Excellent first post! Feel free to jump in to set your nation up before the new year reigns in. 

I'd also like to say it's possible to rise to Great Power status, and it's also possible to FALL from Great Power status.

I'll also be adding a new usage of points.

MODERNIZE = 2 Points builds 1 Factory. Factories are abstracted for you, but for me they give a bonus to population growth, economy and arms industry (oh.. and Revolution). The more factories, the more money your nation makes and the more eager it's people are for change.