Amerikaens Free State
| Amerikaense Free State | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
 Location of Amerikaense Free State | |
| Established | 1903 |
| Capital | Tuynswÿck |
| Largest City | Tuynswÿck |
| Population | 9 Million |
| Area | 362 000 sq. km. |
| Languages |
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| Currency | Amerikaner Guilder (AGD) |
The Amerikaens Free State (Amerikaans: Amerikaens Vrÿstaet; Spanish: Estado Libre de América) is a sovereign nation in the western portion of North America. It is bordered on the north by Tussenland, west by the Pacific Ocean, and south by Mexico. It is the result of Dutch settlers migrating west from Tussenland and New Netherland. Before becoming an independent state, New Spain ruled over the area from 1830-1881 and became part of Mexico from 1881 until 1903. The majority of the population trace their roots back to the Dutch settlers in the 19th century.
Demographics
As of 2020, the AFS has a population of 9 million. Three-fourths of the population reside in the Pacific province of Westerzee and the inland province of Centraelia. It is the most ethnically homogeneous nation in North America, with 89% of the population of Dutch descent (2020). The majority of the AFS population is Christian. Two-thirds adhere to the Protestant denomination, while a third adhere to the Catholic Church.
Language
The official language of the AFS is Amerikaans, a Dutch-language variant originating from New Netherland to the east. Spanish is also a co-official language in the AFS due to 63 years of Hispanic rule (1840-1903) and is more common among the older population. 23% of the population claim to speak Spanish as a first language.
The variant of Amerikaans spoken in the AFS, called Voor Amerikaans, heavily borrows vocabulary from the Spanish language. Code-switching is common, especially among the younger generation. In writing, the spelling of most words adopted from Spanish is retained, with exceptions for older terms such as Kommestas (Hello; from Spanish 'cómo estás').
However, Standard Amerikaans is still the country's primary language in government, academia, and legal matters.
Economy
The Amerikaanse Free State (AFS) is a sovereign nation on the west coast of the North American continent. The AFS is primarily considered a newly industrialized country, which has an economy currently in transition from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. Despite this, the AFS is today still considered to be an agricultural nation.
Flag
The flag features a simplified cross of Burgundy representing their historical status as Spanish subjects, with five stars for the five original Boer republics before Spanish rule, on an orange field (representing their Dutch heritage).
History
Pre-Spanish rule and the Voortrekker Republics (1799-1830)
Although Spain had already claimed this region for New Spain by the late 1700s, it was settled in the early 1800s by independent Dutch colonists originating from New Netherland and the Dutch Tussenland colony. These Dutch settlers, known as the Voortrekkers (also known in English as the Boers), were disillusioned Dutch subjects that had pushed west to escape the classism and the corruption in the original Dutch American colonies. By the 1820s, the Voortrekkers have already founded five independent Voortrekker Republics along the west coast of America.
Yet, these republics were short-lived. In 1840, Spain subjugated these republics Republics and integrated them into New Spain as semi-autonomous regions. The Boers received very little aid from New Netherland and Tussenland during this event, simply because (1) the establishments of their republics were unsanctioned, (2) the Kingdom of the Netherlands was only a fledgling kingdom at this point in history and did not want to enter in a direct conflict against Spain. And so it was formally recognized that these republics officially became Spanish territory.
Period Under New Spain (1830-1875) and the Mexican Empire (1875-1903)
The Boers enjoyed partial self-rule during its time under New Spain. It was throughout these periods that the Dutch Boer Culture became heavily influenced by Hispanic elements. Under New Spain, Protestantism was not outlawed. However, to promote Catholicism, Spain built schools in the Amerikaner towns ran by Catholic missionaries to help spread the religion. In 1875, the Boer Regions fell under the fledgling Mexican Empire. It was during this time that the Boers experienced religious persecution (specifically during the periods between 1880 and 1890, until these restrictions were relaxed due to unrest). Eventually, private worship was allowed but the Catholic Church had been placed in special status under Mexican rule. More efforts were made by the Mexican empire to consolidate her power, such as removing certain guarantees and freedoms from the Voors.
The First Boer War (1901-1903), and the Creation of the Amerikaanse Free State
New Netherland and Tussenland was sympathetic to the Boers this time and saw the oppression as an opportunity to liberate the Boers, and more importantly, finally strike against the Mexican threat that borders them from the south. This triggered the 1st Boer War (yes, you read that right, the first), which pitted the forces of Mexico against those of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and their colony, Dutch Tussenland, as later the forces of the independent nation of New Netherland after much pressuring from the Dutch. The war ended in a stalemate. In the resulting Treaty of Williamsburg (1903), the Boer territory was partitioned. The northern half became what is now the Amerikaanse Free State, while the southern half (now known as the region of Oranje-Goudlandt) remained under Mexican rule, on the conditions that certain freedoms still apply.