Guffingford
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OOC Preamble So far this and many other pages contain basic or elaborate information on the subject Guffingford and many associated subjects. If you think something's wrong, missing or a subject hasn't been quite as in-depth as you'd want to see, or just want to have more information on a certain subject - do not hesitate to contact me. Drop me a message here or through telegram on NationStates. ContentsGeneral InformationGuffingford as a wholeGuffingford is a very large, dry nation that closely resembles present day South Africa and Namibia. The central highlands are dry, rocky regions where rivers only flow during the rain season. The coastal regions are green, lush mountainous regions where most of the argicultural activities take place. The utmost northern provinces of the Bundesstaat Neuland-Grüneberg-Gooshen is the prime diamond and gold mining center, while the processing plants are mostly located in Rooi-Nassau, the most south-western freestate. The only state is the North Western Quarter, consisting of four semi-independent provinces. These are mainly Spanish. Guffingford is very rich in minerals and all sorts of ore, and this is the primary industrial sector. Other low-tech industries are increasingly sighted in Guffingford, namely synethetic materials processing, plastic injection molding, plastic extrusion, metal workshops, wood workshops, furniture building industry and various other true labor professions. Since Guffingford is such a massively huge nation, there's plenty of space for natural beauty. Some sites have been ruined by the mining industry, but that's less than 1% of the landscape - while providing more than 50% of the national GDP. The economy of Guffingford is a story in its own, and can be read by clicking this link Guffingfordian Economy. History of GuffingfordSome nations have a rich, florishing and peaceful history. Some don't, and some have a history tainted with blood of innocent people. In the relatively short history of Guffingford, starting at around 1500 when the first European eyes began to see Guffingford, the quest for this resource rich land began. Some countries know these kinds of war. Some don't, the rest reads about it in history books or the news paper. Guffingford still feels it daily. From the corporations set up in the early 20th century or the late 19th century it has always been a battle of whom controls the ore. Some see a resource rich nation as a blessing, Guffingfordians more and more begin to see it as a curse upon them. If nations were books, then some might contain a few black pages. Others are tainted with blood. Guffingford's book is one bloody mass, dripping from all of its pages. Only a few years were quite calm, others were mostly restless. While America's years of the wild west were between 1840-1900, Guffingford's wild years were between 1780 and 1930. A long period of war, rape, genocide and crime. And not much has changed since. The 19th CenturyThe 19th century in colonial Guffingford was marked by many bloody conflicts, but The First Oil War, The Masapa Tensions and The Luambo Wars are the best known to outsiders. A short description follows on what happened when, where and most importantly, why. The 19th Century ended with the Luambo wars which lasted from 1895 till 1901. As you know, Knootoss granted Guffingford independence in 1902 mainly because of that war. Although the impact of the Luambo War isn't as big as the Masapa Tensions, the only logical conclusion was that the situation didn't look like resolving any time soon without bloodshed so Knootoss had to drop probably her most precious colonial treasure. The year 1902 of the independence might have easily been 1899, 1903 or 1896. Altogether it doesn't make much difference.
First Oil WarThe First Oil War was the first major conflict outside Guffingford involving colonial powers present in Guffingford. This conflict bears many similarities with present day affairs in NationStates, especially the Stevid-Guffingford tensions. This was the first of two fairly large wars. The political impact by far outweighs the human aspects. This may not have been fought on Guffingfordian soil, but the outcome of this war marked the beginning of some big changes in Guffingford itself. MasapaMasapa was the theatre of the first major genocide in Guffingford before the first world war. Compared to today's standards it appears to be insignificant, unimportant but back then it was a most dramatic happening. Over sixty innocent people were slaughtered in one night and even word about this massacre reached the Knootian motherland, they did not gave up their precious resource rich colony. Tragedy people said afterwards. But the very same people who said it was a tragedy looked the other way when the topic slavery was brought up, or the enduring lawlessness outside the governed areas. This, and some other factors created The Masapa Tensions. The Luambo WarsThe Luambo Wars were mostly fuelled by hatred and jealousy. Neglect caused this war, and if people in Guffingford were a little more open minded towards other cultures, and a dark skin then most of this wouldn't have happened. What triggered it? The killing of John Adelba? Or the ruthless raids led by Edmund Rappen? Nobody knows. Here is a presentation of the story written from an eye witness, whether it is biased is up for the reader to decide. It's hard to believe but many people consider the times when that happened better than 2005. The outcome of the war? Racism is socially accepted. Think of the media's role in this war as "Pre-WW2 Propaganda". A Story Set in the Past; the wars of the Dutch, Germans and Spanish against the people of Luambo The 20th CenturyThe 20th century was marked with the Independence from Knootoss, The 2nd Oil War and some other minor conflicts that dominated the first half of this tumultuous century. The second half was marked with steady social progress and the rise of the living standard of many citizens. The capital became Hoogenbosch 10 years after the independence, when Redmound was the capital. Many foreign wars passed by unnoticed, causing no damage since everyone was too busy sorting out their own mess. The British were busy trying to create something called "law and order" in their new creation North Western Quarter, the Spanish were busy trying to catch the notorious desperado Xaviero Guerra, Ed Rappen was banished from Guffingford and the Germans were trying to bring back their colonial monarchy.
IndependenceIndependence from Knootoss was to be expected, and the only question was 'when'. In 1902 this questioned was answered as the Knootian presence withdrew its military presence, leaving the territories they had occupied to other colonial powers. But through the blood of many fighters they achieved freedom of thought and the freedom to live on their lands. And here comes a part conspiracy theorists in both Knootoss and Guffingford love: the largest and most richest mines were opened only weeks after Knootians left. Second Oil WarThe Second Oil War was a contiuation of the first. Like WW1 and WW2, the unsatisfied British and French who were sent away from Theohuanacu by the Colonial Consortium of Guffingford, abandoned by their leaders felt that they could go on on their own. This resulted in heavy casulties on both sides, but in the end the Germans held the upper hand in this proxy war. The French suffered the most casulties in the field, but most political damage was done to the British. Restructuring the NationOn the origins of the name GuffingfordThe name Guffingford originates from the Scot Ian McGuff who first settled on the south eastern shores of Guffingford, present day Rooi-Nassau. There he ordered his men and women to build a collossal fortress, a marvel of the ages and called the town, which soon grew into a city, Scotsborough. Several other little (mainly Scottish) villages were built, and parts of the land were cultivated. The fort of Ian McGuff stood for at least two hundred years until a catastrophic earthquake partially destroyed it. Rendered unsafe and unfit for men, the building was demolished. By then the massive land became mainly Knootian/German, and the Anglo-Saxon elements were driven to the Freestate of Gloucterbury, and shrunk to its present size in roughly hundred years. However, the name Guffingford came from McGuffsfort when all names by then were taken in Australia, Canada and America. Early suggestions were "New Oceania", "New British Territories", "Knootian Caledonia", "Deutsch Ost Solomon" and many more. In the end the name of Ian McGuff was taken. The Mc part was removed and Guffsfort was turned into Guffingsfort. These names were all unofficial until one bright mind changed the name to its current form: Guffingford. The Guffingfordian FreestatesFreestate Cerfonlande Freestate Nord Neuland (Bundesstaat Neuland-Grüneberg-Gooshen)
Freestate Rooi-Nassau Freestate Gloucterbury Freestate Oos Seeland Freestate Suidelike Kaap Vrystaat North Western Quarter Old FreestatesThese no longer exist, but have played an important role in Guffingford's history, so are worth to be added in this category. Freestate Gooshen Freestate Neu-Bayern Freestate Grüneberg Political SpectrumAllies, Enemies, Pacts, Agreements & Alliances
Guffingfordian PoliticsAt present, there are 151 seats in the Imperial Parliament of Guffingford, seated in Hoogenbosch. This political system is a relic left behind by the colonial powers of Guffingford, in an attempt to create more stability in the country. Every colony had its say, and often the heated debates decended into verbal abuse. A few times there was also fighting, mainly between British and French members of the parliament, who cooled their tantrum on other members of the parliament. Even back then Guffingford was a dictatorship. Before WW1, Germany ruled the parliament. After WW1, the British became the most influential. Since then the balance of power occasionally shifts between the Germans and the Dutch. Both can get along just fine, and the love-hate relation is a thing of the past. Apart from this, there's not much to write about the politics in Guffingford. Ministers reign supreme over their departments with an iron fist, the President overlooks the current happenings of the nation but has very little power on his own. He can issue decrees and make statements, and in the event of war he is the only one with the authority to declare war. The Parliament makes laws and approves them as well after debate on what the content should be, clauses and other relevant articles. (Legal) Political Parties in Guffingford
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