[hider=The Second French Republic] [b][u]Government[/u][/b] [b]Name:[/b] The Second French Republic [b]Flag/Badge:[/b] [img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/775243446699950111/919596094520963072/1920px-Socialist_red_flag.svg.png[/img] [b]Head of State:[/b] The National Revolutionary Council, consistent of prominent leftist thinkers in France [b]Head of Government:[/b] See Above [b]Ideology:[/b] Socialist/proto-Communist [b][u]Military[/u][/b] [b]Army Numbers:[/b] Approximately 70,000 regular troops within France, and 10,000 in possessions outside of France. Notably, while not the largest army in the world, the French Army employs a number of advanced technologies such as the Minie Rifle. [b]Navy Numbers:[/b] - 35 Ships of the Line - 56 Frigates - 110 Corvettes - 38 Gun-Brigs [b]Naval Ship Types:[/b] Although smaller than the Royal Navy, the French Navy is notably for its (comparatively) widespread adoption of shell guns. [b][u]History, Expansion, and Economics[/u][/b] [b]History:[/b] Mute from birth and now without a brother, Anthony Marco Fieschi, brother of the famous narrowly failed Corsican assassin Giuseppe Marco Fieschi, was left without much of anything - a way to reliably provide for himself, a way to reliably communicate with people, and, worst of all, his brother. He understood why his brother did what he'd done, however - Louis Philippe gloated over his brother's death, parading his death around like a spectacle. He, like many others, suffered immensely because of his disability, barely able to survive the incompetent monarch's regime. It took him years to come to a decision, but, eventually, he finally did - he was going to finish what his brother started. Contacting socialist secret societies in Paris, Anthony, much like his brother, was quickly able to gather together the funds to build yet another Infernal Machine. Thankfully for Anthony, Louis had learned little - and so, much like Giuseppe, he decided to deliver poetic justice, renting out another apartment along the route the King was expected to take during the 1841 annual review of the Paris National Guard, along with much of his staff. Having spent much more time perfecting his machine than Giuseppe, Anthony was sure it would succeed, completing its assembly in the apartment a week before the review. When the day came, Anthony watched and waited, until the King finally passed into his sights. He opened fire. In an instant, the King and dozens of his staff were killed on the spot, the monarch himself killed by a ball of shot through his forehead. Finally, Anthony had done what his brother nearly succeeded in doing. He turned himself in, satisfied, knowing that he'd done what was right. In an instant, a single, vengeful man had annihilated the July monarchy. What remained of Louis's regime scrambled to maintain control, immediately mobilizing the Paris National Guard and shutting down local factories. The panicked response by the remaining inexperienced bureaucrats only backfired, however - workers became agitated, fearing further oppression and the inability to feed themselves. Anthony was executed by guillotine shortly afterwards, sparking numerous riots, led by Socialists and Republicans, across Paris. A massacre on the Île Seguin against leatherworkers resulted in outright revolution, and within a month, the remnants of the July Government had collapsed entirely, replaced by victorious Socialists, who quickly set about re-opening workshops, eliminating foes within France (especially claimants to the empty throne) and preparing the French army for what they assumed would be immediate retaliation. Retaliation never came, however, and the French Army was de-mobilized, returning large numbers of workers to the workforce, and maintaining a powerful current of revolutionary fervor. After all, revolutionary France held ambitions for many of its immediate neighbors, yet the tumult in Europe and elsewhere across the world allowed it to remain intact as its Army and Navy modernized, and French weapons found their way to rebels, from the Emerald Isle to the Sikh Empire. Today, France stands as the vanguard of a socialism, a specter that haunts the monarchs of Europe, watching and waiting for its time to strike. [b]Territory:[/b] France's territory is contiguous with its territory OTL. [b]Economic Description:[/b] Like many nations of the period, France is still somewhat reliant on agriculture for its industrial output. The recent Socialist revolution, however, has led to an increased emphasis on the industrial worker, especially in the steel and textile industries, and glassworking to a lesser extent. Notably, French industry also produces a large amount of arms, much of the surplus of which is supplied to rebels elsewhere in Europe, like Ireland. Of additional note is the total outlawing of slavery in the overseas territories and womens' suffrage, moves which have allowed the Socialist government to rapidly swell its base of support. [b]Historical Claims:[/b] France presently wishes to purchase Quebec from the United States, and claims sovereignty over Saarland, along with French-speaking regions of Belgium and Switzerland. France does not claim Ireland, but actively agitates against Britain on its behalf. [/hider] Throwing my hat in the ring for France. Let's spice shit up a little. I'll join the discord after my nap.