Adapting to American Life
Challenges for German-Americans
Anti German-American Groups
In the 1840s, there was a group called The "Know Nothing" were were native born Americans who targeted any foreign born persons, Catholics, and anyone else non-native. Their main agenda was to restrict the rights of groups like German-Americans (German Immigration). Another surge of hatred toward German Americans sprang up during WWI and WWII. German music and literature was boycotted and German-Americans were viciously attacked for saying or doing anything remotely German (German Immigration). While the wars have passed and extremist groups like this don't exist in such strength today, German-Americans may encounter some ethnic conflicts with some hateful Americans.
Anti German-American Groups
In the 1840s, there was a group called The "Know Nothing" were were native born Americans who targeted any foreign born persons, Catholics, and anyone else non-native. Their main agenda was to restrict the rights of groups like German-Americans (German Immigration). Another surge of hatred toward German Americans sprang up during WWI and WWII. German music and literature was boycotted and German-Americans were viciously attacked for saying or doing anything remotely German (German Immigration). While the wars have passed and extremist groups like this don't exist in such strength today, German-Americans may encounter some ethnic conflicts with some hateful Americans.
Differences in Culture
As Henning noted on the previous Page, the school system is different. The graphic on the right shows how the education system works in Germany (Case). In Germany there is a tracking system, where in American public schools, officially there is no tracking. If a student is placed into Hauptschule, he is not required to take any exams to graduate. A challenge an American family might face is the necessity in America to be tested every year beginning in grade 3. While some states in the U.S. might have different rules on testing, the examinations are still done (Case). Some American norms are different than the German ones. As noted in the German Societal Norms section of this website, Germans are very punctual (Germany). German families may have to adjust to the sometimes slower American life. However, in many situations this may work to their advantage. Germans also may have difficulty catching on to American innuendos and slang and may find some things (like moving your index finger in a circular motion next to your head) Americans innocently do as offensive and vice versa (Germany). |
Citations
Case, Holly. (n.d). German and American Schools. University of Michigan. May 27, 2013. From
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/case.356/home
Germany. (n.d.) Culture Crossing. May 27, 2013. From
http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=27&CID=79.
German Immigration. U.S. Immigration and Migration Reference Library. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker, et al. Vol. 1: Vol. 1:
Almanac. Detroit: UXL, 2004. 221-246. U.S. History In Context. Web. 27 May 2013. From
http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/uhic/ReferenceDetailsPage
/ReferenceDetailsWindow?zid=a1bdd01f59dacbddab4e6bea68b2a54e&action=2&catId=&
documentId=GALE|CX3436800018&userGroupName=gray02935&jsid=f6ef0c62ec142c368bfc2a12c90b49ea
Image Locations:
*Anti-German art- http://cannonexplosions.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html
*German education system chart- http://sitemaker.umich.edu/case.356/school_types
Case, Holly. (n.d). German and American Schools. University of Michigan. May 27, 2013. From
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/case.356/home
Germany. (n.d.) Culture Crossing. May 27, 2013. From
http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=27&CID=79.
German Immigration. U.S. Immigration and Migration Reference Library. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker, et al. Vol. 1: Vol. 1:
Almanac. Detroit: UXL, 2004. 221-246. U.S. History In Context. Web. 27 May 2013. From
http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/uhic/ReferenceDetailsPage
/ReferenceDetailsWindow?zid=a1bdd01f59dacbddab4e6bea68b2a54e&action=2&catId=&
documentId=GALE|CX3436800018&userGroupName=gray02935&jsid=f6ef0c62ec142c368bfc2a12c90b49ea
Image Locations:
*Anti-German art- http://cannonexplosions.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html
*German education system chart- http://sitemaker.umich.edu/case.356/school_types