[The following file is a selection from the official readings offered to Potential Cascadian Citizens (PCCs) who immigrate to the Nation of Cascadia, as a part of the process of preparing them for Cascadian Citizenship. PCCs are required to take a comprehensive citizenship test with a minimum pass rate of 75% to continue the process, with the test covering material equivalent to the lower level Civics and History courses required of all students. To assist PCCs in their transition the Cascadian Government offers a variety of preparatory educational readings in a variety of languages, with some high schools offering special night classes to teach PCCs the relevant material. High School students get extra credit for serving as teachers assistants in the class, as well as additional consideration in college admissions. It is considered an important civic duty in Cascadia to interact with PCCs, as the nation continues to rebuild its prosperity and population following the First War and Insurrection].
Welcome to Cascadia. The journey you are about to embark on - becoming a Cascadian Citizen, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities included - is a difficult one, but one that many have undertaken before you. There are many things about Cascadian history, culture, and society that you will need to learn in order to fully integrate into the nation, but the Cascadian Government is here to help you in any way that it can. We know that it is a lot of information to learn in a short period of time, and encourage all immigrants to take advantage of the multiple educational opportunities provided. Night classes are available in a variety of subjects ranging from English Language Proficiency to Cascadian History - all of which will make it easier to pass your citizenship test, and fit in with your fellow (future) Cascadians. By choosing this short guide article you are already choosing to use some of those resources, and we encourage you to read more in the guide article series; copies are available at all Cascadian Libraries and most educational institutions.
This guide article is a part of a series meant to acclimate you to the larger continent that Cascadia is a part of - North America - and focuses on the California Republic and Cascadia itself. These countries were the first two nations to secede from their original nation states following the appearance of the cards, beginning the First War. Both countries have a very brief description of their independence movemenst, and a few important facts to know. It will not include the Central American and Caribbean states at this time; if you are interested in learning about those, please pick up the relevant guide articles from your local branch of the Cascadian National Library System. It is also not meant to be comprehensive, and is instead meant to give an introduction to the nations included. This material will be on your citizenship test, so study it carefully.
Cascadia
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English
CAPITOL: Vancouver
RECOGNIZED DATE OF INDEPENDENCE: August 19th, 43 Years Ago
CARD PRODUCING NATION
The oldest of the Card Producing Nations, and one of the first nations to declare its independence on the continent following the appearance of the cards and machines 50 years ago. Cascadia is a representative republic social democracy, with four major territories: Oregon (Sometimes called the southern territories by Cascadian Citizens), Washington, British Coloumbia (where the Capitol is located), and Yukon. Cascadia as a nation is split into three major branches of governance: The Office of the President (which houses Executive Function), The Legislature (a Unicameral body that houses Legislative Function), and the National Courts (which house Judicial Function). It achieved card production via a machine located within the Vancouver Portal, and formally shares its card manufacturing capabilities with the California Republic as a part of a joint security pact.
The nation of Cascadia was first founded 48 years ago after revolutionary forces from the four territories - then states within the nations of Canada and the United States of America - seized the Card Machine from its production facility in Vancouver and used it to declare their independence. This action was done in coordination with revolutionary forces within the California Republic, who simultaneously seized multiple key port cities within the then State of California. This kicked off a conflict known as the “First War” in Cascadia, where the two nations - amongst several others - began their coordinated campaigns for national sovereignty. This action was originally supposed to also include revolutionary forces from the soon to be independent Quebec, however Canadian Forces were able to route the initial Quebecois revolt before it could become a full rebellion. These three nations would be joined by the Lone Star Republic - which declared its own independence and joined the conflict 46 years ago - to form what was collectively known as “The Big Four Revolution”. Cascadia fought in this war for 5 years before achieving signing the Treaty of Vancouver with Canada, the United States, and the California Republic. This ended the formal participation of Cascadia and the California Republic and granted them their sovereignty, however the First War continued throughout the continent for another 3 years amongst the other nations.
As a newly independent nation, Cascadia quickly formed a joint-security pact with the California Republic to further protect their newly won sovereignty. This pact was tested when insurgents within the territory of British Columbia began a short lived conflict to attempt to reverse Cascadian Independence, and place all four of its states under the control of the Canadian Government. This conflict - known as the “Cascadian Insurrection” lasted 10 months before the Cascadian Government was able to regain control and defeat the insurgency. Both the First War and the Cascadian Insurrection caused significant damage to the infrastructure and populace of Cascadia, damage that the government has been working diligently to repair ever since. Many of the major metropolitan areas have seen significant restoration and reconstruction in the years since the conflicts, with Vancouver in particular becoming well known around the world for its cultural and technological development centers. Through both the conflicts and reconstruction the California Republic has offered significant assistance and aid, and has remained a faithful ally of Cascadia.
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The First War came to a close 40 years ago with a surprise alliance between the Lone Star Republic and the United States in their defeat of the New Confederacy, with peace on the continent coming 33 years ago with the signing of the North American Continental Security Agreement between seven of the eight sovereign states of the territory. In the decades since the states have worked together to repair the significant damage the continent incurred via the extended conflicts - both from conventional and card based weaponry.
For more explanation, the following Guide Articles are suggested:
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North American Modern History - The First War
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North American Modern History - The Cascadian Insurrection
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North American Modern History - Modern Reconstruction
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The North American Continental Security Agreement
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The Modern Government of Cascadia
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Cascadian Reconstruction
The California Republic
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: None
CAPITOL: Monterey
RECOGNIZED DATE OF INDEPENDENCE: August 19th, 43 Years Ago
The oldest of the non-card producing new nations of North America, the California Republic both declared and won its national sovereignty at the same time as Cascadia. California is a representative republic with a bicameral legislature (referred to as the legislative branch), a President (referred to as the executive branch), and a supreme court (referred to as the judicial branch). The California Republic is closely allied with Cascadia, and has a special Joint Security Pact with Cascadia to provide the nation with its supply of government cards.
The California Republic declared it’s independence 48 years ago during the Second Bear Flag revolt, when revolutionaries across the state - who called themselves Osos - seized several key ports and historic locations throughout the state. The revolutionaries immediately declared an independent California Republic with its capitol in Monterey - echoing the historic first Bear Flag Revolt several hundred years in the past. This was the first action of the country in the “First War”, during which the California Republic forces faced significant damage by both conventional and casting forces, while largely fighting via conventional means. California timed their revolution to happen simultaneously to the Cascadian revolution within the First War, forming an alliance with the nation for cooperation within the conflict. They received significant amounts of card based support during the war from this military alliance, which also included intelligence and logistics support from the revolutionary forces of Quebec. During the war California faced significant damage, and had heavy losses to both military and civilian portions of its population. One of the most significant of these was the Destruction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which occurred early in the war during the Battle of the Bay. This damage was minimized in the third year of fighting by the entry of the Lone Star Republic and Quebec into the First War, which divided the belligerent forces of the United States and Canada through the introduction of a multi-front war. Upon the secession of the New Confederacy two years later the California Republic was able to regain much of the territory lost during the fighting, fully repelling the United States forces from its territories within a year, and focusing their efforts on supporting their allies in Texas, Cascadia, and Quebec. These territorial restorations were formally acknowledged in the Treaty of Vancouver where the country fully gained its sovereignty from the United States.
Upon gaining its independence California quickly launched a revitalization and defense program, rebuilding much of its lost infrastructure and encouraging the existing industries the state had become known for. It continued to support its allies in Quebec and Texas with logistical support, however the majority of its military support was spent building its own defenses and supporting Cascadia in the Cascadian Insurrection. The California Republic placed a particular emphasis on its legacy industries of performing arts and agriculture, returning to almost full production within two years of the Treaty of Vancouver being signed. This reconstruction increased as the First War came to a close 40 years ago, and on the signing of the North American Continental Security Agreement. In the present the California Republic has emerged as one of the largest economies and populations of the continent, and is known globally for its technological development, artistic production, and its participation in larger global affairs. It’s film and theatrical industries are known as amongst the best in the world, and it has seen significant innovation in the card technologies sector. Restoration of several of the major cities has been ongoing - San Diego and Sacramento in particular faced heavy destruction throughout the conflict - though the damages faced by the country were less extensive than those faced by Cascadia due to the Rocky Mountain range.
On the continent the California Republic has been an active participant in both the North American Continental Security Agreement and its mutual defense pact with Cascadia, and has played an active role in the reconstruction efforts of its neighbors. The California Republic has mediated several larger global conflict, and has become a growing voice for peace and international stability across the planet.
Both the California Republic and Cascadia have grown into important and valued members of the International and North American communities, and the two continue to be firm allies into the present. They were the first nations to declare their own national sovereignty on the continent following the appearance of the cards 50 years ago, and their independence movements assisted several of the other nations in their own struggles for sovereignty and self-determination. As the two dominant powers alongside the Pacific Ocean Coastline these nations are critically important to the continuance of the North American Continental Security Agreement, and have both become known around the world for their technological and cultural achievements. As a Potential Cascadian Citizen you inherit this legacy of self-determination and Resilience upon passing your citizenship test, and taking the official oath of Cascadian Citizenship. Upon becoming a Citizen of Cascadia you become an important and active part of that history and legacy, as you help build the nation into the larger future that it aspires to achieve. We encourage you to interact with your fellow Potential Cascadian Citizens and the Citizens of Cascadia around you to learn as much as you can about the country and its people. If you have any questions you can ask them at any Cascadian Library, or take part in one of the many education opportunities available to you.
Required Readings that list the titles of additional in-universe guides provided by the Cascadian Government; if you’re interested in reading any comment below, and I’ll include one in a future Lore Post.
trust in the cards…