Greetings,

To the best of my knowledge, the term was indeed negative and was used in the song by British regulars to mock colonial troops as they drilled.  When the colonials began to get the best of the Redcoats, the patriots began to use it more in a proud way, sort of mocking the mockery.

Or so I remember from lectures.

BTW, a much belated thank you to everyone who offered me leads on General Slocum.

Brian Melton
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-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thu Jun 15 02:40:55 PDT 2000
Subject: Origin of the term Yankee?

>Received this information from a list and am curious what anyone
>knows about this.  Also, how was the song Yankee Doodle used
>at Saratoga?  Were the words, as known today, used then? This
>is the information I was given:
>
>The name Yankee, as it applies to people of the north, is derived
>from the phrase John Cheese, pronounced with a German accent
>Yon Kees. this was a derrogatory term directed at German American
>Dairy farmers bringing their cheeses and other dairy products to Market.
>
>Ruth Ann Messick
>Saratoga Springs, NY
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