[Albion Wilde]

The term [cracker] comes from the fact that all we had to live on was hardtack bread, otherwise known as a cracker.

It's actually from a Scottish word, craic, originally used by the white Scotch-Irish population to mean "talk" or "yak." Here is a quote from the web site Scottish Hillbillies and Rednecks:

"..."craic" (Crack) is a term still used in Scotland and Ireland to describe "talking", chat or conversation in a social sense ("Let’s go down to the pub and have a craic"; "what's the craic"). The term, first used to describe a southerner of Ulster-Scottish background, later became a nickname for any white southerner, especially those who were uneducated."

Here's another resource: Cracker Culture: Celtic Ways in the Old South

[stainlessbanner]

I have a link on my profile page to this one: "What's a Cracker?"

FL Cracker Houses becoming a popular architecture: Florida 'Cracker' Becomes Hot at Upscale Developments [FR]

[higgmeister]

I don't believe the etymology in your link. That link is from Britain and appears to take credit for influence in America to offset the lack of influence where it counts.

In any event the perpetuation of the word would not have continued without a more common understanding of it's usage.

It also says Redneck means Presbyterian dissenter.

The real meaning of Redneck is a dirt poor farmer that is out in the fields all the livelong day until his neck is burned so red that Angels cry and the Devil takes credit.