Title: Germans - Immigrants of The 19th Century
Headings: 
A Century Later
Content: Germans - Immigrants of The 19th Century




Processing German immigrants bound for America. Credit: library.thinkquest.org
During the 19th century some 1,452,870 Germans immigrated to America. After 1850 they were the dominant immigrant group and repeatedly outnumbered the Irish each subsequent decade. Prior to the 19th century German immigrants were typically affiliated with a Christian religious sect and were seeking religious freedom. However, once America became a nation of cheap land and employment the German immigrants were typically farmers, tradesmen, mechanics and unskilled workers seeking better economic advantages. Others sought political asylum from the powers at be in Germany. The liberal movement spawned by Kant, Fichte, Geothe, and Schiller was struggling for survival in a conservative Lutheran nation where their ideas were considered sacrilege. The young University students who were attracted by liberalism were also attracted by the prospect of moving to a more accepting nation. For farmers America provided an immense wealth of cheap land.