Carolinas
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The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. The Carolinas were known as the Province of Carolina during America's colonial period, from 1663–1710. Prior to that, the land was considered part of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, from 1609–63.
The province, named "Carolina" to honor King Charles I of England, was divided into South Carolina and North Carolina in 1729, although the actual date is the subject of debate.[1]
Politics
During most of the twentieth century South Carolina was a bastion of the "Solid Democratic South" with almost no Republican officeholders, and the state frequently elected politicians who were outspoken supporters of racial segregation. North Carolina, while mostly Democratic, did contain a large Republican minority (the state voted Republican in the presidential election of 1928 and elected several Republican Congressmen, Governors, and Senators from 1868-1928), and North Carolina was widely known as one of the more progressive Southern states on the issue of segregation and civil rights. In 1947 the famous journalist John Gunther wrote, "that North Carolina is by a good deal the most progressive Southern state will, I imagine, be agreed to by almost everybody." [2] On the other hand, he described South Carolina as "one of the poorest American states, and probably one of the balkiest." [2] In describing the differences between the two states, Gunther noted that, in 1947, divorce in North Carolina "may be granted simply on the ground of absence of cohabitation; South Carolina is the one American state in which divorce is not possible." [2] North Carolina's nickname for many years was "a vale of humility between two mountains of conceit," the "mountains" were Virginia and South Carolina [2].
Food
A nationally-famous staple of Carolina cuisine is pork barbecue.[3] However, even here there are strong regional differences and rivalries over the sauces and method of preparation used in making the barbecue.[4] In the eastern portions of both North Carolina and South Carolina, pork barbecue uses a vinegar-based sauce; western North Carolina pork barbecue uses a ketchup-based sauce; in the South Carolina midlands and upstate regions, pork barbecue often uses a mustard-based sauce.[4][5] Several varieties of barbecue sauce trace their origins to South Carolina.[4]
Hushpuppies and cole slaw are popular traditional side dishes.[3]
Nickname
"Cackalacky" (also Cackalacka, Cackalack) is a slang or nickname form of Carolina, used in refererence to North Carolina or South Carolina (e.g. North Cackalacky, South Cackalack), mostly in the Southern United States.[6] It is often preceded by North or South in referring to the states individually. While the cognomen has gained widespread use, lexicographers have yet to identify its exact origin, although it is suspected to have originated outside of the states.[7]
Although some believe the term has existed since at least the 1800’s, it has recently enjoyed a rise in vernacular usage possibly due to usage by the military population and the urban hip-hop community. Cackalacky is a military jargon term referring to the Carolinas that is commonly used by Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps troops while stationed on military bases in the in the Carolinas. E.g., "Camp Lejune, North Cackalacky;" "Ft. Bragg, North Cackalacky," Pope AFB, North Cackalacky," etc. North Carolina was also referred to as "North Cackalacka" in "Scenario" from A Tribe Called Quest's album Low End Theory by Jive Records (released on September 24, 1991).[citation needed]
Other popular spelling-variants include: Cackalackie, Kackalack, Kakalak, Kakalaka, Cakalacky, Kackalacky, Cakalaka, Kakalacky, Kakalaky, Cakalaky, and Cackalacka.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ The Split - One Colony Becomes Two
- ^ a b c d Gunther, John. Inside U.S.A. (50th Anniversary edition ed.). New Press. pp. pp. 719-723. ISBN 978-1565843585.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help);|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ a b Tricia Childress (2002-03-20). "Soul Food". Creative Loafing. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ^ a b c Lake E. High, Jr. "A Very Brief History of the Four Types of Barbeque Found In the USA". SCBarbeque.com. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ^ Linda Joyce Forristal. "A Vinegar Barbecue". Motherlindas.com. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ^ "Cackalacky". North Carolina Miscellany. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/internetworkers/2003-August/010708.html
Further reading
- John Gunther. Inside USA, Harper & Brothers, 1947.