Unum Cum Virtute Multurom ("One with the Strength of Many") | |||||||
| Anthem | "The Heart of the Continent" | ||||||
| Capital | Winnipeg City | ||||||
| Largest city | Winnipeg | ||||||
| Language | English | ||||||
| Religion main |
Roman Catholic | ||||||
| others | Native American beliefs | ||||||
| Demonym | Winnipegger | ||||||
| Government | Parliamentary Republic
Constitutional Monarchy | ||||||
| Monarchy | Queen Elizabeth II | ||||||
| Prime Minister | Kim Clackson | ||||||
| Independence | from Great Britain | ||||||
| declared | 1790 | ||||||
| recognized | 1790 | ||||||
| Currency | Winnipeg Dollar | ||||||
Winnipeg is a nation in the continent of North America. While the two nations it borders, Canada and the United States, are some of the largest countries in the world, Winnipeg is one of the smallest. Within its borders is Lake Winnipeg, the eleventh-largest freshwater lake on Earth. Because of its central location on the continent, Winnipeg is a major economic hub.
The nation was founded by Loyalists escaping from the United States and Canada after their two wars of independence from the nation of Great Britain. After integrating Native American tribes into their nation, Winnipeg grew larger and is one of the most diverse nations in North America.
History[]
Beginning[]
A monument in Winnipeg City to the United Empire Loyalists.
The original Winnipeggers were United Empire Loyalists who fled America during the American Revolutionary War to Canada. However, Canada won its war of independence and the Loyalists fled inland. They were led by Daniel Bliss of Concord, Massachusetts. The place they eventually chose to settle was the southern shores of Lake Winnipeg.
Small towns were built, and the Loyalist nation began to become up and running. However, conflict with Native Americans threatened to bury this. The local Indian tribes were the Cree, Assiniboine, Okibway, Metis, and others. By 1800, the Indians were raiding villages and destroying the Winnipeggers' farms. Finally, a man named Jean Baptiste Lagimodiere came. Lagimodiere traveled from Indian camp to Indian camp, negotiating with the tribes. Finally, a treaty was signed, creating peace between Winnipeg and the Native American tribes.
The flag of Winnipeg from 1790-1856. It was also the flag used by the United Empire Royalists. It was changed to the present flag in 1856 due to the integration of Native American tribes.
Winnipeg's relations with neighboring Canada grew during the early 1800s. Trade began between the countries, boosting the economy of both. Agricultural and manufacturing products in Canada were exported in exchange for fishing, mining, and manufacturing products in Winnipeg. In 1832, Winnipeg was one of the countries asked to join the North American Alliance. Winnipeg agreed, becoming one of the five nations to do so. Winnipeg was beginning to fully integrate with the rest of North America. Winnipeg fought in the Americas War along with the rest of the North American Alliance, and became victorious.
Becoming a Crossroads[]
Because Winnipeg was located in the center of North America near a large freshwater lake, it was an ideal stopping point for Canadian settlers. Beginning in the 1840s, Canada began its expansion west. Many Winnipegger cities grew, because of being a stopping point as well as a place for settlers to live at. Many large cities included Winnipeg City, Clearwater, and Beaver. Railroads were also built, connecting those three cities as well as the Canadian city of Saskatoon.
Louis Riel, Sr. was commander of Canadian soldiers during the American Civil War and prime minister of Winnipeg from 1862-1864.
With the Canadians moving westward, unrest between them and the Native Americans grew. Several Native American groups fought skirmishes with the Canadians, which resulted in the Canadian Western Guard being created. However, Winnipeg allowed the Native Americans to live within their borders, so many Native Americans moved there. All of this added to Winnipeg's large population boom.
In 1857, Winnipeg entered the American Civil War on the side of the North American Alliance. Winnipeg soldiers played a greater roll during the war than the Americas War, and the capture of Nashville, Tennessee was done entirely by a Winnipeg regiment under Louis Riel, Sr. When the war ended in 1859, Riel was a popular man, which led to his election in 1862. When he died in 1864 during his term in office, all of Winnipeg mourned.
In 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway opened up, and had three stops in Winnipeg: Winnipeg City, Beaver and Clearwater. The opening of the railway made it easier for goods to travel from Winnipeg to Canada and vice versa. Small towns that took days to travel to now were larger communities that were connected by the railway.
Dawn of the 20th Century[]
Logo of the Socialist Party
With the beginning of the 20th Century, Winnipeg continued to be a crossroads. Winnipeg also elected one of the first socialist presidents, J. S. Woodsworth in 1914, who resided in an economic boom. Woodsworth also campaign for neutrality and peace, and kept Winnipeg out of the very destructive First Great War. When the war ended in 1922, Woodsworth coordinated the Winnipeg Convention, in which the warring nations of the Second Pacific War negotiated a treaty to end the war, the Treaty of Beaver. Woodsworth was also instrumental in the creation of the Organization of Nations, and worldwide organization that helped solve problems in the world. Woodsworth's successor, William Ivens, also helped create the United Nations of the Americas, and was its first Secretary General. The Socialist Party soon became one of Winnipeg's most successful political parties.
While in the 1920s the economy soared, the 1930s brought the economy to a crashing halt. Agriculture nearly came to a standstill as a drought occurred. This caused many farmers to move to the cities or Canada. In the cities, several riots and demonstrations broke out. A faction of the Socialist Party, the Communist Party appeared and led many of the riots.
Government[]
Winnipeg Parliamentary Building
Winnipeg is a parliamentary republic and constitutional monarchy, recognizing British Queen Elizabeth II as their Head of State, while Kim Clackson is the Prime Minister. The legislature consists of the sovereign, the House of Commons and the Senate. 40 members of the House of Commons are appointed by the governor general, and voters select 60 more members to the House. Each member represents an electoral district. The House is the most powerful branch out of the three. The party most often in charge is the Socialist Party; the second most popular is the Democratic and third is the Progressive-Conservative.
| Party | Seats in Senate | Seats in Parliament | Prime Minister |
| Socialist Party | 24 | 38 | Kim Clackson |
| Democratic Party | 12 | 19 | N/A |
| Progressive-Conservative Party | 4 | 5 | N/A |
Sports[]
Winnipeg City Jets player Dean Kennedy
The most popular sport in Winnipeg is hockey. Two teams from Winnipeg are in the NAHL: the Beaver Majors and the Winnipeg City Jets. Three Continental Hockey League teams are located here, two of which serve the Majors and the Jets. Three teams, One semi-professional league is located in Winnipeg. Several amateur leagues are located in the country.
One team from Winnipeg is in the Northern Football League, the Winnipeg City Caribou. Another team, the Clearwater Rapids, used to play in the league until the franchise folded in 1989. Soccer, basketball, and several other sports are played in Winnipeg, but are not as popular as hockey and football. They are played at amateur and semi-professionally.