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== Origins of the word ==

== Origins of the word ==

The origins of the term are uncertain.  In 1758  British General James Wolfe referred to the New England soldiers under his command as Yankees: "I can afford you two companies of Yankees."<ref> Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref>  The term as used by the British was thick with contempt, as shown by the cartoon from 1775 ridiculing Yankee soldiers.<ref> Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref>  The "Yankee and Pennamite" war was a series of clashes over land titles in Pennsylvania, 1769, in which "Yankee" meant the Connecticut claimants.

The origins of the term are uncertain.  In 1758  British General James Wolfe referred to the New England soldiers under his command as Yankees: "I can afford you two companies of Yankees."<ref>Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref>  The term as used by the British was thick with contempt, as shown by the cartoon from 1775 ridiculing Yankee soldiers.<ref>Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref>  The "Yankee and Pennamite" war was a series of clashes over land titles in Pennsylvania, 1769, in which "Yankee" meant the Connecticut claimants.

Johnathan Hastings of Cambridge, Massachusetts, around 1713 regularly used the word as a superlative, generally in the sense of ''excellent''.<ref>"yankee, n and a" OED <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50288716></ref>

Johnathan Hastings of Cambridge, Massachusetts, around 1713 regularly used the word as a superlative, generally in the sense of ''excellent''.<ref>"yankee, n and a" OED <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50288716></ref>

One theory, no longer held by scholars, says the word derives  from the Northeastern Native American approximation of the words ''English'' and ''Anglais''. <ref>"yankee, n and a" OED <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50288716></ref> It has been rejected by linguists.<ref> Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref>  

One theory, no longer held by scholars, says the word derives  from the Northeastern Native American approximation of the words ''English'' and ''Anglais''.<ref>"yankee, n and a" OED <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50288716></ref> It has been rejected by linguists.<ref>Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref>  

The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' suggests the most plausible origin to be that it is derived from the Dutch surnames "Jan" and "Kees". "Jan" and "Kees" were common Dutch surnames, and also common Dutch given names or nicknames. "Jan" means "John" and may have been used as a reference to the settlers of New-York (New-Amsterdam at the time) who were Dutch. The word Yankee in this sense would be used as a form of contempt, applied derisively to Dutch settlers in New England and New York. <ref>"yankee, n and a" OED </ref>  Another speculation suggests the Dutch form was ''Jan Kaas'', "John Cheese", from the prevalence of dairy-farming among the Dutch, but this seems far-fetched. More realistically, Michael Quinion and Patrick Hanks argue<ref> see  [http://www.worldwidewords.org/reviews/re-por1.htm]) </ref>the term refers to the Dutch nickname and surname ''Janke'', anglicized to ''Yanke'' and "used as a nickname for a Dutch-speaking American in colonial times". By extension, according to their theory, the term grew to include non-Dutch American colonists as well.

The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' suggests the most plausible origin to be that it is derived from the Dutch surnames "Jan" and "Kees". "Jan" and "Kees" were common Dutch surnames, and also common Dutch given names or nicknames. "Jan" means "John" and may have been used as a reference to the settlers of New-York (New-Amsterdam at the time) who were Dutch. The word Yankee in this sense would be used as a form of contempt, applied derisively to Dutch settlers in New England and New York.<ref>"yankee, n and a" OED</ref>  Another speculation suggests the Dutch form was ''Jan Kaas'', "John Cheese", from the prevalence of dairy-farming among the Dutch, but this seems far-fetched. More realistically, Michael Quinion and Patrick Hanks argue<ref>see  [http://www.worldwidewords.org/reviews/re-por1.htm])</ref> the term refers to the Dutch nickname and surname ''Janke'', anglicized to ''Yanke'' and "used as a nickname for a Dutch-speaking American in colonial times". By extension, according to their theory, the term grew to include non-Dutch American colonists as well.

===Yankee Doodle===

===Yankee Doodle===

An early use of the term outside the United States was in the creation of [[Sam Slick]], the "Yankee Clockmaker", in a column in a newspaper in Halifax,  Nova Scotia, (now part of Canada), in 1835. The character was a plain-talking American who served to poke fun at American and Nova Scotian customs of that era, while trying to urge the old-fashioned Canadians to be as clever and hard-working as the Yankees.   

An early use of the term outside the United States was in the creation of [[Sam Slick]], the "Yankee Clockmaker", in a column in a newspaper in Halifax,  Nova Scotia, (now part of Canada), in 1835. The character was a plain-talking American who served to poke fun at American and Nova Scotian customs of that era, while trying to urge the old-fashioned Canadians to be as clever and hard-working as the Yankees.   

===Derogatory===

===Derogatory===

The "damned Yankee" usage dates from 1812.<ref> Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref> During and after the [[American Civil War]] (1861–1865) Confederates popularized it as a derogatory term for their Northern enemies.

The "damned Yankee" usage dates from 1812.<ref>Mathews (1951) p 1896</ref> During and after the [[American Civil War]] (1861–1865) Confederates popularized it as a derogatory term for their Northern enemies.

== Yankee cultural history ==

== Yankee cultural history ==

The term Yankee now means residents of New England, of English ancestry, although that was not the original definition. (See origin of the term below). The Yankees diffused widely across the northern United States, leaving their imprint in New York, the upper Midwest, and places as far away as Seattle, San Francisco and Honolulu. <ref> Mathews (1909),  Holbrook (1950)</ref> Yankees typically lived in villages (rather than separate farms), which fostered local democracy in town meetings; stimulated mutual oversight of moral behavior and emphasized civic virtue. From New England seaports like Boston, Salem, Providence and New London, the Yankees built an international trade, stretching to China by 1800.  Much of the merchant profits were reinvested in the textile and machine tools industries.   

The term Yankee now means residents of New England, of English ancestry, although that was not the original definition. (See origin of the term below). The Yankees diffused widely across the northern United States, leaving their imprint in New York, the upper Midwest, and places as far away as Seattle, San Francisco and Honolulu.<ref>Mathews (1909),  Holbrook (1950)</ref> Yankees typically lived in villages (rather than separate farms), which fostered local democracy in town meetings; stimulated mutual oversight of moral behavior and emphasized civic virtue. From New England seaports like Boston, Salem, Providence and New London, the Yankees built an international trade, stretching to China by 1800.  Much of the merchant profits were reinvested in the textile and machine tools industries.   

Sociologist [[Max Weber]] in 1905 used Yankees as one model for his study of the [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]].

Sociologist [[Max Weber]] in 1905 used Yankees as one model for his study of the [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]].

After 1800 the Yankees (along with the Quakers) spearheaded most reform movements, including abolition, temperance, women's rights and women's education. [[Emma Willard]] and [[Mary Lyons]] pioneered in the higher education of women, while Yankees comprised most of the reformers who went South during [[Reconstruction]] in the 1860s to educate the Freedmen.

After 1800 the Yankees (along with the Quakers) spearheaded most reform movements, including abolition, temperance, women's rights and women's education. [[Emma Willard]] and [[Mary Lyons]] pioneered in the higher education of women, while Yankees comprised most of the reformers who went South during [[Reconstruction]] in the 1860s to educate the Freedmen.

Politically, the Yankees, who dominated New England, much of upstate New York, and much of the upper Midwest, were the strongest supporters of the new Republican party in the 1860s. This was especially true for the [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]]s and [[Presbyterian]]s among them and (after 1860), the [[Methodist]]s. A study of 65 predominantly Yankee counties showed they voted only 40% for the Whigs in 1848 and 1852, but became 61–65% Republican in presidential elections of 1856 through 1864. <ref>Kleppner p 55</ref>

Politically, the Yankees, who dominated New England, much of upstate New York, and much of the upper Midwest, were the strongest supporters of the new Republican party in the 1860s. This was especially true for the [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]]s and [[Presbyterian]]s among them and (after 1860), the [[Methodist]]s. A study of 65 predominantly Yankee counties showed they voted only 40% for the Whigs in 1848 and 1852, but became 61–65% Republican in presidential elections of 1856 through 1864.<ref>Kleppner p 55</ref>

The [[Ivy League]] universities and "[[Little Ivies]]" liberal arts colleges, particularly Harvard and Yale, remained bastions of old Yankee culture until well after World War II.   

The [[Ivy League]] universities and "[[Little Ivies]]" liberal arts colleges, particularly Harvard and Yale, remained bastions of old Yankee culture until well after World War II.   

[[Calvin Coolidge]] was a striking example of the Yankee type. Coolidge moved from rural Vermont to urban Massachusetts, and was educated at [[Amherst College]]. Yet his flint-faced unprepossessing ways and terse rural speech proved politically attractive: "That Yankee twang will be worth a hundred thousand votes", explained one Republican leader.<ref> William Allen White, ''A Puritan in Babylon: The Story of Calvin Coolidge'' (1938) p. 122. </ref>  Coolidge's laconic ways and dry humor was characteristic of stereotypical rural "Yankee humor" at the turn of the twentieth century.<ref>Arthur George Crandall,[http://books.google.com/books?id=AhXdAf0lBqwC&pg=PA13&dq=%22new+england+joke+lore%22 "New England Joke Lore: The Tonic of Yankee Humor"], (F.A. Davis Company, 1922).</ref>

[[Calvin Coolidge]] was a striking example of the Yankee type. Coolidge moved from rural Vermont to urban Massachusetts, and was educated at [[Amherst College]]. Yet his flint-faced unprepossessing ways and terse rural speech proved politically attractive: "That Yankee twang will be worth a hundred thousand votes", explained one Republican leader.<ref>William Allen White, ''A Puritan in Babylon: The Story of Calvin Coolidge'' (1938) p. 122.</ref>  Coolidge's laconic ways and dry humor was characteristic of stereotypical rural "Yankee humor" at the turn of the twentieth century.<ref>Arthur George Crandall,[http://books.google.com/books?id=AhXdAf0lBqwC&pg=PA13&dq=%22new+england+joke+lore%22 "New England Joke Lore: The Tonic of Yankee Humor"], (F.A. Davis Company, 1922).</ref>

The fictional character [[Thurston Howell III]] of [[Gilligan's Island]], a graduate of [[Harvard University]], typifies the old Yankee elite in a comical way.   

The fictional character [[Thurston Howell III]] of [[Gilligan's Island]], a graduate of [[Harvard University]], typifies the old Yankee elite in a comical way.   

In the 19th century ''Yankee'' was most often used to refer to a New Englander (in which case it may suggest Puritanism and thrifty values), but today refers to anyone coming from a northern state, with a specific focus still on New England. However, within New England itself, the term refers more specifically to old-stock New Englanders of English descent. The term [[WASP]], in use since the 1960s, refers by definition to all Protestants of English ancestry, including Yankees and Southerners, though its meaning is often extended to refer to any Protestant white American.

In the 19th century ''Yankee'' was most often used to refer to a New Englander (in which case it may suggest Puritanism and thrifty values), but today refers to anyone coming from a northern state, with a specific focus still on New England. However, within New England itself, the term refers more specifically to old-stock New Englanders of English descent. The term [[WASP]], in use since the 1960s, refers by definition to all Protestants of English ancestry, including Yankees and Southerners, though its meaning is often extended to refer to any Protestant white American.

The term "[[Swamp Yankee]]" is used in rural areas of Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut, and southeastern Massachusetts to refer to Protestant farmers of moderate means and their descendants (as opposed to upper-class Yankees).<ref> Ruth Schell, "Swamp Yankee", ''American Speech'', 1963, Volume 38, No.2 , pg. 121–123. accessed through [[JSTOR]] </ref>  Scholars note that the famous Yankee "twang" survives mainly in the hill towns of interior New England.<ref> Fisher, ''Albion's Seed'' p 62; Edward Eggleston, ''The Transit of Civilization from England to America in the Seventeenth Century.'' (1901) p. 110; Fleser (1962) </ref> The most characteristic Yankee food was the pie; Yankee author [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]] in her novel ''Oldtown Folks'' celebrated the social traditions surrounding the Yankee pie.  

The term "[[Swamp Yankee]]" is used in rural areas of Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut, and southeastern Massachusetts to refer to Protestant farmers of moderate means and their descendants (as opposed to upper-class Yankees).<ref>Ruth Schell, "Swamp Yankee", ''American Speech'', 1963, Volume 38, No.2 , pg. 121–123. accessed through [[JSTOR]]</ref>  Scholars note that the famous Yankee "twang" survives mainly in the hill towns of interior New England.<ref>Fisher, ''Albion's Seed'' p 62; Edward Eggleston, ''The Transit of Civilization from England to America in the Seventeenth Century.'' (1901) p. 110; Fleser (1962)</ref> The most characteristic Yankee food was the pie; Yankee author [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]] in her novel ''Oldtown Folks'' celebrated the social traditions surrounding the Yankee pie.  

In the South, the term is sometimes used as a derisive term for Northerners, especially those who have migrated to the South. As some Southerners put it, "A Yankee is a Northerner, and a Damnyankee [written and pronounced as one word] is a Northerner who moves (or comes) South". Southerners, by and large, resent being labeled "yankee" when travelling abroad.

In the South, the term is sometimes used as a derisive term for Northerners, especially those who have migrated to the South. As some Southerners put it, "A Yankee is a Northerner, and a Damnyankee [written and pronounced as one word] is a Northerner who moves (or comes) South". Southerners, by and large, resent being labeled "yankee" when travelling abroad.

In [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]], however, the term is referred to as someone who is from the US and hardly ever derogatory.

In [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]], however, the term is referred to as someone who is from the US and hardly ever derogatory.

In the late 19th century the Japanese were called "the Yankees of the East" in praise of their industriousness and drive to modernization.<ref> William Eleroy Curtis, ''The Yankees of the East, Sketches of Modern Japan.'' (New York: 1896). </ref>  

In the late 19th century the Japanese were called "the Yankees of the East" in praise of their industriousness and drive to modernization.<ref>William Eleroy Curtis, ''The Yankees of the East, Sketches of Modern Japan.'' (New York: 1896).</ref>  

In 21st century [[Japan]], the term ''Yankī'' is used to refer to a type of delinquent youth<ref>[http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%A5%E4%A5%F3%A5%AD%A1%BC&kind=jn&mode=1&base=1&row=1 Daijirin dictionary], [http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&p=ヤンキー&stype=0&dtype=0 Yahoo! Dictionary]</ref> who often sports brightly bleached hair. Etymology of the word is disputed, although one of the theories suggest the word comes from the English word "yankee."

In 21st century [[Japan]], the term ''Yankī'' is used to refer to a type of delinquent youth<ref>[http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%A5%E4%A5%F3%A5%AD%A1%BC&kind=jn&mode=1&base=1&row=1 Daijirin dictionary], [http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&p=ヤンキー&stype=0&dtype=0 Yahoo! Dictionary]</ref> who often sports brightly bleached hair. Etymology of the word is disputed, although one of the theories suggest the word comes from the English word "yankee."

In [[Finland]], the word ''jenkki'' (yank) is commonly used to refer to any American, and ''Jenkkilä'' (Yankeeland) refers to the United States itself. It isn't considered a very offensive or anti-American, but rather a [[spoken language]] expression. <ref>. See comments on H-South by Seppo K J Tamminen at [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/gateways/migration/threads/identity/disc-southernS96.html]</ref>

In [[Finland]], the word ''jenkki'' (yank) is commonly used to refer to any American, and ''Jenkkilä'' (Yankeeland) refers to the United States itself. It isn't considered a very offensive or anti-American, but rather a [[spoken language]] expression.<ref>[http://www.h-net.msu.edu/gateways/migration/threads/identity/disc-southernS96.html . See comments on H-South by Seppo K J Tamminen at]</ref>

==see also==

==See also==

*[[WASP (term)]]

*[[WASP (term)]]

* Butsee H. Logemay, "The Etymology of 'Yankee'", ''Studies in English Philology in Honor of Frederick Klaeber'', (1929) pp 403–13.  

* Butsee H. Logemay, "The Etymology of 'Yankee'", ''Studies in English Philology in Honor of Frederick Klaeber'', (1929) pp 403–13.  

* Fleser, Arthur F. "Coolidge's Delivery: Everybody Liked It." ''Southern Speech Journal'' 1966 32(2): 98–104. Issn: 0038-4585  

* Fleser, Arthur F. "Coolidge's Delivery: Everybody Liked It." ''Southern Speech Journal'' 1966 32(2): 98–104. Issn: 0038-4585  

* Harold Davis. "On the Origin of Yankee Doodle", ''American Speech,'' Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr., 1938), pp. 93–96 in JSTOR

* Harold Davis. "On the Origin of Yankee Doodle", ''American Speech,'' Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr., 1938), pp.&nbsp;93–96 in JSTOR

* Kretzschmar, William A. ''Handbook of the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States'' (1994)

* Kretzschmar, William A. ''Handbook of the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States'' (1994)

*  Lemay, J. A. Leo "The American Origins of Yankee Doodle", ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 33 (Jan 1976) 435–64

*  Lemay, J. A. Leo "The American Origins of Yankee Doodle", ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 33 (Jan 1976) 435–64

*Ruth Schell, "Swamp Yankee", ''American Speech'', 1963, Volume 38, No.2 (The [[American Dialect Society]], Published by Duke University Press ), pg. 121–123. accessed through [[JSTOR]]

*Ruth Schell, "Swamp Yankee", ''American Speech'', 1963, Volume 38, No.2 (The [[American Dialect Society]], Published by Duke University Press ), pg. 121–123. accessed through [[JSTOR]]

* Oscar G. Sonneck. ''Report on "the Star-Spangled Banner" "Hail Columbia" "America" "Yankee Doodle"'' (1909) [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0486222373&id=dSqWAvMJbuYC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=yankee+etymology&sig=g_ntd2CZ3d0zV4V3frgrgZP9s-c  pp 83ff online]

* Oscar G. Sonneck. ''Report on "the Star-Spangled Banner" "Hail Columbia" "America" "Yankee Doodle"'' (1909) [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0486222373&id=dSqWAvMJbuYC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=yankee+etymology&sig=g_ntd2CZ3d0zV4V3frgrgZP9s-c  pp 83ff online]

* [[http://www.bartleby.com/61/60/Y0006000.html|''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:'' Fourth Edition]]

* [http://www.bartleby.com/61/60/Y0006000.html ''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:'' Fourth Edition]

==Notes==

==Notes==