Hawk1981
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- Apr 1, 2020
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Revolution swept across Europe in 1848. In the German speaking states a series of uprisings in Vienna, Berlin, Baden and Southwest Germany by organized groups hoped to unify the German states under a liberal, democratic, constitutional government. Initially the uprising saw some success with the German princes working with the rebels to establish a national assembly to begin discussions about establishing a constitution for a unified Germany. But the process stalled and after a few months fell apart. Many of the disillusioned revolutionaries facing persecution and arrest in the German states decided to move to America and have become known as the “forty-eighters” after the 1848 revolutions.
Estimates of up to 10,000 German speaking immigrants came to the United States by 1850, with an additional 950,000 immigrating in the following ten years. Unlike other groups of immigrants, the German “forty-eighters” were generally well educated and many came with sufficient funds to establish themselves in business and purchase property. Many Germans also brought with them a tradition of participation in liberal politics, idealism and activism.
The Germans settled in communities across the US and were concentrated in the central and upper mid-west, especially in and near Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and communities along the Mississippi River. Smaller communities also concentrated around New Orleans, St Louis and in the Texas Hill Country near Fredericksburg.
German settlers established agricultural communities, developed beer and wine industries and were very active in publishing. The number of German newspapers in the US doubled to 150 from 1849 to the later-1850s.
The Germans quickly became active in American politics, usually favoring 'Free-soil' and anti-slavery candidates who were not part of the "Know Nothing" nativist movement. Republican candidates in the mid-west made a special effort to win over the well-organized German voters. As an example, Abraham Lincoln campaigned vigorously for German support in Illinois and the neighboring states for Republican candidates, and by invitation spoke to German audiences in communities in Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Ohio besides those in Illinois. The German support was an important component to Lincoln winning the Republican nomination for President in 1860. Lincoln's respect for the German voters led him to purchase a German language newspaper in Illinois that was committed to supporting Republican policies and candidates.
German born Americans were active in their support of the Union during the Civil War, eventually comprising about 10 percent of the Union Army. German volunteers in St Louis prevented Confederate forces from seizing the arsenal at St Louis at the start of the war. The Germans in Texas voted decisively against that state's secession from the Union in 1861.
After the Civil War German immigration to the US remained at high levels through the rest of the century. Part of the “forty-eighters” legacy included advancing America's cultural and intellectual development as well as political participation and activism.
Estimates of up to 10,000 German speaking immigrants came to the United States by 1850, with an additional 950,000 immigrating in the following ten years. Unlike other groups of immigrants, the German “forty-eighters” were generally well educated and many came with sufficient funds to establish themselves in business and purchase property. Many Germans also brought with them a tradition of participation in liberal politics, idealism and activism.
The Germans settled in communities across the US and were concentrated in the central and upper mid-west, especially in and near Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and communities along the Mississippi River. Smaller communities also concentrated around New Orleans, St Louis and in the Texas Hill Country near Fredericksburg.
German settlers established agricultural communities, developed beer and wine industries and were very active in publishing. The number of German newspapers in the US doubled to 150 from 1849 to the later-1850s.
The Germans quickly became active in American politics, usually favoring 'Free-soil' and anti-slavery candidates who were not part of the "Know Nothing" nativist movement. Republican candidates in the mid-west made a special effort to win over the well-organized German voters. As an example, Abraham Lincoln campaigned vigorously for German support in Illinois and the neighboring states for Republican candidates, and by invitation spoke to German audiences in communities in Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Ohio besides those in Illinois. The German support was an important component to Lincoln winning the Republican nomination for President in 1860. Lincoln's respect for the German voters led him to purchase a German language newspaper in Illinois that was committed to supporting Republican policies and candidates.
German born Americans were active in their support of the Union during the Civil War, eventually comprising about 10 percent of the Union Army. German volunteers in St Louis prevented Confederate forces from seizing the arsenal at St Louis at the start of the war. The Germans in Texas voted decisively against that state's secession from the Union in 1861.
After the Civil War German immigration to the US remained at high levels through the rest of the century. Part of the “forty-eighters” legacy included advancing America's cultural and intellectual development as well as political participation and activism.
