Period+2+German

=__ German Immigration to Pittsburgh 1800-1915 __=

Who are these immigrants (demographics)?
Most arrivals in America came from rural areas in Germany. These were often small farmers and farm labourers who had suffered from advances in agricultural technology during the 19th century. · German-speaking immigrants first arrived in the Pittsburgh region in the early 19th century. · “German immigration” is a faulty term in that Germany was not technically united until the 1870s, and instead consisted of a series of German-speaking provinces including today's Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Bohemia, and parts of Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, and the former Yugoslavia. Therefore, “German” immigrants tended to identify themselves as Bavarians, Württembergers, etc., depending on their province. · Religious differences, however, were more divisive. The majority of German immigrants were Protestants – mainly Lutheran. Around a third of German immigrants were Catholics, and around 250,000 were Jewish.



Why did these groups immigrate to the United States?
· During the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, German farms became more efficient and needed less workers while cities were often overcrowded, prompting many Germans to migrate to America. Modernization and population growth then caused many Germans to lose their family business, and caused land to become scarce and expensive. That, along with an increase in taxation gave the Germans financial reasons for leaving their homeland. · However, modernization also made immigrating easier, cheaper, and faster with inventions such as the steam boat and train. Thus, travel was safer and more affordable. Furthermore, Germans were given political reason to move after the unsuccessful German Revolution of 1848 which caused a loss of faith in the now more authoritarian government. In the decade to follow about one million Germans immigrated to America – which, with its comparatively peaceful atmosphere, was much preferable. Other reasons Germans might want to come to America is due to favorable immigration laws. Moreover, many Germans already had family in America encouraging them to move has well.



How did they influence the makeup of Pittsburgh?
Germans are the largest white ethnic group in Pittsburgh, making up 19.7% of ethnicity. Areas of Pittsburgh that are still considered German are Troy Hill, Mt. Washington, Larimer, and East Allegheny (often called Deutschtown). The Pittsburgh English dialect called Pittsburghese was largely influenced by German immigrants.

How did they influence the contemporary world?
Not only does baseball have German roots, but so does Bernhard Dreyfuss, an immigrant from Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, who greatly influenced baseball in Pittsburgh. Bernhard left for the United States in 1885 at the age of 19. He began a merger with the Pittsburgh Pirates. As principal owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dreyfuss put together a great team that performed well. He challenged the Boston Americans (Red Sox) to a best of nine playoff. This playoff became known as the modern World Series. Therefore, this German-American created the World Series that we know so well today. Also, with the help of Andrew Carnegie, he built a new baseball Stadium (Forbes Field). Additionally, he invited fans to post-game fireworks displays, which is a tradition that still exists today for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
 * Baseb **** all **

The term Pennsylvania "Dutch" actually refers not to people from the Netherlands but to German-speaking religious sects ('Dutch' is similar to 'Deutsch') that settled in PA 300 years ago. Three groups still carry out their lives in the same way: the Amish, the Mennonites, and the Brethren. After fleeing from Germany and Switzerland to escape religious persecution by Catholics and Protestants, they arrived in Lancaster County and now contribute most of the economic life there.
 * The Pennsylvania Dutch **

Henry John Heinz was one of eight children of two German immigrants. The Heinz family had worked along the Wine Route in Germany. When he moved to Pittsburgh his father became a bricklayer. Then the family moved from Pittsburgh to Sharpsburg, where H.J. Heinz discovered his own entrepreneurial talent: he was put in charge of helping his mother tend to their large garden and selling the surplus to neighbors. Soon he took portions of the garden, which expanded to three and a half acres, and sold the produce. He peddled everything he grew along with many foods his mother preserved, her first being horseradish. Among the other items he sold that were popular among the Germans in Pittsburgh were sauerkraut, vinegar, and pickles. However, it was his ketchup that made him as famous as he is today.
 * Ketchup **

What would the German immigrants’ perspective be?
Gustav Unonius, one of many German immigrants to Pittsburgh wrote that he appreciated the government in America. He prefered the new idea of democracy to the government setup in Germany. He wanted the whole world to utilize democracy. Also, he said that most German immigrants felt perfectly safe and stable in America, but did not feel the need to apply for citizenship or hold political positions; they were just happy to be safe again. He did often hear German immigrants talking about how they "wouldn't let Americans rule over them" but he believed these people had a false conception of the liberty that really was here for them. He did complain about the American naturalization laws; he says that they are struggling to support themselves let alone get into political affairs, and they don't see the need to spend time going through that process. If it were a faster process, more would try to become citizens.

John Kerler liked Germany better before the chaos of the German Revolution, than he liked America. But compared to Germany at the time he wrote, he prefered America. He felt he could live the safe, quiet, undisturbed life he wanted. He pointed out that there was no need to lock one’s door at night, and everything could be left outside without the owner having to worry about thievery.

These two immigrants were happy with what they found in America. However, Michael Friedrich Radke, whose immigration diary is from 1848, tried to find work at the steel mills in Pittsburgh but could not make the progress he wanted. Therefore, he moved from Pittsburgh to Indiana to farm, where he found a more prosperous life. Not every opportunity in Pittsburgh for the German immigrants was a good one.

Works Cited: "German." //Global Pittsburgh//. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. http://www.globalpittsburgh.org/communities/index.jsp?pageId=0690200091781090187613591. "German Immigration: 1700 to the mid 1800s." //Thinkquest//. Oracle. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00439/john/germans2.html. "German Immigration." Spartacus. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEgermany.htm. "German Migration." Web. 14 Jan. 2011. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mnstatehistory/german_migration.html.

"German Missions in the United States - Heritage." German Missions in the United States - Home. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/09PressInFocusInterviews/03Infocus/08G20Pittsburgh/Heritage/G20HeritageS.html. Radke, Michael F. "The Immigration Diary of Michael Friedrich Radke, 1846." INGenWeb Project. The USGenWeb Project. Web. 19 Jan.2011..