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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Migration_%28African_American%29

American kindred felt a bit more idealistic and goal oriented. Kindred leaders met in Parliament, and set common ground. They reaffirmed the the power of Boons, to the importance of the Traditions, and the sanctity of Elysium. They exchanged vows to never again allow kindred society to try to settle its differences by vendetta or war, but rather to attack and defend socially through rumor and through catspaws. The only acceptable mass destruction was to end the unlives of those who broke the peace. Kindred created an ironclad set of standards that hold even to these nights. This was the beginning of the mystical effect we now call Cadence. By 1917, it was a mystically-enforced law that Clans, Covenants and Conspiracies would compete with one another, but never again would assassination, murder, and violence become the preferred solution.

The first Worldwide Influenza epidemic hits, killing between 20 & 50 million worldwide. U.S. deaths number around 500,000 and Canadian deaths around 50,000. The Kindred become an unfortunate carrier for this disease as the Masquerade is on the brink of collapse.

Brown v. Board of Education is handed down by the US Supreme Court with a unanimous (9-0) decision. In this decision, it was declared that “separate education facilities are inherently unequal.” This landmark victory paved the way for both mortal and Kindred alike to engage in the public arena with a greater presence. African-American Kindred would soon be able to gain higher standing in the more political Covenants as well – particularly those that dealt with mortal society.

1956: Browder v. Gayle took effect, leading to a US Supreme Court decision that declare the Alabama and Montgomery laws requiring segregated buses to be unconstitutional.

Two Crucibles ago, Parliament disbanded as a formal body, no longer holding regular meetings, structure or agendas. The underlying principles had been set into the infrastructure of the country, locked into the minds and bodies of the kindred within the nation, and Parliament was no longer needed for that purpose. Rather than let Parliament become a potentially tyrannical body, it was voted Parliament be resolved. On one hand, that earned those kindred a tremendous amount of respect, as wise, self-sacrificing leaders, willing to place the good of kindred over their own power. On the other hand, it also marked those same leaders as idealistic, perhaps even naive, for sacrificing personal power for the greater good. They are both lauded and derided for that decision even to these nights.

Without a formal structure like Parliament, the Conspiracies became less structured, but perhaps more powerful. These nights, no one knows how many Conspiracies exist. Traditionally, open leaders of conspiracies have been accorded more respect by many kindred than Covenant or Clan leaders – this is in part because of their wisdom, and in part because their numbers and assets are unknown. Attacking a Conspiracy may mean undermining a handful of kindred, or it might mean starting a social conflict against hundreds. Kindred, risk-averse as always, are very wary of the Conspiracies, and give respect rather than risk unnecessary conflict. With the previous dissolution of national covenant structures, Conspiracies remain the primary way for ambitious Kindred to amass a national power base.

1966: The formation of the National Organization for Women (NOW) encouraged females to begin taking a more active role in many of the Covenants across the United States – notably the Carthian Movement and the Invictus.

While the economy in the U.S. boomed, and the borders were becoming restricted, the citizenry began to take on a new view of heritage. They searched for their roots in order to better define themselves. This culture was reflected within the Kindred population as well. As early Crucibles forged power for the Covenant, city, then Conspiracy, the last Crucible returned focus to something that can’t change once embraced: Clan.

In this era, information networks and connections available through Conspiracies allowed family Dynasties and Lineages to be confirmed, created, or forged. Being able to define these kinds of pedigrees afforded several advantages – ties of loyalty to clan mates, information and teachings passed from generation to generation, and a support structure independent of Covenant or Conspiracy. Though the power of the Clans did not return as strongly as it was in ancient times, the Clan once again became an integral part of the Danse in America.

Tonight

These nights, a new Crucible is beginning. Every structure has a history it can point to- Princes remember the Halcyon Era fondly, while Covenants (especially the Ordo Dracul and Invictus) support a restoration of Covenant power… even if it’s behind the scenes. Clans recall times from before the colonization of America, when family and blood were more important than Covenant political affiliations. Some Conspiracy leaders think their predecessors were foolish to give away so much power, and seek to re-create Parliament with the Conspiracies in control. This Crucible will determine what happens over the next several decades, and every partisan is eager to take advantage of the opportunity.