MagnificentOne

World in Revolution: 1861

AegonVI said
...............Republic of China is best China............I said nothing.

I had good plans for the Republic of China back in WiR 1900. Truly magnificent plans! But then the RP died :P

World in Revolution: 1861

AegonVI said
*stabs at China as Japan*

RIGHT IN THE TAIWAN

World in Revolution: 1861

Ampharos said
...China sounds fun...

...

*holds China protectively*

World in Revolution: 1861

Pasta Sentient said
I don't know. I was just curious. It would be nice if it could go on for a century or two, but that would be asking a lot of Outcast.

I don't know about this one, but the stats for WiR 1900 stretched into the 2020s.
If there is a limit here but WiR 1861 is still very popular, the stats could always be adapted and stretched on into the 20th century. Either that, or we leave it to die and break out another WiR. :P

Blocs - A Cold War NRP

solamelike said
Pfft I know tons of French culture.

Blocs - A Cold War NRP

Magnifique France

Basic Information
Name- République française
Official Languages- French
Capital City - Paris
Demonym - French
Population - 135,730,618 - 52,199,710 in Metropolitan France; 83,530,908 throughout the rest of the French Union

History:
The French Republic has its origins in the French Revolution of 1789, in which the failure of the Ancien Régime to deal with a sick economy, poor harvest, rising food prices and a woefully inefficient and antiquated financial situation. With an indecisive king unable to overturn the strong opposition to restore France to greatness, public opinion inflamed by the writers and pamphleteers of France soon turned against the monarchy and overthrew the institution a bloody revolution. The rest of Europe were alarmed at what was happening in France and began the French Revolutionary Wars, in which the great powers sought to either forcibly put the Bourbon monarchy back on the throne, prevent the revolution from spreading to their own lands or even to take advantage of the chaos in France. Due to immensely strong leadership in the military, the Republican French army managed to stave off the initial invasions and annex up to the Rhineland while humiliating their enemies. In 1799, a coup d'état led by France's greatest general, Napoleon Bonaparte, allowed for him to assume the position of First Consul of the struggling Republic. Already the most powerful person in France, he penned a new constitution merely three years later in which he was given the authority to rule for life, and by 1804 had crowned himself Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. Napoleon heralded grand changes throughout his new Empire. The Napoleonic Code was introduced; a civil code which is still used by France to this very day. The lycée was also introduced; a three-year course of further secondary education for children between the ages of 15 and 18. This led to the baccalauréat; the main diploma required to pursue university studies in France. Artworks gathered by Napoleon brought forth the vast expansion of the Louvre. His ill-fated campaign in Egypt led to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, allowing for an interest in Egypt to spark throughout all Europe. The emancipation of the Jews soon followed, a truly revolutionary move in Europe. Last but not least, he naturally conducted some of the world's most brilliant military campaigns which are still studied to this very day.

After nearly two decades of warfare, however, Napoleon was finally bested and exiled by 1815 by a combined coalition of all the great powers of Europe - the Concert of Vienna. From then on France was ruled by the restored Bourbon kings underneath a constitutional monarchy. It was a political system not meant to last, and was overthrown during the Revolutions of 1848 after only three kings in which a brief Second Republic was proclaimed. Its first elected president was Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon's nephew. He had overthrown the government in a military coup d'etat by 1852 and a rigged plebiscite granted him absolute power in which he proclaimed the Second French Empire with himself as Emperor. Ruling with the idea of leading the people internally towards justice and externally towards perpetual peace, Napoleon III was granted legitimacy by the use of universal male suffrage and popular referendum. Napoleon III encouraged economic planning, industrialization and free trade, which granted France a lengthy period of prosperity and stability at home. He gave Paris her wide, picturesque boulevards, serving the joint purpose of both beautifying the city as well as making it all the more difficult for rioting rebels to erect barricades in the streets. However, despite his talk of peace, the shadow of his famous uncle pushed him toward an active foreign policy. He embarked on a series of bold adventures, in which he fought wars in Europe, Asia and the Americas alike in an attempt to solidify French power throughout the globe. Meeting success in his wars against Austria and Russia and failures in his war against Mexico, Napoleon III's last foreign adventure would be against Otto Von Bismarck of Prussia, in which the French Army was devastated at Sedan. With the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and the humiliation of France, the Second French Empire came to an end.

With the French Third Republic established in 1870, the political life of France was dominated by disputes among the two flavours of monarchist: the ultraconservative Legitimists, who were more or less deeply autocratic Catholics and wanted Charles X's grandson to become King, and the rather more liberal Orléanists, largely bourgeois or otherwise middle-class, who supported the descendants of Louis-Philippe. They quickly settled on a governing platform and agreed in principle to the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the only sticking point being who would become king. Due to the continuing disputes over who would inherit the throne, people eventually tired of monarchism and voted in a republican majority in Parliament for the first time. Following a crisis in 1877 between a monarchist president and republican parliament, the Third Republic settled into the form that it would take until 1940: a parliamentary republic, with very little role for the President and incessantly-changing political alliances. Allying itself with the Russian Empire and later the United Kingdom against the growing power of the German Empire, it was the French Third Republic which led France in the Great War during which time its fierce army bore the brunt of German assaults. Triumphing under the leadership of Georges Clemenceau, the French Third Republic pushed for a harsh interpretation of the Treaty of Versailles. Although what was signed was a more lenient version of what France had hoped for, they still left the war with the spoils of Alsace-Lorraine and possessing the greatest army in Europe.

Political decay and constant infighting made for a weak actor in the international stage, however, and a series of successive governments found themselves unable to halt the rise of Adolf Hitler. With a defensive position favoured by the conservative military leaders and a government prone to collapsing several times in the same year, no action was taken in the initial years of Hitler's reign. The conquest of Poland sparked off the Second World War for the French Third Republic, and although a few promising generals showed success in combating the revolutionary tactics of the Germans, flaws in the ancient thinking of the French leadership paved the way for the defeat of France. A collaborationist government was established in the south of France by Philippe Pétain, the Hero of Verdun, in which fascist policies were enacted. At the same time, Charles De Gaulle fled to the colonies of France where he led the Free French forces in assisting the Allies in combating the Axis. Known for his immense pride and belief in France, he soon found himself at the leadership of all French colonies and paved the way for the swift liberation of France, with the French Armies of the Interior and the Free French Forces providing assistance to their allies. With the liberation of France complete, the French Fourth Republic was soon established.

Politics and Government:
Governed as a Parliamentary Republic, the French Fourth Republic can be viewed as a revival of the Third Republic. Executive power essentially resides in the hands of the Prime Minister, and the President has been given a largely symbolic role. By 1953, the President is Vincent Auriol, and the Prime Minister is René Mayer.

In international politics, the French Republic is regarded as one of the world's most powerful countries, possessing one of five permanent security council seats.

Military:
Possessing an army of ~720,000 men, the French military is the largest in Western Europe. Having been newly re-established following the liberation of France in 1944, the organisational structures have been aimed at facilitating rapid battlefield manoeuvre, including the Javelot brigade and the 7e Division Mecanique Rapide. A striking feature of the French formations of this period is the extent to which they were tank-heavy.

Geography:
Metropolitan France stretches 1,000km (600mi) from north to south and the same from east to west, covering an area of 551,500km² (213,000mi²). It is therefore the second largest country in Europe after the Soviet Union. Metropolitan France has four coastlines: the North Sea, English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The total length of its coastline reaches 3427 km. With the exception of its north-eastern border, the country is bounded mainly by seas and oceans and natural borders: the river Rhine, and the Jura, Alps, and Pyrénées mountains.

Economy:
The great hardships of wartime, and of the immediate post-war period, were succeeded by a period of steady economic development. Alternating policies of "interventionist" and "free market" ideas enabled the French to build a society in which both industrial and technological advances could be made but also worker security and privileges established and protected. In the year 1946 France signed a treaty with US that waved off a large part of its debt, while being granted $2.3 billion with no repayment due to the Marshall Plan. Having agreed to reduce trade barriers and modernize its management system in return, the total of all American grants and credits to France by 1953 had came to $4.9 billion.

With reconstruction having began immediately after the end of the war, great confidence was brought back in the future. A baby boom had began as the natality rate surged rapidly. In the same year, key economic sectors (energy, air transport, savings banks, assurances) and big companies such as Renault were nationalised, and a welfare state was set up with the creation of Social Security and of works councils.

With the Planning Commission having been established in 1946 by Jean Monnet, the 1st economic plan for the 1947-1952 period focused on basic economic activities; energy, steel, cement, transports and, agriculture equipment. The future second plan is to have broader aims; housing construction, urban development, scientific research, and manufacturing industries.

Due to the measures undertaken by the government, the French economy is currently one of the fastest growing economies in all the world averaging at over 5%. Among the major nations, only Japan and Spain had faster growth in this era than France.

Culture:
In the Middle Ages, in art, architecture, music and literature, the courts and monasteries of France played a pivotal role in the development and refining of what is more generally defined as "western culture". From the Renaissance onwards, national cultures in Europe developed more independently as national languages progressively replaced Latin as vehicles for the expression of ideas and thought. In France, culture blossomed, producing specifically French traditions in literature and music, and French schools in art and architecture.

France has contributed massively to the common cultural heritage of humanity. In theatre and literature, poetry and philosophy, painting and sculpture, architecture and music, some of the greatest names in history - names such as Molière or Zola, Hugo and Voltaire, Monet, Rodin or Chopin - have been French, and their heritage remains an integral part of European culture to this day.

Fiercely proud of their culture, the French people are determined to fight against the internationalisation of culture, and defend French culture against what is perceived by many as Anglo-Saxon cultural imperialism.

Infrastructure , science and development:
Science and technology in France has a long history, with French scientific research protected and encouraged since the reign of the Sun King. France's achievements in science and technology have been significant throughout the past centuries, and indeed research and development efforts form an integral part of the country's economy. From Braille to the pencil, from bicycles to the parachute, and from film-making to photography, the French have been responsible for some of the world's most important inventions.

Analysis:
With a weak government at the helm, France is unable to take full advantage of its powerful status as of yet. Political change is all but inevitable for the Fourth Republic, having already gone through thirteen governments in seven years. It is propelled by a natural desire to stay as an important global superpower and protect its national sovereignty, and therefore its future will most likely revolve around solidifying and maintaining its power around the world.

Blocs - A Cold War NRP

Is France still reserved, or are they now available? If so, I'd be interested in signing up as them.

World in Revolution: 1861

The Empire of the Great Qing
An Edict of the Qing Imperial Government

By the Grace of Heaven, His Imperial Highness Prince Gong of the First Rank issues the following edict extraordinary on the behalf of The Present Emperor Above.

It is a regretful circumstance that the Russian Empire should have penned their signature to the disdainful Treaty of Constantinople, but altogether it is one that is admittedly not surprising. One merely has to look at the history of the Russian Empire's dealings with our own civilisation, let alone their encounters with the other peoples of the Orient, to see that this is merely the result of their unchecked ambition in dominating all within reach.

Since the days of the establishment of the Great Qing have we been in contact with the settlers of Russia journeying afar, but it can not be said these encounters were the most pleasant. Repeatedly did disturbances arise due to the impropriety of the Russians, as they flagrantly trespassed into the ancient homelands of our people in an attempt to settle their own homes there. They brought with them the latest weaponry as they attempted this disgraceful act of thievery, and it was only due to the successful victories won by the reigning Emperor Shengzu that such infringements came to an end. Although it was hoped by the Emperor that peaceful relations could now flourish between our peoples, this was not to last.

Indeed, it was during a time of great distress to the Qing Dynasty that the Russians saw fit to begin their old tricks and encroach upon the very same land in which they had coveted before. As our brave soldiers were battling with a rebellious heathen in the south, the Russian military entrenched upon the banks of the Amur. We were faced with no choice but to settle this matter at ransom. Although the Great Qing attempted to have simple negotiations based on politeness and respect as is the common courtesy, it would seem that Russia had a different idea of what construed good diplomatic protocol. The firing of artillery and cannon were common throughout the entire duration of our discussions, in a deliberate attempt to strike fear into the hearts of the innocent. Our diplomats could not fight swords with pens, and were compelled to sign away the land in order to save the lives of the many Chinese who to this day reside there in an atmosphere of terror.

Only a few years onwards from those days was the revelations of the Treaty of Constantinople discovered. Although the world was promised peace at the unveiling of this treaty, the signatories had chosen to blindly mislead us. The Great Qing, as much as we favoured a conciliatory stance with the powers of the Occident, was in shock and disgust at the secret 'sphere of influences' that had been revealed. It was at the behest of the Tsar that the Orient - a land of countless civilisations, ideals and philosophies - was designated as nothing more but yet another region of the Russian Empire. Evidently, the banks of the Amur had not been enough to satisfy the desires of this man.

Time and time again have the Russians proven their untrustworthiness and shown a longing in subduing the Orient for themselves, whether it may be the homeland of our people, the islands of Japan, the nomads of Central Asia or the Muslims of the Caucasus. The declaration of their sphere is nothing less than the Orient shall become nothing less than the personal realm of the Tsar if his ambition is not stopped. The eyes of the Tsar may look upon the entire continent hungrily, but the Great Qing can not idly stand by any further and allow the relentless greed of the Russians to continue terrorising the east.

The Great Qing shall therefore loyally stand by our allies in the Eternal Vigil in championing the sacred sovereignty of the Orient. We hereby declare a state of war between the ever eternal Celestial Empire and the barbarous Tsar of Russia.

World in Revolution: 1861

So Boerd said
Serious though. China and Japan aren't making any sense. You literally JUST fought FFGB three years ago. Why for any reason would you want to hurt their enemies? What dog does Japan have in this fight?

It is a historical fact that the Qing entered into an "informal alliance" of sorts with the British and the French immediately in the aftermath of the Second Opium War in light of the Self-Strengthening movement. Friendly relations was seen as the way to both keep the westerners happy and to begin a proper modernisation of the dynasty. As it was, British and French generals served in the Qing Army during the Taiping Rebellion alongside other tremendous aid given by the westerners, and several governmental occupations were held by British officials. It was in the aftermath of the Second Opium War that Prince Gong alongside a great many other Qing officials popularised having friendly relations with them based on trade and equality, and actively pursued a policy of reconciliation with the western powers. Newspaper reported as early as 1862 that these relations were 'established based on foundations of friendship’ and the Imperial Court both displayed a friendly relations with the British and French, as well as consulting with them over difficult matters.

On the other hand, the signing away of Outer Manchuria to the Russians was an act undertaken under Russian coercion during the Second Opium War, and was considered by the Xianfeng Emperor to merely be time-saving measure before dealing with the Russians more firmly when the appropriate time came. Sadly for the Chinese, that opportunity never arrived - but in a reality where Russia had declared a sphere of influence over the Qing's gigantic ego, and are now a tad busy elsewhere (much like when they grabbed Outer Manchuria from China), the opportunity to begin the reclamation of land lost merely five years ago and prove that they are not merely a Russian subject is ripe. I do not believe irredentism over the homeland of the Qing nor anger at perceived insults are invalid casus belli as of the late 19th century.

As for Japan; it is no secret that Japan is also wary of Russian expansionism in Asia ever since the latter half of the 19th century. An unequal treaty was forced upon Japan by the Russians, and the Russians had been involved in several territorial disputes with Japan ranging from Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, to an attempt to establish a naval port in the Japanese island of Tsushima in March 1861. Despite the presence of British warships alongside the Japanese, the Russians began to clash and were finally evicted by September. My knowledge on Japan is not as extensive as that of China, but it would seem to me that the Russians have not proven themselves to be the best of friends as compared to the British.

A Sino-Japanese alliance between these two culturally similar nations - who only fought a war once - in the light of recent Russian expansionism is probably just as odd as the British and French coming to some kind of alliance after 22+ wars, or the Germans and French coming together to lead Europe in some bizarre kind of friendly union. ;)

World in Revolution: 1861

Joint Communiqué of the Eternal Vigil

At the invitation of His Imperial Highness Mutsuhito, the Crown Prince of Japan, a Chinese delegation headed by Prince Gong of the First Rank journeyed across the East Sea to meet with their hospitable hosts in Kyoto. An earnest and friendly discussion followed concerning the well-being of both noble nations and the Orient as a whole, alongside the best course of action to undertake after the uncovering of a terrible truth hidden within the Treaty of Constantinople, and the unacceptable actions pursued by Russia.

It is only natural for each and every nation to enjoy prosperity in common through kindly aid and assistance, and it was in this spirit that the Russian Empire has promised peace. In truth, however, Russia has deceitfully lied as they signed the Treaty of Constantinople. Beneath their façade lay the proclamation of a so-called sphere of influence over the lands of Asia; fanciful words that mean nothing less than the oppression of other nations and peoples. Their declaration would allow them to pursue insatiable aggression and exploitation in order to satisfy their inordinate ambition of enslaving the entire continent, menacing the lives of hundreds of millions of innocents. Indeed, at this very moment the Tsar of Russia has embarked upon a self-proclaimed quest to rid his lands of men of a different creed under the guise of "Slavic purity". It would seem that his barbarous hatred for the guiltless people of the Orient knowns no bounds, and as such the Eternal Vigil is forced to act.

With a view to contributing to the cause of everlasting peace, the Eternal Vigil has pledged to cooperate towards ensuring the self-existence and self-defence of the Orient in accordance with the following principles:

- The countries of the Orient will ensure the stability of their region and construct an order of common prosperity and well-being based upon justice.

- The countries of the Orient will ensure the fraternity of nations in their region, by respecting one another's peoples and practising kindly assistance and amity.

- The countries of the Orient will respect one another's traditions and develop the creative faculties of each nation so as to enhance our ancient culture and civilization.

- The countries of the Orient will endeavour to accelerate their economic development through close cooperation upon a basis of reciprocity and to promote thereby general prosperity.

- The countries of the Orient will cultivate friendly relations with all the countries of the world, and work for the abolition of racial discrimination, the promotion of cultural intercourse and the opening of resources throughout the world, and contribute thereby to the progress of mankind.

Although the utmost principle of the Eternal Vigil shall be that of maintaining a perfect peace, it is an ideal proving hard to maintain in light of the Tsar's most insulting acts. Therefore, in order to uphold our eternal sovereignty, right the wrongs of the past, and ensure the safety of the Asiatic peoples, the Eternal Vigil compelled to make the following demands to the Russian Empire:

- A public apology for the trespassing of the independent sovereignty of the nations of the Orient

- The withdrawal of their claimed sphere of influence over the lands of the Orient

- The surrendering of extraterritorial rights enjoyed by the Russian Empire throughout the nations of the Orient

- Guaranteed protection to any citizen of the Orient residing within the lands of the Russian Empire, regardless of ethnicity or faith

- The surrendering of Russian sovereignty over lands that have been malevolently coerced from the innocent nations of the Orient, that is to say: the peaceful transfer of Outer Manchuria to the Great Qing, and the islands of Sakhalin and the Kurils to Japan

All the years of Russian cruelty shall reach an end. A refusal to abide shall compel the Eternal Vigil to take such action as it may deem necessary to meet the situation. Only through the compliance with these appropriate demands may friendly and fruitful relations be restored between the nations of the Orient and the Russian Empire.