Quebec, under Pierre Breton, declares independence from Canada, which invaded it. New England invaded New York and Breton followed suit. At first the invasions were separate, but New Yorker resistance hardened and volunteers arrived from the Free Republic of Pennsylvania, so an alliance of convenience was formed. Vermont then rebelled under Howard Dean, making the New England-Quebec alliance increasingly fragile. The Republic of Quebec collapsed in late 1998 and became the People's Republic of Quebec, still under Breton, which switched sides and joined New York in a invasion of New England.