[b][h3]The Federation of Maritime States, 1884[/h3][/b]
[hider=Flag][img]http://i.imgur.com/vMBz9eS.png[/img][/hider]
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[b]Capital City:[/b] Halifax

[b]Territory:[/b] [url=https://static.wixstatic.com/media/51d169_cb642b961a874691aacc816fa447aca8~mv2.png]Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland (Labrador not included, ceded to Quebec)[/url]

[b]Government type:[/b] Constitutional Republic

[b]Head of State:[/b] President Louis Henry Davies

[b]Head of Government:[/b] President Louis Henry Davies

[b]Population:[/b] 1 133 925

[b]Religion:[/b] Although the government of the Maritimes is strictly secular, the people are primarily Catholic, with Anglican, United, and Presbyterian Protestants also making up a large chunk of the population. This is a result of the heavy French Catholic and English Protestant settlement in the 1600s, as well as swathes of American immigration, especially following the American Revolution.

[b]Army:[/b] As a result of heavy American influence, the Maritime States Army (MSA) fields mostly American weapons. However, there is also British influence mixed in, as a natural effect of their heritage. Although non-interventionist and anti-imperialist, the MSA works hard to maintain national security and put down rebellions. As well, service is volunteer-based, making their forces small in relative numbers, yet efficient and high in morale. All in all, the MSA is composed of approximately 8,000 men. The bulk of the MSA employs local volunteer troops stationed in a state garrison (abbreviated as ASG, or Army State Garrison). These are located at ASG Saint John (NB), ASG Truro (NS), ASG St. John's (NF), and ASG Charlottetown (PE). All ASGs are located in the state capitol except for Truro, which is the centre of Nova Scotia and the Scotia-Brunswick Railway, making it an ideal location to deploy anywhere in the state quickly. The MSA is divided into brigades corresponding to their ASG (i.e. Truro Brigade, Charlottetown Brigade, etc.), split into 4 battalions which alternate in service, three on, one off. The typical MSA soldier is armed with a Martini-Henry rifle and Colt .45 revolver, while the support and stationed defense troops are armed with Gatling and Hotchkiss guns, with Colt sidearms. Chain of command is Pvt, PFC, Cpl, Sgt, Lt, Cpt, LtCol, and Col, while one General leads the Army.  [hider=Structure]4 men in a fireteam (Cpl) (4)
3 fireteams in a squad (Sgt) (12)
2 squads in a platoon (Lt) (24)
5 platoons in a company (Cpt) (120)
4 companies in a battalion (LtCol) (480)
4 battalions in a brigade (Col) (1920)
4 brigades in the Army (Gen) (7680)[/hider]

[b]Navy:[/b] Similarly to the Army, the Maritime States Navy (MSN) is composed of American/British-influenced coastal bases, with two per state (abbreviated as NSG- Naval State Garrison). These are NSG Saint John (NB-1), NSG Chatham (NB-2), NSG Louisbourg (NS-1), NSG Halifax (NS-2), NSG Charlottetown (PE-1), NSG Egmont (PE-2), NSG Cape St. George (NF-1), and NSG Saint John's (NF-2). Also akin to the MSA, the MSN is composed of volunteers, who compose NSG-based squadrons, divided into two divisions. NSG fortifications are armed with troops stationed with ASG-spec weapons and Rodman coastal guns. MSN ships are prefixed with MSS, standing for Maritime States Ship. The MSN also has sixteen monitors, one for each NSG, as well as two American-style protected cruisers, MSS Howe and MSS Tupper, which alternate in base. With approximately 15,000 in active service, the MSN is the core of the Maritime Armed Forces (MAF). Chain of command is SR, SN, LS, PO, ENS, LT, CDR, and CAPT, while one Admiral leads the Navy.

[b]Marines:[/b] The special forces of the Maritimes, the MS Marine Corps (MSMC) is a special operations branch designed for both naval and land-based combat. Fielding only 600 men, the Marines are divided into ten companies of 120 men: two for each province, and the 1st/2nd Marine Elite Companies (MEC), the cream of the crop. Headquartered in Halifax, the Marines rotate deployment between local ASGs and NSGs. The MECs are based in Halifax, although they base variably depending on the operation. Most Marines are equipped with Mayflower bolt-action rifles and Colt M1878 revolvers, and Model 1881 Gatling guns for support. Mayflower Armaments is a Sydney, NS-based Canadian company that primarily produces rifles. Their current service rifle for the Marines is the Mauser-based bolt-action Mayflower Rifle 1883, although production for the Army and Navy is in the works. Although rail travel is the typical means of land movement, each Marine company has its own ship. Adapting the concept of Confederate blockade-runner designs, these ironclads are quick, powerful, and able to hold the entire company. Chain of command is PFC, LCpl, Cpl, Sgt, Lt, and Maj, while one General leads the Marine Corps. 

[b]History:[/b]
The history of the Maritime States begins with European settlement, when the French set up colonies in the 16th and 17th century.  These colonies, known collectively as Acadia, composed of the Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, eastern Quebec, and Maine. As Acadia developed in the late 17th and 18th centuries, they were the forefront of colonial conflict between Britain and France. After multiple wars between the two over the course of the 1700s, Britain eventually came out on top, and was settled by colonists from both old and New England.

When revolution broke out in New England, the citizens were split between the Patriots, who fought for American independence, and Loyalists, who wished to stay under British rule. This happened on the doorstep on the Maritime colonies of Britain, who were primarily Loyalist. It was at one point possible for the Maritimes to have joined America, but the Patriots had attacked violently, ruling out a state north of Maine. Once the Patriots managed to achieve independence, Loyalists and freed slaves fled to Nova Scotia. Former Patriots also begun trade relations with the Maritimes, beginning economic prosperity for both sides.

For the next 80 years, the Maritimes saw mostly peace, with some conflict in between. The first conflict of note was the War of 1812, which was preceded by a trade embargo that heavily affected Maritime trade. The Royal Navy was based in Halifax, and took the brunt of the war (although America never successfully invaded East Canada). Next were the Rebellions of 1837; although the Maritimes never played a direct role in them, they had a taste of Canadian colonists supporting American liberty. The American Civil War 25 years later saw minor Canadian activity primarily on the Union side, although this coalesced into the Fenian Raids. In April 1866, 700 Irish-Americans known as Fenians, many of whom were Civil War veterans, attacked Campobello Island, New Brunswick. Although the island was soon relieved by British forces, it led the Maritimes to wonder what would be necessary to defend their homeland.

That same year, politicians from British North American colonies convened at Charlottesville, PEI. Initially between the Maritimes to discuss a union, Ontario and Quebec joined in. The concept of a united Canada was discussed, although most Maritimers were against such a union that would make them irrelevant and powerless. The next month, Ontario and Quebec met in Quebec City to draw up a Canadian nation, but the Atlantic colonies were not present. Instead, they met at Halifax, to discuss an American-style independent union of states. From December 1866 to March 1867, all British North American colonies met in London to debate and discuss the new nations being drawn up. Eventually, on July 1, 1867, the new laws were put into place, and two new nations were formed: the Dominion of Canada, and the Federation of Maritime States, or Canada and the Maritimes.

The first Maritime election was held in September 1867, and was a contest between two Nova Scotians. Representing the Liberal Party, Joseph Howe served as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1860 to 1863. An opponent of Canadian Confederation, he promoted a railway from Halifax through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, as well as increased free trade. On the Conservative ticket was Charles Tupper, the Premier from 1864-1867 and a former supporter of Confederation. A trade protectionist and nationalist, Tupper lost the majority vote to Howe, who was elected First President of the Federal Maritime States. Howe's government was successful in installing a classical liberal state: lenient civil and economic freedoms under rational law. This resulted in prosperous, free trade with America, Canada, and Britain, who saw the Maritimes as a vital ally.

Howe's presidency eventually came to an end in 1873, as he died shortly before his campaign for a third term. His successor, Sir Adams George Archibald, won the election in Howe's place, continuing the [i]laissez-faire[/i] form of governance. This American style of trade angered many pro-British citizens, who gathered at Pictou Island in 1876 to create the Pictou Rebellion, which demanded re-integration to the British Empire. Archibald was quickly ousted in the 1876 election in favor of Samuel Leonard Tilley, a Conservative who promised stronger government. Signing the Marine Corps into action, Tilley was a war leader who strengthened the government's power, quickly pushed the military to Pictou to end the rebellion, and raised taxes. Once the Rebellion was over nearly a year later, the Conservative policies finally took their toll. In 1879, following three years of reform for larger government, trade tariffs, stronger military, and tax introduction, Tilley's Conservatives were quickly voted out by the moderate Liberal Louis Henry Davies. Davies is currently serving his second term as the fourth President, making slow changes to lower taxes, streamline the government and military, and bring back free trade.
  
[b]Additional Info:[/b]
[url=http://i.imgur.com/vMBz9eS.png]Flag[/url]
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t5r3r1V0Fo]Local Music[/url]
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The Government of the Maritime States is heavily based on the Constitution. Government is strictly divided into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Similarly to the United States, the Maritime States advocate a rule of law under these three branches. The executive branch, the Presidency, runs the government and serves as a public head of state. The Legislative Branch, which is simply the Congress (as opposed to the American House/Senate system), creates, debates, and approves laws. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court (which, as opposed to America, are composed of non-political appointed judges), upholds the laws and Constitution. Elections are held every 3 years to decide Congress representatives and the President, which are divided into district. Congress is composed of one representative per district, making elections based on district. The President is decided by the Electoral College, which are distributed based on the amount of districts located in each state. This ensures both the will of the nation and a check against pure democracy. The President serves 3-year terms of a 2-term maximum, while Congressmen serve up to 4 terms. The Supreme Court consists of 12 judges, who are appointed from across the nation by merit as a judge or lawyer, as opposed to their political affiliation. The judges each serve 2-year terms, and may be appointed for up to 5, for a maximum residency of 10 years.

The Constitution is the basis of Maritime law, and as such, the nation as a whole. It is divided into Articles, which define its purpose. Note that this is not the literal word of the Constitution, but rather a summary.
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[*]The First Article states that all laws nation-wide are subject to the Constitution. As well, the document itself may be amended, given approval of two-thirds of the Supreme Court (at least 8 judges), two-thirds of Congress, and the President's approval. Amendments may be put into place as long as they do not interfere with Articles.
[*]The Second Article states that citizens have a right to freedom and life. This constitutes two factors known as Rights:
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[*]The Right Against Aggression, stating that interference against a private citizen's life, property, or possessions is punishable by law.
[*]The Right To Freedom, stating that every citizen has a right to freely trade within non-aggressive bounds, own property, defensive weapons, and speak freely in public.
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[*]The Third Article states that the government shall be divided into three  branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. It goes into depth regarding government organization, and is summarized in the first paragraph.
[*]The Fourth Article states that for the defense of the state, a volunteer Army and Navy is necessary to maintain order and justice.
[*]The Fifth Article states that religion and state shall be separate; at no time should one influence the other.
[*]The Sixth Article states that the justice system must follow the spirit of liberty and justice for all, at all times, and must treat every individual equally.
[*]The Seventh Article states that taxes, fines, and government imposition must not reach a degree to which one group is held over higher scrutiny than another, nor shall it infringe on individual liberties. However, it distinguishes the need for a Financial Appeal system, in which a company or businessman may be tried by a Financial Appeal Court in the event of misdemeanor, fraud, or monopoly.
[*]The Eighth Article states that individual states must be treated and must behave equally. However, all states are subject to Congress and Supreme Court jurisdiction if necessary.
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[b]Values:[/b]
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[*]Firearms: A surprisingly large percentage of Maritimers take advantage of their nation's lax gun laws. Most homes have a rifle, typically either a Winchester 1873 (.44 Henry) or Martini-Henry (.577/450). For added personal protection, the British Bull Dog revolver (.44 Henry) is a popular choice, due to its affordability, standard ammo, and compact size.
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[b]Music:[/b]
[b]Cuisine:[/b]
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