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2007-03-05 14:49:39 · 7 answers · asked by charming_imogen 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
What I mean was that the Irish for example, had the potato famine and many other reasons at that time that made many Irish to seek america...I was just wondering if there was a reason like that for the Germans? Like were many escaping from something?
2007-03-05 15:01:36 · update #1
I know my German ancestors came because of cheap land in the Midwest (specifically Nebraska and Kansas). Germany has a similar climate as the Great Plains. In Germany, with land segments becoming continually smaller, as well as other farming problems, the US was the obvious choice.
Factory work also attracted many.. People could find work (German, English, French, etc) and factories would recruit from specific countries depending on who they had already.
Chain migration also played a role. A family or family member would move, mail a letter back to the home country saying how great things were, and more would decide to migrate.
2007-03-05 15:08:42 · answer #1 · answered by Lee Esi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The immigration into the colonies had its largest influx during the early 1700s....Part of the reason was to get away from the continual "religious" wars being fought there.
Additionally, the King of England, George II, spoke German only and did much to encourage immigration by Germans to the colonies. It was so many that if it had not been for Ben Franklin, German would have been adopted as the language for the U.S.
2007-03-06 14:36:54 · answer #2 · answered by scotishbob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Germans came before the Revolution and liked it here, but the first real influx came after the Revolution. You see the British used Hessian mercenaries during the Revolution. Those soldiers saw the beauty of America and the opportunities. I figure more than a few went back to Germany to their home province and talked about where they should be.
A similar influx happened after WWI and again before WWII and yet again AFTER WWII. German soldiers who were prisoners in the US went home and got their families. I know my own hometown had seven or eight German families arrive in the five years after the war. The soldiers themselves had worked on ranches during the war and had been bitten by the wonders of Wyoming.
2007-03-05 23:28:36 · answer #3 · answered by loryntoo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps the most important factor was the failure of the revolutions of 1848. Massive outmigration from the German lands in the wake of the apparent shutting off of serious political and thus economic reform. Add to this Germany's lagging behind in the industrial revolution and the dislocations to its economy caused by uneven industrialization.
2007-03-06 00:06:30 · answer #4 · answered by CanProf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a purveyor of German Import goods (dirndls, lederhosen, bier steins & so much more, I hope more and more come!)
Plus I am engaged to a German citizen.
I think truly however there was a large migration of europeans to the USA, not just Germans. However after the 20's you would think many Germans who were able and unwilling to be part of the regime of the day, migrated to leave the situation. wow i wish i could leave the name of our company . dang.
Just a WAG.
2007-03-05 22:55:56 · answer #5 · answered by batwanda 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think they went after all the farmland. At least in South Central Pa.
2007-03-05 22:58:28 · answer #6 · answered by Hermione G 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because it is a free county and they can live here as they pleased!!
What a dumb question!!
2007-03-05 22:55:49 · answer #7 · answered by Dont Ask 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋