Lore & Historical Events

Post Revolutionary & Native Peoples 

Dutch Referendum 

Industrial Revolution

American Civil War Era

Saint Lawrence Crisis

In the years of 1883 and 1884, the conflict known as the "Saint Lawrence Crisis" took the lives of roughly 2,000 Northeasters and Canadians. Following Conflicts of fishing, industrial pollution, and land claims across the Saint Lawrence, the Commonwealth settlers invaded the other side of the Saint Lawrence, with the support of nearly 200 Commonwealth Troops. Many gunfights broke out, houses and fields burned, and people were drowned into the river. The remaining 4 months of the war had the conflict began to die down, where it would be the occasional death, property damage, or thievery. The Commonwealths militia in the area was much larger than the Canadians could be, so the two powers came to a deal. In exchange for giving back the Annex land, the Commonwealth bought Anticosti Island (Now named Lafayette Island). This incident would sour relations for nearly a decade, but as the turn of the century came the crisis was becoming more and more forgettable to most. 

World War One 

Semi-Great Depression

The Great Depression did not hit the Commonwealth nearly as hard the United States, as the Commonwealth was better off on average, more educated, and had created better economic policies following World War One and before that, as they focus a lot more on Federal Oversight. Only 1/7.5 Northeasters lost a job, as compared to the 1/4 for the United States. The Commonwealth did recover many months before the United States, and did not create extensive public works programs as those had already existed, and were just expanded on. 

World War Two

Post World War Two & Caribbean Purchases

Cold War Era & Soviet Relations

The Period following World War Two was known as the Cold War, where the Soviet Union and Communist backed forces conducted Proxy wars against French, British, and American backed governments. The Commonwealth During this time remained fairly neutral, attempting to maintain good relations with the Soviet Union. However, due to the nature of the Commonwealths "Capitalist" ideals, tensions were described as rough. During the Cold War period, the Commonwealth did occasionaly work with American backed intelligence forces, but never deployed troops into conflicts. The only exception was a U.N. backed mission during the Vietnam War where 700 Commonwealth Troops acted as peacekeepers during humanitarian missions, where only 5 lives were lost. Just the United States, the Commonwealth would put on public display alongside the Soviet Union to try and appeal to one another, and due to "better" relations with the Soviets, many hockey events occurred between the two powers, and many science, agriculture, and invention expositions were hosted in either country for each to attend. It is estimated roughly 80 Soviet Spys existed in the Commonwealth during the peak of the Cold War, but only some minor events have been assumed to be Soviet Interference. 

American Terror Attacks & War On Terror 

Following the unforeseen attacks on the United States of America in Chicago at the Twin Towers, The Pentagon, Virginia, and Baltimore with the utilization of planes; the Commonwealth followed suite like the United States and closed all airspaces and halted all transit operations right away, deploying fighter jets, recon aircaft, attack planes, and naval fighters from over 24 bases and ships across the Commonwealth. During the 7 day period following the attacks, the Commonwealth Naval Forces, Coast Guard, Provincial Sheriffs, and other forms of law enforcement occupied airports, ports, and bus and rail terminals, and a countrywide curfew and temporary martial law was enacted. As the attacks did not hit the Commonwealth, the Curfew and Martial Law period only lasted 2 weeks before life went "back to normal". Following U.S President's Bush declaration for the "War On Terror", the Commonwealth declined providing ground support, but did provide Naval assets and medical aid to the middle east conflict. 371 Commonwealth Soldiers lost their lives between 2003 and 2020 providing medical care, naval escorts for humanitarian craft, and aviation crashes. 

Nato, Organizations & Treaties

The Northeastern Commonwealth does not participate in the organization known as The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), under the pretense of not wanting to be forced into decisions based on another nation being attacked. The NEC does partcipate in the United Nations (UN) and the Canada-Northeastern-United States-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (CNUMFTA). Throughout the course of history, the Commonwealth has partcipated in signing treaties has needed due to conflict or resolutions, but has never joined any formal military alliance. The only organization The Northeastern Commonwealths partcipates in is the Commonwealth-Dutch-Nordic Economic Council (CDNEC), a free trade organization which prioritizes similar ideals, where each member has an equal vote. The Commonwealth also partners commonly with the Netherlands and France & Luxembourg. 

Languages & Censuses 

Foreign Military Presence 

The Commonwealth operates multiple naval, air, and logistics bases in other countries such as the Nordic Nations, The Netherlands, and France (The Commonwealth is commonly seen at Eastern Coast US & Canadian naval and air instillations, but do not maintain a permanent presence). Most bases are jointly operated, so it's not uncommon to see French or Dutch soldiers (or other countries) combined with Commonwealth Forces. Only 16 (8 Naval, 4 Air, and 4 Logistics) bases are recognized as sovereign to The Commonwealth.  

Military & Safekeeping Operations

While the Northeastern Commonwealth is NATO, and they do partcipate it international military drills with the Western Powers. Their strongest allies are the Americans, Dutch, Nordic Nations (Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, etc) and French, who they regularly conduct Naval, Air, and Infantry drills with, especially in the rural Northern parts of the Commonwealth. The NEC & Nordic Powers drills normally focus on cold environment drills, and the French Drills focus more on the Naval Environment. With the Islands in the Caribbean, the Commonwealth Navy & Coast Guard forces work to deter drug traffickers and other unwanted folk. 

Sports & Pastimes

Hockey & Lacrosse are enjoyed as the two most popular sports in the Commonwealth, with it being extremely common for almost everywhere to have hockey facilities and at minimum simple Lacrosse fields. 

French Northeasters

People with French ancestry, or that came from French-Canada generations ago. This is the Commonwealths version of "French Canadians", and are more commonly found in the Northernmost provinces & Vermont. While not all are considered French Northeasters, roughly 84% of the French Northeaster population can speak French fluently as a second language, or it's their first language, or can hold conversations in the language. 

Dutch Northeasters 

Dutch Northeasters are those with primarily Dutch & Germanic ancestry, and are similar to how the French Northeasters are categorized. 84.5% of the Dutch Northeasters are found in New Netherlands, Adirondack, Massachusetts, and the Southern Parts of New Hampshire. Roughly 47% of the Dutch Northeaster population can speak Dutch fluently as a second language, or it's their first language, or can hold conversations in the language. 

Other Spoken Languages

While not being nearly as prevenlant, all sorts of languages are spoken across the Commonwealth; especially in New Netherlands and Adirondack from migrants. Most commonly though, is "white" Western European and Nordic languges. Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, German, Irisish, Czech, etc. Hispanic and Asian languages are much harder to come across in the Commonwealth.

Segregation & Racism In the Commonwealth

Segreation in the Commonwealth never happened in the countries history, because almost 96.8% of the country is of white ancestry, the effort needed to segerate just never made sense. While some people did and still do hold racist views, racism is not a common trait amongst Northeasters because they never were exposed to slave systems or systems that brought down black people.