Appalachia is a region in the US defined by cultural and historical aspects, rather than geography. Originally inhabited by Native American tribes, European settlers caused clashes. Education has historically been a struggle, and poverty is still a problem. Appalachian culture includes diverse literature, music, and folklore.
While it has no official boundaries, Appalachia is generally a section of the United States delineated by regional, cultural, and historical aspects unique to that region. It extends along the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York State to northern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. While the Appalachian mountain range extends as far as Canada and only as far as Alabama, the Appalachians are not strictly defined by geography. Its boundaries are defined by particular customs, dialects, etc. rather than by geographic features.
The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, particularly the Algonquians and Cherokee. European settlers began inhabiting the area in the 18th century, causing clashes between the settlers and the area’s native inhabitants. European settlers in the area were considered quite harsh, as they lived in an unforgiving area of wilderness and other hardships. When the United States began to form as a union, Appalachian settlers were known as hardy and hardy frontiersmen averse to taxes and coastal elites. They have often participated in armed uprisings, such as the Whiskey Rebellion.
Education has historically been a struggle in Appalachia. Problems with state funding contributed to this struggle, as did the general feeling in the region that formal education served little practical purpose. Conditions have improved in the 20th and 21st centuries, but the Appalachian states still struggle to keep up with national education initiatives, especially the No Child Left Behind Act of 20. This has caused further funding problems for schools public in the area.
The primary industries for much of Appalachian existence were logging and mining, and with those professions came high-paying jobs. Unfortunately, those jobs were only temporary and abject poverty was and continues to be a serious problem throughout the region. For much of the 20th century, Appalachia was considered on par with many third world countries in terms of living conditions.
Because of its wild terrain, history of logging and mining, native inhabitants, and its rich Scottish-Irish history, Appalachia is home to diverse styles of literature, music, folklore, and other customs. Much of the folklore and literature that comes from the area is steeped in religious themes, ghost stories, settlement stories, and other themes applicable to the harsh life common in Appalachia. Perhaps best known of the Appalachian style and culture is its music, which derives from the English and Scottish ballad styles. African-American blues music also had a significant impact on the evolution of Appalachian music; bluegrass, country, and old-time music all evolved from the Appalachian tradition.
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