Germans in America

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Germans in America

• The Immigrants Story

By Alicia Aberle
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German Immigration
Sources http//www.census.gov/population/www/docu
mentation/twps0029/tab04.html http//www.census.g
ov/compendia/statab/hist_stats.html
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German Immigration

• Possible Reasons For Dramatic Drop In 1940-1950
  German Immigration Numbers On Previous Graph
• World War II Impacts on Society Leading People to
  Disinherit Their German Heritage
• Information on Graph From Different Sources
• Internment Camps for German Nationals Were Around
  the Country

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Forces Behind Immigration

• Push
• Economic Hardships in Germany from Crop Failure
• 1848 Failed Revolution
• Land Seizures/ Unemployment
• Anti-Semitic Violence

• Pull
• Friends/Family Sent Letters Describing
  Opportunities
• Affordable Farmable Lands
• Free from Persecution
• Skilled Workers Needed

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Germans vs. Irish in Oregon
Source http//fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections
/stats/histcensus/index.html
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German Assimilation

• Many German traditions were adopted to become
  part of the American culture, i.e. Christmas gift
  exchange, wedding dancing
• World War II encouraged assimilation because of
  the American fear of the Germans during that time
• Many families today can trace their roots to
  German heritage, but most have lost the language
  and some traditions due to the fear during WWII
• Catholic and Lutheran churches throughout the
  Northern United States helped the German
  nationals to socialize and continue traditions

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Population Trends
Source http//fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections
/stats/histcensus/index.html
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Immigration Resources

• German Aid Society
• Founded by Henry Weinhard in the mid 1800s to
  help German immigrants through tough times, now
  disbanded
• Zion Lutheran Church
• Located in SW Portland and offers German mass and
  a German minister to maintain culture and
  traditions
• German American Society
• Located in SE Portland. The aim of organization
  is to preserve German traditions, break down
  cultural limitations and help integrate new
  immigrants into modern American society

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German Immigration

• Photos Source http//volgagermans.net/portland/
  Portland_Photographs.html
• German Immigration Info Sources
• http//lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu
  /features/immig/german3.html