Thesis Update #5

I realized that I needed to take a step back and fully flush out a story before I created the artifacts that viewers need to be able to understand the story, which has turned out more difficult than I thought. Here’s what I have so far:

Timeline:

 2050:

• American economic collapse due to hyperinflation, causes issues in the rest of the world but mostly America.

• Major political unrest, crime goes up due to diminished power of federal government

  • Social security, federal currency, and banking is all gone. Emergency services become volunteer run and are usually only in more populated areas, which have become dangerous to live in as more people try to get resources. Towns surrounding the great lakes either form their own militia to keep outsiders from coming in for their fresh water, or are run by gangs that use access to water to control the population.

2055:

• Some areas have settled down and have started to figure out their own economies, governments, and social services, some have become completely controlled by tyrannical groups, and some are anarchical, to mixed success.

• At this moment, Drummond Bay has tension between those trying to start a local government and those who believe in anarchy.

  • Those who want to start a government are primarily concerned about protecting access to fresh water, while the anarchists are concerned about the government evolving into tyranny, like has happened in other towns.

2056:

• Government is established in Drummond Bay when the Governmentalists agree to include some of the wishes of the Anarchists into the constitution and send out a certain number of gallons of freshwater inland per month.

  • Wishes include:

    • Having at least one representative from every age group in the government (1-10, 11-20, 21-30, etc.)

    • Having at least one representative from every borough in the government.

    • Starting a “Border Committee” who comes to decisions on who is allowed within city limits. It must include one person from every age group and borough.

    • Not starting currency. Trade will only happen through gift and barter.

2057:

• Tensions continue between Governmentalists and Anarchists as pressures from surrounding towns to adapt to their currencies grow.

2065:

• Those who were born and grew up post American collapse lean Governmentalist. The Anarchists start to lose sway in Drummond Bay policy.

• There is an increasing need and desire to build stronger connections to surrounding towns, but the older generation still fears for border safety. Most of the younger generation doesn’t agree with the concept of borders due to the governmental instability that they’ve witnessed their whole lives.

  • Consensus is reached to create a subcommittee of the border committee called “The Venturers” whose goal is to travel into surrounding communities and deem who is safe to contact and trust with trade.

  • The Border Committee still mostly consists of the older generation because of the borough law. While there is at least one person from every age group, most of the people who are under 30 live in the cliff borough, which makes it so that the 30+ age groups are overrepresented.

2067:

• The lack of a currency is a universally recognized problem. The Anarchists don’t hold much sway in the government anymore, but their ideologies persist in the culture. The community begins brainstorming a currency that doesn’t perpetuate inequality.

  • This issue is made more important when Drummond Bay becomes in debt to Lindenhurst (see below).

• Nearly everyone under 40 goes on a labor strike to protest the borough law. A vote is held each week and those who oppose the borough law say that the strike won’t end until it’s abolished. The strike lasts for 7 weeks and mostly impacts food production and animal husbandry.

  • After the borough law is abolished, the age representation in government is equal.

  • The Border Committee becomes more lenient, and the efforts of The Venturers are increased. A timid relationship has been established between Drummond Bay and Lindenhurst.

• Lindenhurst has a scarce food supply and specializes in forestry and construction materials. Drummond Bay has excess food and specializes in fish, but has done almost no construction or renovation since the collapse of the American government.

• This connection becomes weaker during the winter, as Drummond Bay’s food supply was overestimated. When spring comes, Drummond Bay still owes Lindenhurst payment for their construction materials.

  • Due to decreased food production, canned goods become scarce in the winter. Blame is placed on the younger generation, causing a greater divide.

    • The Venturers make contact with Anchorville, which specializes in animal products. The eggs and meat keep everyone fed through the winter and The Venturers view this as proving their opinion. However, they aren’t able to supply enough food to repay Lindenhurst.

2068:

• Food production and currency establishment are recognized as top priorities due to the debt to Lindenhurst.

Let me know what you think, I need it especially this time lol.

xoxo, thesis girl