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Yankee cultural definition

Originally a nickname for people from New England, now applied to anyone from the United States. Even before the American Revolutionary War, the term Yankee was used by the British to refer, derisively, to the American colonists. Since the Civil War, American southerners have called all northerners Yankees. Since World War I, the rest of the world has used the term to refer to all Americans.

  • The expression “Yankee, go home” reflects foreign resentment of American presence or involvement in other nations' affairs.

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