Redneck History

Although there is some confusion as to exactly where the term Redneck originated, it is believed that the term Red neck may have began in Scotland around 1643.

During The First English Civil War Protestant leaders within the English Parliament recruited the Scots to aide in their battle against the Royalist Army. A deal, or covenant, was struck which was to allow the Scotts to maintain their Presbyterian religion, rather than be forced to join in with The Church of England.

The terms of the agreement were drawn up, and signed, by those Scotts who agreed to fight for England in exchange for maintaining their own religious rights. The term Red neck was applied largely to Scottish lowland Presbyterians who signed the Solemn League and Covenant in their own blood and then afterwords proudly wore their bloodied kerchief around their neck.

When the Civil War did not go in their favor the Covenant between the Scots and the English Parliament was torn up. Many of the Scottish dissenters then fled to nearby Ireland and carried with them the nickname of Red Neck.

The terming of Rednecks in America all started back in the 17th and 18th centuries with the arrival of a group of hardworking immigrants of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh ancestry. These country immigrants were largely common folk looking for a better way of life for themselves and for their families. So they came to settle in America.

The term Red neck should have been used to identify only the Scottish dissenters from England, but the term Redneck instead became a derogatory title used to describe all of the newly arriving class of poor white immigrants.

Shunned, and considered too "uncultured" to be absorbed into mainstream America, these newly arrived immigrants were encouraged to settle in the Appalachian and Ozark mountain areas where they could act as a human shield against the Indian Nations that also resided there.

Life was difficult in the Southern Appalachian and Ozark mountain regions, but the newly arrived immigrants settled in, and did whatever they felt was necessary to insure their survival.

Shunned by their American comrades they were forced to rely only on themselves and other immigrant neighbors for their survival in this new land. Rednecks ate basically whatever it was that they could hunt, pick, or grow from within the surrounding countryside.

Rednecks dined on squirrel, possum, fish, deer, moose, elk, and even bear if it wandered their way. From hunting squirrels to running whiskey Rednecks made their mark in American history books.

Looked down upon by middle and upper white class Americans the term "Redneck" soon became a term that was used in a derogatory tone to describe the majority of all the poorer lower class white peoples of America.

Although mistrustful of government bureaucracy, during the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, the Civil War and the Mexican-American War, rednecks volunteered for duty at a much higher rate than other Americans.

This class of poor white country people had a very strong fighting spirit, and they showed it by fighting, and dying at much higher rates than their upper class American counterparts.

Although the first Rednecks were lower class white immigrants, over time color barriers faded away, and the sun reddened skin on a persons face and neck could no longer be used to identify a Redneck.

The defining characteristic for the term 'Redneck' slowly evolved to be representative of the distinct reputation and attitude of a person. The modern day Redneck can now be from any race, sex, religion or class, and is identified only by his or her distinctive attitude and lifestyle.

The modern day Rednecks of course still being best known for their outspoken, and often times embarrassing, swearing, gambling, drinking, hard working and hell raising way of life.

An essential part of American history, Rednecks have come to be known as an indispensable and fiercely proud component of the American population.

This courtesy of the rednecks of yesteryear, who through their hard work and independent attitudes, paved a gentler pathway for modern day Rednecks to walk today.

Toilet paper is relatively inexpensive so most of us have a roll or two of it sitting in our bathroom. Virtually every family member and guest to our home use it.

Toilet paper is one of the most important items you can select for your bathroom and yet many folks do not take advantage of decorative toilet paper to enhance the look of their bathroom decor. Which means that we really should....Toilet Paper.

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Names like Duke, Daisy, Rufus, Angel, Dakota, and Misty can be applied to both man and beast alike. Yep, it is something that only a Redneck would think of doing...Redneck People Names - Redneck Pet names.

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If it seems that mosquitoes seek you out more often than they do other individuals, well you may not be imagining things, they really may find you to be a more attractive target than the fellow standing next to you.

When searching for their next meal mosquitoes are definitely more attracted to some people than they are to others....Why are mosquitoes attracted to some people more than others?

It's a busy world, and some people are much busier than others, these are the workaholics of our modern society. These individuals are generally the first to arrive at their work place and often the last to leave it in the evening.

They usually take their work home from the office with them, and even when they are simply relaxing at home, their workplace is still within their mind....Ways to celebrate Workaholics Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/Redneck

http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/rednecks

Wikipedia.org/Solemn_League_and_Covenant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redneck

Images displayed on this article are from my family's personal photo album. Other images for this article were found at:Wikipedia: Public Domain Mosquito Image and US Fish and Wildlife: Public Domain Images.

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