Friday, January 3, 2014

What could have been.




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An alternative history of the United States - mapped by Andrew Shears.An alternative history of the United States - mapped by Andrew Shears.
The not-so-cold war between Chicago and Illinois is nothing new here.
Screen Shot 2013-12-31 at 1.23.51 PMChicago is often the focus of vitriol directed as us from the rest of the state – and the country, for that matter. Our politics and self important sense of entitlement a rallying cry Downstate. All of which sounds like so much whining to city dwellers, self-assured in their sense of importance to Illinois.
It’s long been joked that there’s Illinois and its neighbor, the Great State of Chicago. And the talk of Chicago secession – maybe it’s more accurate to say talk of evicting Chicago and Cook County from Illinois – has percolated as recently at 2011. Though it’s an idea that goes back to the Civil War and there are other pushes like the Forgottonia movement that would further divvy up the state.
The complex symbiosis between Illinois and Chicago notwithstanding, though, we are far from alone in our united quests to pull apart.
Mansfield University geography professor Andrew Shears has pulled together the quests to divide our disjointed union into a fascinating map – the 124 United States That Could Have Been. From Aroostook in the far northeast corner to Baja California in the southwest and North Slope in the northwest to South Florida in the southeast, Shears stitches together various historic secession movements through history to display how the United States might have been a much different country had myriad border squabbles and political movements been allowed to succeed. Click here for a larger, hi-res version of the map posted above.
Shears refers to his work as “fictional history,” his own swipe at alternate history storytelling. As we move into a new year, it’s intriguing to take a look back, though, at just how different things could have been. Of course, most of these moves had little chance at success. But seeing how dividing lines – real and projected – work to bind the states and country as a whole is a fantastic piece of experimental map-making to ponder the next time you start grumbling about those pesky Downstaters or the vileness of Crook County.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous1/04/2014

    correct us if we are wrong but did it say the Andrew Sisters made this map????

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  2. Anonymous1/04/2014

    Little Egypt perhaps the most misunderstood region in the state. Crook county has sent thousands of their foolish issue to school down there and rarely do they gain any appreciation. During Greylord Egypt sent a judge up here to go after the scores of corrupt CC judges that sadly still bench sit and buy their positions as do so
    many from two bit silly county jobs on up. Egypt populated by the very best of the Scots-Irish who view the world the ole fashion way. They fight,they work,they are loyal and above all are patriots and do not duck military service. Metro east and Sangamon rival Crook for sleaze.

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