OrenjiGatsu
The best moon you'll ever see.
In Maryland in 1862, General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate States of America created Special Order 191. In it was information for the movements of the Army of Northern Virginia. A copy of this message was found by a Union soldier in a former CSA campsite. The letter was given to Union General McClellan, whose was quite excited to know his opponent’s plans. He used it to stop Lee at the Battle of Antietam. The slight victory was used by Abraham Lincoln to issue out the Emancipation Proclamation, changing the meaning of the US Civil War from succession to slavery and making foreign intervention in favour of the CSA, by the United Kingdom and French Empire, nowhere near likely.
This order being found has had a great impact on the war, by causing Lee's army to be stopped and giving Lincoln a victory to publish the proclamation after. However, in the world of Harry Turtledove’s Southern Victory series, this Special Order is not found. Some CSA officer is better and holding onto things, not leaving the copy behind.
In this series, without those orders, McClellan cannot find the Northern Virginia army, so the Battle of Antietam does not take place. Instead, the Confederate army surprises General McClellan and gets a decisive victory over them. They then head on and take Philadelphia. This catches the eyes of the UK and France. They give the CSA some recognition, and demand that Lincoln negotiates with the CSA on ending this. With that, the Union does and the CSA is now recognized not as states in rebellion, but as a legitimate country. The South had won.
Since the CSA won in the "War of Sucession," there has been a mild peace between them and the US. The CSA composes of the original 11 states along with the Indian Territory (known in our world as Oklahoma, but known as Sequoyah in this timeline), Kentucky (conquered during the war), Cuba and Puerto Rico (bought from Spain instead of being freed through war in our timeline), and the former Mexican provinces of Sonora and Chihuahua (bought from the Second Mexican Empire that lasted in this timeline). The Northern US is unable to buy Alaska from Russia, though western expansion is happening faster, and more harsh on the native Americans. The Battle of Little Bighorn doesn't happen because of that (meaning George Custer is still alive). US imperialism has been slowed by the loss of its southern states. Hawaii is not added to the US due to this, and is instead annexed by the UK.
The Northern US has recently fought the CSA over their gaining of the Mexican provinces. The US, as in the previous war, failed. The UK and France allied with the CSA and blockade and bombard the northern US coasts. The northern US is forced to give up Maine to British Canada. Meanwhile, the CSA had to start to end slavery in order to keep its British and French allies, though keeping the freed slaves in Apartheid like conditions.
It is now 1885, not long since the last fight between the north and the south, and a generation since their war for independence. The Northern US has found itself needing an ally if it ever wants to have a chance of defeating the CSA, but who? Perhaps that new German Empire. They seem to be strong, defeating the French Empire in the Franco-Prussian war, and the Northern US has been getting a bunch of German immigrants. What if they accept? The South, while winning two wars, needs to realize that if it weren’t for their smart officers and large allies, they couldn’t win a war with the North, and that losing to the North may mean the end of the CSA. Not only that though, as they also have to deal with freemen. They are not only racially oppressed, but economically oppressed as well, and economic oppression brings forth radical thoughts such as Marxism.
What happens now is up to you now.
Mechanics:
Pop Demand
Whether or not the populous has control or representation in the government, they will have indirect power in the country. They want what they want, and to give them something they don’t want will be bad. In some cases, this just means that things are done lukewarm, but at worst it can mean rebellion. This, of course, is also based on the place and conditions.
If you raise taxes in a time of progress and peacetime, expect not much more than some complaints. In worse times, people may protest or not pay taxes. If you do it in a time of war and great famine, you better hope that you got a good scapegoat or reasoning for it, otherwise people will rebel, kill you, and possibly eat you in whatever order they prefer.
This doesn’t mean that you can never do something unpopular, you just need to make sure it is not done at the worst of times, make sure it has a good reason, or make sure that resent for it won’t be targeted at you. For instance, a censorship act will be more acceptable during a time of war than in peacetime. This applies to most actions, even diplomatic actions, such as entering a war. You can also do something the populace wants before doing something they don't want to curb the negative impact.
Research
This is the 19th century, a time of great advancements. You have the ability to research things regarding the military, industry, intellectualism, or infrastructure. How much you can research is based on your economy. If your economy is in a panic, expect nothing more than the bare minimum your government can afford. If your economy is expanding, expect the ability to research more along with domestic businesses occasionally making inventions (but don’t rely on that, these companies aren’t SpaceX or Google).
Research gives new benefits. Research into the military means that new weaponry and tactics. Research into industry means more production.
In order to prevent this from being too much in favour of the stronger nations, the more advanced the research, the longer it takes to be finished. Researching “Barrels” (what people called tanks in this alt world) would take much longer than researching the automobile. Also, countries with less ability to research can try and buy inventions from private businesses or simply buy machinery from foreign companies. Nations can share technology if they want to.
War
It is inevitable that one nation will fight another, so here’s how you will fight. You are going to have to get specific, describing troop movements and the kind of units moving. Battles will happen, and as the leader you are, you have little control over these battles unless you are literally there. How your military fights is based off how you want then to, though this may not be always be true. Every nation has those moments where some officer or soldier decides to not follow protocol for whatever reason. Don't worry though, your army will follow your rules, but 95% of the time.
In order to fight, though, you need an enemy. You start a war either by declaring war and attacking, or simply attacking (though don’t expect the international reaction to be in your favour). The war ends when you and your enemy agree to end it.
Like with the pop demand mechanics, countries will not be alright if you attack simply to conquer or kill. You may find yourself embargoed or even face a military intervention if you are seen as too dangerous. If you make or have a causa-belli, however, you will be more able to declare a war and face less negative reactions.
There are multiple determinants to battles. The major ones are moral, technology, size, stance, and supply. Remember this: your soldiers will fight better when they see their enemies as evil and needing to be destroyed. If they're simply in a war due to an alliance or for some political instead of personal reason, don't expect them to do heroic feats. Technology differences can greatly change the outcome of a battle. Having better tech means that one can better defeat an opponent of lesser tech. Size means that one can overrun the enemy with how much people they got. Stance refers to how the army has to act on the battlefield. If they have to cross a muddy terrain in the rain to get to their enemy, don't be surprised if they flee even if not taking much real damage. Supply just refers to if they can get ammunition, food, fuel, or other supplies. An army without supplies will be way less effective than a supplied army. These determinants can cancel out each other. A technologically advance and supplies army may lose a battle if they're fighting a way larger force with a greater moral and in a better stance. Do not worry if this seems like a burden. Size and technology are more of what matters in the long term of a war.
Imperialism
The latter half of the 19th century saw the Heart of Darkness being explored along with increasing western expansion into Asia and the Pacific. You may want to join this bandwagon of imperialism.
You start this be claiming land in somewhere. Congratulations, you now own that land, in theory. In practice, you have to do more. You have to enforce your claim by showing control over it. This can be done by either sending settlers to the land, establishing a military base, or by making the locals submit to your rule.
Beware, however, this game of imperialism is dangerous. The local people you just took rule over may not be happy with you there, and may possibly revolt. You may lose much manpower and money keeping rule over various lands. If it's not the natives, then others may want that land you claim, and could be willing to war for it.
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