New Pittsburghia
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| Flag of New Pittsburghia | |
| Motto: Steel Capital of the World | |
| Region | The North Pacific |
|---|---|
| Capital | Pittsburgh |
| Official Language(s) | Pittsburghese (English) |
| Leader | President Bob O'Connor |
| Population | |
| Currency | Dollar |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Commonwealth of New Pittsburghia (often called simply 'Pittsburghia') is a small, democratic socialist nation located in the North Pacific. Its citizens are predominantly liberal and pro-labor union. They strongly support Democratic leaders, and have not had a non-Democrat President since the Great Depression. Overall, New Pittsburghia is a strong nation in an economic sense, with new industries and markets frequently opening up. However, the economy is tightly regulated by the government after the nation's economic failures of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
HISTORY
The history of New Pittsburghia begins in the 18th century, when French settlers built their first villages on the Ohio River. One of these French settlements was Fort Nouvelle Duquesne, a military station protecting the upper Ohio basin. It was a station of great strategic significance, as the River eventually emptied into the sea. This allowed the French to ship natural resources from Northeastern America to the Gulf of Mexico much more easily.
The British became interested in the small city, and seized it during the Pittsburghia War of the mid-1700s. They renamed it Fort Pittsburghia, and it was expanded to house more troops and villagers. During the Revolutionary War, Pittsburghia saw little combat due to its far western location and small population. Soon after the war, however, the countryside around the city erupted into violence as rural mountain men struggled for their right to produce moonshine. The new United States government sent troops, and the rebellion was soon ended.
The 19th century saw a massive growth for Pittsburghia. In the early part of the century, it became a hub of boat manufacturing and trade along the Ohio, bringing thousands of workers into its borders. The famed Lewis and Clark expedition saw its start in Pittsburghia, where their riverboats were constructed. As the 1800s passed, large coal deposits were found nearby, further boosting the economy. It eventually led to the creation of the first steel mills, which quickly began to dominate the city's industries. Mills sprang up all across Pittsburghia, drawing not only more laborers, but also wealthy industrialists. During the corrupt years of the latter 19th century, labor riots began to flare up as immigrant workers demanded better treatment. US police and militia troops quelled these uprisings with extreme violence.
The First World War caused many of the city's young workers to leave, and prompted mixed results for Pittsburghia. Though its labor force was decreased in size, the loss was made up for by increased demand for steel and the movements of thousands more workers to the city. When the soldiers returned home, they saw a place shooting ahead economically. It seemed like a golden age as the city grew both outward and upward. More immigrant steel manufacturers moved in, as well. The city soon became home to America's largest Slovak population, as well as being the home to many other Eastern European immigrants.
The Great Depression led to Pittsburghia's downfall as a United States city. Massive layoffs and the expansion of slums for the unemployed led to violent riots all over the city. As other states began to secede from the Union (following the timeline of the game Crimson Skies), Pittsburghia decided to do so as well. the city council took the matter to a vote, and the proponents of secession won by a small majority. William McNair took the oath of office in 1934, becoming the first President of the Commonwealth. His successors did their best to reform the city, and it slowly became a powerful economic center. Steel production remained its most important industry for decades, while the semi-socialist economy made sure that the laborers received adequate treatment. Meanwhile, a small army was formed and a river patrol unit made up of small boats patrolled the Alleghany, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers.
In the 1970s, the nation's many liberal reforms were overturned when much of the steel business was moved to other countries. Thousands were laid off and it seemed as though the economy was about to fall apart. However, the new, more environmentally-friendly Pittsburghia seemed appealing to high-tech industry, and the nation became famous for its hospitals and medicine industry. In the 1980s and '90s, robotics companies began to take root, nicknaming the city 'Roboburghia'. Nowadays, the economy has sprung back from its brief slump, and President Bob O'Connor is dealing with minor problems in the economic infrastructure. The future of the Commonwealth of Pittsburghia looks bright, and its many new industries are growing rapidly.
GEOGRAPHY AND ETHNICITY
The nation consists of Pennsylvania's Allegheny County (home of the city itself) as well as the surrounding counties of Lawrence, Greene, Fayette, Butler, Beaver, Washington, Armstrong, Indiana, and Westmoreland. The surrounding hills are filled with a mixture of sleepy suburbs and coal-mining industrial centers. Several large towns and small cities are in this area; they all depend on Pittsburghia economically.
The city iself consists of three main divisions: Downtown, the North Side, and the South Side. The Downtown area is home to the famous Strip District and 'the Point', as well as numerous skyscrapers and business centers. The North Side is a hilly area, well-known for its large German population. The South Side, meanwhile, has a wide ethnic mix of Eastern Europeans. The eastern areas of town are ethnically diverse, home to Jews, African-Americans, Italians, and Poles. Small neighborhoods have closely-knit communities, allowing for great pride in the citizens' heritages.
CULTURE
Pittsburghia is, as mentioned above, home to countless ethnicities, and they have all influenced the nation's overall culture. The Eastern Euripean population brought pierogies, kielbasi, and various other foods to the table, while their religions and cultural quirks have affected every resident's daily life. German citizens brough their love of beer, and it has become one of the nation's most well-known cultural traits. It is sometimes referred to as 'the Beer Town with a Football Problem'. The North Side is home to several old Bavarian beer halls, and world-famous Iron City Beer is brewed there. The local Italian population affected culture in a more subtle way, but a trip to the neighborhood of Bloomfield will quickly show that their heritage is firmly entrenched in Pittsburghian life.
One of the nation's most famous quirks is the language: Pittsburghianese. While many of the local phrases are used in other parts of the world, the language shows the city's working-class culture and simple style of living. Many common words and phrases include: "Stillers" (the city's football team, the Steelers), "Jag-off" (an insult) "Worsched" (washed), and "N'at" (meaning "and that"), as well as the use of the word "needs" in an odd context, e.g. "Yunz need worsched".
The city's people are a cynical but hardworking bunch, obsessed with football and good food. They are descended from laborers, and it shows in their collective personality. The entire nation of New Pittsburghia is known for its liberal political beliefs, and a Republican has not been elected president in the entire history of the nation. Its citizens are strongly pro-labor and support unions wherever they hold power.
POLITICS, GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
The nation is led by a president (currently Bob O'Connor) and a council consisting of twenty-seven members. The county of Allegheny has nine, wielding the most power. Each other county has only two representatives. This allows the weaker counties to have some power, but keeps the capital ahead politically. Council members are chosen by the entire county they represent, rather than being further divided into districts. They are elected every two years, and all vacanies must be filled by a vote of the remaining Council members. Each county has a local Council, varying in size, which votes on matters of less importance. The government is relatively centralized, however, so counties cannot make radical changes to the Constitution.
The President wields little real power; most of that lies in the Council's hands. He is Commander-in-Chief of the military. He must appoint a Vice President, whose approval is required by a majority vote in the Council. He also appoints an Attorney-General, who oversees the entire legal system. the President serves a term lasting four years.
Several levels of the judicial branch are in place, the highest being the Supreme Court. It consists of ten judges (one from each county), appointed by the President and approved by the Council. Only they can change the Constitution, and they hold the power to impeach the President of members of the Council. They can do so at any time, without interference by the Council itself. The Supreme Court also resolves major legal disputes.
The economic system of Pittsburghia is often regarded as a moderate socialist one. Business is allowed to flourish, but heavy taxes must be payed and monopolies are illegal. All major utilities are controlled by the State, with no excpetions. The workers are helped with significant welfare programs, and all medicare and medicaid are paid for by the government. The University of Pittsburghia Medical Center, or UPMC, is one of the world's best hospitals. It is hardly a perfect system, but it is effective in providing aid to the poor. The President proposes a budget to the Council every six months, and it must be approved. If the Council rejects three budgets, they must create their own as a replacement.
The education system is also state-controlled; there are very few private schools. The public schooling system extends from Kindergarten to twelfth grade, and is provided with the best teachers available. No expense is spared in education, and it has resulted in a well-trained workforce. Students considered to be above- or below-average are given a great deal of special attention. Upon reaching college age, intelligent children are usually given government scholarships, through which they can attend such schools as Duquesne, Pittsburghia Univerity, and Carnegie. These are all prestigious houses of higher education.
