The 15th President of the Union of American States, from 1957 to 1997.
The Presidency of Anthony Tyler (1957-1997): Hope, Corruption, and Collapse
From the Promise of Reform to the Fall of the Union’s Economy
1957-1968: The Promise of a New Era
For the first time in over a century, the Union had a civilian leader. Elected in the wake of Cooper Slate Lee’s constitutional reforms, Anthony Tyler was initially viewed as the fulfillment of Lee’s vision—a modern Washington who could steer the Union away from its bloody past.
- Won the first fair election since Zachary Taylor, bringing legitimacy to the government.
- Restored elements of civilian governance, reducing military influence in day-to-day affairs.
- Pursued economic rebuilding programs to transition the Union into a modern industrial economy.
- Sought diplomatic openings with foreign powers, though international distrust of the Union remained high.
For over a decade, it seemed as though the Union might finally stabilize.
1968-1976: Corruption, Stagnation, and the Pursuit of Absolute Power
By his third election, Tyler had abandoned his original principles, becoming a power-hungry autocrat.
- Rigged elections, ensuring permanent control over the government.
- Assassinated rivals who posed a threat to his rule.
- Fostered black-market economies, allowing crime syndicates to flourish in exchange for loyalty.
- Diverted state funds for personal wealth, enriching himself and his inner circle.
Tyler’s obsession with maintaining power eroded the Union’s political institutions, leaving it a state ruled by corruption and fear.
1976: The Sudden End of Slavery & the Collapse of the Union
On July 4, 1976, during a grand bicentennial speech, Tyler shocked the nation by declaring the complete and immediate abolition of slavery.
“Two hundred years ago today, our forefathers declared the birth of a nation, a Union forged in defiance of tyranny and oppression. They spoke of liberty, of justice, of the inalienable rights of man. And yet, for two centuries, we have carried a contradiction at the heart of our republic—a shameful stain upon our banner, a bitter truth we have refused to confront.”
“Today, that contradiction ends.”
“For generations, men, women, and children have lived in chains, not by the law of nature, nor by the will of God, but by the greed of man. This great Union, built by their hands, has denied them the very freedoms upon which it was founded. It has forced them to toil, to suffer, to serve under the lash while we spoke hollow words of liberty. That ends now.”
“By the authority vested in me as President of the Union of American States, I hereby decree that all men and women held in bondage within this nation shall, from this moment forward, be free. No man shall own another, and no woman shall bear a child into slavery. No hand shall be shackled, no back shall bear the master’s whip. The system that has defined us for two hundred years is abolished, never to rise again.”
“Some among you will call this madness. Some will say I have betrayed the order of our society, that I have undone the very foundation upon which this nation stands. But I tell you this—if a nation cannot stand upon the principles of liberty and justice for all, then it does not deserve to stand at all.”
“I do not make this declaration in fear. I make it in the unwavering belief that this nation, our Union, will endure beyond the weight of its sins. The road ahead will not be easy. This will test us as we have never been tested before. There will be struggle, there will be hardship, and there will be those who resist, clinging to a past that should have died long ago.”
“But this is not the end of the Union. This is its rebirth.”
“We call this day our Independence Day. Let it now be known as the day we honored its true meaning. Let history record that, on this day, the Union of American States finally made good on the promise of its birth. And let those who would stand in the way of progress know this—freedom will not be denied. Justice will not be delayed. The old order is dead. A new nation rises today.”
“May God bless the Union of American States, and may He grant us the strength to forge the future we have long denied ourselves.”
Crowds erupted in chaos following the speech, with reactions ranging from celebration to rage. By the following morning, mass unrest had already begun in cities across the Union.
- 90% of the Union’s population was suddenly free, sending shockwaves through every level of society.
- The plantation economy collapsed overnight, throwing landowners into crisis.
- Millions of newly freed people fled the Union, seeking refuge in Louisiana, Cascadia, and New England.
- The government had no infrastructure to support freed citizens, leading to mass poverty, famine, and crime.
- Paramilitary groups formed in the aftermath, terrorizing freed populations.
Though hailed internationally as a landmark moment for human rights, inside the Union, it was a catastrophe.
1976-1997: The Final Years & the Rise of Joshua Romero
Following the collapse of the slave economy, Tyler struggled to maintain control.
- The economy spiraled into depression, with hyperinflation and widespread shortages.
- Internal revolts and mass protests erupted, threatening to topple the government.
- Tyler’s regime turned to brute force, cracking down violently on dissent.
- Organized crime syndicates and warlords gained power, carving out autonomous regions within the Union.
By the 1990s, the Union was a failed state. In 1997, gunrunner and warlord Eldridge Elwood orchestrated a coup, installing Joshua Romero as the new ruler.
Legacy of Anthony Tyler (1957-1997)
- Began as the civilian leader the Union needed but succumbed to absolute power.
- Abolished slavery in 1976, ending centuries of oppression but plunging the nation into chaos.
- Left the Union politically, economically, and socially broken.
- His corruption and mismanagement set the stage for the rise of Romero’s brutal dictatorship.
Tyler’s presidency was a tragic arc—from a beacon of reform to a symbol of national ruin. His decision to abolish slavery changed the Union forever, but in the absence of real leadership, it became the spark that burned the nation down.