About Us
The Penn Federal Republic is a micronation in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2020 by musician Devin Purcell, the micronation has grown to become relatively notable in the micronational community.
Information may be out of date, please check Penn Federal Republic’s MicroWiki page and DoveArchives for up to date information.
The Penn Federal Republic, more commonly known as the PFR, is a micronation established in Pennsylvania, United States. The micronation was started by musician and Twitch streamer Devin Purcell. The Penn Federal Republic is a Federal Republic, following the ideals of democracy and federalism and has established a constitution. The most widely spoken language is English. The capital city is Medici City, a symbolic capital, which is located in Pennsylvania. It is a part of the Alliance of the Micronations, although it does not often participate in their affairs. The country is also a key member of the Pennsylvania Micronational Treaty Association, providing advice in other member’s conflicts with other nations.
History
2020-2021
The Penn Federal Republic was founded on 31 December 2020 by its first President, Devin Purcell. Purcell recruited a small group of friends to assist in the development, and by 1 May 2021, the Penn Federal Republic celebrated meeting all of the requirements of the Montevideo Convention.
On 26 August 2021, President Purcell announced via Twitter that Vice President Kaiden “Stx” Wooten had been replaced by Vice President Jared Racey, the move causing fallout within the nation as the new Vice President was claimed to be incompetent by members of the public.
On 7 September 2021, the government Twitter account announced the first mobilization of the Penn Federal Republic’s armed forces in support of the Commonwealth of Dracul’s government declaring war on the Principality of Graustark, which was later revealed to be a military exercise on the part of Dracul and Graustark. An order of demobilization was issued the next day following a peace agreement between the two belligerents.
On 19 November 2021, the government Twitter account announced that an ultimatum delivered to the offices of the President from an Irish micronation known as the Penn Federation. It was also stated that on the 13th of November, there was a referendum of the citizens of the nation about whether the government should accept, and change the country’s name; or decline, and potentially be involved in a micronational war. The referendum passed with 66% of the vote in favor to keep the name, and the Penn Federation backed down.
2022-2023
Following an extended period of government inactivity, President Purcell shuffled his cabinet assignments on 30 March 2022, replacing controversial Vice President Jared Racey with his predecessor, Vice President Kaiden Wooten. Nicholas Fisher and Thomas Jacobs also assumed positions as Minister of Public Safety and Minister of Defense, respectively.
The nation held its first Presidential election on 14 July 2022, in which incumbent candidate President Purcell successfully ran for reelection with his running mate as Thomas Jacobs.
On 9 October 2022, allegations against Vice President Thomas Jacobs were leveled, in which he was claimed to have used derogatory language on multiple occasions in public settings during his tenure. The claims supported by photographic evidence of his written remarks was turned over to the Supreme Court, which impeached him from his position as a Representative, and he was removed as Vice President by President Purcell
Vice President Kaiden Wooten and Representative Josh Elkind were impeached in December due to inactivity, and Minister of State Preetam Kapei was appointed to Vice President.
Citizenship grew substantially in early 2023, with an influx of diplomats and later citizens from other micronations.
Culture
The Penn Federal Republic has a culture similar to the United States, which the nation borders, although there are distinct national identities. The national animal is the common household pet of a dog. The national drink is lemonade, a combination of lemon, water, and sugar. Popular brands of the national drink that are consumed in the nation are Minute-Maid and Tropicana.
Demographics
In the Penn Federal Republic, the population grew slowly until a short boom in population in early 2020, with citizenship count doubling to 23. According to recent census data, 75% of citizens are Caucasian, 12.5% are Asian, 8.3% are mixed, and 4.2% are other.
Sports
The Penn Federal Republic has two national sports, Chess and Checkers, both tabletop games. Another sport many citizens participate in is that of eSports or competitive video games. The PFR hosts a checkers tournament bi-yearly, where representatives from other micronations compete in the game. The Penn Federal Republic does not have an eSports team, but rather individual people who compete in a tournament-style bracket or in small groups of two or three. The main games played are Minecraft, CS:GO, and more.
Media
The Penn Federal Republic maintains a Twitter account where official press releases and other news are posted. In addition, the government owns an Instagram account to advertise and publicize the quality of life within the country. The constitution of the Penn Federal Republic allows for free speech and free press, so there are many publications owned and operated by the public. The most prominent news outlet in the nation is the Penn Press, published by John Richards.
Politics & military
Military
The Penn Federal Republic does not maintain a standing military, but rather an organized militia that may be called upon when necessary to the well-being of the nation. Most matters require the standing police force, not the military. Despite that, the militia is still structured as a standard army, with regiments and a leadership structure. Under the Purcell Administration, the military has been neglected compared to other efforts. The Ministry of Defence oversees the organization and operations of the military.
Politics
The Penn Federal Republic was established as a Federal Republic, to uphold the ideals of democracy. President Devin Purcell created several political parties to endorse the idea of a multi-party state, which is better than the “problematic two-party state” President Devin Purcell has proclaimed. The most active political parties are the Constitutionalist Party, the Populares-Conservatives Party, and the Penn Republican Party.
The country’s elections are held every year on 14 July, and citizens vote for the position of President and Vice President every two years. Members of the Senate are elected every four years. After ballots are finished being cast, they will be audited for any instance of fraud or duplication.
Awards and medals
The Penn Federal Republic issued the orders for the creation of several awards to grant to various individuals, whether citizens or non-citizens of the nation. They may be issued by the nomination of any government official and approval by the sitting President.
Ribbon | Name | Total granted | Reason granted |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Order of Diplomacy | 2 | Also applicable to foreign citizens. Notable diplomacy skills and most popular foreign award. |
![]() | Order of Foreign Service | 3 | Granted to those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the Penn Federal Republic. Typically bestowed for MicroWiki site contributors. |
![]() | Order of Distinguished Command | 1 | Granted to officers of the military who have shown outstanding professionalism and skill. The highest award in the PFR. |
Medical emergencies
COVID-19 response
The Penn Federal Republic is committed to keeping the citizens of the nation safe. To achieve this goal, the nation must protect its citizens against the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as any other public health crisis that it encounters. The Penn Federal Republic has no reported cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19), and boasts the best vaccination status out of any sovereign state, at 100% of its citizens fully vaccinated, having received two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
The Penn Federal Republic issued a mask mandate on the date of establishment as a micronation, 31 December 2020. The Penn Federal Republic has willingly agreed with United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, as well as state and local governments. These guidelines include policies of social distancing, improved sanitization methods, and more. On 10 May 2021, the Penn Federal Republic authorized the Pfizer vaccine for use on all citizens over the age of twelve. The nation’s mask mandate was removed during the summer.
Spotted lanternflies
Background
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper that is indigenous to parts of China. It has spread invasively to Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Its host plants include grapes and stone fruits, although its preferred host is Ailanthus altissima (Chinese sumac or tree of heaven). In its native habitat, L. delicatula populations are kept in check by parasitic wasps.
The spotted lanternfly life cycle is often centered around its preferred host Ailanthus altissima. Early life stages of the spotted lanternfly are characterized by spotted black and white planthoppers that develop a red pigmentation and wings as they mature. Early life instars display a large host range that narrows with maturation. Fully matured spotted lanternflies display a black head, grey wings, and red hind wings. These adults do not display any known associations with herbaceous plants but have been known to cause extensive damage to crops and ornamental plants.
The species was accidentally introduced into South Korea in 2006 and Japan in 2009, and has since been considered a pest. In September 2014, the spotted lanternfly was first recorded in the United States, and as of 2020, it is an invasive species in much of the Northeastern United States, including the Penn Federal Republic. The spotted lanternfly egg masses have been found to be the primary vector of spread, with Ailanthus altissima populations seen as a risk factor for further infestation globally. Ongoing pest control efforts have sought to limit population growth, due to the the spotted lanternfly poses to global agricultural industries.
In Penn
In Penn, the spotted lanternfly was identified before the birth of the nation, in the summer of 2020, and has persisted to return to the republic every spring and summer. This invasive species was due to its presence in the macronational state of Pennsylvania.
