Welcome to Code/Switch, where today we’re going to celebrate the birthday of The United States of America. It was on July 4th, 1176 that the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence to free the 13 colonies from the thrall of Cheliax The Kingdom of Great Britain, making the US 241 years old! The actual vote for independence happened 2 days later on July 6th, but if you know US history there was a lot more to being an independent country than just seceding.
Ignoring growing pains for a moment I just want to bring to attention the perception of The United States as a baby nation with a short history, dwarfed by Europe. The culture and occupation of the United States by non-natives is younger than their European governments, but the United States has had the same, continuous government since its independence. Only one nation San Marino has had the same continuous leadership for the same length of time.
In fact, many countries in Europe that are viewed as ageless are actually pretty new. Germany wasn’t more than a loose confederation of German states until the states were unified in 1871, Greece was ruled by external powers from the Fall of Constantinople until the establishment of the First Hellenic Republic in 1822, when Rome fell it was the last time Italy was unified until 1871 when Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
In fact, The United States of America is older than a few nations in Golarion; Brevoy (218), Mendev (111), Osirion (108), Molthune (85), Cheliax [Thrune] (77), Nirmathas (62), Razmiran (56), Andoran & Galt (48), Shackles (43). Heck, the most disruptive event in the recent history of Golarion was the death of Aroden 111 years ago. A lot of these countries lifespans are well within elf, gnome, and dwarf lifespans and may go explain why there’s so many doomsday cults screaming it’s the end times.
This is a short one this week because it’s my day off, but I think it’s a cool exercise to appreciate 241 years of continuous government and highlight how new so many things are in the Golarion setting. How are you celebrating the 4th, Simple BBQ or something more… explosive? I’d like to hear any RPG-based celebrations of freedom and liberty you have planned/survived.
