Colin Woodard : "American Nations"

American Nations
January 23, 2013 -- 7 PM -- Loosemore Auditorium, GVSU
According to journalist and historian Colin Woodard, North America is made up of eleven distinct nations. He discusses the history of our continent, offering a revolutionary and revelatory take on American identity, and how the conflicts between them have shaped our past and mold our future. From the Deep South to the Far West, to Yankeedom to El Norte, Woodard reveals how each region continues to uphold its distinguishing ideals and identities today.

[@thattimestampguy]

4:17 Thanks 4:45 Striving for Clarity 5:35 On American Regionalism - Mutli-Cultured, Multi-Regioned 8:09 3 Marylands, 3 Texas, Upstate and Downstate 10:14 Purpose, Intent, Ideals 11:38 Individualism, Concious, Anglo-Protestant, Democracy, Tradition, Competitors for Land 12:36 There are 11 Americas, says Woodward 13:04 *The 11 American Regions* _United States_ 1. Yankees (Calvinists, Puritans) Favors Community, Massachusetts New England Style Towns (New York to Minnesota) 16:37 2. *New Netherlands* (Dutch) Global Trade Market, Immigrant hub, Diverse 18:08 3. *Swing Region* (Quakers) Inherent Good Mankind, Middle America, Middle Class, Rejection in Public Works 19:32 4. *Tidewater* (Young Sons of English Gentry) Landed Aristocrats, Proper People, Enlightenment, Respects Authority, Nation in Decline 22:09 5. *Greater Appalachia* (Warrior Sovereigns, Frontiersmen) Individual, Freedom, Suspect 23:45 6. *Deep South* (Barbados Slave Society) Classical Ancient World, Caste, Anti-Government, Anti-Safety Regulations 25:02 7. *El Norte* (Hispanic, Mexican) Self-Sufficient, Secession, Republican 27:27 8. *The Left Coast* (Merchants, Missionaries of New England. Farmers, Prospectors.) Better Society mixed with Self-Expression 30:10 9. *The Far West* (Dry Land. Irrigation necessary. Railroads) Corporate Control, Federal Control. Exploited for the rest of the Nation. *Canada* 32:20 10. New France in Canada 33:47 11. Resourceville, Greenland 37:00 Political Maps 45:08 Migration *Audience Questions* 49:44 Homogenization 51:30 Bill Bishop _The Big Sort_ 53:38 The Tea Party did not fit with Yankeedom 58:00 Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 1:02:38 Race 1:04:31 Languages Across America, Changing Culture with Age 1:07:05 Hawaii 1:08:33 South Florida 1:10:30 Companies on The Left Coast + “Make A Better World” philosophy + “Individualism” -> Innovation

[@IaHarbour]

this is the greatest set of timestamps I’ve seen on YT.

[@stevemcgee99]

4:15 - he starts talking.

[@Pudentame]

I live at the intersection of Tidewater, Greater Appalachia and the Deep South. I've read his book several times & enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend it.

[@arnett23me58]

From your own observations. How accurate are Woodards descriptions of these regional cultures?

[@cabalofdemons]

I purchased this book 2 months ago. It's a great read and gives a comprehensive overview of the history of the U.S. and the different cultural norms and social mores of the 11 nations. It also shows that the U.S. has never been united in our nation's history, thus debunking conservative rhetoric that Obama is "tearing this country apart."

[@gregoryrandall4819]

We were never to be a nation period But each state a country under the umbrella of a union Lincoln destroyed the founders govt into a strong centralist powerful govt Lincoln created the mess we are in today what the founders warned Also he destroyed the agrarian way of life in the south into an industrial materialistic like the north With his illegal war he caused 650,000 to 700,000 deaths Wich cause an influx into the country with no roots to the states or how the country supposed to be and a true republic Then later 3rd world people from shit hole countries that don't want to asimulate All planned to destroy

[@ripred42]

@@gregoryrandall4819 you're mistaken. Many northerners actually promoted free agrarian life, as can be seen in the homestead act. The agrarian life that was destroyed in the south was a brutal slave hierarchy. The industrial interests you're thinking of destroyed agrarian life more broadly all over the country in the later 19th century.

[@joeharris3878]

I'm English . My family arrived in America in 1740 . That's my nationality . I know Scots Irish that have been here for 200 years . I know Portuguese I know Chppewa Indians . I know Mexicans from here . I know Norwegians, I know Finns . I know Italians . I know Germans , I know Polynesians ... There are 100s of nationalities in the US . The part of America government by the USA is not a nation . America is not a homeland . It is a place . It a geographical space . The government is organized as a union . But the people that live here are not united . That's not good or bad . It's just the way it is .

[@stevenweller9413]

Very interesting concept. Book going on my “to buy” list for sure. For me, when looking at a concept I have not studied, the key deciding factor in its value is “does it fit what I do know”. This one looks at the issues in a different light but it fits better than anything else I’ve heard.

[@CityLoch]

Read it about this time last year, loved it!!

[@ripred42]

This a way to confirm rather than challenge you biases. I suggest you also try looking at books that don't fit within what you know.

[@stevenweller9413]

@@ripred42 I get what you are saying and it isn’t wrong. I just mean sometimes you get a take on something you’ve had an opinion on and the new take is very different. Perhaps I should have said does the take fit the available data rather than what I know. If it fits the data than it is worth considering.

[@leonardevans1441]

Interesting body of work. Some of his historical findings are spot on. His research on some regions however, is insufficient

[@GrayZWolf]

Look at the audience during the Q&A at 50 minutes into this. This was at the university and I would have expected lots of youthful students. Yet the audience is dominated by gray-haired senior citizens.

[@ellenkarnowski2946]

I don't think very many young people have the perspective developed yet to understand our national identity.

[@iShavedYesterday]

@@ellenkarnowski2946 Have more faith in our Millennials. We are more well-traveled and cultured than many of our predecessors care to believe. Do not let the stereotype that we are overprotected, self entitled social justice warriors distort your perception of our nation's (or nations') backbone. Millennials today range from 40 year old university professors and executives of public companies to university students and new entrants to the workforce.

[@user-wp8yx]

This book really helped me understand why I don't feel at home in the city in which I live. I am not a yankee. It helped me understand why the Yankees are willing to tax the poor into the ground, in the name of good. It helped me understand why the Yankees like to give tax breaks to their New Netherland Brothers on Wall Street. It really explains a lot.

[@brunsomarrr]

this book ruined my life

[@chriswoods2647]

Shocking how badly his confident answers to the first two questions have aged. He has some interesting analysis, but like so many from a decade ago, recent history has completely upended things.

[@cybercosmonaut1629]

Astrology of geography. People move around for many reasons. This is a massive over-generalization.

[@swedishguyonyoutube4684]

Well, no. Astrology is bereft of data, and yet makes strong predictions about the future. This is all data, and looks mostly at what has happened in the past. People are not atoms doing whatever for whatever reason of their own free volition. Patterns emerge, and such, if the patterns are strong enough and have predictive power, they can indeed be used to explain different phenomena to a larger degree than zero.