No region has experienced as much growth as the south as far as development and prosperity of the area in the United States of America are concerned. The region has been a victim of the conflict and was once said to be uninhabitable characterized by the lack of progress in the early late 19th century and early 20th centuries. The change in the region, especially in the contemporary society associated with its growth, demonstrates that indeed political progress is not cast in stone. The paper, therefore, embarks on providing an argument both positive and negative on the political issues that have been present in the south that has had significance on its citizens.
The southern region is one that has been subject to experiencing both positive and adverse effects of various political oriented gimmicks that have led its citizens learning harsh lessons especially in the 20th century. The region now boasts of economic progress, the development of its culture, associated with basics such as art, politics, music (Woodard 1-19). These are its strengths present in the modern era, however deep into the culture of the people are wounds that have taken long to be un-embedded from the American citizens. These include issues such as racial differences concerning the subjugation of the races considered as being inferior, military downfalls as well as the feeling of isolation only based in the south of which the rest of the nation has yet to fathom.
According to Woodard, the South has now been characterized by the relevance of change and associated with economic development as well as determining the outcome of most of the elections pertinent to its five primary states such as Texas and Virginia (1-19). However, such changes in the region were unfathomable at the time as the South was first subjected to high poverty levels, comprised of people who were less healthy as compared to people from other states. The individuals in these regions associated with the South also had poor access to educational facilities characterized by more access to plantation farming, especially during the agrarian revolution. Woodard argues that the terrain of the land was different as compared to those of the other states whereby the people could not rely on the federal government and had to depend on themselves for economic development (1-19) primarily. In addition, it is true that the Southerners are the most adamant people, who rarely accept the relevance of change. More to that was the challenge associated with racial segregation of the African American folk who at the time provided slave labor for the settlers in the form of farming activities. Racial differences by extension were the reasons behind the declined political superiority of the Southerners, especially in the early 20th century.
Woodard implores that the South managed to change its perception, which led to the overall change in its status especially politically, and economically (1-19). For instance, before the occurrence of the Second World War, the South was mostly rural in its structure. However, during the war, the Southerners accommodated the individuals associated with the military, with emphasis on the Soldiers as well as the contractors working for the defense. The accommodation of these personalities led to the transformation of a once simple society into a complex environment characterized by robust growth in all areas; politically, socially and economically. The region that was once characterized by vices, which I abhor such as slavery, racism, and the integration of a superiority complex by the Whites as well as an isolation mentality, became an emblem of unity (Woodard 1-19).
The economic activity present before the economic liberation of the South was agriculture. Here, it was practiced in various methods on both subsistence farming and plantation agriculture that integrated mechanization stratagems. However, it was not enough to allow for the propagation of the growth in the Southern region. Woodard makes a comparison of some of the significant changes present in the South in the 21st century that were not yet achieved in the 20th century. First, in the mid-1950's the income earned by the southerners was only at seventy-four percentile of the required average, a figure that has risen to about 91 percentile in the year 2010 (1-19). Another significant development was the growth in the number of conglomerates in the South that have a national impact on the Society. For instance, in the year 1970, only nine corporations had their origins in the South as being the largest 200 conglomerates in the United States. However, in the year 2003, more than 40 of the most major corporations had their origin in the South with Walmart being at the peak of these companies (Woodard 1-19).
One of the admirable traits that are politically oriented is the adherence of the Southern region to its way of life as it is characterized by a larger population of religious fanatics. Even though it is pigeonholed by some failures, the South has been an emblem of growth through its changing of its vices and transforming them into virtues to be emulated. According to Woodard, such is demonstrated by the 2008 election where an African American personality won the elections with the support of three Southern States (1-19).
The political culture of the Southerners is dependent on the attitude of the people towards the governing positions. The relevance of one party politics as well as religious rhetoric that is firmly embedded in Christianity, as well as the flamboyancy demonstrated by the majority of the leaders illustrates the ideals of the Southerners. In addition, the political culture and subculture of the Southerners serve three primary purposes. The first shows the functions of both types of government and their impact on the society. Secondly, it analyzes the duties of a citizen to his/her nation and lastly it gives a comparison of types of governments that have been in existence. Woodard argues that based on these three characteristics, the South has developed a notion and mindset that the best kind of leadership ought to arise from an elite folk, who gave heed to traditions and values. Such ideals are the reasons for the southerners conforming to the thought that it is imperative to possess personal liberty rather than subject oneself to a centralized form of leadership.
In conclusion based on the ideals, the Southern States have risen to become dominant especially in influencing the results of a presidential election. The national states such as Florida and Texas have led to the determination of the next president of the United States. The Other States in the South that are instrumental in influencing the outcome of results include Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. Such an impact shows that indeed political issues concerning the negative history of the South are not fixed and therefore can be changed as characterized by the United States acceptance of the southerners regardless of their century-old history.
Work Cited
Woodard, J. David. The New Southern Politics. L. Rienner Publishers, 2013.1-417. Print
