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The Forgotten Origins of “Southland”: A Story of Polarization and Opportunism

The term “Southland” is often associated with the Confederacy and the Old South, but its history is more complex and nuanced. The name has been used to describe the Greater Los Angeles area, and its origins provide insight into the regional and political conflicts that have shaped the United States. This article delves into the fascinating story behind the nickname “Southland” and its connection to the Civil War era, extremism, and opportunism.

The term “Southland” first emerged in the 1860s, during the height of the Civil War. Confederate verses praising “the South” circulated freely, while Unionists responded with their own poems. After the war, the term continued to be used, with extremist authors like Will Kernan attacking the 14th and 15th Amendments and calling for the preservation of white supremacy.

In 1878, Kernan’s poem “Song of Hate” was recited at the Mississippi Press Association convention, causing an uproar. The poem attacked the 14th and 15th Amendments, which gave black Americans civil rights and voting rights, respectively. The poem was widely reprinted and sparked controversy across the country.

In 1880, Iowa’s Mars Sentinel satirized Kernan’s work, using a satirical poem to attack Southerners. The poem was widely reprinted and angered Southerners, leading to a resurgence in the use of the term “Southland” to describe the Confederacy.

As the term gained popularity, Harrison Gray Otis, editor of the Los Angeles Daily Times, began using “Southland” to describe the Greater Los Angeles area. Otis was a Union veteran from Ohio who had fought in the Battle of Antietam, and he used the term to promote southern California as a new territory.

Otis was not a Southerner, but he was an opportunist who saw the potential for profit in the term “Southland.” He spent his glory days in victory over the old Southland and replicated that victory on the West Coast. “General Otis” borrowed military terminology, calling his Los Angeles mansion “The Campground” and his Times staff “The Phalanx” as he built and ruled a new Southland.

Unfortunately, Otis’s new regime repeated the worst of the old one: it grew into another white oligarchy, where the rich got richer and the working class suffered. Otis made a fortune from real estate speculation, and his rampant union-busting led to the 1910 Times bombing, which killed 21 people.

In the end, it would take another century for Los Angeles to build a better Southland. This work remains unfinished in California and the United States.

FAQ:

Q: Who is Harrison Gray Otis, and what role did he play in the history of the term “Southland”?
A: Harrison Gray Otis was the editor of the Los Angeles Daily Times and a Union veteran from Ohio. He used the term “Southland” to promote southern California as a new territory and to sway public opinion in his favor.

Q: What was Will Kernan’s significance in the history of the term “Southland”?
A: Will Kernan was an extremist author who wrote “Song of Hate,” a poem that attacked the 14th and 15th Amendments and called for the preservation of white supremacy. His poem was widely reprinted and sparked controversy across the country.

Q: How did the term “Southland” relate to the Civil War era and the development of the United States?
A: The term “Southland” emerged during the Civil War era, when the Confederacy sought to promote its own version of American identity. The term was used to describe the Old South and its values, and it continued to be used after the war as a symbol of white supremacy.

Conclusion:

The story of the term “Southland” is a complex and nuanced one, full of contradictions and paradoxes. It is a story of polarization and opportunism, of how extremists and opportunists have used the term to promote their own agendas. But it is also a story of resilience and resistance, of how marginalized communities have fought to redefine the term and create a better future. As we continue to grapple with the legacy of the Civil War and the ongoing crises of racial and economic injustice, it is essential that we remember this forgotten history of “Southland.”