United Islands of Aquavia

Flag of the United Islands of Aquavia

Map of the United Islands of Aquavia

**The United Islands of Aquavia** is country located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean with no other nation to border it. It is a small nation with five islands close together, each of them being considered states (similar to the concept of states within the USA). Each of the states within the United Islands has their own government that is subordinate to the United Islands federal government. The United Islands of Aquavia is considered a **constitutional republic** and a **representative democracy**.

## Discovery of the Islands

* **1898** - The five islands: Tidalion, Navaquia, Nautica, Marinia, and Coralium are discovered in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. Both the United States and the United Kingdom claim to have been first in discovering the islands, leading to tension over who has ownership of the islands.
* **1899** - Early in 1899, the United States declares all five islands United States territories. The United Kingdom heavily disputes this declaration, which puts a strain on the long-time diplomatic relationship between the UK and the US.
* **1901** - Early in 1901, the United Kingdom passes a parliamentary resolution rejecting the United States' claim over the five islands, and furthermore declaring the five islands to be under United Kingdom control. This results in both nations rejecting their previously long-standing alliance, and marks the start of hostilities over the five islands.

## **Atlantic Sovereignty Conflict**

* **1902** - The United States declares war on the United Kingdom over the five islands. The war takes place on the five islands themselves, with most United Kingdom troops centered in Coralium and Marinia, and most United States troops centered in Tidalion, Navaquia, and Nautica. The Atlantic Sovereignty War of 1902 began between the United States and the United Kingdom.
* **1906** - With the increased geopolitical and international tensions on both sides to resolve the conflict, both nations agree to form a joint-administration to govern over the five islands, with the United States taking primary control of Tidalion, Nautica, and Navaquia... and the United Kingdom taking primary control of Marinia and Coralium. Relations between the US and UK remain tense.
* **1914** - With the increased international conflicts and the time leading up to **World War I**, the joint-administration is abolished, and both nations sign the Atlantic Islands Independence Treaty of 1914, resulting in the cease of ownership by both sides and the independence of the five islands from both the US and UK. This marked the steady revival of alliance between the US and UK.

## **Independence & Unionization**

* **1914** - Following their independence, each of the five islands begin to form their own governments, with a vibrant culture forming in the islands. All five islands were closely allied, and shared the similar interest in democracy and the similar joy in independence.
* **1918** - All five islands, with overwhelming support in each of them, signed the United Islands Proclamation of 1918, effectively forming a union and nation of the five islands - each of them now being considered states. The nation, per the agreement, was named the ****United Islands of Aquavia****. Upon formation, the Constitution of the United Islands of Aquavia was established. This all occurred on January 1, 1918.

## **From Then to Now**

* **1918 Cont.** - Elections were very short, and were held on January 15, 1918. Inauguration of the President occurred on January 20, 1918, which marks the Inauguration date for all future Presidents. During the 20 days without a President, the state governments remained intact and operational. The **First President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, Oliver Mariner, was sworn in on January 20, 1918. With the Constitution at the time, presidential terms were an astonishing 20 years.
* **1937** - Elections for the 1938 Presidency occur. Elections lasted throughout November 1937, and the results were announced in December 1937.
* **1938** - The **Second President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, Clement Mariner, was sworn into office. Clement was the son of Oliver Mariner, the First President. The 20-year term length was still active.
* **1939** -
	+ **World War II** begins. The United Islands of Aquavia, due to their lack of strength, remains largely absent from the war.
	+ President Clement Mariner is **assassinated** on September 2, 1939. Without any mention of a line of succession in the Aquavian Constitution, the status of the Presidency was left unclear. However, Vice President Evan Gillian took on an acting role after a Senate resolution was passed that allowed the Vice President at the time to take on an acting role of President until the next President was elected. Gillian ran for President, and was elected in November 1939 to be the Third President of the United Islands of Aquavia.
* **1940** -
	+ The **Third President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, Evan Gillian, was sworn in on January 20, 1940.
	+ During the term of the Third President, the **First Amendment** to the Constitution of the United Islands of Aquavia was ratified, establishing the line of succession. This established the rule that if a President were to die, be impeached, or resign, the Vice President would assume the presidency for the remainder of the term. It also established a further line of succession for if the Vice President were to also die.
* **1941** - **The Holocaust** begins. The United Islands of Aquavia, like the remainder of the world war, remained absent. However, similar to the United States, the United Islands of Aquavia welcomed in refugees who escaped Nazi Germany, and ended up welcoming in 18,530 individuals, most of them Jews, who were escaping Nazi Germany.
* **1959** - Elections for the 1960 Presidency occur. Elections lasted throughout November 1959, and Vice President Austin Lander is elected to be the Fourth President.
* **1960** - The **Fourth President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, Austin Lander, was sworn into office on January 20, 1960. Lander becomes the first individual born in the United Kingdom to become President of Aquavia.
* **1967** -
	+ President Austin Lander resigns on March 5, 1967 out of protest to the 20-year term that was active at the time, saying that he believes it is more fair and just for smaller terms to occur so that Aquavians can more actively partake in the government. The Vice President, per the first amendment line of succession, takes over as President.
	+ The **Second Amendment** to the Constitution of the United Islands of Aquavia is passed on April 10, 1967 to lower the presidential terms to 4 years each, allowing 2 terms maximum to be served.
	+ Due to Lander's resignation, Vice President Norman Arden assumed the presidency due to the line of succession outlined in the First Amendment. Arden served the remaining ~9 months of the Lander's term.
	+ Elections are held for the 1968 Presidency. They last throughout November 1967, and the President Norman Arden is re-elected, continuing to serve as the President for 8 years.
* **1968** - The **Fifth President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, Norman Arden, is sworn in a second time, and serves 4 years for his first term after succeeding to the presidency for 9 months.
* **1971** - Elections for the 1972 presidency occur. Elections lasted throughout November 1971, and the results were announced in December 1971. The Fifth President had won a second term.
* **1972** - The Fifth President is the **first to have two inaugurations**. On January 20, 1972, he is sworn in a third time (the first after succeeding, and the second after being elected, and the third being for his re-election). He serves 4 more years as President.
* **1975** - Elections for the 1976 presidency occur. Elections lasted throughout November 1976, and the results were announced in December 1976.
* **1976** - The **Sixth President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, Samuel Charles, is sworn in, and serves 4 years for his first term. Charles was the first member of the Progressive Party to serve as President, and the first President to have **not** been Vice President beforehand.
* **1979** - Elections for the 1980 presidency occur. Elections lasted throughout November 1979, and the results were announced in December 1979. President Samuel Charles had won a second term.
* **1980** - Charles undergoes his second inauguration. On January 20th, 1972, he is sworn in a second time. He serves 4 more years as President.
* **1983** - Elections for the 1984 presidency occur. Elections lasted throughout November 1983, and the results were announced in December 1983. Dr. Ocean Waveshore won the presidency, becoming the first physician and doctor to become President.
* **1984** - The **Seventh President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, Dr. Ocean Waveshore, is elected.

## Map & Regions

There are **five** islands, each of which are considered states, within the United Islands of Aquavia. The District of Wavehaven is connected to Nautica, but is considered an independent location serving as the capital of the United Islands of Aquavia.

**You can read more about each state here:**

* State of Tidalion
* State of Coralium
* State of Navaquia
* State of Nautica
* State of Marinia