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| Germans Help Build America
For almost 400 years, German immigrants and their descendents have helped build America. The work of German American inventors, scientists, political leaders, physicians, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, lawyers, judges, artists, poets, explorers, novelists, and those in other fields has contributed to the quality of life we all enjoy.
According to historians, the first Germans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. The first permanent English settlement in what is today the United States of America, English settlers arrived at Jamestown just one year earlier 1607. They were followed in 1683 by the first wave of German settlers in America.
The group, organized by Francis Daniel Pastorius, came to America seeking land and the promise of religious freedom. It was a group largely made up of German Quakers and Mennonites from the Rhineland. Pastorius preceded the settlers to America, arriving in Philadelphia in mid-August, 1683. He negotiated with Penn for a tract of land northwest of Philadelphia on which to build a settlement, which was to become known as "Germantown." Six weeks later, on October 6, 1683, the ship Concord sailed into Philadelphia's harbor from Germany. On board were thirteen families.
Today, the descendants of those early German immigrants number nearly 43 million according to the 2000 United States government census. Germans are the nation's largest ancestry group, representing about 15 percent of the U.S. population. For more information, click here.
Social scientists strive to explain how so many millions of German immigrants achieved success in America despite the challenges of a new language, foreign economic and commercial practices, and often the prejudice and hostility of an American society unfamiliar with Germans and their customs.
Despite these barriers, German immigrants and their children helped build America. Their story is remarkable and inspiring. Read about it here! |
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