The United States of America is one of the playable Factions in Leviathans.
History[]
Early Attempts at Flight[]
The American entry into the Great Sky Race did not go smoothly: the USS Raleigh, first American leviathan, crash-landed twice. While work continued, the United States Navy continued to receive greater attention.[1][2]
Japanese Cooperation[]
In the aftermath of the Battle of Tsushima, the United States invited the Empire of Japan to send students to their military and technical schools. This proved to benefit both parties: the Japanese delegation helped to discover and mitigate sabotage against the Pigeon, a prototype craft built by a joint effort of George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla. The vessel's first flight in 1901 was largely successful, despite finding more sabotage along the way, and was conducted by Togo Takeshi and Togo Minoru, sons of Tōgō Heihachirō. Togo would later return to Japan with a degree from the United States Naval Academy and several leviathans purchased by his government.[3]
Also in 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated, and his Vice-President, Theodore Roosevelt, became President. Roosevelt dedicated the United States Sky Academy in McKinley's honor later that year.[4][5]
Perdicaris Affair[]
America's new sky fleet was soon put to the test in the 1904 Perdicaris Affair: Ion Perdicaris and Cromwell Varley were kidnapped for ransom in Morocco, facing re-election, chose a forceful response. The South Atlantic Squadron was sent, reinforced by the leviathan USS Cleveland. The Cleveland, under command of William Southerland, made a daring sneak attack on the tribesmen holding Perdicaris, freeing Perdicaris and Varley and killing their captors. While returning from this mission, a French cruiser sought a confrontation with them, in which the French came out second-best. This event saw Roosevelt re-elected and Southerland given the Congressional Medal of Honor.[6]
Midnight War[]
In 1911, America's former partners and students, the Imperial Japanese Air Service, took the lead in what became known as the Midnight War: in one night, Japan effected the conquest of most of Chile. Outraged, the United States--under President William Howard Taft--pointed to the Monroe Doctrine, to which Japan replied that it made no mention of Asian powers, only European. This propelled Theodore Roosevelt to an unprecedented third term in office, and he proclaimed the Teddy Doctrine, expanding upon and reaffirming the Monroe Doctrine.[7][8][9]
Eve of the Great War[]
In the year before the outbreak of the Great War, the United States dealt with threats from both north and south.
Alaska had been purchased from the Russian Empire, and only afterward was it found to have rich deposits of eteroid. A shipyard and military base were established there, with ship crews largely drawn from the local indigenous population, which had suffered badly under Russian rule. In 1913, several Russian leviathans crossed into American airspace, sending out a false distress signal. A group of American destroyers acquitted themselves well against the Russian cruiser and its destroyer consorts, and the arrival of a Frontier-class cruiser showed the Russians this was a fight they could not win, and so they withdrew after taking significant losses.[10]
In South America, nations such as Brazil and Argentina became proxies for the United States and Japan respectively, with brush wars and armed confrontations frequent occurrences.[11] In 1914, William Southerland arrived in Brazil to be part of the signing of a treaty between the United States and Brazil. Japanese forces sought to disrupt the event, which resulted in the death of the Ambassador from Uruguay and the loss of a Japanese destroyer.[12]
American Technological Advantages[]
While among the younger sky fleets, American inventors provided some of their craft with advanced technology not available to other nations, including Advanced Fire Control, the Edison coil which provided superior maneuverability to that of a Tesla coil, Superchargers, and the TED gun, or "Tesla Edison Device."[13]
Historical Notes[]
Historically, Woodrow Wilson became President, and Theodore Roosevelt never served a third term. Relations with Japan were generally cordial, though the Japanese Navy did prepare for a future conflict with the U.S. during this time. The United States entered the Great War late, and focused on the European front primarily.
References[]
- ↑ Leviathans Gazetteer, pp. 13, 70
- ↑ Leviathans Core Rulebook, pp. 69, 135
- ↑ Steel, Bamboo, and Rice Paper
- ↑ Leviathans Gazetteer, p. 19
- ↑ Leviathans Core Rulebook, p. 71
- ↑ The Wind from the Sky
- ↑ Midnight War
- ↑ Inaugural Address of Theodore Roosevelt
- ↑ Leviathans Core Rulebook, p. 129
- ↑ A Test of Resolve
- ↑ Leviathans Core Rulebook, pp. 141-142
- ↑ Rendezvous in Rio
- ↑ Leviathans Core Rulebook, pp. 43-44