History NationalStereotypes / NorthAmerica

** After Russia and Canada the U.S.A. is the largest country in the world. This is already something that's difficult to imagine when you're living in a smaller country. Americans think "big" because they can! There is so much space in the U.S.A., compared to the more crowded and suburbanized countries in, for instance, Europe. Taking a plane to visit another town or state within the same country is very normal.

* Interestingly enough, Canada is often portrayed as being more primitive and close to nature than the "modern" United States. Yet, some of their laws are far more progressive and liberal than the U.S., for instance: marihuana is legal in the entire country.

** It's also important to note that the American religious right doesn't exist in a vacuum. It is, to a large extent, a reactionary response to the increasing secularization of American society since the 1960s. Although the religious right has become a significant voting block, it's proved largely ineffectual at its goal of reversing secularization (abortion remains legal, school prayer remains abolished, church attendance continues to fall, etc.), which only serves to make it more and more fanatical.
* Outside the U.S. a stereotypical image of the dumb, fat, lazy, ignorant, self-important, decadent, prudish, and clueless white American exists. Most of these images are based on American fast food culture which has spawned a lot of morbidly fat people. Of course, in foreign countries sitcom characters like [[{{Series/AllInTheFamily}} Archie Bunker]], [[{{Series/MarriedWithChildren}} Al Bundy]] and [[{{WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons}} Homer Simpson]] are also often seen as representative of the typical American.
*** Americans eat nothing else besides hamburgers, snacks, hot dogs, red beans, turkeys, donuts, apple pie and drink Coca Cola or beer.

** In foreign fiction all American men will be called Joe, Hank, Al, Barney, Chuck, Jim, Bob, Tex or Jack.

* Modern stereotypes depict them as either being jazz musicians, gospel choir singers, baptists with loud and punctuated speech (see Preacherbot on ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''), basketball players, dancers, rappers, soul singers with large Afro-hair, gang members, pimps, prostitutes... They always talk in jive and are usually cool and sassy.

** Los Angeles is universally famous for Hollywood and its Silicon Valley. In popular culture it will always seem as if everyone there is in some way busy making movies. It's full of rich, narcistic and arrogant movie stars who live in huge, secluded mansions. They all live a decadent lifestyle and crave to win (another) Oscar one day. The rest of the city is populated by aspiring unknowns who dream of becoming a Hollywood star, yet are still obscure losers who struggle to make ends meet. A CorruptCorporateExecutive will exploit naïve actresses by showing them his CastingCouch. He won't have a dime for a creative, original script, but is happy to pump millions of dollars in a bland, [[HollywoodStyle unrealistic blockbuster picture full of clichés and platitudes that nevertheless provide audiences with lots of stars and a satisfying happy end]].
** The San Fernando Valley is best known as a heaven for surfers. It's full of dumb bikini-clad blondes (ValleyGirl) or equally brainless surfer dudes who all speak a specific slang ("Like, totally radical, dude!") made universally popular by MTV's Spring Breaks.

* New Mexico is lucky to be considered part of the Union at all, most of the time it's kind of off to the side and gets awkward looks from everyone else.

* Especially '''[[EverythingIsBigInTexas Texas]]'''. Howdy Y'all! Everyone in Texas is a gun-toting, horse-riding cowboy who eats nothing but gigantic steaks and huge bowls of chili, drinks nothing but gigantic servings of beer (Shiner, Lone Star, or Budweiser if you have it), whiskey, and tequila, and drives a gigantic pickup truck. They all wear cowboy hats, carry lassoos and attend rodeos every evening.

** Many American sitcoms appear to be bland, safe, formulaic and cheesy family shows only aiming for the lowest and least offended common denominator. The jokes are predictable and center mostly around pop culture references - ''American'' pop culture that is. A laugh track will try to make clear that many of the awful jokes were meant to be funny. Expect a random appearance of a celebrity star at some point, always accompanied by huge audience applause, even if the actor is only famous in the USA itself. As always the series will be milked for what it's worth, long after having JumpingTheShark five seasons ago.

* When playing sports: all Americans will be playing baseball, American football or basketball, usually with some cheerleaders jumping on the side. This despite the fact that soccer is actually quite popular, especially among high schoolers.
* If you have to emphasize that you're in the United States, don't forget to reference the following clichés: the bald eagle, apple pie, baseball, basketball, American football, corn, (Thanksgiving) turkeys, skyscrapers, prairies, coyotes, canyons, the Star Spangled Banner, Mount Rushmore, The White House, the Statue of Liberty, the Hollywood sign, jazz music, country music, blues music, rap music, a fast food chain (preferably McDonalds), Coca Cola, [[AbsurdlyLongLimousine large cars]] driving over deserted roads, hamburgers, hot dogs, cowboys, Native Americans and MickeyMouse.

* In previous centuries TheSavageIndian was a common stereotype, fed by the 18th and 19th century Western idea that were basically violent and primitive savages who just needed to be wiped from the country they lived in for centuries. BuffaloBill 's Wild West shows and countless westerns have also cemented this image inside people's heads. The standard script depicts them as follows. When TheNativesAreRestless they will start pounding a large drum and dig up their tomahawks. After mounting their mustangs they attack every stagecoach, covered wagon or fortress in the neighborhood. They shoot arrows or throw tomahawks at their victims all while ululating by putting one hand in front of their mouth (something real life Native American tribes never did, but was introduced by Buffalo Bill's shows). When they capture "palefaces" they either scalp them right away or take them to their TipisAndTotempoles village first. There they will tie them up against their totem pole and dance around the pole afterwards. When that is over and done with they will take turns in throwing tomahawks at their tied up prisoner to test his courage. After that they will [[FlayingAlive scalp him of flay him alive]].

* UsefulNotes/{{California}}: Best known for two cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles, one theme park (Disneyland), and its beaches. The world knows the state especially for Hollywood and its Silicon Valley (essentially suburbs of Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively), HollywoodNerd, CorruptCorporateExecutive, actors and actresses (either famous arrogant douchebags or struggling obscure losers) and the annual Academy Awards. Also known for San Francisco's attractiveness for homosexuals, potheads, and hippies. People from the San Fernando Valley are all dumb bikini-clad blondes (ValleyGirl) or equally brainless surfer dudes who all speak a specific slang ("Like, totally radical, dude!") made universally popular by MTV's Spring Breaks.
** Oregon has an UnknownRival relationship with California. Apart from the standard Californian stereotypes, Oregonians stereotype Californians as rich, snobby carpetbaggers who can't drive properly and raise property taxes. Interestingly, the two states have roughly the same values politically, both being reliable blue states in any presidential election. Oregon would probably argue that it has the ''real'' environmentalists while California only has the slick poseur versions. [[Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian Splitters!]]

* Des Moines, Iowa: the reason why Bill Bryson left town and came to England, making a rep as a famous travel writer, journalist, and occassional TV presenter. Without actually saying so, he implies the cloying crushing boredom of his home town and native state was the biggest single prompt to him to get up and go as far away as possible.

** When in New York, make sure that you show the Statue Of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Broadway, Wall Street, The New York Stock Exchange, Times Square, the UN headquarters, Brooklyn Bridge or Film/WoodyAllen. Play "New York, New York" by Music/FrankSinatra on the soundtrack. Mention at least once it's "the city that never sleeps." Whenever the Statue of Liberty is shown it's often in a historical setting with immigrants arriving by ship in the harbour.
* [[HollywoodNewEngland Massachusetts]]: full of rich, pretentious [[WhiteAngloSaxonProtestant WASP]] [[IvyLeague Harvard]] graduates who hate Yale, or loud, obnoxious, drunken [[TheIrishDiaspora Irish-Americans]]... and sometimes both. Have a bit of an inferiority complex with New York, especially pertaining to sports teams. Dislikes EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE LIST (except the Irish or British, depending on social class), occasionally giving an exception to other New Englanders. Oh, and everyone in Salem is a witch. The MIT nerd is sometimes seen. The Boston Brahmins are often seen as being socially liberal, as they crusaded against slavery, drinking, and segregation, in addition to being the first state to legalize gay marriage. This is seen as genuine care, while California is thought of holding these views superficially (along with everything else).

* UsefulNotes/{{California}}: Best known for two cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles, one theme park (Disneyland), and its beaches. The world knows the state especially for Hollywood and its Silicon Valley (essentially suburbs of Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively), HollywoodNerd, CorruptCorporateExecutive, actors and actresses (either famous arrogant douchebags or struggling obscure losers) and the annual Academy Awards. Also known for San Francisco's attractiveness for homosexuals, potheads, and hippies. People from the San Fernando Valley are all dumb blondes (ValleyGirl) or equally brainless surfer dudes who all speak a specific slang made universally popular by MTV's Spring Breaks.

* Montana is generally portrayed as having nothing but [[CrazySurvivalist survivalists]], libertarian psychos, [[RightWingMilitiaFanatic militia nuts]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and national parks/forests]]. Within Montana, people from Missoula are pot smoking hippie pantheists, people from Bozeman just moved there from California/Colorado/Washington, and eastern Montana is a frozen wasteland full of Norwegian Lutherans ([[TakeThat in other words, North Dakota]]).

* South Dakota is Mount Rushmore. Period. If anyone remembers what state it's actually in. The rest of it is pine trees or wasteland. (In truth, eastern South Dakota has the overflow crowd of Norwegian Lutherans, for a lot of it.)

* Kentucky is known for bluegrass musicians, tobacco, horse racing, bourbon, college basketball, Fort Knox and fried chicken.

* Connecticut: Had you actually bothered to learn that [[NothingExcitingEverHappensHere Connecticut is a real place on the map]], you would probably think of its people as rich, snobby Rockefeller Republican Yalies who hate Harvard. Preppy style clothing is frighteningly common, especially among the baby boomer generation.

* Especially '''[[EverythingIsBigInTexas Texas]]'''. Howdy Y'all! Everyone in Texas is a gun toting, horse riding cowboy who eats nothing but gigantic steaks and huge bowls of chili, drinks nothing but gigantic servings of beer (Shiner, Lone Star, or Budweiser if you have it), whiskey, and tequila, and drives a gigantic pickup truck.

* Depending on what show you're watching, UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC is populated entirely by either (i) high-ranking administration officials and corrupt national politicians or (ii) drug kingpins and corrupt municipal politicians. Either way, it is obligatory for depictions of local geography to be [[HollywoodAtlas horribly wrong]], and everything is the [[WretchedHive exact opposite]] of whatever the writer considers to be good and just. Also, version (i) of D.C. has absolutely no long-term residents.

** Irish-Americans are also thought of with much suspicion in Great Britain, as a bunch of ignorant dolts with a chip on their shoulder about TheIrishQuestion whose dollars in donation to Northern Irish "charities" subsidized the most murderous Irish terrorist groups for [[TheTroubles nearly thirty years]] and kept them in bombs and bullets.

** Even though the U.S. isn't the only country where carrying firearms is legal, the image of the "gun-obsessed American" is more common than with other nationalities. As the documentary Film/BowlingForColumbine suggested many American TV shows and films scare their viewers so much that they will buy and do anything to feel safe. Though fear of violent threats is understandable some Americans are so paranoid that they carry a gun everywhere they go. Even when they hardly have to use it in everyday life they like to go out and shoot at stuff or animals in the wild or in secluded areas as a manner of target practice. Foreign media sometimes gives the impression that gun owners are mostly conservative Republican rednecks, while in reality even liberal minded and otherwise not that macho people own several guns or more for self defense. This "gun obsession" may also be popularized by numerous violent Hollywood action movies where the cool ones always have [[PhallicWeapon large guns]]. Similar to a typical Hollywood scenario American real life crime fighting is often presented as if you just have to hunt and shoot down "the bad guy" and every problem is solved.
*** In other countries people see Americans as having very odd, almost contradictive repressive attitudes towards children, youngsters and even adults. Letting them watch extremely bloody and gory violent films is OK. Owning guns is O.K. But the very sight of a bare breast of genitalia is enough to drive them berserk. Despite the fact that gun violence is more harmful than human nudity. And all the while American media desperately tries to suggest sexualisation, but always just shy away from actually showing it. It's almost tempting fate. Another example of this is the legal drinking age in the U.S.A. 21 years old compared to 16 years old in European countries. And again while being one of the biggest beer drinkers in the world who promote 'having a beer with your buddies' constantly in the media!

* Other stereotypical images are Indian women carrying their papoose ("child") in a bag on their back, [[IndianMaiden indian maidens and TheChiefsDaughter falling in love with a white prisoner thus saving his life. When Native Americans make friends they perform a BloodBrothers act. All communication is done by sending smoke signals to one another. When they travel it's usually by horse or by canoe.
* Apart from WildWest movies though you hardly see Native Americans depicted in popular culture anymore. They are almost a historical artefact, because they are so seldom depicted living in the modern age, except as proprietors of {{Native American Casino}}s. Those who aren't are poor, live in reservations, and are either alcoholics, diabetics, or both.

* ''Native'' American characters also show up a good deal in beat 'em ups, and are almost without exception presented as being [[InHarmonyWithNature nature-loving]], [[MagicalNativeAmerican spiritual]], calm, and dressed in [[BraidsBeadsAndBuckSkins the archetypal attire]]. Examples include the towering Thunder Hawk of ''Street [=Fighter=]'', Michelle and Julia from VideoGame/{{Tekken}} and Nightwolf from MortalKombat.

** Even though the U.S. isn't the only country where carrying firearms is legal, the image of the "gun-obsessed American" is more common than with other nationalities. As the documentary Film/BowlingForColumbine suggested many American TV shows and films scare their viewers so much that they will buy and do anything to feel safe. Though fear of violent threats is understandable some Americans are so paranoid that they carry a gun everywhere they go. Even when they hardly have to use it in everyday life they like to go out and shoot at stuff or animals in the wild or in secluded areas as a manner of target practice. Foreign media sometimes gives the impression that gun owners are mostly conservative Republican rednecks, while in reality even liberal minded and otherwise not that macho people own several guns or more for self defense. This "gun obsession" may also be popularized by numerous violent Hollywood action movies where the cool guys always have [[PhallicGun large guns]]. Similar to a typical Hollywood scenario American real life crime fighting is often presented as if you just have to hunt and shoot down "the bad guy" and every problem is solved.

* To many people (and not only Americans themselves) [[WeAllLiveInAmerica the United States are seen as the most important place in the world]]. Whenever the continent "America" is mentioned people are usually solely referring to the United States. If you can [[AmericanDream become rich and famous in the U.S. then you have really made it]]. For many Americans the idea of becoming rich, famous and successful is almost an obsession. In foreign fiction Americans always see everything "big!"

** The Grim Reaper complains in Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife: "Shut up! Shut up, you American. You always talk, you Americans, you talk and you talk and say 'Let me tell you something' and 'I just wanna say this'".

* A stereotype about Americans that has gotten under a lot of strain since the second half of the 20th century is that of the "heroic American". During the 19th and early 20th century Americans were depicted as cowboys who save the day, a stereotype fed by BuffaloBill, JohnWayne, RoyRogers and Creator/ClintEastwood. Powerful comic book superheroes like {{Superman}}, {{Batman}}, {{Popeye}} and {{Spider-man}} also fueled this image, fighting for [[{{Superman}} "truth, justice and the American way."]] Especially older generations tend to see Americans as noble individuals who take no nonsense, grab matters into their own hands, act quick and efficient and save everyone. This is also the idea most Americans (like to) have about themselves.

** Even though the U.S. isn't the only country where carrying firearms is legal, the image of the "gun-obsessed American" is more common than with other nationalities. This may also be attributed to numerous violent Hollywood action movies. Furthermore there's also a tendency in the U.S.A. to use the "hunt and shoot down the bad guy and every problem is solved" strategy, both in movies as in national and international fights against crime.

** In foreign fiction an American will always talk in a Texan brawl.

* Americans are generally painted as [[GlobalIgnorance completely ignorant of the rest of the world.]] American tourists may visit other countries, but are more interested in shopping and souvenirs than authentic culture, and are always rude and condescending to "the natives".

** ''Native'' American characters also show up a good deal in beat 'em ups, and are almost without exception presented as being [[InHarmonyWithNature nature-loving]], [[MagicalNativeAmerican spiritual]], calm, and dressed in [[BraidsBeadsAndBuckSkins the archetypal attire]]. Examples include the towering Thunder Hawk of ''Street [=Fighter=]'', Michelle and Julia from VideoGame/{{Tekken}} and Nightwolf from MortalKombat.

* In the 19th century and through most of the 20th century they were called "Indians" and seen as violent and primitive savages, usually attacking stagecoaches or fortresses in westerns. They will speak in a deep voice, saying "How" or "Ugh" and ululate while putting one hand in front of their mouth yelling "Oowoowoowoo" (something that Native American tribes never did, but was introduced by Buffalo Bill's Wild Wild West shows near the end of the 19th century and popularized by many western movies). Sometimes they are peaceful,living in TipisAndTotemPoles and smoking the peace pipe or hunting buffaloes, but usually they are attacking cowboys or white settlers with the intent to scalp them and/or tie them to their totem pole. They communicate by sending smoke signals and always use bows and arrows to attack others. In westerns they usually die easily and fall from their horses or fortress walls in dramatic poses. Their skin is described as being "red" and before the age of political correctness even white actors have portrayed Native Americans with red painted skin.
* A more positive depiction of Native Americans shows them as a NobleSavage or MagicalNativeAmerican, all of them [[BadassNative badass]]. This is the image that has emerged since political correctness arrived. Native Americans are now shown as [[PerfectPacifistPeople peaceful people]] who [[GreenAesop live in tune with nature]] and are the victims of the white man's greed and colonialism. See also: the CryingIndian.
* Native Americans are usually seen in movies set in the WildWest, but almost never in the modern age. Exceptions to this rule show them as proprietors of {{Native American Casino}}s. Those who aren't are poor, live in reservations, and are either alcoholics, diabetics, or both.

** This also explains why white Americans are often depicted as filthy rich cigar-smoking business men with too much money to spend. If you have to believe a lot of foreign fiction all American business people work in skyscrapers! Stories about Hollywood stars living in mansions with a swimming pool and a private jet also contribute to this idea.

** Consider the fact that Hollywood is the only place in the world where millions of dollars are used to make films and TV shows about braindead sensational or otherwise banal topics. And mostly because they can export it to the rest of the world, even if fails to make a profit in the U.S.

* If you have to emphasize that you're in the United States, don't forget to reference the following clichés: the bald eagle, apple pie, baseball, basketball, American football, corn, (Thanksgiving) turkeys, skyscrapers, prairies, coyotes, canyons, the Star Spangled Banner, Mount Rushmore, The White House, the Statue of Liberty, the Hollywood sign, jazz music, country music, blues music, rap music, a fast food chain (preferably McDonalds), CocaCola, OverlyLongCar s driving over deserted roads, hamburgers, hot dogs, cowboys, Native Americans and MickeyMouse.

* Illinois people are apparently either stuck-up, hypocritical, politically corrupt snobs with a [[TheWindyCity Chicaaagaa]] drawl, or they're murderous gangsters ([[AlCapone '20s]] or modern, take your pick). And they'll advertise the fact that they AbrahamLincoln lived there before his presidency constantly...

** It's also important to note that the American religious right doesn't exist in a vacuum. It is, to a large extent, a reactionary response to the increasing secularization of American society since the 1960s. Although the religious right has become a significant voting block, it's proved largely ineffectual at its goal of reversing secularization (abortion remains legal, school prayer remains abolished, etc.), which only serves to make it more and more fanatical.

* Outside the USA many people have the impression that all Americans are devoutly obsessed with God and Jesus and will do anything to force their conservative ideals on others. Many foreign news casts and documentaries often focus on the most extreme pious and God fearing fundamentalists. Of course, since the U.S.A. didn't have a health care system like many other democratic nations had, being part of a religious community often used to be the only way to get aid from your local neighborhood during sour times.

** Several outdated traditions or already debunked, but permissive urban legends about these people will also be shown. For instance, they will be kissing/greeting one another by rubbing their noses against each other. They supposedly have [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo_words_for_snow Wikipedia: Eskimo words for snow an unusually large number of words for snow, which is simply untrue]]. Whenever one of their people is terminally ill or very hold they will put him or her in a canoe and sent him off unto the wild ocean to die on ice floes.

* '''Inuit''' or Eskimo people always wear parkas, carve trinkets, live in igloos, go fishing with a harpoon, travel by sled and huskies and eat cod-liver oil. They are often believed to have an unusually large number of words for snow. (See:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo_words_for_snow Wikipedia: Eskimo words for snow]]). This is however an urban legend. Eskimoes are sometimes shown rubbing each other's noses together as some sort of greeting ritual (Eskimo kissing). They're also often depicted surrounded by polar bears, seals, walruses and inaccurately penguins. [[PolarBearsAndPenguins Penguins only live on the South Pole and not on the North Pole.]] Sometimes Eskimos themselves are depicted living on the South Pole, which is again wrong for the same reason.
* The men are usually called Nanook in reference to the famous documentary ''Film/NanookOfTheNorth''. [[FauxDocumentary The documentary was heavily fictionalized]] and the name an invention: the man was actually called Allakariallak.
* And, of course, SantaClaus lives there!

* Canadians are often depicted as Mounties, [[IceHockey hockey]] players or wildlife hunters. They ride to school or work on polar bears and live in igloos.
* They are obsessed with maple leaves and maple syrup.

* Almost inevitably the Canadian will be white, and if they aren't French will have English or Scottish family name.
* In many European and Asian views, Canadians tend to be confused as Americans.

* The men are usually called Nanook in reference to the famous documentary NanookOfTheNorth. [[FauxDocumentary The documentary was heavily fictionalized]] and the name an invention: the man was actually called Allakariallak.

* {{Hawaii}}: Pretty girls with long black hair, coconut bras and grass skirts who enjoy [[HulasAndLuaus hula dancing]] and put flower garlands ("leis") over every tourist's shoulders. The island has a very relaxed atmosphere with parties ("luaus") and people drinking soft drinks while wearing [[HawaiianShirtedTourist Hawaiian shirts]], surfing and playing the ukelele. There are also a lot of pineapples, Tiki statues and pigs roasted at the beaches. And of course, [[AlohaHawaii the word "Aloha" most be mentioned or sung at least once!]].

* {{Hawaii}}: pretty girls with long black hair and grass skirts who enjoy hula dancing and put flower garlands ("leis") over every tourist's shoulders. The island has a very relaxed atmosphere with parties ("luas") and people drinking soft drinks while wearing Hawaiian shirts. And of course, the word "Aloha" most be mentioned or sung at least once!

* To many people (and not only Americans themselves) [[WeAllLiveInAmerica the United States are seen as the most important place in the world]]. Whenever the continent "America" is mentioned people are usually solely referring to the United States. If you can [[AmericanDream become rich and famous in the U.S. then you have really made it]]. For many Americans the idea of becoming rich, famous and successful is almost an obsession.

** Americans are often seen as people who vocally try to defend their own rights, according to what they claim is in the constitution.

** Thanks to the numerous WildWest legends and movie westerns the country is still seen as AmericansAreCowboys. If a character in foreign fiction is depicted as being American, he is either a cowboy or at least wearing a cowboy hat. Even though the U.S. isn't the only country where carrying firearms is legal, the image of the "gun-obsessed American" is more common than with other nationalities. This may also be attributed to numerous violent Hollywood action movies. Furthermore there's also a tendency in the U.S.A. to use the "hunt and shoot down the bad guy and every problem is solved" strategy, both in movies as in national and international fights against crime.

* Outside the USA many people have the impression that all Americans are devoutly obsessed with God and Jesus and will do anything to force their conservative ideals on others. Many foreign news casts and documentaries often focus on the most extreme pious and God fearing fundamentalists. Of course, since the U.S.A. didn't have a health care system like many other democratic nations had, being part of a religious community often used to be the only way to get aid from your local neighborhood during sour times.

* If you have to emphasize that you're in the United States, don't forget to reference the following clichés: the bald eagle, apple pie, baseball, basketball, American football, corn, (Thanksgiving) turkeys, skyscrapers, the Star Spangled Banner, Mount Rushmore, The White House, the Statue of Liberty, the Hollywood sign, jazz music, country music, blues music, rap music, a fast food chain (preferably McDonalds), CocaCola, hamburgers, hot dogs, cowboys, Native Americans and MickeyMouse.

* Illinois people are apparently either stuck-up, hypocritical, politically corrupt snobs with a [[TheWindyCity Chicaaagaa]] drawl, or they're murderous gangsters ([[AlCapone '20s]] or modern, take your pick).

* People from Tennessee are either hillbillies who play banjos and [[IncestIsRelative sleep with their cousins]], typical fat DeepSouth rednecks, or murderous inner-city thugs who will beat you up, steal your wallet, and shank you with a knife if they think you might have more than $5 on you. The hillbillies are all on meth, the rednecks are all drunk, and the gangstas guzzle codeine cough syrup by the quart. The exception is Nashville, which is populated entirely with country musicians.

* UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}. 98% of Americans think Florida's history began with the invention of air conditioning, the Panhandle is the only part of the state that is possibly south of the Mason-Dixon line, {{Miami}}-Dade is part of Cuba, not the United States, and the state's population doubles the day the first snowflake falls north of the Mason-Dixon line. Also, ask more than 99% of Americans what the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in North America is, and the answer will not be St. Augustine. In fact, the only thing Florida is known for worldwide is Disney World and alligators.

** When in New York, make sure that you show the Statue Of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park. Whenever the Statue of Liberty is shown it's often in a historical setting with immigrants arriving by ship in the harbour.

* Anyone from the South is an uneducated redneck/trailer trash, everyone has double names (Billy Bob, Mary Lou, etc.) or Biblical names (Jebediah, Ezekiel), everyone is super religious, inbreeding is rampant, people enjoy shooting at anything that moves, drinking alcohol from a jug while sitting in a rocking chair and the CivilRightsMovement never happened. Also see the 2000 movie ''OBrotherWhereArtThou'', where most of the ancient clichés are thrown together: black jazz and blues artists, country yokels, the Ku Klux Klan, cotton fields, chain gangs,...
* Louisiana is a subset of the Georgia/Alabama/Mississippi Deliverance country, except everybody speaks French patois. And there's [[TheBigEasy New Orleans]]. New Orleans is drunk and debauched (or was destroyed by hurricane Katrina) and will mostly be filled with jazz bands and sleazy people. Occasionally a traditional Mississippi river boat will pass by.