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For the random encounter in Fallout Tactics, see Canadian Invasion. |
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The United States annexation of Canada was a series of armed conflicts occurring from mid-2072 through 2077, when military forces of the United States of America conquered the sovereign territories of the nation of Canada during the height of the Sino-American War to quicken the war effort against Chinese invasion in Alaska and claimed the nation as their territory.[1][Non-game 1] The event is mentioned multiple times in the Fallout series.
Events[]
Conflict with the neighbor[]
The process of annexing Canada began in 2059, as the Resource Wars began ramping up in the wake of the Euro-Middle Eastern War and the nuclear destruction of Tel Aviv. The Anchorage front line was established near the Alaskan town, to protect its natural resources, especially the crude oil fields suppled through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, from interference by other nations, especially the U.S.'s rival superpower, the People's Republic of China. As parts of the pipeline cross Canadian territory, the U.S. government pressured the Canadian authorities into allowing American military units to station near the pipeline and provide security. This led to mounting tension as the citizens of America's northern neighbor became displeased with the presence of American forces on their soil.[Non-game 2]
After the Chinese invasion of Alaska in 2066 kicking off the Sino-American War, increasing U.S. military presence in Canada began to raise tensions to the point of riots.[Non-game 3] Faced with a deteriorating situation between China's invasion and opposition from Canadian civilians, the United States military changed tactics from simply guarding the pipeline. Despite mass protests, the country's resources were exploited and stretched to the breaking point to support the American war effort, such as vast stretches of timberland being destroyed beyond recovery. By 2069, public opinion to the south had turned against Canada, with the nation becoming known by the derogative "Little America" in the minds of U.S. citizens.[Non-game 4]
Boiling-over tensions[]
The tipping point came in 2072. As the U.S. escalated its exploitation of Canada's resources, the thoroughly fed-up populace took to the streets, with protests and riots erupted in several Canadian cities. The boiling situation finally spilled over with an attempted sabotage of the pipeline by unknown forces, of which would be foiled, and the military leaders of America then sought to capitalize on the public outrage to make more overt movements to fully take over the northern lands.[1][Non-game 3]
When pictures of the atrocities committed in the name of the United States made it over the border, they sparked unrest and protests from the American public who became concerned themselves about the escalation in military action. Despite lingering efforts from Canadian resistance, it had little impact on history, as American military forces swept through the territory largely unimpeded, taking much-needed resources for maintaining the war effort, ultimately leading to the dissolution of Canada as a sovereign nation.[Non-game 5][Non-game 6]
In a statement to the press, Buzz Babcock, commander of U.S. forces in Canada, cited security concerns as the primary reason for the annexation. He also stated that "Little America" was always the property of the United States and the U.S. military announced the official annexation of Canada on June 3, 2072.[1][Non-game 1]
Sovereign no more[]
By 2077, the annexation was complete and Canada ceased to exist as a nation. The provinces occupied by the American military became U.S. territories, remaining under its political and military control, but not a state or commonwealth in their own right.[2] Canadian citizens were issued temporary status IDs listing them as residents of the new U.S. annexed territory of Canada.[3] Violence escalated, and security detachments equipped with combat armor were sent to suppress the Canadian population and any resistance movements.[4] Protesters, rioters, and resistance members alike were shot on sight, sometimes even executed on camera.[4]
Even among the military, the annexation was met with mixed reactions. For some, the act was considered criminal.[5] Open warfare between the opposing armies across the former nation commenced, with the Yukon becoming one of the many fronts alongside Anchorage that America had to fight.[6] Despite the outcry, the military initiative forged ahead. Propaganda portrayed the annexation as a "liberation", with comic series such as Tales from the Front and cartoons such as Armor Ace and the Power Patrol championing U.S. occupation forces while vilifying Canadian partisan resistance; for instance, the villainous "rogue robots" of the Yukon Five in the Armor Ace board game Cold Steel were explicitly described as part of the "Yukon Uprising."[7] Meanwhile, enterprising third parties sought to capitalize on the annexation for their own interests, such as the Vault-Tec Corporation moving to begin building and advertising available spaces for Vaults in "newly-annexed Canada."[8]
Appearances[]
The United States annexation of Canada is mentioned in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Honest Hearts, Fallout 76 and the Fallout TV series.[9]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Capitol Post terminal entries; Capital Post Top Stories -- June 3, 2072, U.S. to Annex Canada!
- ↑ Survivalist's rifle inscription: "Long Branch Arsenal Ontario, USA Territory"
- ↑ Fallout TV series, Season 2, Episode 4: "The Demon in the Snow": See this image of Steph's U.S. annexed territory of Canada ID (timestamp ~39:33).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The dissident executed in the Fallout intro is wearing combat armor.
- ↑ Year: 2100
- ↑ Dick Richardson: "{177}{prs20b}{A little history….} {197}{prs24}{There was a great war long before we were born. Our gallant soldiers fought from the Yukon to the Yangtze.}"
The Chosen One: "{198}{}{Yeah, I knew about that part. Go on.}"
Dick Richardson: "{216}{prs32}{We were winning, too. And then those damn Reds launched everything they had. We barely got our birds up.}"
The Chosen One: "{217}{}{Doesn't seem as though it helped us much.}"
Dick Richardson: "{218}{prs33}{Well, no it didn't. But at least it knocked the damn Red menace back into the stone age.}"
The Chosen One: "{219}{}{And us with it.}"
(Dick Richardson's dialogue) - ↑ Fallout 76: Cold Steel scoreboard and comic strip
- ↑ Letter from Vault-Tec
- ↑ Fallout TV series, Season 1, Episode 6: "The Trap"
Non-game
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p. 43: "Chinese Army (Simulated) / U.S. Army (Simulated)": "With conditions deteriorating between the United States and China, a military presence in Alaska was established to prevent a possible invasion across the Bering Strait. With increasingly scarce oil reserves, a last deep-sea deposit below the Pacific Ocean was claimed by China before allegedly being sabotaged by American special operatives. Strained relationships spiraled downward into conflict as China marched on Alaska, and the Sino-American War of 2066—2077 erupted. Under the command of General Jingwei, the Chinese Army usurped control of Alaska's oil pipeline and reserves. In response, the Americans began what came to be called "The Alaskan Reclamation Operation" (2067—2077).
Under the leadership of General Constantine Chase, the U.S. Army battled fiercely to the front lines of the conflict before Chase began deploying specialized Power Armor units that began pushing the Chinese back. Future Power Armor suits were further refined as the conflict dragged on, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was reclaimed. With resources flowing through Canada, strained diplomatic tensions between Canada and the United States becoming problematic, and Canadian forces attacking the pipeline, the country was annexed.
A combination of inclement weather, constant American bombardment and trench warfare, and U.S. Powered Armor unit attacks sweeping through mainline China, the Chinese supply lines weakened and finally broke down completely. By the beginning of 2077, the city of Anchorage was finally liberated, the Chinese eradicated, and the operation deemed a success. A commemorative memorial was erected in Washington, D.C., in honor of the soldiers who fought and perished for the greater American good. Violence between America and pockets of Canadian freedom fighters continued throughout 2077, until the Great War obliterated almost all infrastructure, commerce, and human life."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide faction profiles) - ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "2059 The Anchorage Front Line is established, as the United States increases its military presence in Alaska to protect its oil interests. The Anchorage Front Line causes tensions in the United States and Canada, as the United States attempts to pressure Canada into allowing American military units to guard the Alaskan pipeline."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fallout Bible 0: "2072 The United States' increasing demand for Canadian resources causes protests and riots in several Canadian cities. An attempted sabotage attempt of the Alaskan pipeline is all the military needs as an excuse to begin its annexation of Canada... which in fact, had already begun in 2067."
- ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "2069 Canada begins to feel the pressure from the United States military as the US draws upon Canadian resources for the war effort. Vast stretches of timberland are destroyed, and other resources in Canada are stretched to the breaking point. Many Americans refer to Canada as Little America, and Canadian protests are unheard."
- ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "2076 January The United States annexation of Canada is complete. Canadian protesters and rioters are shot on sight, and the Alaskan Pipeline swarms with American military units. Pictures of atrocities make their way to the United States, causing further unrest and protests."
- ↑ Fallout history marketing picture