New Massachusetts
| Socialist Republic of New Massachusetts New Massachusetts | |
 Flag | |
 Emblem | |
| Motto Lets Give it Another Go | |
| [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGqMMpMkKXs | |
 Claimed Land | |
| Capital | Eresamia |
|---|---|
| Demonym | Massachusettsian/Massachusite(Formal) Student (Informal) |
| Languages | English (Majority) Spanish (Minority) |
| Religions | Terentian Deadhead |
| Government | Unitary Marxist Leninist state |
| - Head of State | President Eryn Lewis |
| - Head of Government | General Secretary Eryn Lewis |
| Legislature | Council of Workers |
| Established | 12th October, 2016 (As Eresamia) Early December, 2018 (Socialist Revolution) 18th of December, 2018 (Socialist Republic) |
| Population | 356 (Claimed) |
| Currency | USD |
The Socialist Republic of New Massachusetts is a micronation located in Western Massachusetts. It was formed out of the mostly defunct Eresamia by it's leader Elizabeth Lewis. It is structured mostly as a unitary socialist state, with all power theoretically belonging to the people through a proletariat dictatorship, under the country's ruling Socialist Party. It is made up of several pieces of land in the Massachusetts town of Greenfield, though only some parts of the country are officially under New Massachussite control.
History
New Elmhurst
New Massachusetts was originally the Tsardom of New Elmhurst,which is often considered to be the Successor state to the short lived "State of New Elmhurst". It remained an independent state for three years, before being annexed by the Sorrenian Federation. After disagreements with the Sorrenian Federation, The Tsar abdicated, putting Elizabeth Lewis in power. After a few months, Michael Thomas Brazeau, who had been the Tsar before Lewis, left New Elmhurst. In early autumn, New Elmhurst became a Kingdom, with Vera Hewitt becoming the King. The King then appointed the former Tsar, Eren Scott, to the position of Governor-General.
Union with 9th Grade
On the 11th of December, Lewis, being leader of New Elmhurst and Absolute Ruler of the 9th Grade, a mostly-joke micronation, decided to merge the two states, forming the United Kingdom of New Elmhurst and the 9th Grade, shortened to UKNE. New Elmhurst was considered the largest, and most thriving at this point, its population reaching around 356.
Occupation of Berghav
In late March, Sean, a student that went to the same school as Elizabeth Lewis formed an independent Micronation, the Kingdom of Berghav. Noticing that most of its citizens were also citizens of New Elmhurst, Lewis decided that he would attempt to pull the new state into New Elmhurst, claiming that it was land in a 'Greater New Elmhurst'. After Sean refused unification, Lewis, with the permission of the King, declared war on Berghav. The war was fought completely with boffers, or foam weapons. The New Elmhurstian forces for a majority of the occupation were armed with swords, though spears and axes stolen from the Berghavian forces were used later. The Berghavian forces had swords, axes, and spears. The New Elmhurstian forces defeated and occupied the Berghavians. The war lasted less than five hours, with the New Elmhurstian forces quickly breaking through the initial defenses of the Berghavians. The New Elmhurstians dug their way into Berghavian land, facing little resistance. As the New Elmhurstians approached the capital, the Berghavians became increasingly more savage, fighting their hardest against the New Elmhurstians. Unfortunately for them, the New Elmhurstian forces were unable to be stopped. Less than five hours after the invasion, the nation had been occupied, with King Sean being forced to surrender. Berghav was officially annexed as a province of New Elmhurst.
Civil War Threat
In June 2015, dissent against the Government and distaste for King Joseph was growing. Inactivity and low-moral were spreading throughout the nation, especially within the homeland and Berghav. With Revolutionary forces reforming in Berghav and a small group of Spiralists organizing against the Government, the threat of civil war grew. With summer approaching the Spiralists and other internal forces abandoned the idea of Revolution. The Berghavians, however, managed to occupy a large amount of their formal territory, declaring their independence. With the New Elmhurstian military too weak and demoralized to fight back, Berghav was declared an independent state once more.
Military Takeover and Civil War
In early August, the monarchy was dissolved in favor of a Military Government. The king stepped down and was made Vice President of a new military Junta, led by the President, Eren Scott.. For a few months the President ruled by decree. In September 2015, the President declared that New Elmhurst, in an attempt to increase activity, would become a democratic republic. Forces who had been loyal to the King, mostly high-ranking members of the military, attempted a coup against Lewis, successfully removing him from power. They claimed that Democracy had been a failure for New Elmhurst in the past, and would continue to be. As this happened, many revolutionary movements within New Elmhurst, mostly secessionist movements from several provinces, began to rise. The war only lasted around a week, with a monarchist-victory over the republicans. It was dubbed 'The September War' by those involved.
Dissolution of New Elmhurst
New Elmhurst was dissolved shortly after the September War due to inactivity, leaving most of the land that it had claimed either independent, such as the Spiralist state, or it had simply been returned to America.
The Student's Revolution of 2016
In 2016, Elizabeth Lewis, along with a friend of her, led a 'revolution' against what they claimed to be 'oppressive forces'. Lewis and Tirell created their own "independent administration of the school, free from American and faculty-oppression." With the Student's Party leading the revolution, the land that was once New Elmhurst once again declared its independence from the United States. Lewis declared himself 'Principal', using the title often used by the administrators of schools, appointing his friend Samuel as 'Vice Principal'. Lewis quickly re-organised the remnants of the New Elmhurstian state, forming a new Government, which he called 'The Student's Council'. Lewis consolidated his power quickly and quietly, any dissent being crushed. It didn't take long for the new leader to begin consolidating his power. During a military expedition to Berghav, which ended in clashes with hostile forces, the Vice Principal disobeyed a command of surrender given by the Principal, going as far as to attack him. He fled before Eresamian, or Berghavian troops could reprimand him. Lewis declared Tirrell a traitor, stripping him of his position and exiling him on the spot. He was found hiding in the woods outside Berghav. He was given a military-trail, and officially removed from his position, his citizenship stripped. All the while, Lewis focused on strengthening his own political power, outmaneuvering any threats to him. Removing Tirell was an important step.
The Christmas Coup
On Christmas day, 2016, elements of the military and of the Student's Party launched a self coup d'etat against the elected body of the Student's Council. Led by the Principal himself, many factions of the Student's Party were purged, and the Student's Council was abolished. The Student's Party turned heavily towards a military-governed, authoritarian position, with many of the communistic asthetics of the party and nation being removed.As of Christmas of 2016, many of the limited civil and political rights that had been promised by the left wing government were removed. Most of the powers of high-ranking government were merged with the Principal's powers to create the position of President, essentially an all-powerful position of rulership. The nation's official name was soon changed to the 'Student's State of Eresamia'
Return to Studentism
In summer of 2018, protests were held by sections of the Eresamian population demanding a return to the socialistic, student its policies. The government, which had heavily stagnated, agreed, and held a meeting of the Student’s Council with large groups of Eresamian students observing. At this meeting, a new constitution was drafted and the government of Eresamia returned itself to the Studentist ideals it was founded on. The Studentist Party was re-founded as the “vanguard of the students and people of the nation in the struggle to create a student-led socialist state.” Elizabeth Lewis, who had held dictatorial powers since the coup in the winter of 2016, was elected by a council of students to the position of Principal, as well as established as the General Secretary of the Students Party. Plans to re-form Eresamian culture and symbolism were then charted out for the coming fall.
Stagnation, and Revolution
Throughout 2017 and 2018, little happened in Eresamia. Throughout 2018, the Principal, Eryn Lewis lived away from the nation, and as such ruled through several contacts within the nation, who were referred to as 'councilmen'. In mid to late 2018, socialist and Marxist ideas began to spread throughout the ruling 12th grade. Stagnation, along with the spreading of these revolutionary ideals peaked in a socialist revolution in December, led by the former Principal. On the 18th of December, the Socialist Republic of New Massachusetts was formed. The name 'Eresamia' was scrapped, as many assosiated it with the general war-mongering attitudes of Lewis and Tirell that existed in 2016.
Culture
Politics
The government of New Massachusetts is a single party Marxist Leninist state, with all power being held by the people through a proletariat dictatorship, under a vanguard party known as the Massachusetts Socialist Party. The government is largely centralized on the Council of Workers, which is made up of representatives from local councils from each province. Within each province exists a Provincial Worker's Council, which is made up of representatives from smaller worker's councils, unions, and other locations. In order to be a representative of any of these councils, one must be a member of the Socialist Party.
The Council of Workers is headed by an executive committee known as the State Committee. The State Committee is made up of the President, who is the head of state, elected by a popular vote, the General Secretary, the head of government, also elected by popular vote, and six State Councilors.
Elections are held in New Massachusetts once every three years.
Religion
While secularism is held by the state as official policy, there are a large number of religions practiced within the land claimed by New Massachusetts, including the Novemian Deadhead Faith, Spiralism, as well as many variations of the Christian Religion. Within the province of Eresamia is the Spiral, which is considered a holy site by both members of the Novemian Deadhead Faith, as well as the Spiralist religion. New Massachusetts also claims land in the American town of Gill, specifically land they claim is the home of Peskeompscut, which Spiralists and Novemian Deadheads claim was a holy place for the Pocomtuc native Americans, who lived in the area before European colonialism. Freedom of religious practice is protected by New Massachusetts Law, but it is generally considered not allowed for public preaching of any religious belief.
Military
The Socialist Republic of New Massachusetts inherited the Eresamian Military. Armed with Airsoft guns and boffers, the New Massachusetts Armed Forces are considered extremely active outside the borders of the country. Throughout the summer of 2016, the forces that would organised as the Eresamian Army were involved in a long with forces within the school, fighting several skirmishes with them in the streets of the town surrounding the school, as well as the homes of some of the combatants. As of December 2018, the military of New Massachusetts is considered largely inactive.