Great Midwest Commonwealth

The Great Midwest Commonwealth or Midwest Commonwealth was one of the thirteen commonwealths of the pre-War United States of America.

Background
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
Corporal Armstrong is mentioned as serving in either the 4th or 13th Great Midwest Commonwealth Armored Infantry Division. Enclave outposts are also said to be located in the boundaries of Chicago.

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 D.C. as part of this expedition, contact was to be made with chapters of the Brotherhood in the region. The Midwestern Brotherhood was contacted and confirmed they were still operating out of Chicago, having recently waged a war against a band of super mutants.

Elizabeth Jameson mentions Chicago when explaining to the Lone Wanderer the ongoing super mutant conflict the Brotherhood of Steel has been embroiled in over the last few decades.

The Enclave maintained an outpost in Chicago. In the message Whitley recorded and stored before sending ED-E to Navarro, he requests anyone at the Chicago outpost to give the unit any repairs it needs. When ED-E made it to Chicago, it was a young boy named Tommy, his father and mother that helped with the repairs.

Before the Great War, Detective Nick Valentine together with his fiance Jennifer Lands transferred from the Chicago Police to Boston to assist the Boston Police Department in Operation Winter's End.

An Appalachian resident named Shawn Aaronholt wrote a note that mentions Chicago, and that he disagreed with his brother Lowell about moving there, wanting to head to the south instead. A note titled Last will and testament written by Lowell also mentions Chicago, in that he wishes he would have gone there.

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
The Great Midwest Commonwealth appears in Fallout Tactics, and is mentioned in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Lonesome Road, Fallout 4, Van Buren, its tech demo, and in the Fallout 76 Wastelanders update.