Why are people from the north are called Yankees?

The term "Yankee" originally referred to people from New England, particularly during the American Revolutionary War. It later came to be used more broadly to describe Northern Americans, especially those from the Union states during the Civil War. The exact origin of the term is unclear, but it may have derived from Dutch names like "Janke" or "Jan," which were used to refer to English settlers in the 17th century. Today, "Yankee" can also evoke a sense of regional pride for many people from the northern United States.