History of New Netherland: Difference between revisions

After the progressiveProgressive partyParty started(Amerikaens: itsProgressievpartÿ) ruletook power in 1911, the government of New Netherland brought in a new era of social and political reform. The 1910s to 1930s has been known as the "Golden Era" of New Netherland, in terms of both economic growth and political reform. The progressiveProgressive governmentParty introduced many reforms including the Tax Reform Act of 1912, Social Reform and Poverty Act of 1913, and most notably the Women's Vote Act of 1914. Women's suffrage, which washad longbeen promised by the Mees van Haerst's Unity Party in the early 1900s, had only been realized by the Progressive Party in 1914. The pool of new voters in the 1915 National Elections of New Netherland led to Bartelsz reelection for a second term. The primary opposition parties during this period were the Communard-Labor Party and Democratic-Labor parties.

In 1915, Bartelsz launched a campaign to crack down on organized crime and mobster violence, which arose from the rampant smuggling during the years of the Quasi-War (1906-1910). More often, these groups of mobs were based around rivalling immigrant and worker groups, and had explicit political ties to the labor and communard parties of New Netherland. During the periods between 1915-1925, several arrests have been made, including high-profile personalities affiliated with the labor-communard alliance. The progressiveProgressive partyParty's use of propaganda was heavy, depictingoften linking the mobs, and by extension, the labor-communard party, to the secret police of Dictatorial [[France]] under Grand Marshal Camille Laframboise. These "anti-mob" policies were continued by Bartelsz' successors, Johannes Karsen and Maurits Thomas Hudson.

During Maurits Thomas Hudson's tenure as raedspensionaris, the largest debate in government came near the end of his tenure. The progressive party's opinion on the Floridan Independence movement during the late 1920s was split. During the [[European Economic Crisis]] of the first half of the 1920s, The Dominion of Florida (under Spain) sold large holdings of land and sharecropping contracts to New Netherlander businessmen in order to stay afloat. Hudson believed that it was New Netherland's responsibility to protect the interests of these New Netherlanders, and concluded that it intervention was necessary. Hudson passed a motion to support Spain in their war against the Floridan revolutionaries, and narrowly passed the States-General. In 1925, New Netherland officially declared their support for Spain and the Dominion of Florida. This move upset Mexican politicians, who had been supporting Florida's independence from Spain.

Over the course of the war from 1925-1929, New Netherland's support started off as economic assistance to Spain, but eventually grew into aerial scouting missions and direct military support, but only in a supporting role. The war was widely publicized at home, with the government publicizing images of New Netherlander aircraft and mercenaries in action in Florida. The Battle of Amarillo, in particular, captivated the New Netherland public into support for the war. However, despite the heroic imagery of New Netherland's involvement in the war, the war was not going well for Spain and New Netherland. Skeptics in New Netherland started to question the massive investment of the government into the war effort, even causing a schism of opinion within the ruling progressiveProgressive partyParty itself. Despite this, Hudson remain committed to the war effort, as he believed that it would be aan badundesirable image for the Progressive Party during the upcoming 1927 elections.

A group of progressives split off from the Progressive Party and teamed up with several members from Înheydspartÿ (Unity Party), New Netherland's first ruling political party in power duringafter the 1903 revolution. They formed a new political alliance, called the Vrÿlotpartÿ (or Free Destiny Party in English). The new party was led by Christiaen Huysman, nephew of theNew Netherland's 2ndsecond raedspensionaris, Magnus Bartelsz. The Free Destiny Party called for the end of New Netherland's involvement in the Floridan Independence War, which they saw as a hopeless and wasteful endeavor. The party also employed the use of muckrakers to discredit the incumbent government.

=== New Netherland under the Free Destiny Party (1927-1930s) ===

The government of Christiaen Huysman introduced new regulations in New Netherland economic policy, most notably the regularization of railroad rates and expansion of the education system. Huysman wasalso succeededintroduced the New Netherland Organization Act of 1930, which created several new executive ministries and departments, aimed to delegate the various aspects of governance such as economics, resource management, science and technology to subject matter experts, in what he called a "government aided by experts." Christiaen Huysman was slated to run for raedspensionaris, but due to failing health, had withdrew his leadership of the Free Destiny Party to his right hand man, Jan Kaspar Knip. afterKnip and the 1931Free Destiny Party won the elections of 1931.

Jan Kaspar Knip, inducted as Raedspensionaris in 1931, introduced the concept of the "American Way." Knip believed that New Netherland, as the first nation to gain independence in North America, had athe responsibility to buildlead the construction of an independent "American Community of Nations," together sharing ideals against European neocolonialism and corruption, while building stronger ties with each other. Knip took many steps in the hopes of realizing this dream. He began new diplomatic relations with the Republic of Florida. Most notably, Knip involved New Netherland during the [[Virginia#Yorktown Landings, and the Conservative Coup (1934)|Virginian Coup of 1934]], where New Netherland sponsored and supported Virginian revolutionaries in overthrowing the Prohibitionists, which had been in power in Virginia since the [[Virginia#Virginian Civil War, and Prohibitionist Rule (1911-1914)|Virginian Civil War (1911)]]. In 1936, Knip lauded New England Prime Minister Montgomery for his statement against the sending of New England troops to fight the [[Great War]], while criticizing [[Tussenland]] for joining the war on the Cordial League's side. By late 1936, Knip expressed vague interest in supporting New England's separatism from Great Britain.