Immigration The German Experience
Where is Germany?
This is Germany
Images of Germany
Why did People Decide to Leave Germany? Push Factors The first Germans came for religious freedom 1700s- Foreign armies were attacking Germany and many people wanted to live in a safe place
1800s- Factories started using machines and many people had lost their jobs. Farmers had poor harvests, too. 1930s and 1940s- Many Germans left to escape Adolf Hitler’s Nazi government to live in a safe place. Why did People Decide to Leave Germany? Push Factors
Why Choose America? America offered religious freedom America was safe, away from the wars in Europe America is the “Land of Opportunity” with jobs for everyone America had plenty of unsettled land for farming
Getting to America Early immigration- sailing ships Long voyage-months Crowded conditions Sickness By steamships Shorter voyage- 2 or 3 weeks Safer conditions
What America Was Like for German Immigrants Germans were one of the early immigrant groups to arrive in the US No major difficulties in settling here Many Germans worked as farmers German immigrants worked as bakers, nurses, blacksmiths, etc.
What America Was Like for German Immigrants German immigrants arrived on the east coast of America They moved to cities and town where other Germans were already living in the Midwest and West. They were pioneers.
Where did German Immigrants tend to settle among the 1 st European groups to set foot in North America helped establish Jamestown settlement in 1608 drawn to America by prospect of inexpensive land, many settled in PA, MD, NC & SC, GA, and along the river valleys of NY and Ohio during w. expansion of the U.S. this immigrant group traveled west upon reaching CA, they were among the 1 st to cultivate oranges
What did this group contribute to American Culture newspapers! A German newspaper in the colonies was the 1 st to break the news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in cornerstone of German culture in America centered around success of German publishing. They brought the “movable type” to the Americas. Most cities and large towns supported by at least one German newspaper, broadside, or almanac by the time of the American Revolution. military traditions! Significant contributions to Revolutionary America- forming volunteer militias, helping to organize and drill volunteers of the Continental Army - General Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuban (served under G. Washington) created a manual of military regulations that formed the basis of the manual for drill and organization used today by the U.S. Army.
What did this group contribute to American culture Agriculture! Among the 1 st to cultivate oranges in CA. 19 th Century Industrialization! Employed as bakers, carpenters, needle trades, and many found work in factories founded by German American Industrialists. - H.J. Heinz (food), Studebaker & Chrystler (cars), Rockefeller (petroleum) Introduced- sauerkraut (food), the tuba (instrument), light fizzy beer (beverage) Education! German immigrants launched the 1 st kindergarten in America and introduces P.E. and vocational education into American schools. Recreation! Creation of facilities like picnic grounds, sports clubs, concert halls, bowling alleys, and playgrounds.