Georgia cracker facts for kids
The term Georgia Cracker describes the first American pioneer settlers of the Province of Georgia (which later became the State of Georgia), and their families who came after them. These pioneers helped build the state of Georgia.
Later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, cattle ranchers from Georgia were called "Georgia Crackers" by people in Florida. This happened when they moved their cattle to Florida's grassy areas for winter grazing. They were very good at cracking a bullwhip to get their cattle's attention, which might be how the name stuck.
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Where Did the Name "Cracker" Come From?
The word "cracker" has a long history. It was used during the Elizabethan era (when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England) to describe people who boasted a lot. The word comes from the Middle English word "crack," which meant "entertaining conversation." For example, you might "crack" a joke.
The word "craic" (pronounced "crack") is still used in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland to mean fun or good conversation. Even William Shakespeare used the word "cracker" in his play King John in 1595. He wrote about someone who "deafes our ears / With this abundance of superfluous breath," meaning they talked too much.
By the 1760s, important people in Britain and the American colonies started using "Cracker" for Scotch-Irish and English settlers living in the wild, remote areas of the southern colonies. A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth from that time explained that Crackers were "great boasters" and "a lawless set of rascalls" who moved around a lot on the borders of Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas, and Georgia.
Later, the word became linked to cowboys in Georgia and Florida. Many of these cowboys were descendants of those early frontiersmen.
How the Term "Cracker" Is Used Today
Among some people in Georgia, the term "Georgia Cracker" is used as a proud or funny way to describe themselves. Since many new residents have moved to Georgia from other parts of the United States in recent times, some white Georgians of Scots-Irish and English background use "Georgia Cracker" to show that their family has lived in the state for many generations.
However, other Georgians find the term very offensive and insulting. For them, "cracker" often describes poor white people. It is seen as a demeaning and bigoted term, similar to "redneck" for many rural white southerners.
"Cracker" in Politics and Sports
The "Cracker Party" was a powerful political group within the Democratic Party. It controlled city politics in Augusta, Georgia, for more than 25 years. This group had a lot of political power for about 40 years until it was defeated in 1946.
Before the "Braves" baseball team moved to Atlanta from Milwaukee, the city was home to a team called "the Atlanta Crackers." This team played in the International League.
Notable Georgia Crackers
- Bill Arp: A famous humorist from Georgia in the 1800s.
- Roy V. Harris: A leader of the "Cracker Party" in politics.
- Lauretta Hannon: A humorist known as Georgia's 'Cracker Queen'.
- John B. "Big John" Kennedy: The Public Safety Commissioner in Augusta, Georgia, from 1942 to 1946, and another leader of the "Cracker Party."
- Doyle Lawson: A musician famous for his mandolin song "Georgia Cracker."
Musical Groups
There have been several musical groups named "The Georgia Crackers."
- One group released music on Okeh records in 1927. This band included Paul Cofer, Leon Cofer, and Ben Evans.
- Another country band recorded "A Broken Doll" in 1947.
- A third group is a jazz band that has played famous songs like W. C. Handy's "Atlanta Blues." You can find recordings of these groups online.
