Northwest War

The Northwest War was a major conflict that took place in the United States prior to Deus Ex.

Overview
In 2029, a major earthquake sank most of Southern California into the ocean. With the United States government focusing on the disaster on the ex-West Coast, the needs of the other parts of the country went unmet, leading Utah to secede from the United States, declaring its independence and annexing what was left of Arizona and Nevada. Inspired by Utah's example, fringe groups in Texas declared independence as well. The Northwest Secessionist Forces formed in short order, made up of various paramilitary groups in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, who band together with Utah and Texas. The US government replied with violence, deploying the military to crush the resistance.

What became known as the Northwest War was a textbook case of asymmetrical warfare between a militia composed of ununiformed combatants armed with whatever weapons they could muster, and a professional, well-armed and supplied army. While the NSF were eventually crushed, it managed to maul the federal troops severely. In one notable instance, during the siege of Squalnomie, a NSF unit equipped with thermoptic camo infiltrated Army lines and inflicted a devastating defeat on the Army. Survivors were left with PTSD and most were drummed out in short order.

Aftermath
The defeat of the NSF was a nominal victory for the United States. A heavy toll was exacted on the Army and survivors of the War. Survivors of the NSF suffered even more, becoming destitute drifters. Even officers suffered this fate. However, the Northwest Secessionist Forces paved the way for the National Secessionist Forces, providing many lessons on how not to run an insurgency, eventually birthing one of the most persistent nemeses of the state.

The other corrosive legacy of the War was a national network of juvenile reeducation camps was set up under FBI oversight. Mockingly termed "good behavior camps", these would become a staple of the national education system for the next 20 years. Thousands of children were routinely sent to spend their semesters there, with 15 234 sentenced to reeducation in 2051 alone.