German Immigration to the United States
When and Why?
Immigration to the United States had been happening since the 1600s. Germans have been an important part of American history. Germans were at Jamestown, they produced some of the earliest Tobacco Plantations, and Peter Minuit bought the island of Manhattan from the Native Americans in 1626 for $24. Before the mid 1800s, the primary reason to migrate to the United States was religious, as was the case with religious groups like Mennonites and Quakers. These migrations, while substantial, aren't necessarily considered "mass migrations." It wasn't until the mid 1800s that massive amounts of Germans were moving to the United States. During this time period, over 1,301,000 Germans immigrated to the United States. The migration began in the 1830s, but crescendoed in the 1850s (950,000 immigrants), and again in the 1880s (almost 1.5 million immigrants) (German Immigration).
There are many reasons why Germans immigrated to the U.S. at these time periods. Germany was struggling financially after the Napoleonic wars and many people had to divide farm land and/or couldn't find jobs. Germany was also struck by the Potato Famine in the 1840s. Many people left Germany to avoid starving to death. There were also political and religious reasons for leaving Germany during this era (Waves of German Immigration).
One of the most notable large waves of immigration for the German population happened in 1848. Germany experienced a revolution which failed in 1848. After it ended, hundreds of thousands of Germans fled to the United States. This group of people is known as "The Forty-Eighters" (German-American History).
Immigration to the United States had been happening since the 1600s. Germans have been an important part of American history. Germans were at Jamestown, they produced some of the earliest Tobacco Plantations, and Peter Minuit bought the island of Manhattan from the Native Americans in 1626 for $24. Before the mid 1800s, the primary reason to migrate to the United States was religious, as was the case with religious groups like Mennonites and Quakers. These migrations, while substantial, aren't necessarily considered "mass migrations." It wasn't until the mid 1800s that massive amounts of Germans were moving to the United States. During this time period, over 1,301,000 Germans immigrated to the United States. The migration began in the 1830s, but crescendoed in the 1850s (950,000 immigrants), and again in the 1880s (almost 1.5 million immigrants) (German Immigration).
There are many reasons why Germans immigrated to the U.S. at these time periods. Germany was struggling financially after the Napoleonic wars and many people had to divide farm land and/or couldn't find jobs. Germany was also struck by the Potato Famine in the 1840s. Many people left Germany to avoid starving to death. There were also political and religious reasons for leaving Germany during this era (Waves of German Immigration).
One of the most notable large waves of immigration for the German population happened in 1848. Germany experienced a revolution which failed in 1848. After it ended, hundreds of thousands of Germans fled to the United States. This group of people is known as "The Forty-Eighters" (German-American History).
Where?
This is a map of where people of foreign ancestry have settled in the United States. German settlements are in light blue. It is very obvious that Germans are very wide spread and are all over the country.
For various reasons such as solidarity, farming, railroad, and other prosperous industries, German Immigrants densely populated some specific areas. Some of the main places Germans settled in the United States are as follows (German Immigration) (Waves of German Immigrants):
This is a map of where people of foreign ancestry have settled in the United States. German settlements are in light blue. It is very obvious that Germans are very wide spread and are all over the country.
For various reasons such as solidarity, farming, railroad, and other prosperous industries, German Immigrants densely populated some specific areas. Some of the main places Germans settled in the United States are as follows (German Immigration) (Waves of German Immigrants):
- New York (specifically New York City)
- Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Dutch community)
- "The German Belt" of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Iowa (Waves of German Immigration).
- "The German Triangle" Which was three cities (St. Louis, St. Paul, and Cincinnati) that identified a German settlement pattern. This triangle surrounded and included cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Davenport where Germans also often settled (Waves of German Immigration).
- Many German Immigrants arrived in New Orleans. Some settled there, but many followed the cotton trade up the Mississippi River and ended up in states along the way, including Ohio (Waves of German Immigration).
Citations:
German-American History. (n.d.). German-American National Congress. May 27, 2013. From
http://www.delawaresaengerbund.org/GermanAmericanHistory/PDF/AmericasGermanHeritage1.pdf
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
Waves of German Immigrants. Energy of a Nation: Immigration Resources. May 27, 2013. From
http://www.energyofanation.org/4e667f77-e302-4c1a-9d2e-178a0ca31a32.html?nodeid=
Image Locations:
*Drawing of Immigrants and Statue of Liberty- http://beaumontfamilyhistory.org/In%20Depth/Crossing%20the%20Atlantic.htm
*Map of foreign settlements- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries-by-County.jpg
German-American History. (n.d.). German-American National Congress. May 27, 2013. From
http://www.delawaresaengerbund.org/GermanAmericanHistory/PDF/AmericasGermanHeritage1.pdf
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
Waves of German Immigrants. Energy of a Nation: Immigration Resources. May 27, 2013. From
http://www.energyofanation.org/4e667f77-e302-4c1a-9d2e-178a0ca31a32.html?nodeid=
Image Locations:
*Drawing of Immigrants and Statue of Liberty- http://beaumontfamilyhistory.org/In%20Depth/Crossing%20the%20Atlantic.htm
*Map of foreign settlements- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries-by-County.jpg