- Location
- Inner Sol System
Consider that Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and other large aerospace contractors all have significant presences in California.
A Golden Island To The West — California ISOT from 2018 to 1850
- Thread starter Instant Sunrise
- Start date
- Original 19th Century Supernatural
Chapter 24
Instant Sunrise
Queen Shit of Liesville
- Location
- Los Angeles
- Pronouns
- her/she
Terminal Island, Long Beach/San Pedro, March 18th, 1851
No 21st century, first world country could survive for very long with it's legs cut off from underneath it for very long like California had. Like any other first world nation, California was dependent on a global trade network to keep things moving.
However, California had a unique advantage to weather the storm caused by The Event, namely the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. Prior to The Event, these two ports were responsible for all of the container and bulk carrier traffic coming to the United States from China, and as a result, there was always a miles-long queue of ships waiting to dock and offload their cargo. It was this queue of ships that had helped soften the blow of The Event. Container ships with enough goods to supply a nation of 325 million now only needed to supply 38 million.
It had taken a herculean effort to inventory everything and to warehouse it around the southland, when normally it would get loaded onto rail or trucks and distributed to warehouses around the country.
But today, the last of the backlogged containers were being loaded onto a train and sent up the Alameda Corridor to a warehouse in San Bernardino.
"I wanted you to know you've done a remarkable job." Said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "Your efforts here are a vital safety net for Californians everywhere, and the first steps towards getting California back on track in this new world."
The assembled dockworkers in San Pedro cheered at that.
"In the coming days, The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach will become the Gateway to the Golden State."
"When Californians voted to become an independent nation." Said Garcetti. "We voted against an administration that was treating us like its personal piggy bank while standing by and letting Californians die. And now we find ourselves at the whim of an entirely new administration that wants to treat us the exact same way."
"That is why today, I am proud to announce the opening of the Los Angeles Naval Shipyards." Announced the mayor. "Where Berth 100 sits today will become a new drydock facility, so that all of our uptime vessels can be repaired and maintained while we wait for the rest of the world to catch up."
"In addition, I am pleased to announce that Governor Newsom has signed a deal with the Hawaiian prince to build a modern port facility in Honolulu." Said Garcetti. "And the World Cruise Center here in Los Angeles will become the California terminus for ships going to and from Hawaii."
———
Pershing Square, Los Angeles
A common site for protests in Downtown Los Angeles, having hosted the J20 protests when the uptime president was inaugurated, and later the Women's March and protests against the uptime Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So today was no different.
"Hey hey! Ho ho! Slave catchers have got to go!" Yelled the angry crowd, showing their displeasure at the fact that Fillmore was sending US Marshalls to California to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act.
"What do we want?" Yelled a protest leader on a megaphone.
"Snatchers out!" Replied the crowd.
"When do we want it?" She asked.
"Now!" Replied the thunderous crowd.
"What do we want?" She incited the crowd further.
"Snatchers out!" Replied the crowd.
"When do we want it?" She asked on the bullhorn.
"Now!" Roared the crowd.
The crowd continued to grow restless.
It was in front of this angry crowd that LAPD Chief Charlie Beck took the stage.
"I have been asked," Said Beck. "In a letter from Speaker of the House Cobb to Mayor Garcetti and myself, that we 'must make every available effort' to return escaped slaves to their rightful masters."
The assembled crowd roiled in anger at that idea.
"But doing that would mean turning our backs on a hundred and seventy years of Californian judicial tradition." Said Beck. "If the Washington government wants federal slavery laws enforced, they can do it themselves, but we will not help them. To that end I have issues standing orders to every single one of my officers. There is to be no assistance provided by any uniformed members of the Los Angeles Police Department and anybody attempting to enforce this law."
———
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Jessie Benton Frémont sat on the side of a stage watching a similar event in San Francisco. It was amazing the kind of social progress that these Californians had taken for granted.
The idea that a woman should be able to vote or hold public office was seen as a given. Sure there were a handful of people who didn't like the idea but they were seen as old fashioned throwbacks.
But as the former senator Diane Feinstein finished speaking to the crowd, she mentally rehearsed her speech one last time. Taking the hand offered, she slowly and carefully got up, her mobility somewhat hampered the pregnancy.
Walking up to the podium, Jessie grabbed a microphone and began to speak.
"Thank you for that warm welcome everyone." Said Jessie. "When I first arrived here in California, I almost could not believe the kind of social progress you had taken for granted. So many things that I have struggled to see achieved were as mundane as the sunrise. But I was heartened to see that you haven't taken it for granted."
"I wish that I could bring every senator and congressman in Washington here to see the new California in person so that they could understand what you all have struggled and worked hard to build. So that they could understand the unique beauty of the West and the opportunity that it provides."
"We are California Strong!" She finished to an uproarious crowd.
No 21st century, first world country could survive for very long with it's legs cut off from underneath it for very long like California had. Like any other first world nation, California was dependent on a global trade network to keep things moving.
However, California had a unique advantage to weather the storm caused by The Event, namely the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. Prior to The Event, these two ports were responsible for all of the container and bulk carrier traffic coming to the United States from China, and as a result, there was always a miles-long queue of ships waiting to dock and offload their cargo. It was this queue of ships that had helped soften the blow of The Event. Container ships with enough goods to supply a nation of 325 million now only needed to supply 38 million.
It had taken a herculean effort to inventory everything and to warehouse it around the southland, when normally it would get loaded onto rail or trucks and distributed to warehouses around the country.
But today, the last of the backlogged containers were being loaded onto a train and sent up the Alameda Corridor to a warehouse in San Bernardino.
"I wanted you to know you've done a remarkable job." Said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "Your efforts here are a vital safety net for Californians everywhere, and the first steps towards getting California back on track in this new world."
The assembled dockworkers in San Pedro cheered at that.
"In the coming days, The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach will become the Gateway to the Golden State."
"When Californians voted to become an independent nation." Said Garcetti. "We voted against an administration that was treating us like its personal piggy bank while standing by and letting Californians die. And now we find ourselves at the whim of an entirely new administration that wants to treat us the exact same way."
"That is why today, I am proud to announce the opening of the Los Angeles Naval Shipyards." Announced the mayor. "Where Berth 100 sits today will become a new drydock facility, so that all of our uptime vessels can be repaired and maintained while we wait for the rest of the world to catch up."
"In addition, I am pleased to announce that Governor Newsom has signed a deal with the Hawaiian prince to build a modern port facility in Honolulu." Said Garcetti. "And the World Cruise Center here in Los Angeles will become the California terminus for ships going to and from Hawaii."
———
Pershing Square, Los Angeles
A common site for protests in Downtown Los Angeles, having hosted the J20 protests when the uptime president was inaugurated, and later the Women's March and protests against the uptime Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So today was no different.
"Hey hey! Ho ho! Slave catchers have got to go!" Yelled the angry crowd, showing their displeasure at the fact that Fillmore was sending US Marshalls to California to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act.
"What do we want?" Yelled a protest leader on a megaphone.
"Snatchers out!" Replied the crowd.
"When do we want it?" She asked.
"Now!" Replied the thunderous crowd.
"What do we want?" She incited the crowd further.
"Snatchers out!" Replied the crowd.
"When do we want it?" She asked on the bullhorn.
"Now!" Roared the crowd.
The crowd continued to grow restless.
It was in front of this angry crowd that LAPD Chief Charlie Beck took the stage.
"I have been asked," Said Beck. "In a letter from Speaker of the House Cobb to Mayor Garcetti and myself, that we 'must make every available effort' to return escaped slaves to their rightful masters."
The assembled crowd roiled in anger at that idea.
"But doing that would mean turning our backs on a hundred and seventy years of Californian judicial tradition." Said Beck. "If the Washington government wants federal slavery laws enforced, they can do it themselves, but we will not help them. To that end I have issues standing orders to every single one of my officers. There is to be no assistance provided by any uniformed members of the Los Angeles Police Department and anybody attempting to enforce this law."
———
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Jessie Benton Frémont sat on the side of a stage watching a similar event in San Francisco. It was amazing the kind of social progress that these Californians had taken for granted.
The idea that a woman should be able to vote or hold public office was seen as a given. Sure there were a handful of people who didn't like the idea but they were seen as old fashioned throwbacks.
But as the former senator Diane Feinstein finished speaking to the crowd, she mentally rehearsed her speech one last time. Taking the hand offered, she slowly and carefully got up, her mobility somewhat hampered the pregnancy.
Walking up to the podium, Jessie grabbed a microphone and began to speak.
"Thank you for that warm welcome everyone." Said Jessie. "When I first arrived here in California, I almost could not believe the kind of social progress you had taken for granted. So many things that I have struggled to see achieved were as mundane as the sunrise. But I was heartened to see that you haven't taken it for granted."
"I wish that I could bring every senator and congressman in Washington here to see the new California in person so that they could understand what you all have struggled and worked hard to build. So that they could understand the unique beauty of the West and the opportunity that it provides."
"We are California Strong!" She finished to an uproarious crowd.
RyRy
putting the PRO in Protracted People's War
- Location
- the bay and the bayou
There are actual slave catchers in LA now? Protests and marches should be the least of their worries, I'd be more worried about trying to "return" people with guns to slavery. Or just people with guns not liking slavery and shooting catchers.
Things are far too nice and peaceful, something must be coming.
Things are far too nice and peaceful, something must be coming.
Instant Sunrise
Queen Shit of Liesville
- Location
- Los Angeles
- Pronouns
- her/she
No actual slave catchers in LA yet. This was just about the announcement.
Not only non-cooperation. As RyRy says once any start to arrive I can't see them getting life insurance as their survival rate is going to be very low if they actually attempt to do their job.
Not to mention how many slaves are escaping from the old US and reaching California? There's a lot of land in the way with only the native Indians occupying much of it and a lot of that land is pretty inhospitable. Would expect that even if they have heard of California and believe what their heard most run-aways would seek to go north along the existing underground railway toward Canada or possibly friendly parts of the US in the east.
Definitely when they find out how hostile California is to such ideas Washington and especially its southern representatives are going to be somewhat upset
and that's like to prompt a clash.
CompassJimbo
Where’s Your North?
- Location
- The former Rubber Capital of the World
They'll be lucky if they're merely killed.
Cloak&Dagger
Definitely Insane
Am I the only one skeptical that there would be protests against slave catchers rather than just slavery itself?
Instant Sunrise
Queen Shit of Liesville
- Location
- Los Angeles
- Pronouns
- her/she
Slavery is non-existant in California so it's existence is a bit more of an abstract issue than Slave Catchers who are likely to be prowling the streets looking for somebody to go 12 years a slave on.
But there have been protests against it.
Cloak&Dagger
Definitely Insane
That seems backwards, the slave catchers are imaginary at the moment, while the legacy of slavery in the South still harms people today, and now there's the Confederate states looking to actively expand it.
Instant Sunrise
Queen Shit of Liesville
- Location
- Los Angeles
- Pronouns
- her/she
I'm actually building towards a large anti-slavery protest across the country on June 19th that's being planned by the uptime Indivisible and DSA groups along with downtime abolitionist groups.
Flectarn
Uphold Kali Akuno Thought
- Location
- Queen City of the Ohio
Speaking of the DSA, the newfound ability of up time socialist groups to correspond with Marx and Engles could be interesting.
On another light-hearted note, the historic range of the California Condor extended considerably beyond the states border, be fun to see them reintroducing themselves
On another light-hearted note, the historic range of the California Condor extended considerably beyond the states border, be fun to see them reintroducing themselves
- Location
- The Old Dominion
Upstream California is going to make things interesting in the US congress as with the population size they might well be able to play kingmaker in the US house of representatives especially given the electoral chaos of the time of multiple parties vying to become the dominate challenger to the democrats.
always_confused
Perpetually unwanted
- Location
- SEA
Very glad to see this being cross-posted over here.
RyRy
putting the PRO in Protracted People's War
- Location
- the bay and the bayou
I totally forgot about that
holy shit am I happy to be Californian rn
RyRy
putting the PRO in Protracted People's War
- Location
- the bay and the bayou
I'd be shocked if they're still in the Union in 10 years when the new census comes
- Location
- The Old Dominion
Well if they aren't they will be nigh if not completely immaterial to the coming civil war in america and being not part of the united states on the wrong end of the american system's tariffs assuming the US doesn't flat out rightfully forbid all trade with them including the exporting of resources to them.
Immaterial? Wouldn't they just declare war on the CSA out of justified indignant outrage and then promptly win the war?
That I suspect would be more likely, if the civil war still occurs. If as people seem to expect there will be tensions and probably a split between California and the down-time US you may prevent or at least delay that conflict [i.e. the USCW] considerably. Apart from anything else can you see any but the most rabidly insane supporters of slavery wanting to leave the union on the question of slavery when that leaves then totally unprotected against California! Plus within a couple of years, presuming we don't have a total collapse, which I think is unlikely, California will be finding its feet and be able to project power more successfully as it established bases and contacts and the eastern states, as well as the rest of the world, will know a lot more about how powerful California actually is. Such an attempt to break away from the US is likely to be seen as pretty much suicidal.
- Location
- SF Bay Area
I am curious how downtime Democratic Party politics are going. I'm sure some old Jacksonians are wondering how their party could have evolved into the Democratic Party of today. Sure California now has their own party but even the most cursory search would find that they were Democrats only a year before the switch. Some denial, some outrage but The perspective alone would be interesting
Triggerhappy
Stick with Trigger and You'll Make it Through
- Location
- SoCal
One thing to keep in mind if a military conflict occurs. Even in a very limited manner. Is that the scale of industry was quite different in the 1850s. Cities were smaller. Factories were smaller and more self contained. While 1850s polities will have an easier time rebuilding ruined infrastructure. That would be no means be an easy time. What would need to be rebuilt is surely simpler, but there are also fewer tools to ease the process. A larger proportional investment of free manpower would be needed. And the amount of firepower necessary to, say, reduce the Springfield armory to a smoking crater is comparatively miniscule.
- Location
- The Old Dominion
But to go with that more compact cities, more labor intensive factories and infrastructure you also means have a greater chance of killing and injuring civilians which is likely going to be very unpopular and then there is the matter of even getting to the targets in the first place across a continent and then getting back with little external guidance.
They were able to fly out to DC without any real problems. Pinpointing specific factories might take a little more effort, but they completely own the air. Given the time it takes for Civil War armies to move there's really nothing at all that the Americans can do to stop the Californians from finding and bombing the shit out of whatever they want.
Not that killing factories is really required either. I'm pretty sure that nothing at all in the 1850 arsenal can kill a tank; maybe a ship, if the cannons get lucky shots, but the tank would have to be stationary for that to be feasible and those suckers can move. Any war that California enters is already over save the shooting.
Winning the peace is a rather different prospect. If you thought Iraq was bad, now try on for size occupying a nation which is much physically larger and filled with people who share religion, race, and language.
Not that killing factories is really required either. I'm pretty sure that nothing at all in the 1850 arsenal can kill a tank; maybe a ship, if the cannons get lucky shots, but the tank would have to be stationary for that to be feasible and those suckers can move. Any war that California enters is already over save the shooting.
Winning the peace is a rather different prospect. If you thought Iraq was bad, now try on for size occupying a nation which is much physically larger and filled with people who share religion, race, and language.
Shaithan
Re-class is happiest class
- Location
- The worst part of Germany
Shells as we know them were during this time still in their infancy. La Gloire and HMS Warrior are still a decade away. There's nothing on the seas that can realistically impede any proper ship. Cannons simply don't have the range or penetration.
Another thing I wonder, how will California deal with Napoleoon III attempting to create the Empire of Mexico? California is ill-served with a destabilized Mexico on its borders, which might lead to them having to fight France.
I wasn't suggesting that a downtime ship could hurt an uptime ship, I was suggesting that a downtime ship might be able to hurt a tank if it got lucky and a bunch of cannons aimed correctly. Although if they don't have shells and it's just cannonballs then even that is dubious.