Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft facts for kids

The Gießen Emigration Society was a group formed in 1833 in Gießen, Germany. Their big goal was to create a new German-speaking state within the United States. Most of the 500 members were educated and had strong political beliefs. They moved to Missouri in 1834. Even though their main plan didn't work out, these leaders greatly helped spread German culture and influence in Missouri during the early 1800s.

Why People Wanted to Leave Germany

The idea for the Gießen Emigration Society started with a German lawyer named Gottfried Duden. In 1824, he moved to the Missouri River area near what is now Dutzow, Missouri. He wanted to see if the area was good for Germans to settle.

Duden went back to Germany in 1827. In 1829, he published a book called Report of a Journey to the Western States of North America. This book described the Missouri River valley as a wonderful, free place. His exciting descriptions made many Germans dream of a new life in America.

A Dream of a New Germany

Inspired by Duden's book, a Protestant minister named Friedrich Münch and a lawyer named Paul Follen decided to act. In 1833, they founded the Gießen Emigration Society. Münch and Follen had been involved in student protests and political movements in Germany. These movements were against the government and were outlawed. After the French July Revolution of 1832, they saw little hope for change in Germany.

So, they published "A Call for a Large Emigration." Their goal was to build a "new and free Germany" in America. They hoped this new community would be a model for a future free German republic.

Joining the Society

Their small publication was shared secretly across Germany. Many people became interested in Münch and Follen's ideas. The group grew so large that they had to stop accepting new members at 500 people.

Joining the society was not easy. Members had to pay fees in advance. They also needed enough money to cover their travel, buy land, and live for the first few years. They even needed good character references. People from all over Germany joined, including farmers and people from different religious groups. Doctors and teachers were especially valued. They were given free membership, with their travel and settlement costs covered by the dues from other members.

The Journey to America

The society planned to travel in two groups from Bremen, Germany, in the spring of 1834.

First Group's Difficulties

In May 1834, the first group sailed on a ship called the Olbers. This group was led by Paul Follen. They headed for New Orleans, where they faced a serious illness called Cholera. As they traveled up the Mississippi River towards St. Louis, many members became sick, and some sadly died.

Second Group's Arrival

Meanwhile, the second group, led by Friedrich Münch, faced delays in Bremen. They finally arrived in late July 1834 in Baltimore. From there, they quickly headed towards St. Louis. In Cincinnati, they met Baron von Bock, who told them about the first group's arrival and their troubles.

Life in Missouri

Both leaders, Friedrich Münch and Paul Follen, settled on farms. Their farms were next to Gottfried Duden's farm near Dutzow, Missouri, which already had many German settlers. They soon realized that their dream of creating a separate German state in America was not realistic. It was a "Utopia"—a perfect but impossible idea.

Building New Communities

Other families from the society settled nearby in southeastern Warren County. More settled in nearby Franklin and St. Charles Counties. Many of these early settlers wrote letters back home to Germany. These letters encouraged even more Germans to emigrate and join them.

Because many of these early settlers were educated and politically active, they played a big role in their new communities. They were very involved in local efforts and politics. For example, during the American Civil War, many of these families actively supported the abolition of slavery. They even formed German-speaking companies within the Union Army.

German Influence Today

The influence of these first 500 settlers can still be seen today. The area along the Missouri River, from St. Louis to Hermann, Missouri, is often called "Little Germany, Missouri." This region, known as the Missouri Weinstrasse, still has a strong German culture and historic buildings.