User:Lyonsland/sandbox6
Second Republic (1855-1926)
The Congress of Torrazza which ended the War of the Triple Alliance in December 1855 resulted in the independence and international recognition of the Second Hennish Republic. For the first time since the Hennish Civil War more than three centuries earlier, there existed a united and independent Hennish state. Despite most sharing a common language, albeit with broad dialectal differences, as well as a significant amount of cultural overlap, the religious and sociological divide that existed primarily between the northern and southern parts of the country remained deeply entrenched. The new Hennish state lacked a strong sense of nationalism that had become a common theme elsewhere in Euclea during the mid-19th century as a consequence of the long period of division and subsequent Gaullican rule.
Even though most southern Catholics had actively supported nationhood and the revolutionary movement by the end of the war, they remained widely distrusted among predominantly northern Amendists for a perceived lingering loyalty to Gaullica and its ascended nobility. Likewise, many Catholics were sceptical of their Amendist neighbours due to of their demographic advantage in the new republic, and were particularly weary of the influence of orthodox Amendist denominations, chief among them Kasperists. A large Gaullican-speaking minority also remained in Hennehouwe, including the Petois people native to areas of southern Flamia on the new frontier with Gaullica, as well as descendents of the now-former Gaullican elite in s'Holle and other southern cities.
The solution, as promulgated by radical Amendist theologian Kasper Roeterink, and officially by the Second Republic's first Premier, Jan-Pieter Hannes, was that of sphere sovereignty. Under the doctrine of "working together, living apart" (samenwerken, apartwonen), each of Hennehouwe's distinct communities would exercise control over its own way of life within the context of a united state without inter-community interference, overseen by a limited government with respect for each group's internal autonomy. This semi-formalised system came to be more commonly known as segmentation (segmentatie), and was broadly endorsed by Amendist, Catholic and Petois elites alike as it reinforced their hegemony over their respective communities and reduced the likelihood of inter-ethnic conflict, which in turn facilitated cooperation in areas of mutual benefit such as national government and the economy. There were initially three segments: an Amendist segment concentrated in the north and which included Gospelite and orthodox Kasperist subsegments; a Catholic segment that dominated the south; and a Petois segment in the deep south, which itself overlapped with the Catholic segment to a modest extent. A fourth 'secular' or liberal segment would later emerge, largely consisting of urbanites, disaffected religious folk, and sections of the middle class. These segments would remain deeply held over the course of the Second Republic and were reflected across civic, political and economic life.
A formal constitution was not codified until 1859, which largely resolved many of the issues which had sprung up in the aftermath of independence. The post of stadtholder was re-established to serve as the nation's head of state. Land and titular reform was also carried out, which resulted in the formal abolition of nobility in Hennehouwe. Consequentially, this resulted in the recognition of Kesselbourg's reigning nobility as distinct to Hennehouwe's now abolished system, as well as the formal succession of the Dukedom of Breugeldal and the Principality of Witburg as nominally independent entities. Both Breugeldal and Witburg were small territories with populations that remained fiercely loyal to their respective nobilities and as both had overwhelming Catholic populations, Hennehouwe's new Amendist-majority government saw little benefit of incorporating them into the new republic against their populaces' wishes. Breugeldal and Witburg would later be incorporated into the Third Republic in 1936. The constitution also enshrined secularism and freedom of religion, as well as Hennehouwe's status as a neutral country.
The newfound stability brought about by the new state structure and the prevailing global peace contributed to Hennehouwe's rapid industrial growth. Industrialisation had begun in the final years of Gaullican rule and grew exponentially in the wake of independence, with Hennehouwe emerging as a primary centre of Euclea's Industrial Revolution. In particular, coal production in the south and steel production in the north, combined with textile development and infrastructurual progress, contributed to Hennehouwe's industrial success. Railways were vastly expanded; modern canal structures were constructed; and coastal cities like Zilverzee and De Haven became major ports for the exporting of industrial output.
The economic boom coincided with a widespread cultural revival, with the era being referred to as the Heropleving ("revival" or "reinvigoration"). In addition to industrial developments, the Heropleving was characterised by cultural and scientific innovation, social progress, growing liberalism and pacifism. The fourth 'secular' segment saw a massive expansion and a large working class emerged among populations in all three of the country's standard segments, who became emboldened in their push for working and political rights through organisations like the Hennish General Trade Union Association (HAVA) and the Hennish Section of the Workers' International (HSAI). Universal male suffrage was granted in 1902, with limited female suffrage introduced in 1908.
The Great Collapse of 1913 ushered in a new period of socio-economic turmoil. Hennehouwe was affected particularly harshly due to its export-dependent economy amidst a region-wide downturn.