1792: The Fourth Year
January 1st to December 31st, 1792
A New Temporary Capital
In the News!
Government completes first half of term
Madison defies skeptics by holding coalition together
Revenue trouble back on the horizon
Assumption of Pennsylvania debt, new capital construction, Indian War substantially raise the deficit
War in Europe! France against Austro-Prussian Coalition!
Will America be dragged into war soon?
Indicators:
Economic Prosperity:
Very Low (High debt, rising deficit after new spending)
Faction Popularity:
(meant to reflect areas in which the faction exists)
Western: Highly Popular
Hamiltonian: Popular
Whig: Moderate
Patriot: Moderate
Democratic Republican: Unpopular
Radical: Unpopular
Tory: Very Unpopular
1.- Turn: This turn lasts across the whole year or 1792, following the same model as the previous turn. As always, you're free to publish in the press, fight in the National Assembly, pursue intrigue and try and influence the course of events, with the added difference that this turn will feature political parties.
New Capital, New Problems
Government temporarily settles on Baltimore, new issues up for debate
BALTIMORE - By late December the last of the National Assembly deputies left the city of Philadelphia, where they had resided for the past few years as the first post-Constitution capital of the United States of America. The Westsylvania Rebellion had taken its toll on the city as residents had become increasingly angry at deputies for what they percieved was a disgraceful betrayal of their state against Western seccessionism, resulting in protests and even riots. And while the crisis appeared defused after the referendum and the controversial deal between First Secretary Madison and the Radicals, it was clear to many retaining the capital in Philadelphia was a mistake.
While much smaller than the previous city (and boasting at best some 15,000 residents), Baltimore became filled with activity in the first days of 1792 as the National Assembly, the First Secretary and the President took residence in the city and resumed their work, the local population steadily starting to increase as hotels were quickly filled and houses began to be built. The city itself warmly recieved the incoming government and deputies, and prepared for that they envisioned to be at least a decade of economic gain thanks to the new relevance of the city and its harbor. Not far from there and at Havre de Grace, the Maryland State Government had granted the necessary land to start building the new District of Columbia, an expensive project which is expected to yield results by 1801 or 1802.
Already the new capital is expected to see new and controversial debates not only on economic issues, but on matters of increased relevance such as the increased cost of mail and newspapers - and the subsequent trouble to political factions and parties to ensure a higher share of readers -.
The Age of Partisanship!
Harsh debates across North and South, factions start evolving into political parties
UNITED STATES - While it was believed by many that politics without political parties - a dream once promoted by the late Gen. Washington - could be possible in America's new democracy, events such as the extremely harsh 1789 campaign, the Westsylvania Rebellion and the ongoing debate on the size of government have made it impossible for political debate to remain focused on personalities rather than more organized groups. Originally loose political factions begun to expand and cement their hold on given regions and individuals as defections within the originally fluid National Assembly became less common, and with several leaders having put hard work into organizing their supporters it is expected that the factions will begin describing themselves as fully formed political parties at the onset of 1792.
This formation is also helped by the latest set of harsh political debates across North and South, which have begun to draw new political battle lines. At the North and particularly in New England, the Whigs and the Hamiltonians have gained prominence as the strongest factions defending radically different points of view: the Whigs standing up for the "Republican" vision of the government while constantly - and controversially - subjecting their political opponents to accussations of wanting a monarchy - led by the popular Gen. Hamilton -; and the Hamiltonians defending controversial (but popular in the North) policies such as the National Bank, along with a general point of view regarding a larger government. And while Democratic-Republicans, Tories and Radicals all have their own strongholds (particularly the now seemingly unassailable Radical Pennsylvania), the main battle between Morris and Adams is set.
Across the South the situation is also highly controversial, as both Patriots and Democratic-Republicans fight for supremacy in a battle which has seen First Secretary Madison's faction steadily lose ground. Much of it has been related to a sentiment extensively exploited by the Patriots, which is to say that Madison's percieved pragmatism and moderation (which has won plaudits by many moderates and swing voters) has led to his abandonment of ideas popular across much of the South which the Patriots appear to be championing. Particularly machiavellian Radical propaganda portraying the First Secretary as the "hero" of Pennsylvania Radicals and the assumption of Pennsylvanian debt have inflicted large blows on the main government party, but the Patriots themselves have suffered an enormous blow after the Blount disaster in Cumberland which others have also skillfully exploited. Against this background of division the Hamiltonians still retain some bastions of support, and the Western faction continues a steady rise as their support begins to take extra strenght in the South - at the cost of losing support in states such as Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York -.
The Bloody Indian War
New leadership takes over as new armies are formed, raids are commonplace
OHIO - In the aftermath of the bloody Battle of Fort Washington and running low on men and supplies, Gen. Alexander Hamilton formally resigned his commission and requested a replacement, situation which allowed the General to retire with his reputation intact while drawing criticism among his opponents of withdrawning before it was prudent to do so. First Secretary Madison then appointed - with the support of the President - General Anthony ("Mad Anthony") Wayne to leadership of the army and the renewed Indian campaign, and Mr. Benjamin Stoddert to organize the new United States Navy.
Wayne has immediately begun the work of organizing logistical support for the new campaign as militias return home and martial law in Pennsylvania is lifted. As a result, it may take some months for Wayne to organize a large-enough force to confront the Indians in a open field, resulting in a temporary stalemate as Indian and American raids continue to take place across the region in a bloody - and expensive - war of attrition. It is believed by the public, however, that one General Wayne gets started the Indian tribes may be in for quite a surprise.
War breaks out in Europe!
Louis XVI forced to wage war against Austria, Austro-Prussian army invades!
PARIS - With Louis XVI increasingly turned into a puppet of the new National Legislative Assembly, the rise of the Republican forces meant that the push for an aggressive foreign policy only grew stronger as the days piled up with the threat of Austrian invasion continuing to grow. With the Girondin faction having taken a pre-eminent role in the Assembly, Louis XVI was soon pushed and pressured into declaring war at the danger of losing his crown should he refuse, an implicit threat that forced the King to cave in. With his support, France declared war on Austria, a dangerous move which was followed by Prussia declaring war on France in return. As a result France is now at war with two of the strongest powers in Europe, and the first signs of defections across the remnants of the professional army have forced the National Legislative Assembly into raising new volunteer forces to fight for France.
What this war may bring is yet to be seen.