Hopeland

The Federated States of Hopeland (Estados Federados de Hopelandia, Taeman Ahapukitiani i Hoplen), often simply known as Hopeland, is a sovereign country in South Sierra. It borders Concepción and Astiniria to the north, Great Giana to the west, Patagonia to the south, the Northulic Ocean to the west and the Atlantean Ocean to the east.

The country emerged as a potential superpower following the end of World War 2, and has been competing with the United States of Sierra for dominance of the Sierran continent. Hopeland is frequently nicknamed "The United States of the South".

Etymology

The name was adopted by Michillian explorer Richard Bryce, who initially named the Michillian part of the colony "Land of Hope", this was later changed to Hopeland.

The country's name is often never translated to other languages.

History

Ancient times

In ancient times, Hopeland's current territory was occupied by hunter-gatherers. Centuries later, they were occupied by largely unorganized city-states, as was the norm in most of the world. Merpeople had colonized the eastern fringes of the country, thus creating some sort of equivalent to the Ashtalaic trade kingdom of Harchakobor. Most of the merpeople were either Ashtalaics, Bulungians or a mix of both.

Human settlements, however, were likely people who had come from North Sierra in the past when it was connected by land to Sondria, and that later migrated further southwards. Upon encountering what they called "the sea people" in their primitive languages, trade relations began to increase.

By the year 500 CE, there were an estimated 100 city-states, mostly kingdoms led by indigenous Hakkis and some Mapuches, Incans and some Ashtalaics who seemed to have been aware of the existence of a "new Atlantis" (assuming that the old one is the one King Triton had sunk), mostly Ashtalaic merpeople. Soon, other ethnic tribes of the continent were aware of the growth of the many kingdoms that were set up, and as time went on, many kingdoms were collapsed and became part of larger kingdoms. The largest of which was the Hakki Kingdom, led by black mermen from near central Bulungi.

Hakki Golden Age

By the dawn of the second millennium, the Hakki Kingdom had grown to basically the eastern half of modern-day Hopeland. In 725, Harchakobor had set up a trading post.

Colonization

When the Castillans and later the Realese discovered Sierra, either power had taken control of, respectively, the Caraiban region and the coast of Vera Cruz. In 1518, Michillian explorers were the next to go, by fighting against the will of the Hakkis.

Although the Castillans were colonizing most of the country, there was fierce competition from the Michillians. The Michillians arrived to what is now Albany in 1652 in retaliation to the Castillan colonies that shaped up the country.

In 1812, the Michillian-controlled regions were now known under the United Colonies of Hopeland. Albany was set as the capital, and it was further more inland than the ancient Hakki capitals. However, more unrest erupted.

Independence

The Eastern Colonies were free from the "colonial tyranny" in 1901, as the Michillian colonial government was failing and that they had to follow the Bensonian example. Later, the western half became a part of Hopeland.

A nation divided

In 1904, Hopeland was divided into three countries, with the country itself confined to the eastern half of its current territory, the western half being occupied by the Northulic Republic and the south by the Federation of Great Giana and Patagonia.

Neutrality

Hopeland determined itself neutral in 1940, nonetheless it was used as training ground for some national armies especially from December 1941. Despite the neutral status, the country was heavily supportive of the US Army.

Following the end of World War 2, Hopeland decided to continue its neutral policies, after having rejected a suggestion from the North Atlantean Treaty Organization upon the time of its creation.

Modern age

The policies imposed by Hemsford led to a new economic miracle for the country

Government and politics

Hopeland is a federal republic. The president has direct control.

Geography

Hopeland is a federation. It is divided into eighteen states and one federal territory: the Albany Inland Capital District, located within the city of Albany, where a mere 600,000 out of 14 million people in the city live, and is the area where most government buildings are located.

The country is environmentally rich. It has strict preservation laws in many of its forests and its national animal, the merbear, has most of its species within its territories. Also of notable status is the rare bipedal bear, that somehow laid the foundations of the merbear.

Administrative divisions

States

Flag	Abbreviation	Name	Capital	Largest city	Population
	GL	Griebland	Palmerston
	JE	Jenning
	CD	Cedar	Cedaria
	AL	Albany	Albany
	WE	Wellington	New Shropshire
	BL	Bridgeland	Falpord
	KH	Kiahani	Lexington
	HP	Hampshire	Coltdale
	EW	Erwies	Phaetro	Ripponlea
	LN	Lennas	Hawktin
	AR	Arvonia	New Cardiff
	LB	Limber	North Woods
	MO	Monahan	Jefferson	Garden City
	GL	Gilbertland	Durham
	WP	Wadepond	Trammell
	HI	Hitie	Okahara
	PM	Palmland	Cocoa
	TH	Thornton
	WA	Watiaki	Watiaki City
	BA	Ballis	Portland
	DO	Dontrey	New Plymouth

Internal territories

Flag	Abbreviation	Name	Capital	Largest city	Population
	FD	Federal District	Gatwick		263.081
	HI	Hakki Islands	Raikopu	Raikopu	6.112

Demographics

Etchnically the country is divided into the following figures:

• 42% Eurectipherian
• 24% Hispanic
• 21% Black
• 8% Sondrian
• 5% Native
• 2% other

The country has three official languages: English, Spanish, and since 2012, Twi, due to the fact that there are many Akanian immigrants in Hopeland that don't communicate in proper English.

Hopeland uses the Sierran English orthography first imposed by the Michillians and aided by Merriam-Webster in the 19th century.

Additionally, due to the high influx of Welsh migrants in the past two centuries, Welsh has become a regional language, and it only has official status in Arvonia.

The country has the highest amount of irreligion among the Sierran continent as a whole, with 50% of the population being irreligious, mostly of Hakki descent. The number has sharply increased from around 27% in the 1989 census. The country has been secular for decades, with Christianity still being a dominant religion, practiced in numerous ways by 30% of the population, followed by Islam at 5% (mostly practiced by a number of black people), Hinduism, Buddhism and smaller religions like Vartra.

Economy

Hopeland's economy is driven by technology and agriculture, respectively in the urban and rural parts. The most important tech companies are Stacker and Touch U.

Sports

Gridiron football is the most popular sport in Hopeland, followed by soccer, apparently more popular among the Hispanic crowds. Hopeland is a member of the CONSIEBOL and has hosted four editions of the Copa Sierra (counting the 2019 edition) and has won three.

Hopeland hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, at the time considered to be the most expensive, with investments in the requalification of soccer stadiums, and the goal to improve the image of soccer in the country.

Media

Main articles: Radio in Hopeland, Internet in Hopeland, Press in Hopeland, Television in Hopeland