whenever I try to create a country or do anything on the website I get "Error 500". just wondering if this is something like site maintenance atm or if I have a problem connecting or something.

You have your mod set as a start date & ideology overhaul, without creating any start dates or ideologies.

These need to be created so that your custom country(s) can be assigned start dates & ideologies. Otherwise, they will fail to be created. 

oh, so im just a vegetable