Changes

The law seemed to be non-controversial law to require school attendance when it passed and few paid much attention to the language provision at first. In practice the law was never enforced.  

The law seemed to be non-controversial law to require school attendance when it passed and few paid much attention to the language provision at first. In practice the law was never enforced.  

===GOP attack on Germans===

===GOP attack on Germans===

Republican politicians had long avoided antagonizing the Germans. However in 1888 the professionals were pushed aside and the party nominated [[William D. Hoard]], a dairy farmer with no political experience as governor.  He found the opposition of the Germans to the Bennett Law an insult to the English language, and he tried to mobilize the Yankee population of the state behind his reelection in 1890 by hammering at the necessity to have all children speak English. (Most German children were bilingual in the cities and towns, but not in rural Wisconsin.)  When opposition swelled, Hoard changed the theme to a defense of the public school system (which was not under attack), said he was the better guardian of the German children than their parents or pastors, and whipped up a nativist distrust of Germania as anti-American.  "The little schoolhouse--stand by it!" he cried out.

Republican politicians had long avoided antagonizing the Germans. However, in 1888 the professionals were pushed aside and the party nominated [[William D. Hoard]], a dairy farmer with no political experience as governor.  He found the opposition of the Germans to the Bennett Law an insult to the English language, and he tried to mobilize the Yankee population of the state behind his reelection in 1890 by hammering at the necessity to have all children speak English. (Most German children were bilingual in the cities and towns, but not in rural Wisconsin.)  When opposition swelled, Hoard changed the theme to a defense of the public school system (which was not under attack), said he was the better guardian of the German children than their parents or pastors, and whipped up a nativist distrust of Germania as anti-American.  "The little schoolhouse--stand by it!" he cried out.

In Milwaukee, a predominantly German city, Hoard attacked Germania and religion:

In Milwaukee, a predominantly German city, Hoard attacked Germania and religion:

==Aftermath==

==Aftermath==

The law was repealed in 1891, but Democrats used the memories to carry Wisconsin and Illinois in the 1892 presidential election. Vilas was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he became a leader of the conservative [[Bourbon Democrats]]. The Republicans, however, won back the German voters by dropping Hoard and his nativism, and by attacking the 1896 Democratic presidential nominee [[William Jennings Bryan]], for promoting inflation and free silver, which was anathema to Germans.

The law was repealed in 1891, but Democrats used the memories to carry Wisconsin and Illinois in the 1892 presidential election. Vilas was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he became a leader of the conservative [[Bourbon Democrats]]. The Republicans, however, won back the German voters by dropping Hoard and his nativism, and by attacking the 1896 Democratic presidential nominee [[William Jennings Bryan]], for promoting inflation and free silver, which was [[anathema]] to Germans.

The Bennett Law was the last major attack on German language schools until 1914.  In 1925 in [[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]] the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that attacks on parochial schools violated the liberty of parents guaranteed by the [[Fourteenth Amendment]].

The Bennett Law was the last major attack on German language schools until 1914.  In 1925 in [[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]] the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that attacks on parochial schools violated the liberty of parents guaranteed by the [[Fourteenth Amendment]].

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=739 Message calling for repeal by Governor George W. Peck, 1891]

* [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=739 Message calling for repeal by Governor George W. Peck, 1891]

* [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-031/ Americanization and the Bennett Law]

* [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-031/ Americanization and the Bennett Law] at the ''Wisconsin Historical Society''

[[Category:Education]]

[[Category:Education]]