Cassier

Republic of Cassier République de Cassier
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" (Solarian) "From Sea to Sea"
Anthem: Ô Cassier
Cassier (dark green).
Capital	New Rayenne
Largest city	Andade
Official languages	Gaullican
Ethnic groups	Euclean group (76.9%) Coiusian group (15.9%) Aboriginal group (4.9%) Badawiyan group (1.5%) Other (0.8%)
Demonym(s)	Cassien
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional republic
• President	Jean Tremblay
Legislature	Parlemant
• Upper house	Sénat
• Lower house	Chambre des communes
Establishment
• Formation	July 1, 1757
• Declaration of Independence	October 14, 1936
Area
•	9,405,868 km2 (3,631,626 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate	39,889,032
• Density	4.25/km2 (11.0/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$1.627 trillion
• Per capita	$40,788
HDI (2018)	0.929 very high
Currency	Cassien Denier (CAD) (CAD)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1
Internet TLD	.ca

Cassier, officially the Republic of Cassier (Gaullican: République de Cassier), is a country in northern Asteria Superior. Covering an area of 9,405,868 square kilometres (3,631,626 sq mi), it is the largest country in Kylaris in geographical area, divided between eight provinces and two territories. Cassier’s territory is surrounded by the Vehemens and Florian Oceans in the west, the Lumine in the east, and the Boreal Ocean to the north. It borders two countries in Asteria Superior, Taconia and Chistovodia. The majority of Cassier’s 39,889,032 inhabitants live south of the 45th parallel north, generally in large and medium-sized urban areas. Cassier's capital is New Rayenne and its three largest metropolitan areas are Andade, Sainte-Marie, and Bellevue.

Indigenous cultures inhabited Cassier for thousands of years before Euclean discovery and colonization. The first confirmed explorer from the Old World was Badawiyan navigator Assim Asteris who first landed on Île-du-Édouard, Terre-Belle in 1488. Gaullican activity would intensify during the 16th century as explorers and colonists established small settlements throughout a region that would be collectively known as “New Gaullica" (Gaullican: Nouvelle-Gaullica). In 1757, the Continental Decree created the Domain of Cassier; a loose confederation of the five settler colonies of New Gaullica. Federalization and expansion eastward would coincide with Cassier’s widening autonomy from Gaullica during the 19th and early 20th centuries until becoming an independent republic on October 14, 1936.

Cassier is a parliamentary republic and a liberal democracy, with three branches of government and a president serving as head of state and government. It ranks very highly in global metrics such as education, economic freedom, civil liberties, quality of life, and human development. Cassier’s long and complex history with other nations has had a significant impact on its economy and culture. Immigration from many other countries and a resurgence of indigenous influences has made Cassier one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations.

A developed country, Cassier has a high nominal per capita income as well as a high ranking in Human Development. Ranking 15th globally Cassier’s economy ranks above average internationally but behind many of its counterparts in Asteria Superior, accounting for roughly 3% of the world's nominal GDP. It is highly reliant upon the exportation of natural resources and the utilization of well-developed trade networks. Cassier is part of several international organizations including the IDC, OAN, and NVO. Cassier has gradually shifted away from neutrality and towards the establishment of closer ties with like-minded democratic nations. Cassier has been actively involved in global efforts in peacekeeping and foreign aid, founding or supporting many humanitarian and intergovernmental institutions such as the CN and the White Lily.

Etymology

Cassier is generally accepted to be derived from the St. Marcus Ganonsyoni word Kaska, which is a borrowing from the Dene Zágéʼ language’s name for the Casca-Dena people. The indigenous inhabitants near what is now Sainte-Marie used it while directing explorer Rogerin Dumont, who initially used the word Cassia to vaguely describe the interior of New Gaullica. Cartographers would later alter its location westwards to the St. Marcus River, as well as adjusting its modern orthography to Cassier. Cassier would enter official use after the partition of the St. Marcus Colony into Upper Cassier and Lower Cassier in 1671, known collectively as the Cassiers. The Continental Decree of 1757 formalized Cassier as the official name of the confederation of the New Gaullican colonies in Asteria Superior and confer the word domain as its title. After its independence from Gaullica in 1936 the nation would adopt the Republic of Cassier as its official legal title.

History

Indigenous peoples

The original inhabitants of Cassier encompass a broad assortment of different groups and cultures. Several nouns are commonly used in Cassien legal documents or popular speech including “aboriginal”, “indigenous”, and “native” which describe Cassier’s original inhabitants collectively and are used interchangeably. Meanwhile the terms First Nation, Borealian, and Metis refer to a specific group of Cassier’s indigenous peoples and are not used interchangeably.

The indigineous population at the time of Euclean discovery is estimated to have been between one and four million. Colonization would directly contribute to a dramatic decline of Cassier’s indigenous population by as much as eighty percent. This is attributed to several factors including the transfer of diseases, conflicts with Euclean settlers or other indigenous groups, and a loss of self-sufficiency due to land seizures by the colonial and later Cassien government.

Euclean interactions with the indigenous peoples of Cassier were relatively peaceful in the initial period of colonization. Indigenous aid and assistance was highly sought after by Eucleans, particularly among fur traders during the 16th and 17th centuries. Unions between Eucleans and indigenous women resulted in the first Metis, individuals with mixed-race heritage. Borealian groups were isolated from early Euclean settlers due to their geographic distance from major population centres further south. In what is widely considered to be a genocide colonial and Cassien authorities actively sought the assimilation or elimination of indigenous peoples. First Nations, Metis, and Borealians were subjected to widespread sterilization, mass relocations to reservations, and cultural suppression which continued until as recently as 1988. Though indigenous languages and culture have undergone a resurgence in Cassier since the start of the 21st century the widespread discrimination against indigenous Asterians continues to be an issue into the contemporary.

Euclean colonization

The first Eucleans to settle in Cassier were Ghaillish mariners from Caldia who established seasonal outposts along the west coast in the early 15th century. These settlers were confined to short-lived seasonal settlements and forts along the coast due to Cassier’s harsh environment and geography. The first major Euclean settlements would be established following Gaullican explorer Rogerin Dumont’s exploration of Cassier’s coasts and major rivers. After discovering the St. Marcus River in 1534, Dumont would erect a 10 meter cross bearing the words “Long Live the Queen of Gaullica”, claiming the land he named Nouvelle-Gaullica, or New Gaullica for Queen Anne the Financer.

Dumont founded a fort near present-day Monbec City as the first permanent Gaullican settlement in 1535. Other forts and settlements were established throughout Western Cassier during this period such as Bellevue and Sainte-Marie. Geographical barriers and differences in lifestyle led to the development of three distinct Gaullican groups in the latter half of the 16th century; Cassiens near the St. Marcus River, Chicadians throughout the Gulf of Chicadia and Terre-Belle, and a third group of mostly fur traders and missionaries on the fringes of New Gaullica. Euclean exploration of New Gaullica increased following Nathan de Beaumont’s attempt to cross the continent in 1603. While unsuccessful, Beaumont’s discoveries of gold deposits and of Lake Beaumont increased the number of settlers arriving to New Gaullica. As additional settlements were established throughout New Gaullica it would be subdivided into colonial territories. In 1640 many indigenous groups in New Gaullica were involved in various conflicts collectively known as the Fur Wars which resulted in the widespread decimation of indigenous populations. The Great Settlement of Sainte-Marie brought an end to the fighting in 1699, however fighting among and against indigenous peoples would continue.

With a climate suitable for growing cash crops, New Gaullica's economy was dominated by mining, timber, agriculture, the fur trade, and other related industries. A census in 1675 reported a total Euclean population of roughly 30,000 which was far smaller than other colonies in Asteria Superior. In response, Gaullica implemented the Land Act of 1680 which encouraged colonists to have larger families and portioned vast quantities of land to aspiring settlers. While these were successful in increasing New Gallica’s population and economic growth it still lagged behind other Euclean colonies in Asteria Superior. New Gaullica’s fortune turned following the Gilded Wars and the Pereramonic Wars which established Gaullican hegemony over much of the continent.

In 1753 King [Gaullican guy] summoned representatives from New Gaullica in order to resolve inter-colonial disputes and reorganize the colonies into a single political subject. The Verlois Conference would culminate in the Continental Decree of 1757 which confederated the colonies of New Gaullica into the Domain of Cassier. The confederation of the New Gaullican colonies into Cassier was viewed as both a practical measure and as a logical progression of Gaullican imperialism in the region. It allowed Gaullica to focus more of its resources elsewhere and created a centralized subject government that could resolve disputes and deadlocks between the formerly autonomous colonial governments by itself. Amongst the colonists of New Gaullica themselves, particularly Cassiens, there was widespread support for a state that would act as a bulwark of Gaullican language and culture in Asteria Superior.

Many citizens of the domain quickly grew dissatisfied with the new system. A lack of citizen involvement combined with unpopular policies fostered a common belief that the new government was inherently corrupt and infringed on the rights that the colonists had held before confederation. This mentality was especially pervasive among Chicadians who feared having their interests relegated to a majority-Cassien nation and sought the creation of a separate domain from Cassier. Unrest continued to build as demonstrations and local uprisings such as the Maraux Rebellion began to challenge the authority of the new government. The failure to properly address the situation resulted in the overthrow of the provincial government of New Sylvagne after republican militias seized the city of Bellevue, marking the beginning of the Patriote Rebellion.

The Patriotes were a coalition of Chicadians and their supporters that were unified under the belief that the Gaullica and the domain’s governments had violated their rights during the Asterian War of Secession. The original extent of the Patriotes' goals differed among its supporters until eventually coalescing under the idea that an independent Chicadia and Cassier should separate from Gaullica as republics. Unlike the other revolutionary movements taking place to the south however the Patriotes critically lacked widespread public support. Most Cassiens, although disgruntled with the new system and government, vehemently opposed independence and saw the Patriotes as solely a Chicadian movement. The central figure of the Patriote rebellion was general Vivien Gérin-Lajoie, a notable military commander and politician. Under his leadership the Patriotes were able to make significant gains by successfully capturing important cities and forts throughout Chicadia. The climax of the war took place at the Battle of Louiseville in 1769 which saw Lajoie’s Patriote Army engage a hastily assembled force of loyalists led by Michel Rousselle. Though numerically superior to their loyalist counterparts the Patriotes were decisively defeated following Lajoie’s death during the battle. His death and Patriotes defeat at Louisville marked the turning point of the war in Cassier. The arrival of Gaullican reinforcements and the capture of the regional centre of Bellevue forced many Patriotes to flee south. While many would continue to fight the Patriotes no longer posed any credible threat to Gaullican rule in Cassier.

Cassier would ultimately be retained by Gaullica following the secessionist victory in 1771, however Gaullica’s influence in Asteria Superior would be significantly diminished. The Patriote Rebellion followed shortly by two invasions by a newly independent Taconia during the Beaver Wars alarmed Cassien and Gaullican officials. Seeking to avoid further republican or Chicadian uprisings, extensive political and economic reforms would be implemented during the late 18th and early 20th centuries, chief among which was the establishment of a responsible government. The Second Beaver War in 1810 concluded with the establishment of boundaries to the Weanoke River and marked the beginning of an era of peace between Cassier and Taconia.

Expansion and industrialization

In the aftermath of the Asterian War of Succession an influx of Gaullican settlers originating from the newly independent Asterian republics fled to Cassier. The arrival of roughly 60-85,000 of these Exiles (Gaullican: Exils) caused a significant demographic shift in the domain as the Exils came to supplant Chicadians as the second largest group in Cassier. Most chose to settle on plots of land offered by the Gaullican government in the eastern interior in Upper Cassier and Beaumont. Settlement in the eastern interior created a need for an alternate domestic route to Lake Beaumont, culminating in construction of the Rousselle Canal in 1811. The canal provided a navigable route to Cassier’s frontier and connected the population centres of the St. Marcus River to Lake Beaumont. The canal’s completion caused a major spike in Euclean immigration to Cassier and caused the domain’s population to increase by over 1.5 million by 1850. Settlement of the interior expanded its territory across the breath of the continent until reaching its greatest current territorial extent upon Gaullica’s relinquishment of the Dummont Bay Company to Cassier in 1870.

Asteria Superior’s first transcontinental railway was completed in 1873 which further opened more of the Cassien interior for settlement and eased Cassier’s industrializing cities’ access to the east’s vast natural resources. Settlement in the prairies during this era drastically altered the landscape Cassier’s interior as large farms came to dominate the region. The decimation of the wild Asterian Bison and Old World diseases devastated the indigenous population, forcing their relocation to reservations with relief efforts set up by the Cassien government. The Native Peoples Act was put into place during this time, beginning a period of intense political and cultural oppression that would last until its complete rescendment in 1992. The completion of the transcontinental railway would be the beginning of the era of optimism (Gaullican: L'ère de l'optimisme); a period of prosperity and loyalist sentiment which characterized Cassien culture, economics, and politics for the next three decades.

A majority of Gaullo-Cassiens actively supported the continuation of their status as subjects, viewing themselves as a natural part of the Gaullican empire. King Albert III granted Cassier new privileges, increases in autonomy, as well as the formalization of its liberal-democratic institutions throughout his reign. Though legally tied to Gaullica, by 1899 Cassier handled a majority of its domestic affairs with little Gaullican interference. Externally Cassier also began to create its own semi-official relationships internationally by utilizing Gaullica’s extensive diplomatic network to promote its political and commercial interests abroad.

Early 20th century

The first half of the 20th century would decisively alter Cassien politics and culture. The era of optimism would come to an abrupt end following the Weisstadt Stock Exchange and the onset of the Great Collapse. Cassier was hit especially hard by the 1913 depression due to its export-driven economy., experiencing a downturn in gross national product and employment worse than its neighbours in Asteria Superior. In a demoralizing turn of events the westernmost province of Terre-Belle formally left the domain and returned to direct Gaullican control in 1915, with its departure increasing public fears that the domain may collapse entirely. A landslide victory in the 1916 general election would see the Liberal Party led by Wilfrid Édouard implement sweeping domestic programs and reforms that led to Cassier’s economic recovery. The worst of the depression would finally pass in Cassier by late 1919, just as a new rift between Cassier and Gaullica quickly took its place as the foremost issue for Édouard’s government.

The rise of Rafael Duclerque and the functionalist Parti Populaire in Gaullica was viewed with concern in Cassier. A majority of Cassiens were strongly opposed to Duclerque and functionalism, viewing it as incompatible with Cassier’s liberal ideology. Cassier briefly sheltered Albert III and other politicians following the functionalist seizure of power in October 1920, though most would flee for Caldia before the start of the Great War. Although Albert III was warmly welcomed in Cassier, his imperial decree which proclaimed Cassier's independence shortly before his abdication became a major source of controversy and placed Cassier in a difficult position. Trending a fine line, the Cassien government would acknowledge Albert’s decree in a non-literal sense, viewing it as an affirmation of Cassier’s highly autonomous and unique political status rather than a declaration of total sovereignty.

Geography and climate

Cassier encompasses much of the continent of Asteria Superior, sharing land borders with the Lorcania, Nuxica, and Chervolesia to the south. Cassier stretches from the Vehemens Ocean in the west to the Lumine Ocean in the east; to the north lies the Florian Ocean. Svobinsk is to the northeast which shares a maritime boundary in Hailett's Sea. By total area (including its waters), Cassier is the largest country in the world.

Cassier is home to one of the Asteria Superior's northernmost settlements, Cassien Forces Station Balise, on the northern tip of Daucourt Island – the closest point to the North Pole outside of Svobinsk. Much of the Cassien Arctic is covered by ice and permafrost due to polar currents that create a much colder climate than other nations at the same latitudes. Cassier has the longest coastline in the world, with a total length of xxx,xxx kilometres (xxx,xxx mi).

Since the end of the last glacial period, Cassier has consisted of eight distinct forest regions, including extensive boreal forest on the Cassien Shield. 42 percent of the land acreage of Canada is covered by forests, approximately 8 percent of the world's forested land, made up mostly of spruce, poplar and pine. Cassier has over 2,000,000 lakes—563 greater than 100 km2 (39 sq mi)—which is more than any other country, containing much of the world's fresh water as well as the geographically massive Lake Beaumont - a remnant of the most recent ice age glaciation and the largest body of freshwater in the world. There are numerous also fresh-water glaciers in the Eastern Mountains and the Coast Mountains.

Cassier is geologically active, having many earthquakes and potentially active volcanoes, notably Mount Carpentier massif, Mount Bérengère, Mount Brunelle massif, and the Mount Constance volcanic complex.

Average winter and summer high temperatures across Cassier vary from region to region. Winters are generally harsh in the majority of the country, particularly in the interior and Prairie provinces, which experience a continental climate, where daily average temperatures are near −15 °C (5 °F), but can drop below −40 °C (−40 °F) with severe wind chills. In most inland regions, snow can cover the ground for almost six months of the year, while in parts of the north snow can persist year-round. The east coast has a temperate climate, with a mild and rainy winter. On the west and east coasts, average high temperatures are generally in the low 20s °C (70s °F), while between the coasts, the average summer high temperature ranges from 25 to 30 °C (77 to 86 °F), with temperatures in some interior locations rarely exceeding 40 °C (104 °F).

Politics and Government

Cassier is described as a "full democracy", with a tradition of liberalism, and an egalitarian, moderate political ideology. An emphasis on social justice has been a distinguishing element of Cassier's political culture. Peace, order, and good government, alongside an implied bill of rights are founding principles of the Cassien government.

At the federal level, Cassier has been dominated by three major parties, the far left Labour Party, the centre-left Liberal Party, and the centre-right Conservative Party. The historically predominant Liberal Party position themselves at the centre of the Cassien political spectrum, with the Conservative Party positioned on the right and the Labour Party occupying the left. Far-right politics have never been a prominent force in Cassien society while far-leftists movements have gained some support historically, though few have ever exerted a real influence in federal politics. Four parties had representatives elected to the federal parliament in the 201X election—the Liberal Party, who currently form the government; the Conservative Party, who are the official opposition; the Labour Party; and the Green Party of Cassier.

Demographics

The 2016 Cassien Census indicated a total population of 39,889,032, an increase of around 5.0 percent over the 2011 figure. The main driver of population growth in Cassier is predominately immigration, with over a million immigrants arriving in Cassier between 2011 and 2016.

Cassier has one of the highest immigration rates per-capita in the world, spurred by economic policies. The general public, as well as the major political parties, have been supportive of the current level of immigration. Immigrants to Cassier have originate from a variety of different regions and countries, with most arriving from Coius and Asteria Inferior. The recent waves of immigrants settled mostly in major urban areas such as Andade, Sainte-Marie and Barnier.

Cassier's population density, at 4.25 inhabitants per square kilometre, the lowest in the world. About four-fifths of the population lives within 200 kilometres of the border with Halland and . The most densely populated part of the country, accounting for nearly 50 percent, is the Saint-Marcus Corridor in Monbec and Breloux residing mostly within the Saint-Marcus basin.

Largest urban centers by population
Andade Belleview	#	Settlement	Population	#	Settlement	Population	Sainte-Marie Barnier
	1	Andade	TBD	11	Verlois	TBD
	2	Sainte-Marie	TBD	12	Saint-Célestin	TBD
	3	Belleview	TBD	13	Cheboctoc	TBD
	4	Barnier	TBD	14	Dummontville	TBD
	5	Armeins	TBD	15	Kennebago	TBD
	6	Nouvelle-Rayenne	TBD	16	Lavelle	TBD
	7	Bougainville	TBD	17	Keeseekoose	TBD
	8	Monbec	TBD	18	Val Albert	TBD
	9	Nanowin	TBD	19	Saint-Élie	TBD
	10	Rougemont	TBD	20	Senneterre	TBD

Culture

Sports

The roots of organized sports in Cassier date back to the 1770s. Cassier’s official national sports are ice hockey and lacrosse. Other sports such as golf, soccer, baseball, tennis, skiing, badminton, volleyball, cycling, swimming, bowling, rugby union, canoeing, equestrian, squash and the study of martial arts are widely enjoyed by much of the population recreationally.

Cassier shares several major professional sports leagues with its neighbours. Cassien teams in these leagues include nine franchises in the Asterian Hockey League, as well as several !Major League Soccer teams and the Cassier men's national soccer team, at least one team in !Major League Baseball, and the !National Basketball Association. Other popular professional sports in Cassier include football, which is played in the Cassien Football League, National Lacrosse League lacrosse, and curling.