Jefferson (proposed Pacific state)

Jefferson was the proposed name for a state of the USA, which should be created by the desire for a short-lived separatist campaign from areas in southern Oregon and northern California. The name goes back to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States.

In October 1941, the mayor of Port Orford (Oregon ), Gilbert Gable, announced that the counties Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath (both in southern Oregon), Del Norte, Siskiyou and Modoc ( in northern California ) to a new want to join state. The reason was that the little technological areas felt neglected in relation to the rich Southern California, was decisive in the end the miserable road conditions. Yreka in Siskiyou County was provisional capital, its own flag and a coat of arms was introduced. On November 27, 1941, the independence of Oregon and California was proclaimed, a group of armed men blocked the Route 99 and distributed copies of the Independence Proclamation.

The secession was ended quickly, however: First, died of initiator, mayor Gable on December 2, an additional five days later marched with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor important national interests at the center.

Exactly 60 years later, in 2001, there was in Northern California, a renewed campaign to build its own state Upstate California. The representatives of the secessionist make the interests of the rural against certain large cities and Metrolpolregionen policy of the State of California law. While a large part of their claims come from the political right ( arms control, role of the federal government ), but they also represent liberal or libertarian positions such as the legalization of marijuana.

After several years of discussion at a low level, the Board agreed the Siskiyou County in early September 2013, four to one vote for secession from California and founded by Jefferson State. Central arguments were working and hopelessness of the region, because traditional economic sectors such as agriculture and forestry, as well as hunting and fishing with the appropriate tourism opportunities by laws of the federal government would be too far limited with the approval of California.