G. 1rst group to test civic culture theory--Germans
    1.  same pattern as most other N. & W. Europeans
    2. Scandinavians, Belgians, Dutch, also
       a. escaping economic depressions
       b. political turmoil

   3. 1820-1860, biggest waves 
     a. most came for land
       1. German states over-populated
       2.  US advertised for settlers
         a. Northwest Territory (Midwest)
         b. easy access to land  

  b. some for religious reasons (Amish)
  c. some for political reasons
    1. the "48ers" (fleeing German govt)
      a. had supported revolution (democracy)
      b. teachers, lawyers, philosophers, socialists
      c. big influence on Milwaukee’s development  
 
4.  German communities  formed
     1. settled in "Germantowns"
     2. "German triangle" Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cincinnati  german heritage states  
        a. primary influence in food, language, culture
        b. German newspapers, clubs, debating societies  
        c. Turner societies-
           1.gymnastics, weight-lifting  
        d. 1860, 1 tavern for every 30 residents in Milwaukee   wisconsin counties

    3. close  networked communities 
     a. response to hostility of English
       1. anger that they continued to speak German
       2. conflict  w/ Yankee culture & religion    stereotype as drinkers
    b. economically integrated, culturally still German
      1. "How to be German in America" (ex)

D. political involvement was slow
   1. no experience having political power
   2. insulated within their communities
   3. felt legislatures and politics were English institutions
   4. preoccupied with economic development
     a. easy access to land
       1. incentives provided by US govt to get settlers
       2. aided  national expansion  
 
 5. 1rst political involvement was to protect culture
     a. law passed outlawing beer-drinking on Sunday  (Graham Law)
       1. targetted Germans
       2.Yankee Puritanism clashed w/ German culture
       3. biergardens were social centersimage    Pabst

   b. German community organized in opposition
      1. newspaper editorials written
      2.community leaders went to legislature
      3. some ran for office to get German representation
       a. Dr. Franz Huebschman, and Carl Schurz (Wisconsin)    Carl Shurz

  c. Germans were majority in Wisconsin
    1. close-knit communities became voting blocs
    2. ethnic ties=political strength
    3. all Germans were united “beer & schnapps” issue
       a. made up for regional/religious disputes
       b. issue of personal freedom

 d. German vote could not be ignored
   1. repealed the law
   2. German-speaking postal clerks
   3. bi-lingual schools (Wisconsin, Ohio) till 1910   report card

 e. Germans stayed politically active
   1. high citizenship rates (1rst generation)
   2. leaders broadened concerns
     a. Carl Schurz, Sect. of Interior for Lincoln
     b. founded Republican Party in Ripon, Wi. in 1854
       1. anti-slavery party  ripon
       2. ended up as major political party

7. by 3rd generation,  Germans in Wisconsin--fusion
    a. bi-lingual schools  bilingual businesses
    b. intermarriage with other ethnic groups
    c.cultural traditions blended w/ English   cookbook
      1. Xmas trees, kindergartens, beer-drinking
      2. "gemultlichkeit"

 8. things changed in early 20th century
   A. WWI broke out
   B. US at war with Germany
      1. fighting "Kaiser Bill" and the "Krauts"  posters
      2. propaganda used to boost enlistment poster

 C. everything German suspicious (associated w/ enemy) prohibition poster  pro   hun
     1. law forbidding speaking German on street in Ohio, 1919  lager
     2. bilingual schools ended (un-American)
     3. German products were renamed
        a. sauerkraut - "liberty cabbage"
        b. dachsunds 'liberty hounds"
 
 4. social stigma attached to being German
      a. felt as if primary loyalty would be to Germany
      b. German-American, contradiction in terms (oxymoron) ex
      c. worst case-lynching of Robert Praeger, 1919
      d. readings: "Get the Rope!"

D. German-American response
  1. enlisted in military in high numbers
    a. prove political loyalty to US 
      b. saved families from persecution  

2. many anglicized names
     a. avoid stigma
     b. Johann Schmitt =John Smith
     c. German triangle somewhat insulated from this.
 
3. less focus on German language for German kids
     a. keep them from fitting in
     b.German language newspapers closed
     c. Turner societies shut down
 
  4. began to identify only as Americans

E. assimilation of G-A's (1914)
   1. response to cultural intolerance
   3. English cultural patterns adopted

F. new pattern for Americans of German ancestry (late 20th cent.)
   1. symbolic ethnicity
       a. primarily English speakers
       b. celebrate heritage and culture--foods, festivals   Swiss
       c.  (ex) Oktoberfest
 
  2. part of identity which is voluntarily emphasized or ignored
     a. those of German ancestry can lead life w/o being reminded of it
     b. no stigma attached to it (economic or political).
     c. only positive association, attachment to heritage

  3. Why did Germans integrate so easily (relatively?
    a. came at historically lucky time
     1. easy access to land
     2.economic success in 1st generation
     3. lots of space to settle

  b.  Germans had strong community networks
    1. positively identified as Germans until WWI
    2. basis of industries & political organizations

 c. easy access to citizenship
    1. given political voice, even if from diff. culture
    2. community strength==political clout