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====From secession to union====
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| image1 = Greta Vardem colourised.jpg
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| footer = South Staynish President Greta Vardem in 1975 (left) and King Galfridus in 1977 (right)
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Years of tension between the central government and many local councils and authorities in South Staynes led to a snap referendum on 6 June 1975 for independence at the end stages of the Auroran Imperial War. Questions of legitimacy all over the nation was raised because this was not a government sanctioned referendum, seeing a 54 percent vote to leave. Due to the ongoing war effort, a collapsing economy and independence elsewhere within the empire, the [[Ian Crowcasa|Crowcasa War Cabinet]] - a national coalition - broke apart, two years before a scheduled general election.
Greta Vardem declared herself President of an independent South Staynes, and consolidated power via military divisions on the eastern offensive against Ethalria, who hadn't been rotated in over a year and were loyal to a South Staynish identity. South Staynish military leaders executed dissenters which allowed for a swift alignment of troops, but also several theaters of infighting between Morstaybishlian and South Staynish forces.
A stagnant eastern front was opened up by Ethalria after South Staynes declared independence and the line of contact had internal problems. Ethalria pushed back the line of contact with an offensive from Imperium and Wulesburg to Rorivon and Rostok. Though the line of contact had deflated many miles, it soon consolidated into a more solid position as South Staynes gained its footing. At this point, [[Ian Crowcasa]] had been voted out of government after his 14 year tenure, voting in [[Delores Gastrell]].
Banking in South Staynes was all headquartered in Staynes. From Sani Bursil, Gastrell ordered all banks to shut down. With over 90 percent of banks shutting down in South Staynes, people were unable to withdraw money, and South Staynes immediately plunged into financial ruin.
[[File:Iron Lung (061) (7184148409).jpg|left|thumb|250px|[[Wikipedia:Poliovirus|Poliovirus]] victims in Kirdintayos Infirmary, 1976.]]
In 1976 however, in one of the most controversial moments in history, a gunman in a police disguise was mistakenly identified as Labius Deputy Police Officer Hans Drekker and was allowed on set during a live broadcast on national television where the President was filming. The gunman, Fred Greidman, fired and shot Greta several times in the chest and stomach before shooting himself. Immediately following the incident, Vice President Morgan Lugin seized control of the senate and began his oppressive doctrine. The people grew angry and soon infighting resumed in the major cities. The armed forces was dispatched and under Morgan Lugin was ordered to fire live ammunition at violent protesters. Hundreds upon hundreds died. This action sent the country into civil war and Lugin lost the trust of [[Delores Sofura]] and other Auroran allies. With infighting reaching extreme heights, Lugin was forced to resign by his own council and later jailed. After a recession, the interim government ran by seven members of the Vardem Committee believed it was in the national interest to league with Morstaybishlia. The committee flew to Sani Bursil to sign the Acts of Union 1977, forming a political union with the United Kingdom of Morstaybishlia to create the United Kingdom of Great Morstaybishlia.▼
Vardem established an emergency National Bank and begun integration schemes with a new currency made of plastic coins, because there was no time to mine and mass produce coins made of nickel or other metals. Economic depression followed, and millions of people were out of work. Ethalria capitalised on this and seized huge swathes of land, before being immobilised from the Ketavuul orbital bombardment strikes. They would later cede land they absorbed in this offensive to what is the current border today. The Wreycliff Pact prevented signatories from recognising South Staynes as an independent nation, and so Vardem's talks with [[Norograd]] broke down in the latter part of the year.
Between 1975 and 1977, millions of people died as a result of the depression. Nobody could afford healthcare and medical supplies and the government struggled with demand. Infectious diseases spread across the population, including [[Wikipedia:Poliovirus|Poliovirus]], [[Wikipedia:Typhus|Typhus fever]], and [[Wikipedia:Measles|Measles]].
Whilst South Staynes held ''de facto'' power in the nation, Morstaybishlia continued its claim, which put pressure on nations to not recognise South Staynes as a sovereign nation, which would aggrevate the superpower. However, [[Peregrinia]] came into controversy when CapCoal Bank, a private banking group headquartered in the nation, gave out loans to aid South Staynes. Morstaybishlia put pressure on Peregrinia to withdraw this aid, which they eventually did.
Civil unrest began in March 1977, and saw South Staynish people target people and companies based on economic ties with Morstaybishlia. Arson and vandalism occurred against Staynish owned businesses, which were marked with a blood rose on shop windows before being subject of attack. People with Staynish blood, family or other ties were blamed for Morstaybishlia's actions in crippling their nation. Politicians and well known business owners who were Staynish fled to Morstaybishlia or were otherwise killed, or at the least beaten. A new opponent to Vardem's government swept the younger population who had known nothing other than struggle, war and famine. Supported by [[Delores Sofura]]'s fascist regime, the opposition was helmed by fascist leader Morgan Lugin.
All Morstaybishlian allies turned a blind eye to the situation, unable to find adequate reason to undermine Morstaybishlia. Some nations supported South Staynes, such as [[Norgsveldet]].
▲In
====Between the two Auroran Wars====
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