A House Divided

Mere hours after the first state severed its ties with America, others followed suit with almost identically sounding declarations. Hopes of a peaceful separation were quickly dashed when several demonstrations in the affected states in favor of continued membership in America turned bloody and a number of federal officials were assaulted. In a few cases, supporters of President the American leader - or just people accused of insufficient zeal for independence - were lynched by the crowd. Interim President the Confederate leader has called these events "regrettable but understandable acts of civic retaliation against governmental overreach", and promised the perpetrators presidential pardons if they came forward. He further demanded a complete withdrawal of all federal troops from the territory of the new state as well as a demilitarized zone at the border to avoid "further misunderstandings". President the American leader has refused to even entertain the notion and ordered the military to restore order in the states in rebellion.