Cascadea

Cascadean Republic
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Semper Ad Meliora (Latin) Always Towards Better Things (English)
Anthem: "Hold The Fort"
Capital	Olympia
Largest city	Los Angeles Phoenix San Francisco Vancouver
Official languages	English
Recognised national languages	Arabic Chinese Korean Navajo Punjabi Spanish Tagalog Vietnamese
Ethnic groups	43% Pacific Islanders/Asian 15% Latin American 12% Hispanic whites 8% Non-hispanic whites 7% Native American 15% Others
Demonym(s)	Cascadean
Government	Federal Constitutional Parliamentary republic
• President	Kevin Yu
• Prime Minister	Jasmine Sharell
Legislature	People's Assembly
Establishment
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo	February 2, 1848
• Great Divide	October 12, 2027
• Republic Established	April 15, 2031
Area
• Total	4,756,649 km2 (1,836,552 sq mi) (7th)
• Water (%)	30.6
Population
• July 2056 estimate	57,387,246 (23th)
• 2054 census	56,897,226
• Density	133/km2 (344.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2044 estimate
• Total	$1.84 trillion
• Per capita	$32,403
GDP (nominal)	2044 estimate
• Total	$1.49 trillion
• Per capita	$26,250
Gini (2044)	24.2 low
HDI (2044)	0.889 very high
Currency	Cascadean Peso (CSP)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+9 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+15
Internet TLD	.cs

Cascadean Republic, also known as Cascadea (IPA: [ˈkæskeɪdiə]) is a country located in the western region of North America. It encompasses a wide territory with diverse landscape, from the arid desert in Arizona to the subarctic forest in Columbia. It is known for its geological features, especially Rocky Mountains. Cascadea borders the Pacific Ocean to the west, Athabasca and Alaska to the north, Deseret, Lakota, Dinétah and Groom Lake Exclusion Area to the east, and Mexico to the south.

Cascadea's establishment can be traced to the end of the Great Divide. As the whole world, including North American continent was divided by impenetrable energy walls, states across the American continent seceded and declared their independence, with the United States shrunk in territorial size. West coast states of the United States and Canada eventually came into an agreement to form a new nation, which led to the creation of Cascadea, with the declaration of independence ratified on April 15, 2031.

Cascadea's official language is English, and locally recognized languages are Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Navajo, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Its currency is the Cascadean Peso (CSP). The nation boasts a population of approximately 57.4 million people and a per capita GDP of around $23,368 (PPP), making it one of the most developed nation after the Great Divide.

The country's flag features vertical tricolor shades of blue, green and white, which pays homage to the Doug flag used by Cascadia movement before the Great Divide. In the center is the country's coat of arms, which is a fir tree with machetes, circled by a ring of wheat, symbolizing the Cascadia (bioregion) and socialist-tendency of the government, inspired by socialist heraldry of East Germany. Cascadea is governed as a parliamentary republic, with elected representatives responsible for its administration. Cascadea is among other countries across the globe that has embraced socialistic ideology, where its policies are focused on environmental conservation, progressiveness and inclusivity.

Etymology

The term "Cascadea" is derived from the geographical region known as "Cascadia", which encompasses a substantial portion of western North America, extending from the northern tip of Nevada desert up to Yukon territory.

The name "Cascadia" itself has a historical origin dating back to the existence of Cascades Rapids during the Astor Expedition. Although, the earliest documented use of this term for the mountain range can be traced to 1825 in the writings of the botanist David Douglas. It wasn't until the early 1900s, when John Jacob Astor began to explore the region that the term began to gain prominence and is used to refer the broader region of the mountain range.

History

Antiquity

The earliest human presence in Cascadea dates back to at least 14,000 years ago, when the first migrants crossed the Bering Strait from Asia during the last glacial period. These Paleo-Indians spread throughout the continent, adapting to different environments and developing diverse cultures. Some of the oldest archaeological sites in Cascadea include Paisley Caves in Oregon, and Haida Gwaii in Columbia.

The remains of Ozette Indian Village

The first civilizations of the indigenous people in Cascadea emerged around 5,000 years ago when complex societies with social stratification, political organization, and long-distance trade networks developed. These civilizations were influenced by their neighbors in Mesoamerica, such as the Olmec and Maya, as well as by their own local traditions and resources. Some of the most notable civilizations in Cascadea include the Salish Sea Culture Complex, which spanned from Puget Sound to Vancouver Island.

The rise of tribes and clans in Cascadea occurred around 2,000 years ago when regional groups formed distinct identities based on language, kinship, territory, and culture. These tribes and clans maintained alliances and rivalries with each other, as well as with other indigenous peoples across North America. They also created remarkable works of art, architecture, and technology that reflected their worldview and values. Some of the places of interest made by ancient people in Cascadea include the Ozette Village in Washington, which was preserved by a mudslide for over 500 years, the Totem Poles of the Pacific Northwest Coast, which displayed the ancestry and status of their owners, and the Petroglyphs of Columbia River Gorge, which depicted animals, humans, and supernatural beings.

Early Modern Period

Boston Tea Party, the pivotal point in the independence of United States

The first European explorers to reach the region of what is now Cascadia were the Spanish, who began colonizing the area in the 16th century. They established missions, presidios, and pueblos along the coast and in the interior. They also explored the northern part of the region, reaching as far as Alaska and Columbia. The Spanish claimed the entire region as part of their empire, but faced resistance from the Native Americans and competition from other European powers.

The British and the French also had interests in the region, having established trading posts and forts along the rivers and lakes, and made alliances with some of the Native American tribes. The British and the French fought several wars over their colonial territories in North America, which affected the region as well. The most significant of these wars was the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), which resulted in the British gaining control of most of France's possessions in North America.

The American Revolution (1775-1783) was another major event that shaped the history of the region. The thirteen colonies that rebelled against Britain were on the east coast of North America. One of the causes of the revolution was Britain's taxation policies, which angered many colonists who felt they had no representation in Parliament. One of the most famous acts of protest was the Boston Tea Party (1773), when a group of colonists disguised as Native Americans dumped tea into Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act.

The revolution led to the independence of the United States of America, which was recognized by Britain in 1783. However, the boundaries of the new nation were not clearly defined, leading to border disputes. The United States and Britain agreed to share the Oregon Country until 1846, when they divided it along the 49th parallel. The United States also acquired California among other territories, from Mexico in 1848 after winning the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).

Prospectors during California Gold Rush

The expansion of the United States to the west was driven by manifest destiny, the California Gold Rush of 1848-1855, transcontinental railroad construction in 1869, immigration (from Europe and Asia), and settlement. However, this expansion also brought conflicts with the Native Americans, who had settled much earlier. The United States government pursued a policy of removal, relocation, reservation, assimilation, and extermination of many Native American tribes. Some of the most violent clashes occurred during the Indian Wars (1860s-1890s), such as the Sand Creek Massacre (1864), the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876), and the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890).

Canada also emerged in western North America during this period. Initially a colony of Britain, but gained more autonomy and self-government over time. Canada was formed as a confederation in 1867, then expanded to include other provinces and territories, inclduing British Columbia in 1871.

Modern Period

Bill Gates was one of the most prominent figure from California

In the modern age, the region has witnessed the establishment of famous companies, the emergence of public figures, political events, and climate events.

Some of the famous companies that have originated or expanded in the western North American region are Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Tesla, Starbucks, and Netflix. These companies have revolutionized the fields of technology, entertainment, commerce, and transportation, and have influenced the global economy and culture. They have also created thousands of jobs, attracted millions of customers, and generated billions of dollars in revenue.

Some of the public figures that have emerged or gained prominence in the western North American region are Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Greta Thunberg. These individuals have made significant contributions to politics, business, media, philanthropy, and activism.

The western North American region is not exempted from being included in nation-wide and global-wide events such as 9/11 attacks, the Iraq War, the Great Recession, the Affordable Care Act, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the election of Donald Trump, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, the storming of the Capitol, and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

During the Modern Age, the western North American region suffered various disasters as a result of the climate change, which is a global-wide disaster that is seemingly reaching no end due to the continuous usage of gas-powered vehicles, deforestation. The region of Cascadea has suffered wildfires, landslides, earthquakes, and heat waves. One of the most notable wildfire caused by the long drought as the effect of climate change was the 2022 California wildifres.

Grand Divide

Main article: Grand Divide

The Grand Divide was a global event occurred in 2037 that divided geographical boundaries of Earth by enormous energy walls (also known as Sky wall). The event traced its beginning to Blood Hunters, an intergalactic group comprised of Hazalians whose aim was to colonize Earth. The colonization plan began as far as early 1900s where Bogdan Zikaron was killed and its human form mimicked by a Hazalian agent named Dagan, who initiated the plan by enacting mass mind control towards marginalized groups, especially Jews of Eastern Europe. An organization which served as the extension of the Hazalian Empire was found in 1897.

For decades, the organization have been mind-controlling powerful figures and governments to help their cause, with the United States as the most notable one. They intended to activate the Pillars, an ancient Hazalian artifact which functions as a portal to forcefully bring a planet into their solar system. Many artifacts was sent across the galaxy, including Earth, which, initially aimed at Mars but its trajectory was altered by a fierce fight in space with Khorgians, and crash landed, buried deep below the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for centuries. The artifact was later excavated, and activated by Dagon in 2027. However, as the device were already damaged by Khorgians, it couldn't unleash its full power of opening a portal, and instead, the inter-connected "webs" between each pillars form a large energy wall instead.

Due to this failure, Hekaron was subjected to punishment by the International Court of Justice. However, the global society was divided between those who insist to prosecute Hekaron and those who are against it. A conflict soon followed, and at the same time, civil unrest ensued in almost every part of the globe. The conflict ended three years later in September 4, 2030. Eventually, the ICC imprisoned Dagon, Hekaron, Mezamon and the elites of IDF for life imprisonment in The Desert, (now under the United Nations Buffer zone). Following the imprisonment and civil unrests in many countries, new nations emerged, including Cascadea, whose declaration of independence was ratified in April 15, 2031, and was admitted to the United Nations in 2033.

Geography

Geology

Cascadea's territory covers a large area that spans from Sonora to California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Columbia. It covers the entire watershed of the Columbia River and the Cascade Range, as well as the associated ocean and seas out to the continental slope.

The geology of Cascadea is characterized by the interaction of the North American Plate and the Juan de Fuca Plate, which form the Cascadia subduction zone. This zone is a 960 km (600 mi) fault that lies about 112-160 km (70-100 mi) off the Pacific Shore. It is capable of producing 9.0+ magnitude earthquakes and tsunamis that could reach 30m (100 ft). The last major earthquake in this zone occurred in 1700 and was recorded by oral traditions of various First Nations groups.

The subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate under the North American Plate also creates volcanic activity along the Cascade Range, which includes volcanoes such as Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, Mount Shasta, and Crater Lake. These volcanoes are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and have erupted periodically throughout history, producing lava flows, pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, and lahars. The volcanoes also influence the climate and ecology of Cascadea by creating rain shadows and providing habitats for diverse flora and fauna.

The rocks of Cascadea are mainly composed of igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary rocks. The igneous rocks are mostly volcanic in origin and include basalt, andesite, dacite, rhyolite, and tuff. The metamorphic rocks are mostly formed by regional metamorphism during subduction and include schist, gneiss, slate, marble, and quartzite. The sedimentary rocks are mostly deposited by rivers, lakes, glaciers, and oceans and include sandstone, shale, limestone, conglomerate, and coal.

The tectonic forms of Cascadea are mainly influenced by the subduction zone and the associated crustal deformation. The most prominent tectonic features are the Coast Ranges, which are uplifted blocks of accreted terranes that form a series of parallel ridges along the coast; the Willamette Valley, which is a forearc basin that lies between the Coast Ranges and the Cascade Range; the Cascade Range itself, which is a volcanic arc that marks the location of the subducting plate; and the Columbia Plateau, which is a large basaltic plateau that covers parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada.

The volcanic forms of Cascadea are mainly related to the Cascade Range and its eruptions. The most common volcanic forms are stratovolcanoes (or composite volcanoes), which are steep-sided cones that consist of alternating layers of lava and pyroclastic material; shield volcanoes, which are broad domes that consist of fluid lava flows; cinder cones, which are small cones that consist of loose volcanic fragments; lava domes, which are mounds of viscous lava that form near volcanic vents; calderas (or volcanic craters), which are large depressions that form by collapse or explosion of a volcano; and volcanic fields (or monogenetic fields), which are areas with numerous small volcanoes that erupt only once or a few times.

The hydrology of Cascadea is mainly influenced by the precipitation patterns and the topography of the region. The precipitation varies from west to east due to the rain shadow effect of the mountains. The western side receives more rainfall than the eastern side, which is more arid. The major rivers of Cascadea are the Columbia River and its tributaries (such as the Snake River), which drain most of the region into the Pacific Ocean; the Fraser River, which drains parts of Columbia into the Strait of Georgia; and the Sacramento River and its tributaries (such as the San Joaquin River), which drain parts of California into San Francisco Bay. The major lakes of Cascadea are Lake Tahoe (which straddles California and Nevada), Crater Lake (which fills a caldera in Oregon), Lake Shasta (which is a reservoir in California), Lake Chelan (which is a natural lake in Washington), and Okanagan Lake (which is a natural lake in British Columbia). The major glaciers of Cascadea are found on some of the high peaks of the Cascade Range (such as Mount Rainier) and provide meltwater for some rivers during summer.