German-American

Outcomes:
1) Students will acquire basic information about German-American immigration and some famous German-Americans.

2) Students will become familiar with Internet resources for learning about German-American immigration and German-Americans.

Instructions:
Answer the following questions and record your answers on the worksheet. Unless another site is provided with the question, click on one of the web sites listed below to find your answer. All information needed to complete this task is available through one or more of the web sites that have been provided for you. When you have completed all questions, turn in your worksheet for scoring.

1990 Census Data
German-American Heritage Map
German-American Chronology
The German Revolution of 1848: A German Perspective
Famous Austrians, Germans, and Swiss
The Berlin Wall Online
Germany and America in the 20th Century: A Timeline
 
1. Translate the following from German to English: Zeit anzufangen. Use the AltaVista Translator to complete this item. Be sure to scroll down the translation menu and select "German to English."

2. Two important words regarding the movement of people from one country to another are emigrate and immigrate . Using Merriam-Webster Online, determine which of these words means "to come into a country of which one is not a native, for the purpose of permanent residence."

3. The first Germans came to the New World along with Captain John Smith, founder of Jamestown, Virginia. In what year did they arrive?

4. An early group of German settlers arrived in the American colonies in 1683 aboard the schooner Concord. They established a community on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their reasons for coming to the New World were similar to early settlers of other nationalities.  Why did these early Germans come to America? (If you haven't come across the answer to this question at one of the web sites you have visited so far, click here).

5. During the Revolutionary War, Germans, including General von Steuben,  fought with and assisted both the British and the Colonists. Which side did General von Steuben assist?

6. Many Germans, including some who eventually settled in Minnesota, came to the US after being on the losing side of a revolution in Germany that occurred in 1848. What was this revolution called?

7. All those who immigrated to the US after this revolution, as well as those who came later, had to pass through a famous island on their way into the US. What is the name of this island? To answer this question, you may have to do a little searching. Use the same web site as you did for the last item. If you can't find the answer there, try the Immigration History Center.

8. Levi Strauss was among the Germans who immigrated to the US after the revolution of 1848. For what is he famous?

9. The Sioux uprising of 1862 resulted in an attack on what predominantly German-American town in Minnesota?

10. In 1868, Joseph Pulitzer became a reporter for a Gerrman-language newspaper in St. Louis. Later, the prestigious Pulitzer prizes were established in his honor. These prizes are given for excellence in what field?

11. The year 1882 marked a peak in German-American immigration. How many Germans immigrated to the US in that year?

12. Though hamburgers are thought of as being very "American," they were actually first introduced to the US by German-Americans living in St. Louis. And what would a hamburger be without Ketchup? What German-American created ketchup in 1892 ?

13. Though many German-Americans were in the US armed forces during World War I, the US entry into this war resulted in a wave of anti-German sentiment. The teaching of the German language was even banned in some states. In what year did the US enter World War I?

14. Herbert Hoover ( formerly Huber) is a famous German American. What US political office did he hold?

15. As the German economy worsened in the 1930s, Adolf Hitler and his National Socialists (Nazis) came into power, eventually bringing the nation into World War II. Many Germans fled to America. Among them was the famous physicist, Albert Einstein , who came to the US the same year Hitler became Chancellor of Germany In what year did this occur?

16. Many German-Americans played important roles in the US war effort during WorldWar II, including Dwight D. (Ike) Eisenhower. "Ike" later became the president of the United States. In what year was he elected president?

17. After World War II, Germany was divided into two nations, East Germany and West Germany, which resulted in additional immigration to the US. (More than 128,000 immigrated in the peak year of 1950) The Berlin Wall was the most infamous symbol of this separation of the German nation.  In what year was it built?

18. Today, German-Americans are the largest ethnic group in the US. According to the 1990 Census , how many Americans of German descent are there?

19. Though Minnesota is among the top six states in percentage of German-Americans among its population, some other states have even a higher percentage. Which  state has the largest percentage of Americans of German descent?

20. Wow! The last question. Using the AltaVista Translator, translate the following from German to English: Das Ende. Glückwünsche!

Thanks for participating. We hope you enjoyed this activity. Turn in your completed worksheet to see how many you have gotten correct.

If you have finished early, explore some of the web sites listed above, visit the German Embassy Home Page, view German American Cultural Heritage, or learn about the German Hollywood Connection.

To access a copy of the worksheet for this activity, click here.

This page was createdby Edmund J. Sass, Ed.D., Professor of Education at the College of Saint Benedict/St. John's University, for use during Rocori Middle School's German Day. If you have questions or comments about this page, e-mail me at esass@csbsju.edu .