Commonwealth of America

The Commonwealth of America was a nation in North America. It was the second nation to be formed in the server, and was formed by Sikorskiii. While originally led solely by him, it was turned into a Republic on March 29, 2020. It was at one point bordered by the United Arctic States of Canada to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The Commonwealth, as it is commonly referred to as, was one of the leading superpowers on the server during Solace World 2, and led the server in resource wealth, architecture, and population. The Commonwealth was the defining nation of Solace World 2, and is still frequently referenced and talked about on the server.

Establishment
The Commonwealth of America started out in the Upper Great Plains when originally founded by Sikorskiii. Soon a temporary capital was set up in Topeka, the first settlement on the server, though the Commonwealth had no formal government. Soon the people of the Commonwealth migrated east to the Great Lakes, even unclaiming some parts of the Great Plains to accommodate the eastern expansion. Chicago soon surpassed Topeka in relevance, with other towns like Fort Pitt, Dauphin, Perth Amboy, and Revere being established in the IRL Northeast. The first nether portal would be constructed in Topeka, and Commonwealth citizens would help slay the Ender Dragon, with Sikorskiii obtaining the Dragon Egg.

Expansion and the Great Patriotic War
Soon an influx of players into the Commonwealth sparked a new expansion, this time southward. Leonese immigrant bonito_pibb would establish Lafayette in IRL New Orleans, which soon blossomed into the largest city on the Gulf of Mexico, even beating Caribbean cities in terms of population and relevance. The South became the most populated part of the entire world, sparked on by the creation of cities like Sherman and towns like Pembroke Beach and Montgomery. The nation struggled with the large distances between these major cities, though it's largest threat was external. On March 25th, Kirsch, being carried by elite Iberian troops, invaded the Commonwealth. The subsequent Kirschite-Commonwealth War, known affectionately by Americans as the Great Patriotic War, waged by a furious Cambrian_ determined to exterminate the American nation ended up being what united the Commonwealth. After resounding victories in the Battle of Chicago and the Battle of Lafayette, the Commonwealth emerged as an unopposed power on the world's stage. Not only that, but the war had unified the nation, healing any North-South divide that existed previously. After the war, the nation of Deseret voted to join the Commonwealth unanimously, doubling the nation's land size, and becoming the fifth state, Shoshone.

The Birth of the Republic
After the war, which was caused in part due to Cambrian's personal issues with Sikorskiii, it was announced that the nation would organize into a representative democracy. On March 31st, elections were held in all five states for seats in the Congress of the Commonwealth. The only one that wasn't competitive was Shoshone, which saw the former leader of Deseret elected as Representative. bonito_pibb was selected as the first Speaker of the House, the only one not to win the popular vote, which went to Sheev_Palpitine. 4 days after the election, once Congress had begun to write and pass legislation, Sikorskiii would leave the Commonwealth to found the Free City of Nairobi. The Speaker of the House became the new head of the nation.

bonito_pibb's Speakership
Despite not being directly elected by the American people, bonito_pibb's term helped stabilize the country at a time when many had doubts about stability in a democracy. He directed and oversaw the formalization of how the Congress voted, limited the Speakership's power by enacting a no-confidence option, began the long lasting policy of a standard armor set for all citizens, which would help put an end to raids from foreign nations like those in Europe or Taiyon, and passed multiple bills giving relief to damaged cities like Revere while creating highways and railways between Chicago, Lafayette, and Sherman. He also commenced the reestablishment of all foreign relations and improved relations with the Caribbean Empire. After his first week, his main foreign policy directive was to ensure peace in the Americas by allying with northern countries like Quebec, the Hepta Republic, and Alaska. The North American Trade Conference was founded between the Commonwealth and these nations; though it also had military purpose too, as many new nations felt threated by the Iberian invasion of Ceylon. His term was cut short by the Greenland Crisis, which saw Iberian forces fight against Commonwealth and Alaskan ones, almost bringing the two sides to war. Sikorskiii, who was friends with both bonito_pibb and Tomad, was asked to come back to the continent to ensure peace. bonito_pibb stepped down two days after the Greenland Crisis, and Sikorskiii would hold elections for the rest of the April term on the 19th.

AquaAsdf's Speakership
AquaAsdf became the first elected Speaker of the House on April 20th. As bonito_pibb's handpicked successor, but having no hand in the Greenland Crisis, won in a landslide against Representative MintyMichael of Penobscot with 78% of the vote. He made a commitment to pacifism in spite of the rise of the new United Arctic States of Canada, referred to as just Canada, made up of Alaska, Hepta, and Quebec, which soon turned on their former ally of the Commonwealth. Canada's rapid expansion and annexing of countries in Europe had provoked Iberia as well, and three days into his term, AquaAsdf led the nation through the North American War, as Canada declared war on the Commonwealth and Iberia to take over the continent. Fighting occurred all over North America and Europe, with different forces led by Tomad, Sikorskiii, and bonito_pibb being able to deal crushing blows to Canadian forces in Chicago, Ontario, and Quebec respectively. The nation made it through the war damaged even worse than the Great Patriotic War, and with most Canadians leaving the server, all of Mappercraft fell into a slump. AquaAsdf would lead reconstruction efforts across the nation, and international donations, especially Caribbean ones, helped rebuild much of the Commonwealth and Iberia. AquaAsdf announced he would not run for his seat in Cherokee, and oversaw elections for the May term.

Thundermaster99's Speakership
On May 3rd, Thundermaster99 was elected to succeed AquaAsdf as Cherokee's Representative, and was elected the third Speaker of the House, gaining 52% of the vote in a three-way race against Rep. MintyMichael and Shoshone Representative Vegatable. Thundermaster99 and the new Congress would oversee the end of reconstruction, the Commonwealth annexing Malibu and reaching the Pacific, and a general solidifying of the nation's sole superpower status as Iberia retreated into inactivity from the war. Cherokee exploded in population around this time, especially the Tampa Bay region. The Solace World 2 map would end during his term, after Vegatable offered to host.

Government
The Commonwealth's government is composed of a single legislative body, the Congress of the Commonwealth which meets in Chicago's Congress Hall. Representatives are elected to the Congress if they receive a simple majority in their state's monthly election. There are five seats in Congress, one for each state (Winnebago, Penobscot, Cherokee, Comanche, and Shoshone). Two days later an election would be held to choose which Representative will be Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House acts as the lead member of Congress who proposes bills to the other members and acts as the face of the nation. If a piece of legislation receives a simple majority in Congress, then it is enacted into law. Congress has the authority to issue war declarations, alliances, non-aggression pacts, kick a citizen out, build infrastructure that crosses state borders, and levy resources for the greater good of the nation.

Economy
The Commonwealth had a very diverse economy, with Chicago and Layafette being the major economic centers. Cherokee State produced most of the world's agricultural goods, especially between Sherman and Tampa. Shoshone State was the sole exporter of terracotta, which helped enrichen the nation. Chicago's status as an international city grew rich from foreign investments in housing, the opening of bars and stores due to the popularization of Saki, while Lafayette benefitted from a proximity to the Caribbean Empire, as well as PibbCola's popularity all across the server.

Geography
The Commonwealth encompassed the entire United States at the end of the world, as well as much of Southern Canada, Newfoundland, and a territory in Guyana. Much of the nation's population lived along the Mississippi-Illinois River, in cities like Chicago, Fort Defiance, and Lafayette, or along the Deep South, from Lafayette to Sherman. The Commonwealth had 5 states and 4 territories, in decreasing order of population:


 * Cherokee, which comprised the American Deep South
 * Winnebago, made up of the Great Lakes of Canada and the U.S.
 * Penobscot, which stretched the Atlantic Seaboard from North Carolina to Newfoundland
 * Comanche, which stretched between the Rio Grande and Mississippi River
 * Shoshone, comprised of the Rocky Mountains
 * Chumash Territory, which straddled the Pacific Seaboard
 * Pawnee Territory, formerly part of Comanche, which made up the Great Plains
 * Guyana Territory, along the north coast of South America
 * Tierra del Fuego Territory, won after the North American War