Germans began immigrating to America in 1709. The reasons were not the same as with other countries. According to Immigration a journey
Germans began immigrating to America in 1709. The reasons were not the same as with other countries. According to Immigration a journey to America the reasons were quite different. “Unlike most immigrants, German immigrants did not immigrate for political reasons. In fact, armies of various nationalities were repeatedly attacking the country. Inhabitants of the southwestern part, especially, were constantly robbed and tortured. Entire villages were often burnt down and their inhabitants killed.”
Wagner, A. lists many factors for why the Germans immigrated to America. Some of those are poverty, persecution by their government, and overcrowded population growth. One of the first German ships to come to America was the Concord. Wagner, A. states:
The development of a settlement by Germans immigrating to America began already in the 17th Century. The pioneer Francis Daniel Pastorius, born in Sommerhausen (near Wuerzburg), together with 13 Mennonites & Quaker families from Krefeld, was the first German immigrant to enter and set foot in the North American Continent.
Did the group face prejudice, segregation, racism or any combination of the three? Throughout my research I found no evidence until World War I where German immigrants faced prejudice, segregation, or racism when coming to America. According to two sources researched, Wagner, A, and Immigration a journey to America, once German immigrants came into America they sought out farmlands and blended in with the population. The Germans were easily accepted as ‘white’ and they kept to themselves. Throughout America ‘Little Germanys” were popping up for those Germans who wanted to remain close to others of their ethnicity but most were content to live the farm life.
Germans were not subject to prejudices until the start of World War I. Then America’s...