Middle America (United States): Difference between revisions
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{{Distinguish|Central America|Middle America (Americas)|Mesoamerica}} |
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{{Short description|Colloquial term for the US heartland}} |
{{Short description|Colloquial term for the US heartland}} |
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{{About|the region of the United States|the division of the Americas|Middle America (Americas)|other uses|Middle America (disambiguation){{!}}Middle America}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Middle America''' is a [[colloquialism|colloquial term]] for the [[Heartland (United States)|United States heartland]], especially the culturally [[suburban area]]s of the United States, typically the Lower [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] region of the country, which consists of [[Ohio]], [[Indiana]], [[Iowa]], [[Nebraska]], [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]], |
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and [[downstate Illinois]]. |
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| ⚫ | Middle America is generally used as both a geographic and cultural label, suggesting a [[central United States]] small town or suburb where most people speak with a [[General American]] accent, are [[middle class]] or [[upper middle class]], [[Evangelical Christianity|Evangelical]] or [[Mainline Protestant]], and typically [[European Americans]], particularly of [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant|Anglo-Saxon Protestant]], [[Scotch Irish American|Ulster Scot]], or [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] descent. |
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| ⚫ | '''Middle America''' is a [[colloquialism|colloquial term]] for the [[Heartland (United States)|United States heartland]], especially the culturally [[ |
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| ⚫ | Middle America is generally used as both a geographic and cultural label, suggesting a [[ |
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== As a geographical label == |
== As a geographical label == |
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The plots of such American films as'' [[Sweet Home Alabama (film)|Sweet Home Alabama]]'' and'' [[The Judge (2014 film)|The Judge]]'' center on the contrast between big city life and that of a typical "Middle America" small town; in both, a [[protagonist]] with a successful big city career is drawn back to an old hometown. Similarly, the protagonist of [[John Grisham]]'s novel '' [[The Associate (novel)|The Associate]]'' leaves a well-paid job at a giant Wall Street law firm and goes to work with his lawyer father in his hometown, [[York, Pennsylvania]]. The contrast between "Middle America" and big city America is evident in the life of the fictional superhero [[Superman]] – growing up as [[Superboy]] in the archetypal [[Smallville (comics)|Smallville]] and as an adult moving to the equally archetypal [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]. The depiction of [[Ron Kovic]]'s childhood in the early parts of'' [[Born on the Fourth of July (film)|Born on the Fourth of July]]'' also fits the cultural perceptions of "Middle America" (though Kovic's hometown, [[Massapequa]], is physically located in [[Long Island]]). The same applies to the episode of [[Ayn Rand]]'s novel ''[[The Fountainhead]]'' which is set in [[Clayton, Ohio]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Rand|first=Ayn|title=The Fountainhead|title-link=The Fountainhead|at=Part III, Ch. 4.}}</ref> and which depicts that town as the archetype of "Middle America", the polar opposite of the cosmopolitan [[New York City]] where most of the novel's plot takes place. |
The plots of such American films as'' [[Sweet Home Alabama (film)|Sweet Home Alabama]]'' and'' [[The Judge (2014 film)|The Judge]]'' center on the contrast between big city life and that of a typical "Middle America" small town; in both, a [[protagonist]] with a successful big city career is drawn back to an old hometown. Similarly, the protagonist of [[John Grisham]]'s novel '' [[The Associate (novel)|The Associate]]'' leaves a well-paid job at a giant Wall Street law firm and goes to work with his lawyer father in his hometown, [[York, Pennsylvania]]. The contrast between "Middle America" and big city America is evident in the life of the fictional superhero [[Superman]] – growing up as [[Superboy]] in the archetypal [[Smallville (comics)|Smallville]] and as an adult moving to the equally archetypal [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]. The depiction of [[Ron Kovic]]'s childhood in the early parts of'' [[Born on the Fourth of July (film)|Born on the Fourth of July]]'' also fits the cultural perceptions of "Middle America" (though Kovic's hometown, [[Massapequa]], is physically located in [[Long Island]]). The same applies to the episode of [[Ayn Rand]]'s novel ''[[The Fountainhead]]'' which is set in [[Clayton, Ohio]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Rand|first=Ayn|title=The Fountainhead|title-link=The Fountainhead|at=Part III, Ch. 4.}}</ref> and which depicts that town as the archetype of "Middle America", the polar opposite of the cosmopolitan [[New York City]] where most of the novel's plot takes place. |
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| ⚫ | Recently, there has been a diversification in the demographics traditionally attributed to Middle America. Individuals and families of various ethnic backgrounds, including Asians and Hispanics, have started to reside in small towns in various interior states,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/diversity-is-on-the-rise-in-urban-and-rural-communities-and-its-here-to-stay-69095|title=Diversity is on the rise in urban and rural communities, and it's here to stay|last1=Lee|first1=Barrett|last2=Hook|first2=Jennifer Van|website=The Conversation|date=February 21, 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> including, but not limited to, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} |
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At the inception of the Science Fiction Horror film ''[[Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem]]'', the inhabitants of [[Gunnison, Colorado]] - an actual town with 6,560 according to the 2020 census - go about their routine small town life, when the crashing of a spaceship in the forest outside Gunnison turns the town into a battleground between two aggressive extraterrestrial species - who totally disrupt the townspeople's lives and kill many of them. Finally, the only way for the US Army to get rid of the aliens is by exploding a nuclear device, totally obliterating the town and killing most of the townspeople who survived the earlier carnage. |
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| ⚫ | Recently, there has been a diversification in the demographics traditionally attributed to Middle America. Individuals and families of various ethnic backgrounds, including Asians and Hispanics, have started to reside in small towns in various interior states,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/diversity-is-on-the-rise-in-urban-and-rural-communities-and-its-here-to-stay-69095|title=Diversity is on the rise in urban and rural communities, and it's here to stay|last1=Lee|first1=Barrett|last2=Hook|first2=Jennifer Van|website=The Conversation|language=en|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> including, but not limited to, Oklahoma, Kansas, |
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== Economy == |
== Economy == |
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== Politics == |
== Politics == |
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The phrase ''Middle American values'' is a political cliché; like ''[[family values]],'' it refers to more [[traditionalist conservatism|traditional]] or [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] politics. However, across the United States and more recently in the South, metropolitan areas and major university towns tend to be politically and socially progressive. Examples of such metropolitan areas include [[Columbus, Ohio]]; [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]; and [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], and major university towns include [[Madison, Wisconsin]]; [[Champaign, Illinois]]; [[Bloomington, Indiana]]; [[Carbondale, Illinois]]; [[Lawrence, Kansas]]; [[Athens, Ohio]]; and [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Gabriel Winant |url=http://www.salon.com/2010/05/17/barone_peterson_condescending/ |title=Who's more condescending to Middle America? |work=Salon.com |date=2010-05-17 |access-date=2015-05-29}}</ref> |
The phrase ''Middle American values'' is a political cliché; like ''[[family values]],'' it refers to more [[traditionalist conservatism|traditional]] or [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] politics. However, across the United States and more recently in the South, metropolitan areas and major university towns tend to be politically and socially progressive. Examples of such metropolitan areas include [[Kansas City, Missouri]]; [[Columbus, Ohio]]; [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]; and [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], and major university towns include [[Madison, Wisconsin]]; [[Champaign, Illinois]]; [[Bloomington, Indiana]]; [[Carbondale, Illinois]]; [[Lawrence, Kansas]]; [[Athens, Ohio]]; and [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Gabriel Winant |url=http://www.salon.com/2010/05/17/barone_peterson_condescending/ |title=Who's more condescending to Middle America? |work=Salon.com |date=2010-05-17 |access-date=2015-05-29}}</ref> Reflecting these countervailing trends, many political [[battleground state]]s are situated in "Middle America."<ref name="forbes1"/> |
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Despite likely being an apocryphal story, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] has been widely attributed as stating “[i]f I’ve lost [[Walter Cronkite|Cronkite]], I’ve lost Middle America," after viewing a [[CBS Evening News]] [[Walter_Cronkite#Vietnam_War|report]] by Walter Cronkite critical of U.S. prospects in the [[Vietnam War]] in February 1968. The quote is often cited in relation to Johnson's subsequent change of heart a month later in [[1968_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries#Johnson_withdraws:_March_31|declining to seek re-election in 1968]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=W. Joseph |title=Getting It Wrong: Ten of the Greatest Misreported Stories in American Journalism |url=https://archive.org/details/gettingitwrongte0000camp |url-access=registration |publisher=University of California Press |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-520-25566-1 }}</ref> |
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Many political [[battleground state]]s are situated in "Middle America."<ref name="forbes1"/> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Latest revision as of 22:35, 4 November 2024
Middle America is a colloquial term for the United States heartland, especially the culturally suburban areas of the United States, typically the Lower Midwestern region of the country, which consists of Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and downstate Illinois.
Middle America is generally used as both a geographic and cultural label, suggesting a central United States small town or suburb where most people speak with a General American accent, are middle class or upper middle class, Evangelical or Mainline Protestant, and typically European Americans, particularly of Anglo-Saxon Protestant, Ulster Scot, or Germanic descent.
As a geographical label
[edit]
Geographically, the label Middle America refers to the territory between the East Coast of the United States (particularly the northeast) and the West Coast. The term has been used in some cases to refer to the inland portions of coastal states, especially if they are rural. Alternately, the term is used to describe the central United States.[citation needed]
As a cultural label
[edit]Middle America is contrasted with the more culturally progressive, urban areas of the country, particularly, those of the East and West Coasts. The conservative values considered typical of Middle America (often called "family values" in American politics) are often called "Middle American values".[1][failed verification][2]
The plots of such American films as Sweet Home Alabama and The Judge center on the contrast between big city life and that of a typical "Middle America" small town; in both, a protagonist with a successful big city career is drawn back to an old hometown. Similarly, the protagonist of John Grisham's novel The Associate leaves a well-paid job at a giant Wall Street law firm and goes to work with his lawyer father in his hometown, York, Pennsylvania. The contrast between "Middle America" and big city America is evident in the life of the fictional superhero Superman – growing up as Superboy in the archetypal Smallville and as an adult moving to the equally archetypal Metropolis. The depiction of Ron Kovic's childhood in the early parts of Born on the Fourth of July also fits the cultural perceptions of "Middle America" (though Kovic's hometown, Massapequa, is physically located in Long Island). The same applies to the episode of Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead which is set in Clayton, Ohio[3] and which depicts that town as the archetype of "Middle America", the polar opposite of the cosmopolitan New York City where most of the novel's plot takes place.
Recently, there has been a diversification in the demographics traditionally attributed to Middle America. Individuals and families of various ethnic backgrounds, including Asians and Hispanics, have started to reside in small towns in various interior states,[4] including, but not limited to, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio.[citation needed]
Economy
[edit] | This section possibly contains original research. (February 2015) |
Historically, the economy of Middle America has been supported by agricultural worker and industry labor.[5] Housing prices tend to be significantly less volatile than those on the coasts, and houses tend to appreciate in value more slowly, the late 2000s mortgage crisis notwithstanding.[6]
Politics
[edit]The phrase Middle American values is a political cliché; like family values, it refers to more traditional or conservative politics. However, across the United States and more recently in the South, metropolitan areas and major university towns tend to be politically and socially progressive. Examples of such metropolitan areas include Kansas City, Missouri; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and major university towns include Madison, Wisconsin; Champaign, Illinois; Bloomington, Indiana; Carbondale, Illinois; Lawrence, Kansas; Athens, Ohio; and Ann Arbor, Michigan.[7] Reflecting these countervailing trends, many political battleground states are situated in "Middle America."[6]
Despite likely being an apocryphal story, President Lyndon Johnson has been widely attributed as stating “[i]f I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America," after viewing a CBS Evening News report by Walter Cronkite critical of U.S. prospects in the Vietnam War in February 1968. The quote is often cited in relation to Johnson's subsequent change of heart a month later in declining to seek re-election in 1968.[8]
See also
[edit]- Americas (terminology)
- Deep England
- Flyover country
- Heartland (United States)
- The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America
- Heartland rock
- Middle Australia
- Middle England
- Red states and blue states
References
[edit]
- ^ "Comment: editorials, opinion and columns". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ "Time: Middle Americans". Chnm.gmu.edu. January 5, 1970. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ Rand, Ayn. The Fountainhead. Part III, Ch. 4.
- ^ Lee, Barrett; Hook, Jennifer Van (February 21, 2017). "Diversity is on the rise in urban and rural communities, and it's here to stay". The Conversation. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "Outline of the U.S. Economy". usa.usembassy.de.
- ^ a b Paul Jankowski (April 18, 2012). "Six Ignorant Stereotypes About Middle America". Forbes. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ Gabriel Winant (May 17, 2010). "Who's more condescending to Middle America?". Salon.com. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
- ^ Campbell, W. Joseph (2010). Getting It Wrong: Ten of the Greatest Misreported Stories in American Journalism. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25566-1.