Distinctive Culture In The Southern United States

The United States shares a common culture throughout its entire territory, but there are some distinct features of the culture of the Southern United States. Its immigrant history, agricultural past, and conservative values set it apart from other regions in the USA.

Commonly referred to as the American South or Dixie, the Southern United States stretches from Maryland across to Texas and down to Florida, encompassing all states in that area. These states were historically very dependent on agriculture and slave labor. In fact, millions of African slaves were brought to the American South in the years before the American Civil War to work on plantations, especially cotton plantations. Although racial relations have continued to be strained in some parts of the South, this ethnic diversity has also led to the development of a unique Southern culture that includes African, European, and Native American influences.

The Southern United States contributes to world heritage through its important history related to slavery. As the generations have passed since slavery was abolished, it has become more obvious that the culture of black slaves has been permanently etched into modern Dixie cultural. This is especially notable in the culture of Southern music with styles such as blues, jazz, rock and roll, and spiritual being developed mostly in the American South. The religious culture of the South is one of the strongest in the United States and includes the Bible Belt, a region in which church attendance is especially high, particularly in Protestant and evangelical churches. The highest rate of church attendance has also contributed to the strong conservative values that the South still clings to today.