Chapter 967: American Strategy (3)

In later generations, California's economic strength is absolutely beyond imagination. If it is regarded as an independent economy, it is a very powerful existence even on a global scale. According to statistics, California's GDP in 2019 exceeded 3 trillion US dollars, ranking fifth in the world's GDP level, surpassing major countries such as Britain, France, and Russia with the strength of one state.

In addition to economic strength, it is also outstanding in other aspects. For example, California's film industry has a long-standing reputation, and Disney, Universal Pictures, and Paramount are world-famous; California Institute of Technology, Stanford University and other universities are world-class institutions of higher learning; California's Silicon Valley is world-renowned, and technology companies such as Apple, Google, and Intel are located here. It deserves the title of "the most creative place in the world".

Perhaps because of this, some Californians are unwilling to be just a state in the United States, and voices of independence are heard from time to time, as a statement from the California Independence Movement said. "California is the world's sixth largest economy, with stronger economic power than France and a larger population than Poland. In any way, California should be compared with other countries and compete with other countries, not the other 49 states in the United States."

The independence movement in California is actually a long-standing historical issue. Before 1846, California was a territory of Mexico. At that time, Mexico actively encouraged domestic people to immigrate to California for the sake of strengthening national defense and economic development, and also absorbed a large number of foreign immigrants to the local area. However, a situation that was unexpected by Mexico began to gradually take shape: the influx of American immigrants soon surpassed the locals in population. By 1846, local American settlers established the Sonoma Republic and erected their own big bear flag (so it is also called the Bear Flag Republic).

In 1846, the war broke out between the United States and Mexico. On July 7 of that year, John Slot, a commodore of the United States, claimed California as a territory of the United States after occupying Monterey. At that time, although Californians wanted to be independent from Mexico, they actually had different opinions on whether to join the United States after independence: Californians in the north chose to fight alongside American soldiers, but Californians in the south resisted the US martial law. In 1847, US General Stephen Kearney defeated the Southern California Resistance. In 1848, Mexico formally ceded California to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

From the first day of being incorporated into the United States, California had a certain sense of alienation from the federal government: Californians had established their own country after all. In the eyes of Californians, their cooperation with the United States at the beginning of the Mexican-American War was to achieve the goal of independence from Mexico, but afterwards the United States took the opportunity to directly take over the Californians' "Bear Flag Republic". This laid the groundwork for the future California independence movement, and the subsequent historical development trajectory of California exacerbated this independence tendency.

However, the US Constitution does not allow states to unilaterally secede from the United States, and all attempts to split are "absolutely invalid." In legal procedures, if a state wants to secede from the federation, it needs to convene representatives from other states to hold a meeting. The independence amendment can only be passed with the consent of 2/3 of the representatives of other states participating in the rally. Even after the amendment is passed, it will be sent to the legislatures of 50 states and at least 38 states will agree to it before it can be adopted. Therefore, if California adopts the method of amending the constitution to achieve independence, it will inevitably go through a long and complicated process.

It is extremely complicated for California to become independent in terms of procedures. Moreover, even if such complicated procedural issues are resolved, it is not guaranteed that the US government will directly tear its face and go to war. At that time, the US federal government will not argue with you about whether it is in line with the constitution. In the end, whoever wins the battle has the final say. If it really comes to using force, the California National Guard will obviously not be able to confront the regular army of the federal government.

It is for this reason that these people formed the "German Alliance" and prepared to forcibly secede from the United States with the help of Germany.

The question now is whether the Germans will give them California, the "cornucopia".

"The Germans have already taken the largest grain-producing areas in the world, and they may not look down on ours."

The person next to him shook his head and retorted. "This is just your wishful thinking. Do you think you have too much money? Given the greed of the Germans (if they were not greedy, they would not conquer everywhere), they will definitely not let go of this Feng Shui treasure land."

"But after all, we are of German descent. The Germans will have to show some favor, right?"

"That's not necessarily the case. Maybe they think you are an American."

Watching everyone arguing, the old man slapped the armrest of the chair. "Enough! The matter has not been completed yet, and you want to start a quarrel? Isn't this a joke? What big things can you accomplish like this?" Seeing that everyone was quiet, the old man sighed and continued. "Everyone, it's useless for us to say anything now. The initiative is in the hands of the Germans. Let's contact the Germans first to hear what they mean." After all, they can't come up with any bigger bargaining chips except to be the insiders, but with the strength of the Germans, it seems that they will not be grateful for their decision to be the insiders.

Others obviously thought of this too, and their expressions were not optimistic. "What if the Germans are unwilling to give California to us?"

Before the old man could answer, a middle-aged man in the crowd suddenly shouted. "Wait, I've thought of a worse possibility!" His sudden shout startled the people around him, who stood up in panic and shouted. "How could we forget that our state is not the only coastal state in the United States!!"

There are more states with coastlines in the United States than California. There are Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and Alaska, which have been occupied by the Germans, on the Pacific coast alone; and there are more on the Atlantic coast, including Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, etc., a total of thirteen states!

"What if someone in these states has already reached an agreement with the Germans, then what value do we have?!" They can unite to form a "German Alliance", who knows if there are "Kneeling German Alliance" or "Licking German Alliance" in other states?

"!!" Everyone's face suddenly became ugly. Once they are no longer useful, won't the Germans be able to slaughter them at will after landing in the future? By then, let alone the entire California, they may have to leave their homes and flee.

The old man's expression was extremely serious. "It seems we have to hurry up."