The End of Freedom: The Ultimate Cost of the Great Depression

[Mechaman]

Alright.

It's become apparent that the sci-fi elements I've recently put in here are a bit over the top.  To make up for whatever happened (ie kill the shark instead of jumping over it) I have decided to (at the least) get rid of the "blue wave" entries and all implications up to then.  In the coming days (or weeks) I will replace that arc with another arc (that is somewhat sci-fi, but not ridiculous Ion Cannon cataclasmic event).  There will be no super doomsday scenario.

Needless to say I am VERY disappointed by the response this idea got and unlike some people (like a blue Tennessee avatar on here) I do take the comments in this thread seriously.  I don't want this TL's legacy to forever be tarnished by a crazy idea I had while running at 4:30 in the morning.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Well, I voted the "WTF" option, but it was a bit excessive. What I meant is that I'm not really fond of this kind of things in a TL, but, for what's worth, I absolutely don't think it sucked.

[lc1990]

I actually kind of wanted to see where it was going..

[Yelnoc]

Alright.

It's become apparent that the sci-fi elements I've recently put in here are a bit over the top.  To make up for whatever happened (ie kill the shark instead of jumping over it) I have decided to (at the least) get rid of the "blue wave" entries and all implications up to then.  In the coming days (or weeks) I will replace that arc with another arc (that is somewhat sci-fi, but not ridiculous Ion Cannon cataclasmic event).  There will be no super doomsday scenario.

Needless to say I am VERY disappointed by the response this idea got and unlike some people (like a blue Tennessee avatar on here) I do take the comments in this thread seriously.  I don't want this TL's legacy to forever be tarnished by a crazy idea I had while running at 4:30 in the morning.

"Dude WTF" might have been a bit much, but I just felt lost and confused.  I say you keep going with this for a while, and then make another timeline with the sci-fi story arc.  Then you get the best of both worlds; a true dystopian American timeline and your sci-fi one (which you will be better able to control the setting by making it separate from this one).

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

That's good, but I personlly liked old style better.

[Mechaman]

Alright, just posting so you guys know I'm not dead.

This timeline will be put on indefinite hiatus.  I'm not doing this because I feel like I epic failed here but because I am about to be super busy IRL.

Thanks for the advice.

[Mechaman]

I just want to make this statement:

Someday this timeline will continue.  Since it requires a lot of research I can safely say it probably won't be in the next few days or weeks, but it will continue.
Please know that I usually have a life outside of this forum and there is the possibility that it might interfere.  I have a regular sleep schedule now days so it isn't as easy for me to just create entry after entry of events.  If you look in the first few pages of this TL you'll probably notice that a majority of these entries I came up with in the span of like a week.  If there is one thing I am certain of is that I probably can't give you guys three updates in one day (that just seems insane).
I will retain SOME (not all) of the sci-fi elements that I had initially planned on having.  Now that I think about it what I have planned will probably be closer to what I had originally planned before OMG ION CANNONS EVERYWHERE! appeared.

I have started a few timelines in my time here and I can say that without bias this one is my pride and joy.  I won't let it end because of a f***ing shark jump.
That is all.

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

I just want to make this statement:

Someday this timeline will continue.  Since it requires a lot of research I can safely say it probably won't be in the next few days or weeks, but it will continue.
Please know that I usually have a life outside of this forum and there is the possibility that it might interfere.  I have a regular sleep schedule now days so it isn't as easy for me to just create entry after entry of events.  If you look in the first few pages of this TL you'll probably notice that a majority of these entries I came up with in the span of like a week.  If there is one thing I am certain of is that I probably can't give you guys three updates in one day (that just seems insane).
I will retain SOME (not all) of the sci-fi elements that I had initially planned on having.  Now that I think about it what I have planned will probably be closer to what I had originally planned before OMG ION CANNONS EVERYWHERE! appeared.

I have started a few timelines in my time here and I can say that without bias this one is my pride and joy.  I won't let it end because of a f***ing shark jump.
That is all.

I am eagerly anticipating the return of this TL. It was really very good, although I do think you went a bit overboard.

[Mechaman]

OH MY HOLY F***IN LARD!  IT'S A BUMP!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Were you reminded by these comments, or no?

Really would like to see what happens with the Progressive Plurality and the election of a Progressive President in 2024. I think the ten years after his election will look like Mech's Alfalfa Bill timeline? Wonder if we get to invade Canada..

I remember reading that timeline and I loved it. I just wish it would continue...

[Mechaman]

Were you reminded by these comments, or no?

Really would like to see what happens with the Progressive Plurality and the election of a Progressive President in 2024. I think the ten years after his election will look like Mech's Alfalfa Bill timeline? Wonder if we get to invade Canada..

I remember reading that timeline and I loved it. I just wish it would continue...

Not really.
I just have now gotten back to being in a TL writing mode (due to not having a job or any friends at home during the summer).  Even if I do have a job and become VP of Atlasia I do plan on being active in this side of the forum.  Hell, I've proposed to bring "What-if" scenarios to Atlasia even!
Needless to say this TL will always be my little baby, so when I work on it I put in extra love and care then I would others.....
I feel like quoting "Lightning Crashes" right now!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

become VP of Atlasia I do plan on being active in this side of the forum. 

Vice President isn't required to do a s**t.

I'm speaking of my experience

[Mechaman]

First they came for the bankers, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a banker
Then they came for the businessmen, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a businessman
Then they came for the urban bosses, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't part of a political machine
Then they came for the Liberty Party, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a member of the Liberty Party
Then they came for the negroes, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a negro
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I was a Jew
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak out because I was a Catholic
Then they came for me, and there was no one left so speak out for me
How, how did it come to this?

John B. Connally, Jr., Canadian War Veteran, Personal Journal date: unknown

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

First they came for the bankers, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a banker
Then they came for the businessmen, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a businessman
Then they came for the urban bosses, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't part of a political machine
Then they came for the Liberty Party, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a member of the Liberty Party
Then they came for the negroes, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a negro
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I was a Jew
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak out because I was a Catholic
Then they came for me, and there was no one left so speak out for me
How, how did it come to this?

John B. Connally, Jr., Canadian War Veteran, Personal Journal date: unknown

Oh, I do love this quote, especially since I remember at some point reading what this is based on.

[Mechaman]

In his Dreams:

Mentor: You must understand, gifted student, that the mission upon you are about to embark on, you can not return.
Student: Yes master.
Mentor: Please understand that out of all the candidates available for this mission you were the most highly qualified for this undertaking.  Either way, win or lose, may we live in a world where decisions like this will never have to be contemplated.
Student: Sir.
Mentor: Many days I have wondered the ethics about what we are about to undertake.  If there is a god out there may he show us great mercy for bending the laws of nature.  Mankind, seems to be on an inevitable path to self destruction.  Maybe a merciful god, seeing this as man giving man a second chance, will be so merciful to us.
Student: Sir, it is because of God, ever forgiving in giving second chances, that this is even possible.

And then he woke up to cold reality.

[Mechaman]

November 5th, 1940
Austin, Texas:

Lieutenant John Bowden Connally, Jr., a veteran of the Canadian War who was sent home after being wounded in the call of duty, went to the voting poll in Austin, where he had taken up work as a recruiter for the US Army.  Despite his calling to the US Army, there was a part of him that felt sick at what had happened up in Quebec.  How he had been given the order to fire upon those civilians, like dogs.  How, when he decided to refuse that order, he had received a torso wound that punctured his right lung.  For what seemed like an eternity he was convinced he was going to die there on that battlefield, until a loyal corporal carried him on his shoulders to an emergency clinic.  When he awoke he found himself in a medical tent and gazed upon the face of his rescuer, Bentley Q. Loyelle III, a Connecticut blueblood who joined the army out of duty to his country.  It was then that he noticed a figure in the corner of his eye, a tall brooding figure in a green overcoat.  It was then that he had met Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., a renegade American fighting on the side of the Canadians against what he saw as "an oppressive fascist regime" under Murray.
He remembered the man very well, about 24 or so, maybe older maybe younger, with an intense glare in his eye.  He remembered how, despite his uniform, the man had taken great mercy upon him.  How, when he had fully recovered, Joe had released him to be free to walk back towards the American headquarters in Montreal.  But most of all, he remembered what Joe had said (in a Boston accent):

"My friend, they are coming after you someday.  It is inevitable, once they are finished with the rest of us undesirables, us Catholics, us Jews, us blacks, they will come after you too.  Protestant you may be, but your criminal last name will put you in great suspect one day soon.  You think you're safe because your father was a big supporter of Murray's re-election campaign?  You think the prosperity of your family will protect you from the wrath of Murray?  Well I can tell you from personal experience you are wrong.  That is why I have chosen to fight, to use violence instead of "peaceful protesting" like those fools down south have tried.  So help me God."

The implication by Joe, that John and his family would one day be suspects under the current regime, seemed foolish.  John could think of little reason why the Murray or the Jackson administrations would suspect his family, a family of strong protestant upbringing, a successful family that were patriotic, would be suspect by the government.  What did Joe mean when he said "your criminal last name?"  Perhaps he meant.....god, I don't want to think about it.

John went into the voting booth, looked at the paper:

Travis County Voting Card

United States President:
Edward Jackson (Republican) United America Coalition
Styles Bridges (Republican) Progressive Conservative Alliance

After a brief moment of hesitation, he voted:

Styles Bridges (Republican) Progressive Conservative Alliance x

Can't believe I voted for a Republican, Connally thought.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

List of Presidents 1933-1940

32. William H Murray (D-OK)/John Nance Garner (D-TX) March 4th, 1933-March 26th, 1940
33. John Nance Garner (D-TX)/vacant March 26th, 1940-May 8th, 1940
34. Edward L Jackson (R-IN) May 8th, 1940-?

List of Losing Tickets 1932, 1936
1932: President Herbert Hoover (R-CA)/Vice-President Charles Curtis (R-KS), Socialist Norman Thomas (S-NY)/Unionist James Maurer (S-PA)
1936 Senator Frederick Hale (R-ME)/Governor Alfred Landon (R-KS), Senator Robert LaFollette Jr. (F-WI)/Governor Joseph P Kennedy Sr. (F-MA)

Is Jackson Acting, or the 34th President?

[Mechaman]

List of Presidents 1933-1940

32. William H Murray (D-OK)/John Nance Garner (D-TX) March 4th, 1933-March 26th, 1940
33. John Nance Garner (D-TX)/vacant March 26th, 1940-May 8th, 1940
34. Edward L Jackson (R-IN) May 8th, 1940-?

List of Losing Tickets 1932, 1936
1932: President Herbert Hoover (R-CA)/Vice-President Charles Curtis (R-KS), Socialist Norman Thomas (S-NY)/Unionist James Maurer (S-PA)
1936 Senator Frederick Hale (R-ME)/Governor Alfred Landon (R-KS), Senator Robert LaFollette Jr. (F-WI)/Governor Joseph P Kennedy Sr. (F-MA)

Is Jackson Acting, or the 34th President?

For the purposes of record keeping?
Go with "acting president" for now.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

There is no agreement between constitutional scholars whether someone beside VP, can succeed the office or just act of, even if there's a permanent vacancy, so acting is fine.

[Mechaman]

The Big Bang:


THe Explosion of the USS Mount Hood near Long Island, New York

November 5th, 1940 was supposed to be a normal election day, a day without incident or trouble as an as of late divided nation went to the voting polls to let their voices be heard.  However, around 11:43 AM at a harbor in Long Island, New York a horrible tragedy would take place.
From 10AM until 6PM the US Navy was allowing US citizens the privilege of touring the USS Mount Hood that had stationed in New York before disembarking for News Brunswick.  It is estimated that around 11:30 there were several hundred citizens on board the vessel.
Around 11:42 Admiral Chester W. Nimitz began to speak about to an assembled group of the press corp who had shown up to ask questions about recent naval operations in Canada.  One minute later, he and the several hundred other people on board the would enter the annals of history.  At 11:43:23 AM a series of loud explosions was heard from below decks, 18 seconds later the ship would be reduced to a large pile of burnt metal and dead bodies.
The event, covered by local media, would be called a "national tragedy".  Both presidential tickets would offer their condolences to the families of those lost in the apparent terrorist attack and would vow to bring the perpetrators of the bombing to justice........
The bombing of the USS Mount Hood would, naturally, weigh heavily upon people's minds as they entered the voting booths.

[Person Man]

Looks like the UAC is going to pull it off...

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Looks like the UAC is going to pull it off...

Yeah, i was thinking that it would help the pro-war party.

[hawkeye59]

Looks like the UAC is going to pull it off...

Yeah, i was thinking that it would help the pro-war party.

I'm pretty sure that was obvious before, considering the title, and how that party has been acting.

[Mechaman]

The Election of 1940:

Due to the effects of the bombing the United America Coalition would experience a huge last minute surge as voters who waited until they got off work to vote would swing heavily towards the UAC.  With poll closings later in the evening this gave the UAC a huge opportunity to take advantage of the surge.  All of the hope, even if it was just a tiny glimmer of a hope, that the PCA could pull off an upset over the UAC would be dashed as popular opinion would be scared of what a "peacenik" group like the PCA would do.  Also, the deadpan campaign of Styles Bridges would leave much to be desired arguably losing quite a few states that would've been safe PCA with someone like say Franklin Roosevelt running:

Edward Jackson (R-IN)/Alben Barkley (D-KY) United America Coalition 498 Electoral votes 58.91% Popular Votes
Styles Bridges (R-NH)/Douglas MacArthur (I-AR) Progressive Conservative Alliance 33 Electoral Votes 40.04% Popular Vote
Other: 1.05% Popular Vote

Although the win was a solid UAC victory many pundits would voice surprise at the PCA winning over 40% of the popular vote and for it's very strong showing in the Northeast, including a 56% vote victory in Massachusetts.......better than the late President Murray did in his enormous landslide in 1936.  Of note Irish Catholic Americans, once more Democratic than Southern Whites, would turn out to the UAC's biggest enemies, voting over 89% against the UAC ticket.  African Americans and Jews, also other targets of the UAC's propaganda, would vote strongly against the UAC (Jews 83%, African Americans 87%).
So the election had been settled and it looked like the US would be at war for a bit longer.  However, things were about to take a turn for the much worse.................

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Okay, I'm re-posting this with the assumption that Jackson survives 'til inauguration day:

The End of Freedom: The Ultimate Cost of the Great Depression

List of Presidents 1933-1941
32. William H Murray (D-OK)/John Nance Garner (D-TX) March 4th, 1933-March 26th, 1940
33. John Nance Garner (D-TX)/vacant March 26th, 1940-May 8th, 1940
34. Edward L Jackson (R-IN)/vacant, Alben W Barkley (D-KT) May 8th, 1940-? [United America Coalition]

List of Losing Tickets 1932, 1936, 1940
1932: President Herbert Hoover (R-CA)/Vice-President Charles Curtis (R-KS), Socialist Norman Thomas (S-NY)/Unionist James Maurer (S-PA)
1936 Senator Frederick Hale (R-ME)/Governor Alfred Landon (R-KS), Senator Robert LaFollette Jr. (F-WI)/Governor Joseph P Kennedy Sr. (F-MA)
1940 Senator H Styles Bridges (R-NH)/General Douglas MacArthur (I-AR) [Progressive-Conservative Alliance]