Prime Video’s Fallout opened with the destruction of Los Angeles in 2077 by the nuclear bombs. The Great War turned the world into a radioactive wasteland. It scattered elements of humanity into underground vaults while others struggled to rebuild civilization on the surface. In 2189 the western part of the United States did exactly that. Its people began to rebuild society with a functioning government known as the New California Republic. For years the highly-functional, welcoming, and (mostly) just NCR expanded its borders. Yet by the time of the Fallout TV series, it was no longer the beacon of prosperity it had once been.
What happened to the once burgeoning republic? Here’s everything you need to know about the NCR as you watch Fallout seasons one and two.
When Did the New California Republic First Appear in the Fallout Franchise?
Players first heard about the NCR and its capital city, Shady Sands, at the end of the original Fallout video game. The New California Republic then appeared in Fallout 2, which takes place on the West Coast. The powerful government was also mentioned in the franchise’s third and fourth installments, but it played a major role in Fallout: New Vegas.
At the start of Fallout: New Vegas, the NCR controlled the Hoover Dam and had an alliance with Mr. House, the ruler of New Vegas. The status of the powerful imperialistic government by the end of the game depends on the player’s choices. You can read more about Fallout: New Vegas, Mr. House, and the game’s alternate endings with our deep dives into each.
Fallout’s New Vegas, Explained—from The Games To The Series
Who Is Mr. Robert House in FALLOUT? The History of New Vegas, Explained
Why The Fallout Series Won’t Have To Choose Between New Vegas’ Four Endings
How Did the NCR Begin? Who Founded the New California Republic?
The NCR, whose official flag is a version of the original California state flag that features a two-headed bear, can trace its origins back to overcrowding in Vault 15. Most members of the highly diverse underground bunker left the vault behind in 2097 to live on the surface. There, they used Vault-Tec technology to build flourishing, self-sustaining communities, one of which was Shady Sands (established in 2142). The town was led by former Vault dweller Aradesh, who ensured the community’s safety by defeating local tribes of raiders (some of which came consisted of his old Vault 15 cohorts).
With the aid of his daughter Tandi, Aradesh oversaw Shady Sands’ growing prosperity. Then, in 2186, Shady Sands and other nearby communities formed a trial council government with the aim of ultimately forming a functioning republic. Three years later, five “states” signed a formal constitution creating the New California Republic. Aradesh would serve as the first President for a nation that would go on to become the biggest, most powerful government in North America since The Great War.
Aradesh was the first President of the NCR, but he mysteriously vanished seven years into his presidency. His disappearance is especially notable because he was a) interested in the abandoned Vault 13 and b) this is a world where people can show up later/live for centuries as a ghoul, a brain plugged into a computer, in life-support pods, or be woken up from stasis.
After he was declared dead, his daughter Tandi served as his successor for 52 years. Three other presidents (at least) served after Tandi, who had been a truly transformational leader.
What Was the NCR’s Form of Government in Fallout?
The New California Republic was just that, a federal democratic republic based on the former United States. A President of the executive branch (called the Council) served as its head of state. The NCR also had a senate elected directly by citizens. Members of Congress then elected the President, Vice President, and the executive cabinet to five-year terms with no term limits. Despite being a democracy that included a judiciary that enforced the government’s laws, NCR Presidents often met little pushback in implementing their policies.
The NCR had easy and direct immigration laws and processes (for non-violent people), which helped grow its number of official citizens. It also had a a formal process for tribes and communities to join, which expanded its borders. The New California Republic also had a powerful, advanced, standing military consisting of both volunteers and conscripted members.
And the diverse and welcoming nation protected non-citizens and non-humans alike. It welcomed mutants and ghouls into the country, where NCR laws and courts protected them even before they became formal citizens. The republic, which passed equality laws banning nearly all forms of discrimination, also strictly enforced the separation of church and state, but non-violent religions were freely permitted to practice.
The government even had a Department of State to establish formal ties and communications with other governments and groups. And it also built roads, trains, forts, and other forms of infrastructure, all of which it supported with a formal currency.
What Was Life Like for Citizens of the NCR?
After only a century, which saw it defeat the Brotherhood of Steel in direct combat, the NCR firmly established itself as a beacon of the wasteland. Its more than 700,000 citizens (a massive population) enjoyed a high quality of life. The NCR came closest to recreating life of pre-war America. It established a working society of laws that offered people both healthcare and an economy that provided a variety of careers and lifestyles for people to pursue. The technologically advanced NCR gave people the chance not just to survive like others in a post-war world, but to thrive.
The NCR’s growth and prosperity brought new problems with it, however. It changed from a communal society where people worked for free to one where some citizens became driven by greed and self-interest. That was also true of the government itself, which sought to expand its borders without consent.
What Areas Did the NCR Control?
At its apex, the drug-free, slavery-free, sex-work-free NCR expanded its borders from southern California all the way north into Oregon. It also expanded into Nevada and the Mojave desert, only not all of its eastward movement was given freely by people asking to join. The NCR adopted an imperialistic expansionist policy. That led it to take control of the Hoover Dam, though it did not try to conquer New Vegas. Instead, it entered into an alliance with the city, which it also aimed to protect.
The Hoover Dam was a source of clean water and energy, both of which greatly enhanced the quality of life for NCR citizens. But the damn also exemplified the New California Republic’s new militaristic approach to achieving its otherwise benevolent goals. And the Second Battle of Hoover Dam (the conclusion of Fallout: New Vegas) showed not everyone was willing to accept NCR rule without a fight.
That included one group that had spent years secretly planning to rule the surface itself.
What Did Fallout Season 1 and Season 2 Reveal about Shady Sands?
Fallout: New Vegas—set 15 years prior to Prime Video’s canonical show—said Shady Sands was still standing strong during the events of the game. Yet Fallout season one revealed the town had been destroyed four years prior to the Second Battle of Hoover Dam. (The series’ creators have said that apparent discrepancy has an official explanation we’ll learn about eventually.)
Hank MacLean dropped a nuclear bomb on the city to stop it from reestablishing civilization on the surface in a meaningful way. In Fallout season two, we actually see the moment of Shady Sands’ destruction. We learn that Hank used one of Mr. House’s mind-control chips to force a Wastelander to bring a bomb into the heart of Shady Sands. Maximus’ father tried to stop the nuclear explosion, but the bomb had a failsafe and exploded anyway. This harrowing moment doesn’t add much new information to the story of Shady Sands, but it does show us how devastating the loss of so much humanity and hope was to the Wasteland.
The Enclave Wanted to Destroy the NCR’s Shady Sands in Fallout
Something Fallout season two did reveal to us was the identity of the organization behind the bombing of Shady Sands. It was actually the Enclave that ordered the nuclear bombs be dropped on the NCR’s captial… or at least, Hank MacLean decided to drop the bombs on the Enclave’s behalf. In Fallout season two, we learn Hank has actually been working for the Enclave all this time, not for Vault-Tec, as we previously thought in season one. It turns out that the Enclave had infiltrated the NCR long before the Great War. So this targeted strike against the New California Republic was actually ordered by the nefarious Fallout organization, which is the puppet master of the Wasteland, Vault-Tec, and everything else. We still don’t know what their true endgame is in the Fallout series, but we bet they are up to no good. The fact that they seemingly have nuclear bombs at their disposal doesn’t do anything to ease our worries.
The Bombing of Shady Sands Suggests its Government Was Also Destroyed
The destruction of Shady Sands suggests its government also died in the blast, as it was the location for both the NCR President and the Hall of Congress. That likely left the NCR in disarray for some time.
While the blast might have destroyed the New California Republic forever. In Fallout‘s Wasteland, there’s always space to come back from the dead.
What Happened to Moldaver and the NCR in Fallout Season 1?
In season one of Fallout, Moldaver (who might have been the NCR’s newest President) was leading a much smaller NCR out of the old Griffith Observatory in the former Los Angeles. But once again, a stronghold of the NCR was wiped off the map. Moldaver and all her forces died when the Brotherhood of Steel attacked and took control of her cold fusion technology. (A source of unlimited power that makes the Hoover Dam seem inconsequential.)
But even after that season one loss, we knew that the New California Republic had established outposts throughout its borders. It had a military, resources, technology, and many citizens who’d built quality lives for themselves thanks to the NCR. Even without Shady Sands, the nation had the infrastructure it needed to withstand an attack and quickly rebuild.
The New California Republic Returns in Fallout Season 2
And, indeed, Fallout season two saw the NCR return to the Wasteland in a big way. While at the beginning of the series’ second chapter, the faction seemed devastated almost beyond repair, with only the tiniest of remnants left on the board, in the end, all hope was not lost. The Ghoul’s good turn allowed his NCR friend to find her reinforcements, and the NCR came marching into New Vegas just in time to defeat a pack of Deathclaws and save Maximus’ life. Yes, the New California Republic is officially returned to Fallout‘s world in full force. They also arrived just in time to clash once again with the Legion.
The NCR and the Legion Will Likely Battle in Fallout Season 3
It feels like the Legion and the NCR are about to have a rematch clash in Fallout season three. Whatever happened all that time ago in Fallout: New Vegas, now clouded by the fog of war, it doesn’t matter. The New Vegas strip is about to be the site of the next big showdown between these powerful groups. Fans of the game are probably itching to see the groups come to blows in the Vegas strip. And it’ll probably be one epic showdown when it happens.
The NCR Representatives Hope in the Wasteland
BUT, as we saw in Fallout season two, both when Maximus donned the NCR power armor and when the NCR themselves returned, the NCR means something important to the people of the Wasteland. It’s not just about its military strength. The New California Republic represents the hope of something better in the chaotic, dangerous world of the surface.
The New California Republic may be the one group powerful enough to save the world. It could stand against the Brotherhood, the Legion, Vault-Tec, and the Enclave. But, more importantly, it might be the only group that can do something revolutionary. It could help mankind establish a truly free and just society for everyone. Hopefully, this time, it will only do that with people that want to join.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who wonders if the NCR had good fish tacos. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.
Originally published on April 26, 2024.
The post The History of FALLOUT’s New California Republic appeared first on Nerdist.
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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