California (American Synthesis)

The California Worker's Republic is a Marxist-Leninist state in the American Southwest with the capital city being Los Angeles.

Tensions leading up to the revolution
The massive cities of California prior to the revolution were cities of inequality. The gang wars of the 1980s during the height of the war on drug exposed a rotten school-to-prison pipeline within the city. The 1992 Los Angeles riots showed a racist criminal justice system and how the inner city always suffers the most from riot destruction. Abuse of migrants on California's southern border throughout the 2000s and 2010s only increased tensions among California's population. Homeless people in California suffered the most as city governments such as Los Angeles often worked against homeless people and passed anti-homeless infrastructure.

It was this rising inequality and decades of tensions that lead to the revolution of 2045 and the subsequent establishment of the Worker's Republic in 2047.

Homeless Protests of the 2030s
By 2030, California had one of the largest homeless populations in the world and the most homeless people in the entire country. Anti-Homeless infrastructure and police punishing and relocating homeless people only caused further resentment. It was this struggle which would lead to protests by several thousand homeless people in California who did things like block highways and protest in front of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

These protests would occur all across the 2030s, with the biggest one being the 2032 Los Angeles Protests. These protests were so large that they disrupted

Revolution of 2045
Following race riots in Washington, D.C. and the assassination of President Tom Cotton earlier that year, the homeless and impoverished of Los Angeles were emboldened. A revolutionary vanguard was formed on March 18th, 2045 under the leadership of Andrea Zaldivar. By the end of March, the Vanguard would occupy wealthy neighborhoods in Los Angeles such as Bel Air with many of these neighborhood inhabitants being killed in the occupations. With no strong central government, remnants of the military stationed in California would work with the national guard to surpress these efforts.

After 5 months of fighting, militias had taken over Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and much of the Pacific coast. Though urban centers would fall easily, it was the rural parts of California which would see the worst of the fighting. The worst of the battles in the Revolution were the ones which occurred out east. The battle of Bakersfield would see over 8,000 casualties on both sides with nearly 50% of Bakersfield population being displaced.

Redding Massacre
With several successful campaigns in Southern California and out east, the Californian Red Army under the command of General Jeremiah Smith would invade the town of Redding, California with an overwhelming force 5,000 troops. On June 5th, 2046 while people were being evacuated out of the city from the Sundial bridge, a Red Army howitzer would fire upon the bridge, causing it to collapse and nearly 900 people would fall 27 feet into the Sacramento River. Only 18 people would survive. The incident would become known as the Redding Massacre, an event which the Government denies to this day.

Propaganda outlets in Zion and Cascadia use the Redding Massacre to denounce Communism and the Californian government. The massacre is largely recognized by the international community and was condemned by the UN humans right mission in Los Angeles. This human rights mission would be expelled from the city in 2048.

Siege of Visalia + End of the revolution (2047)
After most of the state fell under Communist control in 2046, California Governor Gregory Swanson and the remainder of the state government would fortify the rural town of Visalia as their last line of defense. On April 15th, 2047; Red Army forces under the leadership of Commander Chris Romano would surround the city in an attempt to wipe out the government.

Romano would attempt to attack the city on April 18th, but the heavy fortifications in Visalia would result in Californian troops being massacred with a 14 to 1 kill ratio. Following the crushing defeat, General Romano decided to lay Siege. The Siege of Visalia began on April 27th, 2047 and lasted for 7 months. After being shelled with artillery throughout October, Visalia was captured on November 7th, 2047; ending the revolution and resulting in the execution of Governor Swanson 4 days later.

The Great Purge of 2049
Despite securing California, paranoia existed within the higher ranks of the Politburo and Government in Los Angeles. Secretary-General Andrea Zaldivar had absolute distrust for other prominent revolutionaries such as Eric Nacar and his movement of Nacarists who held high positions of power within the Politburo and Secretariat of the Californian Communist Party.

Nacarists allegedly had Democratic Socialist sympathies which bucked the authority of the Marxist-Leninist majority of the party. It was these allegations which lead to Zaldivar addressing the Secretariat in her now infamous "Cancer of Liberalism" speech:"'What we have now witnessed is elements of the old bourgeoisie order attempt to subvert the proletarian revolution from within. Talks against Marxist-Leninist theory happen beyond these walls, behind our back. So-called Politburo members such as Nacar have enabled these talks *loud disruption from Secretariat members for about 6 minutes*.... and have enabled talks of a return towards capitalism through talks of Capitalistic ideologies such as Social Democracy and the Cancer of Liberalism! We must act against these threats towards our Worker's Republic or fall back to the Capitalist dark ages.' - Secretary-General Andrea Zaldivar"This speech would lead to hostility towards Nacar and his supporters within Government and within larger Californian society as a whole. Eric Nacar would flee California on May 17th, 2049. He would later be found hiding in Athens, Greece where he would be killed by Californian spies on October 22nd, 2056.

Occupation of Nevada + Eastward Expansion
General Chris Romano would lead an expeditionary force of 20,000 soldiers across eastern California throughout 2048 to 2051. Nevada, being weakened with conflicts and internal instability, would not be able to fend of Californian forces occupy Reno and Las Vegas. An annexation treaty would be signed by Nevada's Governor on May 12th, 2051, solidifying Californian hegemony over the Southwestern United States over their enemies in Aztlan.

Las Vegas would converted from a Gambling city towards a city of industrial production. Casinos and hotels were converted into resorts for top ranking Party officials and for Californian citizens. Meanwhile, processing plants were built in northern Vegas which processed minerals that were mined in northern Nevada. Nearby Nellis Airforce Base also served as a tactical location for bombing campaigns against Aztlán to the east from 2051 to 5053.

Border Skirmishes (2052 - 2058)
Stories and news reports came from the east of the rise of Zion and his brutal campaigns near Salt Lake, in Colorado, and against Aztlan. Fearing Zion expansion into the newly acquired territories in Nevada, Secretary-General Zaldivar would send 30,000 soldiers to secure the borders of Nevada and to keep Zion to the east. With Zion's borders to the west being undefined, border skirmishes would occur before Californian and Zionese troops in Nevada from 2052 to 2058 before a war would officially begin on February 18th, 2058 following a deadly border skirmish which left 45 dead on both sides.

Californian advance into Utah + Battle of St. George
Under the command of General Lindsey Abraham, 120,000 troops supported by 120 tanks would invade into Southern Utah and would overwhelm Zionese troops in Beaver Dam and Littlefield, but around 74,000 Zionese troops were able to hold off advancing Californian troops at the city of St. George. Zionese forces and civilians took faced heavily casualties from bombing campaigns done by the Californian Air Force through Nellis Air force Base and Area 51 which gave the Californians an aerial advantage. This advantage would dwindle as Zion moved howitzers and other anti aircraft artillery from Camp Floyd, Fort Douglas, and Fort Duchesne towards St. George. Californian forces made it towards the outskirts of St. George before more Zionese reinforcements arrived from the capital. Despite being pushed out of the city, the Californian forces were still deep into southern Utah and Zion lacked sufficient forces to drive them out of Utah. After several howitzer strikes, Californian forces still remained. Zion knew if he were to push Californian troops out of Utah, it would have to be directly through the use of troops.

The Battle of St. George lasted from April 12th, 2058 to October 7th, 2058 and would claim the lives of 5,100 Zionese forces, 1,200 Zionese civilians, and 6,320 Californian forces.

Repulsion from Northern Arizona and Utah
A three week stalemate occurred following the battle of St. George until Zionese general Juna lead a counter offensive with 30,000 troops to push the Californians out of St. George while also destroying parts of Interstate Highway 15 to destroy Californian supply lines while also pushing them through the Arizona desert. California lost around 14,000 of their 72,000 troops in the brutal retreat across the desert. While Californian troops were completely demoralized, Zionese troops were emboldened as they chased through the Utah desert with stable supply lines. By January 24th, 2059; Zion had fully driven the Californians back into Nevada.

After leading the Californian forces to a crushing defeat, General Lindsey Abraham would commit suicide on February 24th, 2059 in Santa Barbara.

Battle for Las Vegas
On February 12th, 2059, forces of Zion had captured the town of Bunkerville, Nevada which began Zion's advance into Nevada. Zionese General Juna lead a force of 130,000 across the Mojave desert, capturing cities along state routes 93 and 318 with the biggest cities falling being Pioche and Coyote Springs. Meanwhile to the South, Zionese forces would move across Lake Mead, capturing neaby towns such as Meadview and South Cove. The forces in the South would be repelled outside Hoover Dam, being forced to fall back to the town of Willow Beach on June 13th, 2059. While the forces in the South were surpressed, Juna's forces in the North would advance into North Las Vegas, capturing Nellis Airforce Base in the process.

As Zionese forces got deeper and deeper into Vegas, Californian forces would fight in urban warfare tactics. Californian forces would slaughter Juna's forces in the Arts District by hiding in apartment buildings and restaurants then opening fire from the windows. The Californian forces struck with such unrelenting strength that the event would become known as the Arts District Massacre. 62 Zionese forces died compared to the 9 Californian forces.

On July 28th, 2059; Zion had fully pushed the Californian forces out of Vegas in a crushing defeat, leading to Secretary-General Andrea ordering a full evacuation of Nevada.

Retreat through Interstate-15
After defeats in Las Vegas, the Californian forces retreated back to Los Angeles through the unscathed portions of I-15 on August 2nd, 2059. This was the official end of the war with Zion which broke California's hegemony and destroyed large portions of their military.

Early stages of the Conflict (2070)
Border skirmishes would occur between the Southern Cascadian Republics in Oregon and the Californian military in North California. President Luke Yang of the Southwest Basin Republic was a staunch anti-Communist and resented the Californians to the South for their military expansion out east into Nevada. On June 5th, 2070; the Basiners militia would cross the Californian border and attack Californian troops at Camp Hilt, the ambush resulted in 4 Basiners casualties and 3 Californian casualties.

Yang's assault on Camp Hilt was condemned entirely by the Congress of Cascadia and several other border Republics such as Malheur and Harney, but soon the Californian military would be in conflict with the entirety of Cascadia after General Chris Romano launched a devastating counter offensive deep into Southwest Basin, capturing and killing President Yang on June 16th, 2070. This would begin the June Crisis in which several series of events would lead to a coalition of Southern Cascadian Republics, backed by the larger Cascadian military, formally declaring war on California in July.

On July 12th, 2070; the Cascadian Military and the smaller republic militiaries of Harney, Malheur, and Lincoln would launch a counteroffensive into the Californian occupied Southwest Basin. Under the leadership of General Kurt Henderson, Cascadian forces would retake the Southwestern Basin and push back into California, re-capturing Camp Hilt, but were pushed out of California by General Romano's forces on August 12th, 2070.

A stalemate would occur for a year until Henderson and the Cascadian military would once again attack into California on October 5th, 2071.

Henderson's War (2071 - 2074)
On October 5th, 2071, General Kurt Henderson would lead 30,000 troops down US Route 395 into New Pine Creek, destroying Californian fortification in the town while also lobbing artillery shells at Camp Sara further down 395. Meanwhile in the West, Henderson's western divisions once again captured Hilt and moved down Interstate 5 to easily capture the town of Hornbrook. Brutal fighting occured in coastal cities on the Pacific, with the town of Smith River, California seeing heavy casualties due to the brutal guerrilla warfare occurring within its lush forests.

By January 17th, 2072; Henderson's advancements had come to halt in the West while making significant gains in the East on Route 395, successfully overwhelming Camp Sara and capturing the town of Madeline. Meanwhile, troops advancing through Interstate 5 were halted in late December 2071 after a divison under the leadership of General Romano himself slaughtered the Cascadian forces at the Battle of Mount Shasta. Fighting alongside these 3 fronts would continue throughout 2072 and 2073, with minor border shifts as public support for the war in both Cascadia and California dropped significantly.

Fall of Davis, Bay Area Slaughter, and the Treaty of San Jose
After two years of minor border shifts, General Henderson would receive reinforcements from Canada, Seattle, Olympia, and the North Cascades. With this force, he amassed a large army of 130,000 soldiers and overwhelmed Romano's forces south of Mount Shasta. And advanced onto the city of Davis.

Davis, named after the revolutionary Communist Angela Davis, was captured by Cascadian forces on June 2nd, 2074. The statue of Angela Davis in the center of the town was blown up and Communist loyalists were executed in the city.

After fortifying Davis, Cascadian forces would move towards one final push to capture Sacramento to knock out the Californians once and for all, but Romano's forces regroup and slaughtered the advancing Cascadian troops in a devastating defeat for Cascadia outside of Sacramento.

The Treaty of San Jose would be signed, ceding Davis and land above it to Cascadia, but Cascadia had to pay 30 billion in reparations to California. While considered a military victory for Cascadia, it was considered a political victory for California.

Death of Andrea Zaldivar
On May 16th, 2083; Secretary-General Andrea Zaldivar would die of a heart attack in her Los Angeles home. Due to his heroic campaigns in the Revolution, the war with Zion, and the Campaign against Cascadia; Chris Romano was chosen to be the next Secretary-General almost unanimously by the Secretariat and Politburo.

Five Year Plan + Economic Recovery
With the Californian economy shrinking following the war with Cascadia, Secretary-General Zaldivar would devise a Five-Year plan to rapidly build up industries such as the tech industry, the manufacturing industry, and the arms industry. While Zaldivar would die 3 years into the project, Secretary-General Romano would see the plan through until the end.

The immediate effects of the Five Year Plan saw an increase in production of electronics, fruit, urban agriculture, and weapons. It has also resulted in a slow yet steady increase in economic growth.

Tourism
Tourism plays a large role in California's economy. Tourism from Asian countries such as China, Korea, the Philippines, and Japan. As of 2090, California receives around 12 million tourists per year.

Technology
California remains the largest producer of technology in the American West. Silicon Valley acts as California's largest hub for technology production. Silicon Valley had mostly been dominated by big corporations such as Google and Facebook, though these companies and the technocratic bourgeoisie were driven from Silicon Valley in the 2040s.

Unlike the private companies of the United States era, technology production is controlled by the Technology Department, a government agency which is in charge of technology production. The "Decolonization" programs also sought to diversify Silicon Valley more by providing greater education in technology towards disadvantaged minority groups such as African Americans and Native Americans.

Agriculture
Prior to the war with Zion, California's agricultural industry was largely based in the eastern portions of the country. Following the war with Zion, nearly 60% of agricultural land was under the control of Zion, causing famines in the west and a collapse of the agricultural industry.

The Five Year Plan of 2080 sought to undo this through promotion of Urban agriculture, with varying degrees of success.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing of clothing and other goods is another big aspect of the Californian economy. California's textile industry is the largest on the West Coast and accounts for nearly a trillion dollars.

Culture
California is multicultural but has recently gotten a Hispanic plurality.