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'''German Americans''' are the largest ethnic group in the United States, with over 45 million people, comprising over a fourth of the white population.<ref>That is, American of German descent outnumber both African Americans and [[Latinos]].</ref>  They are concentrated in the Midwest, and in eastern metropolitan areas. They comprise numerous different groups, all of whom arrived speaking German. Some came in search of religious or political freedom, others for economic opportunities greater than those in Germany, and others simply for the chance to start afresh in the New World. Today California and Pennsylvania have the largest populations of German descent, with over six million Germans residing in the two states alone. The Midwest has the largest proportion of German Americans, with the group dominant in many rural areas. It is one of the two or three largest groups in many major metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago, Baltimore and St. Louis.  The rural Midwest from Indiana through the Dakotas has a large german population.

'''German Americans''' are the largest ethnic group in the United States, with over 45 million people, comprising over a fourth of the white population.<ref>That is, American of German descent outnumber both African Americans and [[Latinos]].</ref>  They are concentrated in the Midwest, and in eastern metropolitan areas. They comprise numerous different groups, all of whom arrived speaking German. Some came in search of religious or political freedom, others for economic opportunities greater than those in Germany, and others simply for the chance to start afresh in the New World. Today California and Pennsylvania have the largest populations of German descent, with over six million Germans residing in the two states alone. The Midwest has the largest proportion of German Americans, with the group dominant in many rural areas. It is one of the two or three largest groups in many major metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago, Baltimore and St. Louis.  The rural Midwest from Indiana through the Dakotas has a large German population.

[[File:German1910.jpg|thumb|420px|Germania in 1910]]

[[File:German1910.jpg|thumb|420px|Germania in 1910]]

The 100,000 Germans who came in the colonial era became farmers, with centers of settlement in southeastern Pennsylvania (where they are called "Pennsylvania Dutch"), upstate New York, and central North Carolina.  They were mostly Lutheran and Reformed church members; the came in family-dominated groups for economic reasons. They were pushed out of Germany because the the partible inheritance customs of their homeland meant that each child inherited a slice of the farm, and so farms were getting smaller and smaller. They found plenty of good, cheap land in America.

The 100,000 Germans who came in the colonial era became farmers, with centers of settlement in southeastern Pennsylvania (where they are called "Pennsylvania Dutch"), upstate New York, and central North Carolina.  They were mostly Lutheran and Reformed church members; the came in family-dominated groups for economic reasons. They were pushed out of Germany because the partible inheritance customs of their homeland meant that each child inherited a slice of the farm, and so farms were getting smaller and smaller. They found plenty of good, cheap land in America.

After 1820 another 7 million arrived. Half went to farms in the Midwest. The other half went to cities, primarily port cities on the ocean (Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, New York), on the Great Lakes (Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee), on the Ohio River (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville), or the Mississippi (St. Louis and all cities north to St. Paul). There were a few cities not on rivers or lakes that attracted Germans, notably Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

After 1820 another 7 million arrived. Half went to farms in the Midwest. The other half went to cities, primarily port cities on the ocean (Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, New York), on the Great Lakes (Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee), on the Ohio River (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville), or the Mississippi (St. Louis and all cities north to St. Paul). There were a few cities not on rivers or lakes that attracted Germans, notably Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The Germans who settled America were culturally and religiously diverse.  The immigrants were as diverse as Germany itself, except that very few aristocrats or upper middle class businessmen arrived.  

The Germans who settled America were culturally and religiously diverse.  The immigrants were as diverse as Germany itself, except that very few aristocrats or upper middle class businessmen arrived.  

==Colonial: Pennsylvania and New York==

==Colonial: Pennsylvania and New York==

Large sections of southeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York attracted German immigrants in the period before the American Revolution.  Most came from  the German southwest, from along the Rhine, Main, Neckar, Ahr, and Mosel rivers.  Crossing the Atlantic took two months and was dangerous, as 10% died en-route from shipwrecks or disease.

Large sections of southeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York attracted German immigrants in the period before the American Revolution.  Most came from  the German southwest, from along the Rhine, Main, Neckar, Ahr, and Mosel rivers.  Crossing the Atlantic took two months and was dangerous, as 10% died en route from shipwrecks or disease.

The first German settlement in Pennsylvania was founded in 1683. William Penn actively recruited in the Rhineland for his colony in 1679, producing the 1683 migration of Krefelder organized at  Frankfurt that created "Germantown" (now part of Philadelphia). The tide to Pennsylvania swelled between 1725 and 1775, when they comprised a third of the colony's population. The Pennsylvania Germans were called '''"Pennsylvania Dutch"''' by English speakers who mistranslated  "Deutsch" ("German") as "Dutch". They were comprised mostly of Lutherans and Reformed, along with smaller groups of Moravians, Mennonites, Amish, and other religious sects. They were famed for developing a rich religious life with a strong musical culture. There were few German Catholics or Jews in America before the 1830s.

The first German settlement in Pennsylvania was founded in 1683. William Penn actively recruited in the Rhineland for his colony in 1679, producing the 1683 migration of Krefelder organized at  Frankfurt that created "Germantown" (now part of Philadelphia). The tide to Pennsylvania swelled between 1725 and 1775, when they comprised a third of the colony's population. The Pennsylvania Germans were called '''"Pennsylvania Dutch"''' by English speakers who mistranslated  "Deutsch" ("German") as "Dutch". They were comprised mostly of Lutherans and Reformed, along with smaller groups of Moravians, Mennonites, Amish, and other religious sects. They were famed for developing a rich religious life with a strong musical culture. There were few German Catholics or Jews in America before the 1830s.

The German farmers were renowned for the highly productive animal husbandry and agricultural practices. Politically, there were inactive until 1740, when they joined a Quaker-led coalition that took control of the legislature, which generally supported the [[American Revolution]]. The [[Fries Rebellion]] was a rural protest movement among Pennsylvania Germans in 1799 against the direct federal tax on land and houses imposed by the [[Federalist Party]] in 1798 to pay for a threatened war against France.  The resistance was in part a revolt of the Kirchenleute (Pennsylvania Germans of Lutheran and German Reformed background) against the Sektenleute (members of the pacifist Moravian and Quaker denominations, whom the Federalists favored with positions as tax assessors and collectors). The leaders of the rebellion were restrained and kept the protest movement under control, even withdrawing the protesters before the movement got out of hand. Some were convicted but President [[John Adams]] gave them pardons.

The German farmers were renowned for the highly productive animal husbandry and agricultural practices. Politically, there were inactive until 1740, when they joined a Quaker-led coalition that took control of the legislature, which generally supported the [[American Revolution]]. The [[Fries Rebellion]] was a rural protest movement among Pennsylvania Germans in 1799 against the direct federal tax on land and houses imposed by the [[Federalist Party]] in 1798 to pay for a threatened war against France.  The resistance was in part a revolt of the Kirchenleute (Pennsylvania Germans of Lutheran and German Reformed background) against the Sektenleute (members of the pacifist Moravian and Quaker denominations, whom the Federalists favored with positions as tax assessors and collectors). The leaders of the rebellion were restrained and kept the protest movement under control, even withdrawing the protesters before the movement got out of hand. Some were convicted but President [[John Adams]] gave them pardons.

   

   

Palatine migration to upstate New York was one of the largest single movements to colonial America. By 1711, for example, seven villages had been established in New York on the Robert Livingston manor. By 1750, the Germans occupied a 12 mile stretch along the left bank of the Mohawk River. The soil was excellent; some 500 houses had been built, mostly of stone; and the region prospered in spite of Indian raids. Herkimer was the best-known of the German settlements in a region long known as the "German Flats." The most famous figure was editor [[John Peter Zenger]], who led the fight for freedom of the press in America. Later [[John Jacob Astor]], a German immigrant from Baden, became the richest man in America from fur trading and New York City real estate.

Palatine migration to upstate New York was one of the largest single movements to colonial America. By 1711, for example, seven villages had been established in New York on the Robert Livingston manor. By 1750, the Germans occupied a 12-mile stretch along the left bank of the Mohawk River. The soil was excellent; some 500 houses had been built, mostly of stone; and the region prospered in spite of Indian raids. Herkimer was the best-known of the German settlements in a region long known as the "German Flats." The most famous figure was editor [[John Peter Zenger]], who led the fight for freedom of the press in America. Later [[John Jacob Astor]], a German immigrant from Baden, became the richest man in America from fur trading and New York City real estate.

New Bern was the center of German settlement in North Carolina.  

New Bern was the center of German settlement in North Carolina.  

==Forty-Eighters==

==Forty-Eighters==

After the failure of the [[Revolutions of 1848]] thousands of well-educated German patriots fled Germany to the United States, England and Australia. Among the [[Forty-Eighters]] who became notable in the US were [[Carl Schurz]], [[Franz Sigel]], [[Louis Blenker]], [[Alexander Schimmelpfennig]], and [[Friedrich Hecker]]. They formed communities within [[New York City|New York]], [[St. Louis]] and [[Cincinnatti]], and became a prominant part of the populations of [[Wisconsin]] and [[Texas]].

After the failure of the [[Revolutions of 1848]] thousands of well-educated German patriots fled Germany to the United States, England and Australia. Among the [[Forty-Eighters]] who became notable in the US were [[Carl Schurz]], [[Franz Sigel]], [[Louis Blenker]], [[Alexander Schimmelpfennig]], and [[Friedrich Hecker]]. They formed communities within [[New York City|New York]], [[St. Louis]] and [[Cincinnatti]], and became a prominent part of the populations of [[Wisconsin]] and [[Texas]].

Almost universally, they hated [[slavery]] and joined the Union Army in great numbers during the [[American Civil War]].

Almost universally, they hated [[slavery]] and joined the Union Army in great numbers during the [[American Civil War]].

Over 250,000 German-speaking Swiss arrived, 1820-1920; they had previously been mountain farmers, but most settled in rural America and sought out high quality flat lands; the 3,520 who were scattered through the mountains of Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia were the exception.   

Over 250,000 German-speaking Swiss arrived, 1820-1920; they had previously been mountain farmers, but most settled in rural America and sought out high quality flat lands; the 3,520 who were scattered through the mountains of Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia were the exception.   

New Glarus, Wisconsin, orignally an all-Swiss dairy town, has become a tourist center featuring the Swiss American German language heritage.<ref>Ernest Menolfi and Leo Schelbert, "The Wisconsin Swiss: a Portrait." ''Swiss American Historical Society Review'' 1989 25(1): 11-35. Issn: 0883-4814</ref>

New Glarus, Wisconsin, originally an all-Swiss dairy town, has become a tourist center featuring the Swiss American German language heritage.<ref>Ernest Menolfi and Leo Schelbert, "The Wisconsin Swiss: a Portrait." ''Swiss American Historical Society Review'' 1989 25(1): 11-35. Issn: 0883-4814</ref>

In terms of religion, most Swiss immigrants were Reformed or Lutheran and merged into larger German communities.  Some were Mennonites or belonged to small, highly traditional sects like the Amish. They formed tight-knit closed communities that still exist.

In terms of religion, most Swiss immigrants were Reformed or Lutheran and merged into larger German communities.  Some were Mennonites or belonged to small, highly traditional sects like the Amish. They formed tight-knit closed communities that still exist.

In 1940 large fraction of the German-American voters switched to [[Wendell Willkie]], who of course was of German descent himself. As Willkie crusaded against the anti-business excesses of the New Deal, the Democrats counter-crusaded, arguing that the danger of an internal fifth column was grave, and broadly suggesting that Willkie along with isolationists like Lindbergh was pro-Nazi. Although FDR promised there would be no repeat of the anti-Hun hysteria of the First War, distrust levels were high. Of course, everyone knew what was happening to the Japanese on the West Coast. During the war the federal [[Office of War Information]] sponsored numerous polls to monitor possible disloyalty or slackerism. NORC did a study in spring 1942, based on two nationwide surveys. The Germans were slightly more hostile to Britain than non-Germans, and exactly the same versus USSR. People with both parents born in Germany were slightly less hostile to Germany (only 11% wanted to "destroy Germany as a nation" vs 26% of the whole US; only 19% thought Germany has used poison gas in ww2, versus 33%). People with one parent born in Germany were almost exactly like the national average. None of the reports indicated any pro-Nazi sentiment whatever.<ref>"A Study of the Effect of German and Italian Origin on Certain War Attitudes" (NORC special Report #6, copy in NORC, University of  Chicago).</ref>   

In 1940 large fraction of the German-American voters switched to [[Wendell Willkie]], who of course was of German descent himself. As Willkie crusaded against the anti-business excesses of the New Deal, the Democrats counter-crusaded, arguing that the danger of an internal fifth column was grave, and broadly suggesting that Willkie along with isolationists like Lindbergh was pro-Nazi. Although FDR promised there would be no repeat of the anti-Hun hysteria of the First War, distrust levels were high. Of course, everyone knew what was happening to the Japanese on the West Coast. During the war the federal [[Office of War Information]] sponsored numerous polls to monitor possible disloyalty or slackerism. NORC did a study in spring 1942, based on two nationwide surveys. The Germans were slightly more hostile to Britain than non-Germans, and exactly the same versus USSR. People with both parents born in Germany were slightly less hostile to Germany (only 11% wanted to "destroy Germany as a nation" vs 26% of the whole US; only 19% thought Germany has used poison gas in ww2, versus 33%). People with one parent born in Germany were almost exactly like the national average. None of the reports indicated any pro-Nazi sentiment whatever.<ref>"A Study of the Effect of German and Italian Origin on Certain War Attitudes" (NORC special Report #6, copy in NORC, University of  Chicago).</ref>   

President Roosevelt made a deliberate effort to reassure Germans there would be no attacks on their culture as happened in World War I. Indeed he appointed two prominent Americans of German descent to top commands in the Army and Navy, General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in Europe and Admiral [[Chester Nimitz]] in the Pacific.  

President Roosevelt made a deliberate effort to reassure Germans there would be no attacks on their culture as happened in World War I. Indeed, he appointed two prominent Americans of German descent to top commands in the Army and Navy, General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in Europe and Admiral [[Chester Nimitz]] in the Pacific.  

The Germans enthusiastically supported [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], another German-American in 1952 and 1960, and in 1960 they split along religious lines just as in 1928.  Since 1960 German identity has become so weak it is not much of a factor in partisanship.

The Germans enthusiastically supported [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], another German-American in 1952 and 1960, and in 1960 they split along religious lines just as in 1928.  Since 1960 German identity has become so weak it is not much of a factor in partisanship.