The Grand Tour: Alaska

Today we will be beginning a new feature, a Grand Tour of The Republic of Ansdale. Every week at this time we will introduce you to one of the "States" of the R.O.A. We will progress in the order of their original secession.

It is fitting that both in the order of secession and importance we begin with Alaska. The birthplace of The Republic of Ansdale is no stranger to dreams of empire, it having its former life as part of Tsarist Russia. Russia only was interested in Beaver Pelts, and the supply was rapidly diminishing. Possibly even faster than the Russian Treasury. Since Tsar Alexander II wanted to finance a war into the Amur River to get more access to the fur trade, he willingly sold Russian America to the United States for the paltry sum of $7,200,000 (that's 111 Million dollars, give or take, in today's money). Still, If Alexander could have known about the Gold Rush (1896-1899), or the Discovery of Oil (1968). That knocking sound is the Ghost of Alexander II banging his head against the wall.

Once the territory was safely in American hands it was promptly ignored. Though the title "Seward's Folly" didn't originate right away, those on the continent didn't see its value. Congress made sure they collected tax revenue from it, but didn't provide for even the minimum of Civil Laws, like birth marriage and death. The only law was martial law. In a moment of Supreme Irony, the United States choice of military commander, Jefferson Davis. The people of Alaska weren't laughing.

After eight long years, neither was the United States, for the Republic of Ansdale was born in the remote city of Sitka. In retrospect, the choice was fairly obvious, for though they currently reside in the Dakotas, the Ansdale were originally an Inuit nation from Alaska, driven out by much stronger tribes long before. They see the "Blue Tribe", as Anderson's Federals are originally called, as their solution to reclaiming their ancestral land.

Alaska is divided for organizational purposes into four Military Districts. Originally its Headquarters resides at Fort Sitka, a reconverted Russian American Company post in the Territorial Capital, but it is soon decided that the site is unsuitable and a permanent headquarters is constructed by the Name of Fort Republic at Anchorage. It quickly becomes the Northern Command (NORCOM) of the Republic. Ironically, the fact that Alaska is virtually cut off from the rest of the world has allowed the Western Independence Movement to become extremely organized without attracting any attention in Washington, if they even cared.

Two Republics, the Republic of Alaska and the Republic of Ansdale born on the Same Day, May 1, 1875. The North Star Rises.