The Several States: Intro

[whittertwitter]

So, I've never been entirely satisfied with fandom's U.S. states. People typically make just one or two, but whenever an attempt is made to do the whole group, one of two things happen--either they never finish it or there are too many people with different styles working on the project, too the point where it becomes jarring. I have also never

Comments

[fae_boleyn]

First off... Wow. I found it hard enough to develop my own version of the UK siblings (and a couple cousins of theirs I didn't initially know I should have at least a basic outline for). You're going for all fifty states?! I tip my hat off to you, good sir or ma'am. Or I would, if I had a hat.

Anyway. Might I suggest for Pennsylvania that you go with the Lenape, England, and Germany? Germany because, if you assume Pennsylvania Dutch means actual Dutch, it does not. It's actually an Anglified bastardization of the German word for German - which I cannot spell. The English - under William Penn - were the first to colonize Pennsylvania, which means Penn's Woods, and I'm fairly certain the Lenape tribe was the most powerful in PA. Been about eleven years since I took a grade school history course on my state, but some things stuck. :)

[whittertwitter]

Thanks very much! :) I may or may not be completely insane to attempt this, but I will do my best. I'm actually doing more than fifty; I'm also making personifications for regions of pre-existing states that have pushed for statehood.

Ooh, it's nice to have someone actually from Pennsylvania giving me advice! I already new about the Pennsylvania Dutch thing; in fact, Germany was already my choice for Pennsylvania's Parent #3. I'll go with the Lenape for Parent #1. Actually, I've done some research, and I discovered the Swedish colony New Sweden included both Pennsylvania and Delaware; it was founded first, but apparently other European nations didn't support the claim. Under this assumption, I had made Pennsylvania and Delaware siblings with Sweden and Germany as their parents. Do you think this would still be alright, or should I really switch to England? Holy shit, Germany is going to be paying so much child support when this is over.

[fae_boleyn]

We usually start with William Penn when talking about PA - but then again, I am also from the Philadelphia area, and Philly was a great experiment in the Quaker way for Will Penn; we tend to talk about him a lot as he also founded our city. I'd say it might depend on how much the Swedish actually had here. For example, I wouldn't call a couple of encampments really founding a colony, so if they didn't have much stake I'd go with England. Even with England, Pennsylvania might feel a bit different than his/her siblings because of being founded on Quaker principles. Actually, something similar will likely hold true for Maryland, founded in large part as a haven for English Catholics.

Back to Pennsylvania, not sure how into the modern day your characterization's going, but I'd say the -tan has to be mad for sports. Our two major cities Pittsburgh and Philadelphia both have traditions of being devoted to their teams. (Interestingly, our state capital of Harrisburg is not one of our major cities.) I don't know loads about Pittsburgh teams

[whittertwitter]

Ah, I see. I decided to follow your advice and go with England; there weren't that many Swedish settlements. I suppose I could have had Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey be Holland/The Netherlands and Sweden's kids because they were the first Europeans to settle there, but idk. Also, I know it's not your state, but do you agree with my choice for Maryland's Parent #3? I was kind of running low on options.

Oh, believe me, my Pennsylvania will indeed by a sports fanatic.

It's interesting that you bring this up, as Pennsylvania is one of the states I'm splitting up. The region that covers northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania, a.k.a the "Steel City Corridor" has tried to become its own state due to these state politics. I'm calling her Westsylvania; she and Pennsylvania aren't blood siblings, as she's France and Poland's eldest. I don't think I'll make a separate -tan for the middle of the state.

Oh, yes; Germany will certainly have some explaining to do, but Prussia is almost definitely responsible for a few of them.

[twistdfateangel]

I've been lurking up 'til now, because I can actually help here. I'm born and raised Virginian.

Virginia was a bit of a hodge-podge, native tribe-wise. The ones that are currently recognized by the Commonwealth are the Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Upper Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Monacan, Rappahanock, Patawomeck, Nansemond, Nottoway, and Cheroenhaka. Then, of course, there are the tribes that are either not recognized or extinct (not sure which): Ani-Stohini/Unami, Occaneechi, Paspahegh, Tutelo, Westo, Wicocomico, Manahoac, Meherrin, Doeg, Saponi, Occaneechi, Shawnee, Iroquois, Cherokee and Chisca. I can't really find who was related to who, language-wise, but there were three linguistic families, Siouan, Iroquoian and Algonquian.

Hope that helps a little!

[whittertwitter]

Thanks for de-lurking!

That was quite helpful, actually. Which do you think would be more likely, for Virginia et al's Native American parent to be a tribe that is extinct or one that is still around and recognized? Also, which of these tribes would you say has the most prominence/has the most still around?