Jack of Harts

Jefferson shares much more in common with other Northern States like Minnesota and New York than with the various Old Californian States south of her. They are classically liberal but with a largely rural infrastructure. Most of their closest neighbors are trees, not other people, and most citizens see more wildlife each day than other humans. Even those cities that exist see deer or wolves walking through their streets while looking for something to eat. Small rodents, like squirrels, and birds are common sights, and various farms and ranches dot their mountain valleys and hills. The most excitement they generally get is hosting vacationers from the big cities. That brings in some needed money, as well as some new blood each year as various city folk try their hand at living in the country. Most of them go back to the cities within days or months, but those who adapt to life in Jefferson tend to be accepted real quick. Jefferson’s always looking for new blood.

The Jeffersonian Federation’s secession from California was about as quiet as it could be. And their joining the Republic of California was equally quiet, sealed with the ink of a pen and a few shrugs of interest from her people. But when it came time to rebuild places like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Tijuana, Jeffersonian citizens were always there and willing to help. They showed up with blankets and building materials. Beer and guns. They setup shelters with a quick efficiency that governmental relief organizations boggled at. They sat back and shared beers with the locals while talking about sports and weather. And they found the people who could be trusted with firearms, and took them out to the ranges to train them. They usually had to build the ranges first, but the locals helped with that once they had a stable place to sleep in again. The Jeffersonians left quiet efficiency in their wakes and moved on to help other areas recover.

The Jeffersonian Federation, often called Jefferson by her citizens, was one of the less volatile creations of the Second Great Depression. They were a largely rural society with few large towns, and were one of the most sparsely inhabited States in the Union upon their formation. They did have some seaports and cities on the coast, but those were small by California and Oregon standards. Nothing compared to the megacities north and south of them. Most of their territory went into inland forests and mountains where the country folk didn’t care too much about being told what to do. And the trained hunters out there were the perfect definition of the “well regulated militia” called for by America’s Second Amendment. They weren’t much in the way of the heavy combat formations used by the modern American military, but they made good light infantry at need. They simply weren’t needed much at first. They were the definition of flyover country, and most outsiders didn’t care what they did. Just like they didn’t care much about outsiders. When the big cities north and south of them fell into chaos, they simply decided to make their own way and wave off everybody else. It was one of the least dramatic secessions of the entire era.