I’m sure you’re tired of reading about Obama’s win and US election politics but whilst scanning the blogs I came across two interesting comments from readers on Matthew Price’s election blog for the BBC:
1. “Interesting to look at the political map of who won which states. A centre with two coastlines… as others have said, an inward looking and an outward looking country.”
2. “As an Englishman looking at the Election results on the Map of America, the divisions look like the Confederate war, who knows ‘The south may rise again’”…
During the Civil War the states (those that were official and recognised territories) were split so:
During the last 4 elections the battleground or swing states have decided who made it to President:
If you now look at the map of declared states it does indeed look like the political and emotional map of the US has changed quite radically with Obama so far* taking 6 of the battleground states. Several traditionally conservative states have swung to the Democrats and yet the map remains split along historically important lines: North vs South:
I don’t want to get into the obvious racial impact on Obama support in the deep south - there are far better qualified people to comment on American attitudes to the first black President, many of whom will (or will not if you think of Sarah Palin) hold a US passport.
My only question is what will happen over the next 4 years? Now that George W’s cowboy approach to politics and foreign policy will shortly come to an end will the inexperienced Obama be able to hold the Union together?
Imagine, if you will, a division of the states. A split - for whatever reason - along blue and red borders. Well Matthew White already has with his map of ‘North America, the Balkans Version‘ on the truly fantastic Strange Maps blog.
The preview above shows America and Canada, the two sovereign states that share the North American landmass, fragmented into 18 territories as a result of a ‘point of divergence’ occurring in 1787.
Some key theorised points to note:
- France and Great Britain both retain a toehold in the country
- Texas is independent (a big thrill to many I’m sure!)
- The northern states fail to beat the south during the civil war
- Many of the Indian tribes are strong enough to claim an independent Florida and wipe out Custer to create the Dakota Nation.
Intriguing reading - let’s just hope we don’t see a repeat of US Civil War in the third millennium.
*As of writing, Missouri and North Carolina are yet to be called.
