How did the South get the name Dixie?
In the 1800s, New Orleans enjoyed an economic boom. Business expanded many folds. Steamboats lined up the river port for miles and miles while the ports’ space were so filled up to its capacity that no room was available for the cargoes waiting to be unloaded from the ships. However, at that time, the local Creoles and the new comers Americans remained segregated. They won’t mix socially but would gladly do business. Canal Street was the demarcation line and neutral ground for the Creole and American keel boatmen. The American used the prevailing U.S. currency, dollar bill, while the Creole used French money. So, on the up river side, American money was used, while down river, French currency was used. Each side would not accept the currency of the other. A merchant had to change money when he crossed Canal Street. Needless to say, this created a lot of inconvenience, and in today’s terminology, trade barrier. Well, some enterprising banker from Citizen Bank found an ingenious solution
