Part 6: CHAPTER THREE: Stuck in the Middle

CHAPTER THREE: Stuck in the Middle



A war between the US and Mexico with no involvement by Texas. Unexpected, to say the least. The United States could end up taking western land that Texas has had its eyes on. This could also be a sign of future American belligerence. We are attempting to improve Texan-American relations, but little headway is being made. For now, we must sit and watch the war happen around us.



Research on Medicine is completed, and we begin to study Positivism. The education provided by Positivism will be useful.



For the first few weeks after the war started, little was occuring. But the US is now on the move, and Mexico does not look prepared for this war at all. The capture of Santa Fe means the gate into Mexico is wide open for US troops. We wonder if Mexico will be able to mount a defense in time to protect their heartland. The Wyoming-Utah border is still though, with neither side willing to attempt an incursion.



The railroad in Texas is up to date, and the Coloradan railroad is progressing.



We begin construction of a Naval Base in the Bahamas. Though we own no navy currently, one will be necessary in the future if we end up waging war against anyone who actually has one (in other words, everyone except Mexico). Also, naval bases extend the reach in which we could make colonial claims.



No time is wasted building the base, and we receive reports that the base has been completed, in only twelve days.



The Americans seize Albuquerque then head southwest and seize Buena Vista. The American military planners are brilliant: they've managed to cut the Mexican mainland off from California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona with as little land captured as possible. Mexican armies are rumored to be coming up from the interior, but it seems there is no stopping the American military machine. (New Mexico's provinces are my least favorite thing about this map; they are arbitrarily shaped and end up bordering strange provinces)



The construction on the clothes factory is completed, but stands empty because we currently have no one qualified to work in it. We will alleviate this soon though.



Our study of Positivism is complete, and we begin on Ideological Thought. This one of the more important ideas we will study, and will open up ideological questions that Texas must decide on.



The US has decided to hold the line at the Albuquerque-Buena Vista border and start seizing the Southwest territories, beginning with Tucson.



The election cycle begins again. The Republic is nearly split between liberals and conservatives, with liberals slightly edging the conservatives out.



But the party polls tell a different story. The Democrats have pick up nearly 20% of the vote since last election, but the Nationalists still hold a large lead. According to the Texas Constitution, a President cannot hold office for two consecutive terms. So President Houston is stepping down, and his Nationalist replacement candidate is Mirabeau Lamar, a fervent supporter of Texan independence and expansionism since day one.



We decide to begin the population education process, so that our factory may be put to use. A group of Mexican farmers is educated to become craftsmen, and put to work in the clothes factory. We are immediately informed that there was a slight oversight and we have no dye or fabric to work with, so we put in an order on the market for a continuous supply of the necessary materials.



Austin is continuing to receive a trickle of South German immigrants, now from the city of Dessau.



Britain offers us a deal. They wish to further their hold in Columbia and desire for us to trade them back their claim in Portland. Wishing to foster good relations between Texas and the UK, we accept their offer of Steamers technology and £1500. However, when we mention prospects of a UK-Texas alliance, the UK shoots them down. Are we too below the UK for them to take us seriously?



The Americans have seized all of New Mexico and have begun marching toward El Paso.



After a fairly uneventful election, Houston's Nationalists win again. Mirabeau Lamar takes the office, with promises that his government will not let the American-Mexican war or its results get in the way of the Nationalist dream.