The last few decades of politics have driven home that a lot of people in the United States feel like New Yorkers aren't real Americans. References are made to this earlier in things like Annie Hall. But I was surprised to see some mention of this in Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton as well, which got me thinking - how long has this sentiment been around in a meaningful way, how has it been exploited, and what are some notable examples?
As a possible follow-up: Have other American cities (other than San Francisco and Los Angeles) been subjected to the same widespread "not one of us" denigration?
Depending on who you speak to, it's always been thus.
Colin Woodard wrote an interesting book called American Nations and argues that America is not now nor ever has been a single cultural entity but a shifting conglomeration of eleven distinct cultural nations.
With regards to New York, (the greater metropolitan area Woodard calls New Netherland), he characterizes it as:
A highly commercial culture, New Netherland is "materialistic, with a profound tolerance for ethnic and religious diversity and an unflinching commitment to the freedom of inquiry and conscience," according to Woodard. It is a natural ally with Yankeedom and encompasses New York City and northern New Jersey. The area was settled by the Dutch.
Brief descriptions of all eleven nations can be found here. Depending on the "nation" the critic hails from, New York cultural values will feel more alien by varying degrees and more subject to not being representative of America.
