Great Midwest Commonwealth

The Great Midwest Commonwealth or Midwest Commonwealth was one of the thirteen commonwealths of the pre-War United States of America. Created in 1969, it was comprised of the former states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

The commonwealth bordered the Northern Commonwealth, the Plains Commonwealth, the East Central Commonwealth, and the country of Canada.

Former Illinois
Following the defeat of the Master, the Brotherhood of Steel suffered an internal conflict between reformists and traditionalists. Ultimately those that wished for reforms were sent east on an expedition to survey the extent of the remaining super-mutant threat. A small fleet of airships was used in this task, with all but one being taken down by a storm as they crossed the Rocky Mountains. The surviving members of the expedition landed just outside of Chicago.

Far from the Elders in Lost Hills, a new Midwestern Brotherhood chapter was formed. It diverged heavily from Brotherhood Orthodoxy, incorporating many small towns, protecting the locals from raiders and other threats and distributing advanced technology. They also began openly recruiting not just wastelanders, but ghouls, super Mutants, and even talking deathclaws.

By 2197, they had firmly established a neo-feudal society around Chicago.

The Brotherhood would expand outwards into the state as threats presented themselves. The local raider bands would try to take over Rock Falls, while Beastlords would threaten the city of Quincy.

Another expedition would be sent east by the Brotherhood of Steel in 2254, this time with the destination being Washington DC- as part of this expedition, contact was to be regained with disparate chapters of the Brotherhood. Contact was regained with the Midwestern Brotherhood, who were confirmed to still operating out of Chicago, and having waged a war against a band of Super Mutants.

Enclave outposts are also said to be located in the boundaries of Chicago.

Former Minnesota
In 2198, three large craters can be seen in southern Minnesota roughly corresponding with the area encompassing the city of Minneapolis.

Major factions

 * Midwestern Brotherhood
 * The Enclave

Appearances
Places in the Great Midwest Commonwealth appear in Fallout Tactics, and are mentioned in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Lonesome Road, Fallout 4 and its add-on Far Harbor, Van Buren, and in the Fallout 76 Wastelanders update. Additionally, it was also the setting of Van Buren tech demo because of the presence of Armstrong, a corporal serving in either the 4th or 13th Great Midwest Commonwealth Armored Infantry Division.