The Age of Imperialism

[Scott F]

Berlin, February 5, 1885:
Today the Reichstag voted on the annual Army Bill, which would have increased Army funding, total Army size, and would have lengthened the period of conscription. Unfortunately, the Reichstag did not pass the new Army Bill. No response has been received yet from the Office of the Chancellor though it is doubtful that the Iron Chancellor was pleased by this development.

In other news, the Foreign Office has issued a statement saying that the German Empire will be considering giving aid to the Boer Republics. The exact nature of the aid that is being considered has not been released.

Berlin, February 17, 1885:
Chancellor Bismarck has dissolved the Reichstag and has ordered new elections. A statement released by the Chancellor's office read:

quote: Never have I seen such treason in the Reichstag before. I hope never to see it again. Any Reichstag deputy who would vote against an Army Bill now, when France is again threatening and may gain a hostile government is almost certainly an enemy of the Empire. I call on all true Germans, all true loyal Germans, to do the right thing and to elect Reichstag deputies who will place the good of the German Empire ahead of their petty and shortsighted political goals and ambitions.

Berlin, February 25, 1885:
The Reichstag campaign is in full swing. At the present time, it appears that the supporters of Bismarck will be triumphant.

Berlin, February 27, 1885:
The Naval Secretary has ordered the construction of a squadron of six armored cruisers.

Dispatches from the Foreign Office:

To Japan:
We cannot commit ourselves at the present time to so worthy an endeavor.

To the Boer Republics:
We will be able to aid you, in exchange for certain guarantees.

To Britain:
We propose an alliance between our two empires.

[Scott F]

Actually, Napoleon III gets kicked out of France in 1871, when he loses the Franco-Prussian War and is captured by Prussian soldiers while trying to commit suicide to avoid the dishonor of defeat.

[gscott23x3]

Edited...now on page2!!
[This message has been edited by gscott23x3 (edited April 23, 2000).]

[Bearcat]

KING OSCAR STRICKEN TO HIS BED

The nation of Sweden is in mourning today. King Oscar II has been stricken to his bed with a mysterious disease that our doctors cannot seem to find a cure for. Although he is still healthy the doctors believe that soon he will be wasting away to bare bone. Sweden has asked all other nations to mourn for the ill monarch who is most certainly on his death bed.

OOC - Scott, Norway was ceded to Sweden after the Napoleonic Wars and stayed with Sweden until 1905. So please make Norway Swedish.

Immigration Freedom Act Passed!

Today, the United States passed the Immigration Freedom Act, which terminated all reestrictions on immigrants coming to the United States. Though many are worried this may work as to sever to the racial purity of the US, President James Dragon, who signed the bill yesterday, claimed that by allowing free immigration to the United States, it will only strengthen the US as a whole, building up the economy and providing potential soldiers for wartime.

[Swonga]

I'll be the ottoman empire.

[Bolo]

Several months later

Moscow Star

Election Results

Truly today is a momentous day in the new Russian Democratic Union, with the very first election results coming in. The parties all brand new are listed as the following:
Monarchist Party
Social Conservative Party
Social Democratic Party
Socialist Party
Communist Party
These were the only five parties to register before the election and Interem President Bolo was quite pleased at the how many decided to register. It had taken quite a bit of money to reach the farthest out area's of Russia. Interem President Bolo was quoted as saying. "I'm looking forward to when the Trans-Siberian railroad will be completed and that way it will be much easier to communicate with the Eastern portions of the Union." The words of the interem President are correct the completion of the railroad will make Eastern Russia a much more accessible area.
Russia's system of democratic government is similar to the British in that it is a Constitutional Monarchy with two houses a Duma and a Senate, there will be no House of Lords. The Czarina's power will be limited to what the Queen of England can do, she is a symbol of the past, and her power will also be just that, symbolic.
The results are coming in:

Duma Results

Monarchist Party: 11%
Social Democratic Party: 44%
Social Conservatives: 31%
Socialists: 10%
Communists: 4%

It looks like the Social Democrats will form a majority as they captured the majority of the seats in the Duma.

Senate Results

Monarchist Party: 4%
Social Democratic Party: 51%
Social Conservatives: 34%
Socialists: 9%
Communists: 2%

So President Bolo's Social Democratic party has emerged victorious and he will be the First President of the Russian Democratic Union.
[This message has been edited by Bolo (edited April 19, 2000).]

And by the way:
To ALL EUROPEAN NATIONS:
The Argentine food market is open. We can negotiate exports of frozen meat to feed your poor!

20,000 Troops cross the River Plate and overrun Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento!
Yesterday, Gral Roca issued the invasion of Uruguay.
They seceded from us 75 years ago and we plan to take them back!
Meanwhile, reports say that the decimated remnants of the Uruguayan Armed forces has taken to the hills around both cities.
Meanwhile, the cities are being fortified with artillery.

Argentinian president has announced that the port of Buenos Aires is open to all Immigrants!
After a successful campaign against the Araucanos, Gral Roca has announced that there is free land in Argentina for immigrants to claim!

New Coal mines open in Rio Turbio!
Output will almost double budget!
Come and get your coal! We sell it at half the price Germany does!

And Argentina has about 100,000 battle ready veteran cavalry armed with Remington Rifles from the Campaña del Desierto commanded by Julio Argentino Roca.

OOC: I'll post more on Monday!

[Spartan187]

OOC:uhh...Coug I already claimed the Boer Republics...sorry

IC:President Linder has ordered Oranian troops into Zululand today, hoping to gain coast for the nation. Linder has announced that after his conquest is complete he will relocate the Zulus to land north of Orania.
The Battle of Mbabane
Although this region is not populated by ethnic Zulus, the Zulus took it upon themselves to defend it all the same.
The Zulus commited a good deal of their forces to defending the town, and that was their first mistake.
Oranian forces had nearly all their artillery with them and used it to great effect against the native warriors. The elite Oranians then set out to harass the flanks of the Zulu troops, and harass they did. The Zulus were forced to withdraw troops from the center of their line, and once they did this, a huge charge by the Afrikaners was begun against the Zulu center.
Although the Oranians took heavy losses, once they were within rifle range the Zulus began to drop like flies. The Oranians were under strict orders to not get within range of the Zulus spears, and this they did fairly well.
After several hours of fierce fighting, the Zulus who survived broke and run. The path to the coast was open to Orania, and the Oranians followed.
Oranian soldiers have begun rounding up the Zulus and deporting them to Bechuanaland, although this will not be complete for some time. Small-scale resistance is still occuring in some areas, but in most the Zulus have been defeated.
OOC:I now control the area between Orania and the coast, although there is a small amount of resistance which will be wiped out in time.

President Linder has signed a new immigration law, allowing unlimited immigrants from Western Europe, the United States, and Canada. He has also increased the number of immigrants allowed in from Eastern Europe, "stating only whites can truly become Oranians, can truly become loyal to Orania. A Russian is as white as a German."

Secret to Germany
As you have probably noticed, the state of Orania is ideally located to prevent British expansion in South Africa. We beleive that would help your nation very much. However, our nation could withstand a full-fledged British campaign against us. It would be a great help to us if you could provide our nation with modern weaponry and send us German engineers to help us set up our own factories. We would also like to propose a an alliance between our two states. We thank you very much in advance.

[JT3]

Austria-Hungary. I think it is still a monarchy, correct?

[Napoleon Bonaparte]

OOC: Lets see...

IC:

French Elections enter final phase

The full elections are to be started in several months and the two candidates left are walking Paris, Lyon, and Marseille recruiting their votes. Here is a run-down of the candidates:

Lefvebre D'Ginot - A young man of 37 from the city of Lyon. He plans to nationalize much of the nation's factories and wishes to make France both a strong industrial power and a strong agricultural power.

Marion D'Leferin - This man is a zealot to many people in France and is a respected statesmen around the continent. His age is that of a ripe 34, young for a President, and he resides outside of Lyon. He is a scholar of Napoleon I and many say he takes him too serious. He plans to make education available at a larger level and also to make France the power of Europe, by peacefull means of course.

Any donations can be made as both candidates are making rounds around the civilized country.

------------------
Almighty ruler and Resident God!!

[Coug]

Let's go for a non Scandinavian country. Yes, you heared right, a non Scandinavian country. The Boer Republics.

I am Thomas van den Breivick

The US at this time: The Gilded Age

The Civil war has long been over, and industrialization has taken place on a large scale and is continuing even further. New Immigrants, hoping for a new life in a new world, as well as to live in freedom, are still flocking to the US. Most of the Indians have been cleared out of the west at this point- and are now on reservations. People go west seeking their fortune- some seeking gold- some seeking to farm- some seeking to herd cattle- some seeking to get rich selling to them.

New president elect:

President James Dragon(Republican)

The Republican candidate, winning under the slogan "Prosperity at home- Prestige Abroad"- James Dragon won a promise to help guide the United States to further glory. Called a hawk and a warmonger by his opponents, James Dragon is fought to represent the far militant wing of his party. Winning on a premise similar to that of James Polk's expansionism, and with Republicans winning a 2/3 majority of in the House and Senate, it appears as though the American people are now ready for the glory that comes with empire.

I'm still in doubt. But I think I'll go for Ethiopia.