The United States of America has become one of the most powerful countries in the world, yet this is shocking considering the divide between regions of the United States and the conflicting opinions of citizens. This divide has been ongoing for decades and it is at times unclear how one country has developed into two contrasting regions (Sherry). History has definitely shaped this divide, but the people of today’s society have divided the north and the south further to the point there is no possible future collaboration. There are contrasting opinions, viewpoints, morals, values, and lifestyles between the two. In today’s society, two separate ways of life have emerged and neither is quite excepting of one another. Although both are similar in many aspects of life, there are small differences which account for this separation. 

So what does “different cultures, same country” truly mean? The Civil War raged across the nation during a 4-year period from 1861 to 1865. “Gradually, throughout the early nineteenth century, the North and the South followed different paths, developing into two distinct and very different regions” (North). According to trends, the North was more dominating in wealth, population, railroad mileage, iron and steel production and factories. The North was much more technologically advanced and developed compared to the farmlands of the South. There were far more farmlands in the southern states, which is where most of their incomes came from. There was also the creation of large cities in the northern states which became some of the most populated cities in the country and even the world at the time. This large factory and industrial revolution in the north was appealing to immigrants. Seven out of every eight immigrants settled in the North rather than the South during the late 18th century and early 19th hundreds. Transportation was much more developed and accessible to use in the North, which increased the number of railroad tracks in the country, causing the economy to boom. In contrast, the warm climate and fertile soil of the South made it an ideal location for large scale farms, crops and harvesting. Because most of their money came from agriculture, very few southerners saw it necessary to develop industrially. “The South’s agricultural economy was beginning to stall while the Northern manufacturers were expecting a boom” (North). This development in the North put the South behind since the late 1800’s. To this day, the North continues to be more developed and advanced in terms of manufacturing and factories (Haberfield).  The Southern states are home to agricultural lands in the country and this is where most of their income comes from. As you can see, there are two complete different ways of life here in the United States and this has had an impact on other aspects of life in today’s society.  

So what really makes northerners different from southerners? I have grown up and lived in New Jersey my whole life and living there was all I have ever really known. When I decided to come to college in South Carolina I knew it would be a huge culture shock and a change for me. Although I have traveled all around the world and to southern states before, I knew it would take a while to get used to because there are many differences. Now that I have been here for eight months, I can say I am more adjusted to the southern lifestyle and am more accepting of their ways. However, one thing I have noticed after meeting and talking to many people is that most southern people are not accepting of those from the North. I’ve been wondering why this is and how this came to be about so I decided to do some research and interviews to determine where this hatred comes from. Is it some sort of jealously? Is it the way people were raised? Why is the South so unaccepting of non-southerners?  I have determined that history has shaped this path into today’s society.

This debate of whether the north or the south is a better place to live continues to be a controversial issue. Southerners are quick to say they are much politer and have manners. They boast their southern hospitality and are quick to say northerners have no form of manners. One said “When I went to NYC a few years ago I said thank you mam and the person said I’m not a man don’t call me that and bitched at me. I immediately got the impression that northerners are not friendly and lack manners.” While this encounter might not have been in the best city to form this judgment of northerners, there is still a difference in the way people talk to one another in the North. Not many people are raised to say sir and mam when speaking with one another. There are just different words and phrases used so this does not put people from the north in the wrong. This does not mean they do not have manners nor kindness. In South Carolina you hear the word mam and sir consistently wherever you may be, but in New Jersey you might be looked at weirdly if one were to use such words. Just because its different, does not make it wrong. Southerners are quick to say that if something is not the way they think it should be then it is automatically wrong. I’ve noticed this through their unwillingness to accept other parts of the country. Being born in New Jersey, I was always taught to be accepting of other cultures and people’s differences. Unfortunately, I think most people raised here are narrow minded and unwilling to look at it from another perspective. This supports my opinion that southerners are closed minded to other opinions, views, values, and beliefs, which is a major difference from northerners. 

I’ve met several people here at USC who are quick to make assumptions and judgements after telling them I’m from the north. They immediately call me a “yankee”, assume I talk with a New York accent, and live in the cold all year around. These stereotypes are far from true and it is almost comical that people classify people from the north this way. One of the first responses I get when I say I’m from New Jersey is a comment about it being freezing up north. This comment irks me because it just shows how uneducated people are. Yes, the North can get pretty cold, but it experiences the extremes of all four seasons and gets just as warm as it does in the South. A girl who grew up in the north and went south for college said “Geographically, yes, we are farther from the Equator, yes, it is colder, and yes, we get more snow.  But we also have beaches on our coasts, our summers are just as hot (although they don't last as long, you win) and you do not need a full ski suit every time you leave the house” (Lusssier). Southerners also assume all people from the north speak with the typical “Joisey” accent. After living there for 18 years of my life I can say this accent is virtually inexistent where I’m from and very few people have this type of accent. Yes, some people may say “New Yawk, dawg, and cawfee, but this does not mean it is the wrong way to pronounce words. Southerners have an accent to us Northerners, but we aren’t so quick to make fun of them for it. This is quite hypocritical considering southerners have a thick accent to us northerners too! It is just a different way of speaking and I think northerners are much more accepting of different ways. 

Other stereotypes made about northerners is that we are impatient, overly cocky, and rude (Stickney). While some people may fit this mold, this is not the case for all northerners and it is unfair to say everyone possesses these qualities. Some of my best friends here at USC happen to be from southern states such as Charleston, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. I can agree that they are much more gentleman like than some of the guys I associated myself with in high school, but this does not make them better people. These guys here believe that they are better than any northern guy. I decided to interview them to get direct comments made about their opinions. When asked about their opinions of the North and northerners one said, “They are loud and obnoxious. They can be rude and impatient.” Another said., “The North is a miserable, grey, disgustingly factory filled area. The people are rich assholes who go on vacation where we fucking live.” When asked if they have always had this opinion of the North and if they were raised to this think way, one said, “No, every time I visited the North it was the same boring thing and it was awful. Charleston is the best city in the world and that is a fact.” While these opinions were formulated while visiting the North, he has never lived there and gotten used to the culture and diversity enough to willingly accept it. However, my one friend grew up in the north and when asked the same question his opinion about the north still was negative. “No, I used to live in Pennsylvania and I didn’t realize how shitty it was until I moved to the South…and I was raised to love the North.” When asked to describe the typical northern one said, “They are fat, guettos with annoying voices, overly cocky with their money, every northerner thinks they are the shit (guy wise) and dudes from the North fucking suck.” It is also quite hypocritical for these comments to be made because they have not lived in the North. A quick visit there is not enough time to form a judgement about the people and the place itself. Since I have been living in South Carolina for more than 8 months, I have gotten used to the southern lifestyle and their cultural differences so I am justified to form an opinion. Also, whatever opinion I formulate does not mean it is true for all people. This shows how quick southerners are to classify people and immediately follow the perceived stereotypes without even really getting to know anyone from the North. 

Another perceived stereotype about northerners is that they are so consumed with their money and that their level of happiness is determined off of self-wealth. People believe there is too much emphasis on wealth and money in the North. Southerners believe they are more focused on the quality of life and are not consumed with wealth. When asking my friend from Chicago her opinion on this she explained why there is a large focus on money and what this money helps support. “There is a significant amount of people in the South on government assistance compared to the North. There is nothing wrong with working hard and making money in return. It shows good work ethnic and teaches people the value of an education and working hard. This doesn’t mean our lives revolve around money. We also have to make more money because we have higher taxes as it is more expensive to live in the North because there is a higher more demanding quality of life. Yeah it sucks, but it goes towards our public education. In the South the taxes are lower, but this also correlates with the failing public school educational system in the South. Compare test scores and 19 out of 20 times the scores will be higher from northern public schools.” Southerners consistently make comments about how northerners are cocky and so focused on money in life, but they do not understand our quality of life and standard of living is higher up there. There is a focus on money only because property taxes are much higher and it is important to work hard and make money when living in a place where it is expensive to live (Hensher). Yes, money does not buy happiness, but there is nothing wrong with working hard and in return earning money. Therefore, this assumption about such a high focus on money is proved to be wrong and is justified because of the high standard of living. 

So why do southern people believe that the south is better the north and that the southern lifestyle is superior? They argue the food is way better in the South. They boast their southern fried foods such as fried chicken and shrimp and grits. Personally, I think the food is better in the North where there is the best pizza and bagels in the country. New Jersey and New York are home to huge populations of Italians so we are famous for our true Italian food and cooking. One of my friends argues that there is nothing to do in the north for fun. This might have been one of the most uneducated things I’ve ever heard said. The North is home to some of the most historic places in the whole world and was the location of many wars and historic events. It is also home to the government capital of the United States. Washington, DC is one of the most historic places in the country as it is home to hundreds of museums, memorials, monuments, the branches of government, and the White House. The North also is home to the famous cities of Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Chicago, as well as many others. These cities attract millions of tourists every year as there are many attractions in these locations. My hometown, Hillsborough, New Jersey, is only an hour from New York City and an hour and a half from Philly. The possibilities are endless making it impossible to not find something new to do. Another pride of Jersey is its beautiful beaches and boardwalks. Summers are spent down the shore with family and friends. And no, no one actually acts the way the cast of “Jersey Shore” did in Seaside, New Jersey. So is it really justified for people to say the South is the better place to live?

I have been trying to understand why these areas are so culturally different and how this divide really came about and am unable to find one answer to this lingering question. There is no one answer to why things are the way they are today, but there is support and evidence that leads us to possible and probable explanations. There are several aspects which have an effect on the cultural separation between the North and the South in today’s society. Past historic events have shaped this path and the path is still paved today as the two regions continue to grow further apart. Conflicting opinions, views, values, morals, and beliefs have also had an impact on the separation of people in today’s society in the United States. I have concluded that today’s society has formed from past historic events and the cultural differences between people during these times in history.
