The terminology was established when the United States was smaller and those were the geographically more southern states. As new states were added the old terminology did not change.
A lot of the culture of current America originated on the east coast due to colonization, expanding west slowly and later in time. The term Midwest also seems off and it’s because of this.
Because it took a while for the country to expand westwards. During the initial colonial period, things were pretty limited to only coastal stuff / things east of the great lakes. The northern half was the north, the southern half was the south.
Time passed, and slowly things expanded out towards texas. Texas got added to the south, everything north of it became “the west”, later “the midwest”.
Time passed, and the west coast got added in. It became the new “the west”, changing the middle of the country into the “midwest”.
That’s why I, as a west-coaster, have to refer to places 1.5-2K miles east of me as “the midwest”. It’s a bit annoying.
“Southern” was defined at a time when Texas was a freshly-admitted state, and thus the states south of a certain point were the only “southern” states.
It’s sort of like how the main gathering area of a university is frequently called “the quad”, even if it isn’t at all square-shaped. It’s just a term that has become genericized to refer to things of a particular category, even if the literal meaning of the term isn’t accurate.
It is partly because of the CSA but also other cultural similarities or conventions. Today VA and MD are often considered mid-atlantic, but they were both part of the CSA and south of the Mason-Dixon Line. FL is often not considered southern (culturally). IN is considered midwestern but demographically similar to southern states. OK and TX are considered western, southwestern, or southern depending on context. WV sometimes southern and sometimes midwestern, but KY is almost always southern (despite both being part of the Union). AR is considered southern, but MO or KS are considered midwestern. Many state regions in the US are variable depending on context and the historical period you are referring to.
Southern states term is still deeply tied to the slaves states that revolted during the Civil War. States west of Texas simply aren’t part of that as they were territories at the time (Arizona and New Mexico ascended to statehood in 1912)
The south is what the Confederate states used to be. The terminology is from when Illinois used to be considered the West and the Mississippi River was the geographical end point of the United States
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Southern States is a term that sometimes refers back to the civil war. So its a nice way of talking about the confederacy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America
The terminology was established when the United States was smaller and those were the geographically more southern states. As new states were added the old terminology did not change.
A lot of the culture of current America originated on the east coast due to colonization, expanding west slowly and later in time. The term Midwest also seems off and it’s because of this.
Northerner here.
The South has a certain connotation to it. I’d consider anything that was formerly apart of the Confederacy + Oklahoma to be apart of the South.
Because it took a while for the country to expand westwards. During the initial colonial period, things were pretty limited to only coastal stuff / things east of the great lakes. The northern half was the north, the southern half was the south.
Time passed, and slowly things expanded out towards texas. Texas got added to the south, everything north of it became “the west”, later “the midwest”.
Time passed, and the west coast got added in. It became the new “the west”, changing the middle of the country into the “midwest”.
That’s why I, as a west-coaster, have to refer to places 1.5-2K miles east of me as “the midwest”. It’s a bit annoying.
If you’re an American citizen, then I am appalled by your lack of education.
“Southern” was defined at a time when Texas was a freshly-admitted state, and thus the states south of a certain point were the only “southern” states.
It’s sort of like how the main gathering area of a university is frequently called “the quad”, even if it isn’t at all square-shaped. It’s just a term that has become genericized to refer to things of a particular category, even if the literal meaning of the term isn’t accurate.
It is partly because of the CSA but also other cultural similarities or conventions. Today VA and MD are often considered mid-atlantic, but they were both part of the CSA and south of the Mason-Dixon Line. FL is often not considered southern (culturally). IN is considered midwestern but demographically similar to southern states. OK and TX are considered western, southwestern, or southern depending on context. WV sometimes southern and sometimes midwestern, but KY is almost always southern (despite both being part of the Union). AR is considered southern, but MO or KS are considered midwestern. Many state regions in the US are variable depending on context and the historical period you are referring to.
Southern states term is still deeply tied to the slaves states that revolted during the Civil War. States west of Texas simply aren’t part of that as they were territories at the time (Arizona and New Mexico ascended to statehood in 1912)
they’re part of “The West,” like the Wild Wild West.
Terms like this are often more based in society as much as geography. The South is an attitude and a way of life more than a physical location.
In England , the North has a similar definition. And there is a lot of debate on where “the North” starts.
The south is what the Confederate states used to be. The terminology is from when Illinois used to be considered the West and the Mississippi River was the geographical end point of the United States