Michigander

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Michigander is a demonym for residents of the U.S. state of Michigan. It coexists principally with Michiganian. Less commonly alternatives include Michiganer, Michiganite, Michicanese, Michigan-man and Wolverine.[1] [2] Various Michigan residents may prefer one or the other (and those in the Upper Peninsula more typically refer to themselves as Yoopers instead). Many Michigan residents prefer the sound of Michigander (which more closely parallels the pronunciation of Michigan). The term was once considered pejorative, but has since lost its negative connotation. Some use Michigander to indicate any resident of Michigan, and use Michiganian to indicate an alumnus/alumna of the University of Michigan. Wolverine and Michigan-man are, in modern usage, used exclusively in the latter context. The web sites of the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Historical Center use Michiganian, though there is no officially correct term.[3][4]

[edit] Origin

Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass

The word Michigander is attributed to Abraham Lincoln, coining it when he was a Whig representative in Congress. On July 27, 1848, Lincoln made a speech against Lewis Cass, who had been a long-time governor of the Michigan Territory. Cass was then running for president on a "popular sovereignty" platform that would have let states that were conquered in the Mexican-American War decide whether to legalize slavery. Lincoln accused the Democrats of campaigning on the former President Andrew Jackson's coattails by exaggerating their military accomplishments.

But in my hurry I was very near closing on the subject of military tails before I was done with it. There is one entire article of the sort I have not discussed yet; I mean the military tail you Democrats are now engaged in dovetailing onto the great Michigander [i.e. Lewis Cass].[5]

Lincoln thus combined Michigan with gander to form a nickname that made Cass sound foolish like a goose.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Marckwardt, Albert H., "Wolverine and Michigander", Michigan Alumnus Quarterly Review LVIII (1952) 203-208
  2. ^ Sperber, Hans "Words and Phrases in American Politics: Michigander" American Speech Vol 29 No 1 (Feb 1954) 21-27
  3. ^ Michigan FAQ. "[1]". Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries, 2001.
  4. ^ Michigan Humanities Council History. "[2]". Michigan Humanities Council, 2008.
  5. ^ Michigan Today News. "Talking About Words". University of Michigan News Service. September 15, 2003.