Changes

==Wisconsin and Midwest==

==Wisconsin and Midwest==

In the 21st century half of Wisconsin's population claims some German heritage, as do large proportions in nearby areas of northern Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, as well as the Dakotas. Historians stress the importance of "pull" and "push" factors in explaining immigration. Wisconsin offered the promise of religious freedom, jobs, a climate and landscape that reminded many Germans of the forests at home, where forests played a core role in German collective identity, national memory, and socioeconomic stability.  Even better the state offered cheap, good quality land on which they could grow familiar crops such as barley and wheat; it was especially well suited for dairy farming. Farmers enjoyed new freedom in being able to make their own decisions about agricultural production as opposed to being regulated by communal authorities.  Catholics and Lutherans came in about equal numbers; they settled near each other but did not interact socially or intermarry. Migration was primarily by extended family units so the first arrivals wrote enthusiastic letters to family and kin about their new life, and others joined them in a process of chain migration. Most bought their land from [[Yankee]] landowners who had purchased title from the federal government. The farms in the Midwest were much larger than those in Germany, and required larger family sizes.  

In the 21st century half of Wisconsin's population claims some German heritage, as do large proportions in nearby areas of northern Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, as well as the Dakotas. Historians stress the importance of "pull" and "push" factors in explaining immigration. Wisconsin offered the promise of religious freedom, jobs, a climate and landscape that reminded many Germans of the forests at home, where forests played a core role in German collective identity, national memory, and socioeconomic stability.  Even better the state offered cheap, good quality land on which they could grow familiar crops such as barley and wheat; it was especially well suited for dairy farming. Farmers enjoyed new freedom in being able to make their own decisions about agricultural production as opposed to being regulated by communal authorities.  Catholics and Lutherans came in about equal numbers; they settled near each other but did not interact socially or intermarry. Migration was primarily by extended family units so the first arrivals wrote enthusiastic letters to family and kin about their new life, and others joined them in a process of chain migration. Most bought their land from [[Yankee]] landowners who had purchased title from the federal government. The farms in the Midwest were much larger than those in Germany, and required larger family sizes.  

Swiss-born Philip Schaff (1819-93) became a leading theologian and church historian in America. He returned often to Europe after his 1844 emigration to the U.S. Schaff's life was remarkably consistent and resilient; as he emigrated, he absorbed a moderate many American traits, adapting to the new world culture with ease, but maintained close intellectual and social ties with Germany. Schaff formulated a developmental, organic, providential view of history and a unique mediating evangelical theology that accommodated such figures as Hegel and [[Schleiermacher]], tolerated liberal positions, yet remained nevertheless orthodox and fundamentalistic.<ref> Gary Keith Pranger, "Philip Schaff (1819-1893): Portrait of an Immigrant Theologian."  PhD dissertation U. of Illinois, Chicago 1987. 427 pp.  DAI 1988 48(9): 2437-A. DA8726098  Fulltext: [[ProQuest Dissertations & Theses]]</ref>

Swiss-born Philip Schaff (1819-93) became a leading theologian and church historian in America. He returned often to Europe after his 1844 emigration to the U.S. Schaff's life was remarkably consistent and resilient; as he emigrated, he absorbed a moderate many American traits, adapting to the new world culture with ease, but maintained close intellectual and social ties with Germany. Schaff formulated a developmental, organic, providential view of history and a unique mediating evangelical theology that accommodated such figures as Hegel and [[Schleiermacher]], tolerated liberal positions, yet remained nevertheless orthodox and fundamentalistic.<ref> Gary Keith Pranger, "Philip Schaff (1819-1893): Portrait of an Immigrant Theologian."  PhD dissertation U. of Illinois, Chicago 1987. 427 pp.  DAI 1988 48(9): 2437-A. DA8726098  Fulltext: [[ProQuest Dissertations & Theses]]</ref>

   

   

Before 1800, [[Amish]], [[Mennonite]]s (from Witzerland), and Hutterite arrived in groups and formed closed communities in Pennsylvania; they are still in existence today and some still speak dialects of German. They set out branches into the Midwest. [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] was born into a one such community in Abilene, Kansas.

Before 1800, [[Amish]], [[Mennonite]]s (from Witzerland), and Hutterite arrived in groups and formed closed communities in Pennsylvania; they are still in existence today and some still speak dialects of German. They set out branches into the Midwest. [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] was born into a one such community in Abilene, Kansas.