ISA State by State Overview

Washington - national capital in Seattle, seat of government, high loyalty to the status quo, highly cosmopolitan in the cities, with strong technology base, although there are numerous lawless backwater pockets. Major smuggling conduit to Canada and Mormon territories.

Oregon - moderate politically although rural areas are more conservative. Farming and fishing are major industries.

California - north/south split with the northern half of the state very conservative with San Francsico dominated by the Black Robes. Southern California retains high Catholic/Latin flavor. Strong tech companies and entrepreneurial spirit. They are allowed a much freer social climate than much of the rest of the country. Oil reserves off the coast provide much revenue, as does the film industry.

Arizona/New Mexico - much like Southern California. Catholic majorities but Islamic factions still rule politically. Economically well off due to trade with the Mexican Empire with which they have many familial and religious connections. Multiple dams along Colorado River allow them to sell power to rest of the Islamic states.

Montana/Idaho/North and South Dakota - moderate Muslim majorities both politically and socially. Their nearness to Cananda (liberal, Christian) moderates the influence of the fundamentalists. Farming, ranching, oil and mineral development.

Colorado/Wyoming - conservative Muslims, partially in response to their being on the "front lines" of both the Mormon territories of Utah and parts of Colorado and the free wheeling Nevada Free State. Economically under-developed, written off by the Seattle government as a bulwark.

Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa - modern/moderate Muslim, didn't have much direct damage from the civil war. Tolerant. Politically favors more interaction and dialogue with the Bible Belt. Life goes on much like before the transition.

Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana (States bordering the Bible Belt) - conservative Muslim, particularly Illinois and Missouri where major battles of the Civil war were fought. Bad blood remains fresh and the always present possibility of infiltration and raids from the Bible Belt have pushed these areas in a perpetual state of readiness. In many ways they are similar to the conservative, rural regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan of today, with a basically rural, conservative character that has been exacerbated by the war and the switch to Islam.

Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey - fundamentalist Muslim, both politically and socially. Many of the most devastating Civil war battles fought here. Also the urban areas of these states with their large African-American populations are where the first large-scale conversions occurred. (Old) Detroit, described as "the birthplace of the nation" in the Islamic states history books. More mosques per capita than any other region of the country. These states have been extensively rebuilt and redeveloped, largely through massive infusions of foreign aid from the Middle East. Probably the highest level of education in the Islamic States with a strong manufacturing base. Much of the war machinery for the nation is built here.

New York - still economically and politically devastated from the attack and loss of NYC. The state remains a fundamentalist backwater, with no central authority, but a series of small enclaves separated by lawless regions. The governor is the state leader in name only, his authority ignored outside of Albany. The Native American presence in the northern part of the state provides the main economic driver, offering jobs and commerce. The Native Americans have strong ties with the tribes in Canada --- while this increases their power within the state, the national government in Seattle doubts their loyalties and has adopted a policy of benign neglect to the whole state.

New England States - Muslims in name only with a strong Catholic underground of questionable loyalty outside the cities. Boston remains a high-tech area. Garrisons of regular army and Fedayeen provide the real authority and patrol the border between the Islamic states and Canada. Martial law is in effect.

Maryland - has ceased to exist. Partitioned between the Bible Belt and the Islamic republic.