioned the presence of other delegates not from Southambia. When this information was relayed back to Godsforth, he immediately established an explorer group to look for what he called the "Lost Nations". One of these nations was said to be a theocratic cultist state by Axroroughian translators south of Axrorough.

#### Search for the lost Nations

When Godsforth was told of nations other than Axrorough, he immediately established an explorer group set to finding these "Lost Nations". Though Southambia had known of people living far outside it's borders, specifically tribesmen, Southambia had not considered the possibility of fully organized societies with functioning governments. One nation was said to exist by Axroroughian translators who called it a theocratic cultist state, and that it was extraordinarily isolated, and locked outside from the rest of the world.

## Second Term

### Domestic Affairs

#### Education Nationalization

During his first term, Godsforth began the nationalization of the education system following reforms to it's curriculum. He fully nationalized the system in his second term, and outlawed the establishment of private, or religious schools. The Nationalization of the education system was proven to heavily improve academic scores and results in students, attendance and admission of new students, and those seeking higher education doubled in the first year of nationalization alone. The nationalization of the education system was heavily criticized by the PND/PDP as they saw the nationalization of the system to be a tool of indoctrination of the youth for the values of the National Union Coalition. Despite this criticism, the NUC used the achievement in their campaigns in the 91;2E and 96;2E Southambian Magistracy Elections, and the 91;2E and 96;2E Southambian Council Elections.

#### Final Stimuli

Continuing on with the economic recovery for those heavily effected by the results of the First Southambian Civil War, Godsforth implemented a final stimuli policy. Godsforth's stimulus policies were extraordinarily beneficial to the economy, and those who were given stimuli.

#### The Answer

*Main Article: The Answer*

Though founded in 90;2E, The Answer did not become a prevalent problem until the second inauguration of Leonard Godsforth. Following Godsforth's second inauguration, the attacks by The Answer grew in frequency, and violence between The Answer and supporters of the National Union Coalition became severely violent. As members of The Answer were easy to spot in public during meetings, rallies, or protests, thanks to their concealed clothing, and brandishing of Loyalist flags, detainment and arrests of violent members were made easy.

### Foreign Affairs

#### Colonization

*Main Article: Age of Colonization*

The Age of Colonization is the most significant series of events in Godsforth's second term. This event resulted in the establishment of 3 Colonies: the Kirmouthian Trade Company, dominated by the Astellian people; the Dominion of Kenbeckia, dominated by the Astellian people; and the Dominion of Yeolihul, dominated by the Luari people.

#### Foreign Lands Administration

*Main Article: Foreign Lands Administration*

The Foreign Lands Administration is a federal agency established by Godsforth to administrate the newly-founded Colonies, and to survey land for possible colonization. The FLA also administrates the trading routes and power of the individual colonies, and determines the individual taxation rates for the colonies. It also determines the autonomy of the colonies, giving the most autonomy to Kirmouthia, a powerful trade company.

## Third Term

### Domestic Affairs

#### Confederation Agreement

*Main Article: Confederation Agreement*

The Confederation Agreement was established in 95;2E by Braston, Heyleswest, and Stapton to work against the Southambian Government. The Agreement is a separatist organization, whose original goal was the peaceful separation of the Southeastern provinces from the rest of Southambia, citing an "overtly-socialist society unfit for traditional living standards". The Resolution Movement, won the 1st Confederal Diet election against the more fierce, Sovereignty Movement. The Resolution Movement was significantly more friendly to the Southambian Government, and sought resolution through the establishment of high autonomy for the 3 provinces, whereas the Sovereignty Movement sought for total independence of the Southeastern provinces. The Resolution Movement was significantly more supported by the Agreement's population, but was couped by Audun Holmgavtsson and his Sovereignty Movement, following the 96;2E Southambian Magistracy Election, where Leonard Godsforth was reelected.

Audun established the Interim Diet, and the Central Confederal Committee to govern the Agreement following the election, and on Endings 23, 96;2E, Audun declared Independence from Southambia. This was mistaken by the Agreement's militias as a declaration of war, and thus kicked off the Second Southambian Civil War. The Interim Diet and the CCC were in office for 42 days, before being replaced by the 2nd Diet, and the National Separation Movement.

#### The Vasarites

Godsforth has taken a lenient approach to Stotfordian autonomy, and the Vasarite government. Though resentful of the Vasarite government's treatment towards non-Stotfordians, Godsforth has adopted a "No-Interference Policy" with Stotford, ensuring that no rights are stripped from the Stotfordian Government in return for total allegiance to the Southambian Government. Likewise, Stotford has pledged it's National Guard to protecting Southambia during times of war, or crisis in return for no cutbacks on Stotfordian autonomy.

The Vasarites would end up assisting Godsforth in the Second Southambian Civil War.

### Second Civil War

*Main Article: Second Southambian Civil War*

## List of international trips

Godsforth has made several trips to Axrorough and Southambian colonies since the commencement of his term in 87;2E.

## Notes & References

1. ↑ The Ministry was led by a group of Councilors who were qualified Economists.