German Americans facts for kids

German Americans are a large group of people in America whose families originally came from Germany. They are the biggest ethnic group in the United States.

In 2013, about 46 million Americans said they had some German family history. In some parts of the Northern United States, there are more German Americans than any other group. For example, in Wisconsin, about 41% of the people are German-American.

Who Are German Americans?

German Americans are people living in the United States who have ancestors from Germany. Many German immigrants came to America over hundreds of years. They brought their culture, traditions, and skills with them.

Why Did Germans Come to America?

Many Germans came to the United States for different reasons. Some were looking for a better life and more opportunities. Others wanted to escape wars or political problems in Germany. They also sought religious freedom. America was seen as a land of new beginnings.

Where Did They Settle?

German immigrants often settled in the Midwest and Northeast United States. States like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri have large German-American populations. They often formed their own communities. These communities kept German traditions alive. They built churches, schools, and businesses.

Contributions to American Life

German Americans have made many important contributions to the United States. They have influenced American culture in many ways.

Food and Drink

Many popular American foods have German roots. These include hot dogs, hamburgers, and pretzels. German immigrants also brought brewing traditions. This led to many famous American breweries.

Music and Arts

German Americans have also contributed to music and arts. Many famous musicians, artists, and writers have German heritage. They helped shape American culture.

Science and Education

German immigrants were often well-educated. They helped build schools and universities in America. Many German-American scientists and inventors have made important discoveries.

Politics and Leadership

German Americans have also played a role in American politics. They have served in government at all levels.

Carl Schurz: A German-American Leader

Carl Schurz was a famous German American. He was born in Germany and came to the U.S. He became the first German-born U.S. Senator. He represented Missouri starting in 1868. Later, he became the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. He worked to protect natural resources.

Challenges Faced by German Americans

Like many immigrant groups, German Americans faced challenges. Sometimes, they experienced anti-German sentiment. This was especially true during times of war. People sometimes worried about their loyalty. Despite this, German Americans continued to build their lives. They helped make America what it is today.

German-American Culture Today

Today, German-American culture is still strong. Many towns celebrate their German heritage. Festivals like Oktoberfest are popular across the country. People enjoy German music, dance, and food. Many German Americans are proud of their roots. They continue to share their traditions with new generations.

Images for kids

• 

  Carl Schurz was the first German born US Senator (Missouri, 1868) and later US Secretary of the Interior

• 

  German population density in the United States, 1872

• 

  "From the Old to the New World" shows German emigrants boarding a steamer in Hamburg, to New York. Harper's Weekly, (New York) November 7, 1874

• 

  The Wahrenberger House in Austin served as a German-American school.

• 

  Temporary quarters for Volga Germans in central Kansas, 1875

• 

  Hugo Münsterberg, Harvard professor of psychology

• 

  Marlene Dietrich signing a soldier's cast (Belgium, 1944)

• 

  Parking meter checker stands by his police vehicle which is imprinted with the German word for police (Polizei). It is part of the town's highlighting its German ethnic origins. New Ulm, Minnesota, July 1974.

• 

  Distribution of Americans claiming German Ancestry by county in 2018

• 

  The Hermann Heights Monument in New Ulm, Minnesota. Erected by the Sons of Hermann, it is the 3rd largest copper statue in the United States after the Statue of Liberty and Portlandia. Historians have regarded Hermann's victory over Roman troops in 9 CE as Rome's greatest defeat, and in the 19th century he became a symbol of unity for German immigrants facing anti-German sentiment in the United States

• 

  German newspapers in North America, 1922

• 

  This 1850 census map shows the Lutheran population. Nearly all were German, since few Scandinavians had arrived yet.

• 

  American wartime propaganda depicted the German "Hun" soldier as an enemy of civilization. This was during World War I.

See also

In Spanish: Inmigración alemana en los Estados Unidos para niños