In the year 2042, the United States of America was no longer united in the way the Founders had imagined. The country, battered by decades of political polarization, economic inequality, climate disasters, and technological disruption, stood at a crossroads. And then, one region took a step no one thought would actually happen—until it did.
Cascadia.
Stretching from Northern California through Oregon and Washington into parts of British Columbia, Cascadia had long been more than just a dreamy eco-utopia for sci-fi writers and survivalist dreamers. With its lush forests, progressive cities, tech dominance, and a fierce commitment to sustainability, Cascadia had developed its own cultural identity—distinct from Washington, D.C.'s agenda or the industrial Midwest's traditions.
It all began in Portland. In 2037, following a record-breaking heatwave and wildfire season that left over a million acres scorched and thousands displaced, a coalition of mayors and governors from the region signed the Green Compact of the Northwest. It wasn't yet secession, but it was clear: Cascadia was acting like its own country. Unified climate policies, coordinated infrastructure spending, shared resources for disaster response—it was a regional government in all but name.
Washington responded with warnings. Then sanctions. Then the National Guard.
But the people of Cascadia didn’t back down.
Seattle-based engineers had developed new AI-powered hydro grids and battery storage that made the region nearly energy-independent. San Francisco's crypto-labor unions began paying workers in Cascadian dollars backed by green bonds and tech stock reserves. Rural communities in Idaho and eastern Washington initially resisted, but a string of brutal droughts and failed federal relief pushed many to support Cascadia out of survival, not ideology.
In 2041, Cascadia held a regional referendum—online, secure, transparent, and nearly impossible to hack thanks to blockchain-based voting developed at Oregon State. Voter turnout was 91%.
74% voted to secede.
The U.S. government called it unconstitutional. The Supreme Court, now split and plagued by legitimacy issues, refused to rule. The President demanded the National Guard "restore order," but desertions were high—many soldiers were from the region itself.
Rather than fight a civil war, the United States entered negotiations. The American economy was too fragile to risk losing its tech sector to scorched earth tactics. The talks were tense, brokered by the U.N. and, surprisingly, Canada—who offered to mediate and possibly extend special trade status if Cascadia remained demilitarized.
By early 2042, the Evergreen Accord was signed.
Cascadia became the world's newest independent nation. Its capital was established in Olympia, Washington—a symbolic nod to balance between the urban elite and rural heartlands. Its flag featured three evergreen trees beneath a rising sun, flanked by ocean and mountain stripes. Its official language remained English, but education policy introduced Chinook Jargon, Spanish, and local tribal languages into public schools.
The United States did not collapse—but it changed. The secession forced a national reckoning. Other regions flirted with autonomy, but none followed through—yet.
As Cascadia celebrated its independence day on July 4, a deliberate echo of its former homeland’s founding, its people stood beneath trees older than any constitution and looked toward a future they would build themselves—rooted, resilient, and ready.
And so, the American experiment branched off into new directions—one trunk, now split, still growing.