Germans began coming to America before the revolution.. . . They had an instrumental part in the formation and shaping of the United States of America. Additional immigration occurred in large part during the middle of the twentieth Century for various reason. Their were many contributions made then and today to the America we know today.
Reasons Germans Came To America
1) - Economic conditions in the German states and a desire for improvement brought Germans to America. . . . There were many wealthy who also immigrated. It was told that it was easier to increase wealth and that there was vast opportunity.
2) Religious freedom brought many to America. The Confessional Lutherans were persecuted. Many liberal-minded Germans travelled to the midwest. The midwest also received many of Germany's most enthusiastic conservatives. In 1817 King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia merged the Lutheran and Reformed churches in Prussia. This was institued by the rulers of additional German states. The methods were mild, but it caused entire congregations to come to America in order that they could pursue their religion in a free state.
3) Authoritarian German government caused many Germans to leave their native country. Princes headed the governments of German states. They would not honor democratic constitutions. Revolutions ensued thoughout German states during 1848. Many independent minded Germans believed change in their Fatherland was not forthcoming at the time.
4) Long military service in Germany was another primary cause for the immigration to America. German young men were compelled to serve up to five years in the army for the handsome sum of four cents a day through the first half of the the 20th Century. Hardships existed for those who were not officers. Peasants resorted to methods such as inflicting harm to themselves in order to disqualify themselves from prolonged military service. Examples such as cutting off a finger or toe were existant. Other young men simply left home for a new land to enjoy a life with more freedom in America.
Germans Settled In America
Germans formed the largest non-English-speaking community in colonial North America. More than 100,000 Germans migrated to the English colonies in North America. Pennsylvania was the primary settlement for Germans. Others settled in New York, Maryland, Virginia, North & South Carolina, and Georgia.
German Immigration Timetable
1680-1850
1682 William Penn traveled throughout Germany, inviting members of persecuted sects, to Philadelphia, where they could worship freely.
1683 Francis Daniel Pastorius, of Frankfort, and his Mennonite followers, arrived in Philadelphia and founded Germantown, Pennsylvania. William Rittenhouse, built the first American paper mill in Germantown.
1709-1710 England shipped Palatine residents of Germany, to the New York Colony to build ships for their Royal Navy, and to guard the frontier against the French.
By 1710 The Hudson Valley (NY) had nearly three thousand, Palatine settlers. Additionally 650 Palatines, settled at New Bern, North Carolina.
1719 Philadelphia received nearly seven thousand Palenites who settled throughout the Pennsylvania farm country.
1720 Two thousand Germans disembarked annually at ports along the Delaware River.
1727 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the main entry point for German immigrants. German population reached twnety thousand..
1728 German's settled into Frederick, Carroll, & Washington Counties of Maryland.
1729 They founded Baltimore, Maryland.
1734-1744 Over twleve thousand Swiss-Germans emigrated to America and founded the southern colonies of Georgia and S. Carolina.
1745 Pennsylvania's German populations was over forty five thousand.
Maryland founded by Jonathan Hager founded Hagerstown, Maryland. The colonists founded Frederick.
1749 German immigration of over six thousand occurred throughout the American colonies.
1750 Germans had settlements along the back country from the Mohawk Valley in New York, down south to Savannah, Georgia.
1755 They founded the Zion Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
Maryland and Pennsylvania Germans assisted in the final part of the French and Indian War contributing horses and wagons to carry General James Braddock's expedition inland.
1776 By the time of the American Revolution there were 110,000 Germans in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia,in Maryland, South Carolina, in New Jersey, in North Carolina, Georgia respectively..
British allegiance Hessian soldiers were lured to join America's Continental Army, with the promise of citizenship and 50 acres of land. Twelve thousand Hession soldiers remained in America after aiding in the successful War of Independence.
1778 George Washington appointed General Frederick Wilhelm Steuben the position of Inspector General of Revolutionary Army. Fought in a number of engagements during the war and remained in the U.S. at its conclusion.
1781 Stueben established he regimental standard after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
1783 The German Society of Maryland was founded to aid German and Swiss immigrants.
1807 German immigration continued west into the central United States -- The Germans settled into Great Lakes region and the prairie states.
1828 German Jews began a large exodus to America, when discriminatory laws were passed in the German states of Bavaria and Wurtemberg.