Contributions of German Americans to the United States - Essay Example

Germans were the dominant group of immigrants in the 19th century to the United States. It was only natural for a matter of time for these predominant group to have a great contribution and impact the development of United States both economically and culturally. The contributions and achievements of these German-Americans are deemed to have had an insightful result on building the country of United States up to the current state it is today. These German-Americans are famous for their practicality in interests in arts, thrift, practical skills, hard work and enjoyment of life to the fullest. At the same time, they shaped the culture of Native Americans (Foster, et al., 2011). Such well-known cultures that are pinpointed include; sauerkraut, fizzy beer, national fondness for light and the tuba. Subsequently, they had much influence on citizens of United States life through impacting significantly on their traditions, institutions, and even the day to day habits thought to be a quintessentially of Americans. Thus, this study focuses on the significant contributions of German Americans that had a positive impact on the United States of America.

German Americans love to enjoy their freedom. These habit of making sure that their liberty is not curtailed did not only apply when they were in Germany alone, but they also carried along their freedom practices to the United States. It is affirmed that it is the Germany Americans who helped the Native American transmit and win the American freedom that is seen to be enjoyed today (Foster, et al., 2011). The celebrated triumph for freedom of the press in the United States transpired in the year 1735 when a panel of judges found John Zenger Peter who was a German-American journalist and printer was vindicated in disparaging the colonial government. At the same time, it is a Philadelphia Germany speaking language newspaper that was the first in history to report the Independence Declaration.

The culture of German has been cultivated on a resilient commitment to education. Those German Americans who settled in U.S, they championed for the United States education system. The grading of schools from the highest to the lowest was embraced by German immigrants. Thus, minus the German American's championing to this kind of education system in America, then it would not have been recognized in the United States. The dedication to the good education system by the German saw them launch and build the first kindergarten in the year 1855 in the United States. The kindergarten syllabus was based on that of German education system. The German Americans also introduced the vocational and physical education in almost all public schools. The German Americans also are responsible for inculcating in the school buildings a gymnasium. The most compelling aspect these Germany Americans had was their leadership qualities. They used these qualities of leadership to call for a universal education system, an impression that was not familiar and ever witnessed in the United States as per that time (Foster, et al., 2011).

German Americans immigrant also conveyed their revolutionizing zeal to U.S' recreational life. It is even considered that it's the German Americans who invented the weekend in America. Previously before the Germans started immigrating to the United States, many of the American society's colonies only observed what was known as Puritan Sabbath. The communities in America apart from observing Puritan Sabbath, they equally emphasized family time and rested being expended at home. But the Germans nevertheless had a great tradition that was being held on Sundays. Similarly, on these Germans dedicated Sunday as an enthusiastic and recreational day that they devoted to doing their outings. Germans also are characterized by a flashy lifestyle. Since they set their foot on American soil, large scale and new recreational facilities began to be initiated. The United States started witnessing recreational facilities and picnic centers in most of the towns German American occupied. German Americans launched pic grounds, concert halls, bandstands, playgrounds, bowling alleys and sports clubs that were all appropriate for weekend recreations and leisure excursion for all the families members. These German-Americans were fond of theater groups, singing societies, lodges and social clubs habits which at some point were inherited by American citizens. Thus, any individual who makes use of the present day theme parks, swimming pools, civic orchestras and urban parks is obliged of massive debts of German Americans passion to recreation.

The existence of a tradition that so many people consider to be fundamentally American of being part and parcel of a nation's heritage was introduced and popularized by immigrants from German in the 19th century. The various elements that are so familiar in the United States such as Christmas celebrations that range from Christmas trees to giving Santa Claus gifts are gifts whose origin is German Another festival originating from Germany include Easter bunny. German Americans brought all these parties that Americans adore so much hence everyone owes the Germans a huge debt for these holidays they introduced in the United States (Foster, et al., 2011).

The German are a genius when it comes to visual arts. Americans are huge beneficiaries of this visual arts. Painters of German descent and birth of the 19th century who comprise of persons such as Emanuel Leutze renown for 'Washington Crossing the Delaware's classic work and Albert Bierstadt known to have captured majestic beauty of West America. Even in present times, German-Americans such as Hans Hofmann, Roy Lichtenstein, Max Beckmann, Lyonel Feininger, George Grosz, Josef Albers Erwin Panofsky and Robert Rauschenberg are attributed to the great genius witnessed in America's visual arts. Art photography has also been boosted by the two German-American individuals known as Alfred Eisenstaedt and Alfred Stieglitz. Subsequently, American architecture was enormously stimulated by emigres of German origin. These emigres were Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius.

The German Americans also contributed significantly to the refilling the thirsty of every American who yearned for German beer. The names of Coors, Miller, Budweiser, Pabst Anheuser- Busch, Schaefert Schlitz and Stroh are like synonyms on the walks of every American life for producing German-American tradition brewed beer. A beer boot, Warsteiner beer glass, Weizen beer, Berliner Weisse beer, Dunkles, German dark beer in a Stange and half-litre Human (beer mug) all graced Americans recreational facilities (Foster, et al., 2011). Thus, they German Americans will go down in history as being the manufacturers and producers of beer that was most sought by almost all Americans that took alcohol-related content. It also led to the revolution of a variety of subtle alcohol whose contents originate from German.

Correspondingly, the America sports' growth is attributed to the German Americans. In the games industry, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, and Casey Stengel are great baseballers' figures in American history. Apart from sports, they Germans are great builders. These German-Americans are pioneers of Westward wagons. They engineered the building of wagons in the United States. The roll call of leaders whose origin are German American in finance and business helped in the growth of American economy. The names such as Boeing, Chrysler, Astor, Firestone, Guggenheim, Fleischman, Hershey, Kaiser, Heinz, Rockefeller, Steinway and Strauss (of blue jeans fame) all went in history as being ranked among the best businessmen in America. Their companies created a lot of opportunities for American citizens to work in them and earn a living. At the same time, this German-American business remitted the substantial amount of tax to the government each and every year that was used to build other sectors of United States economy.

The German Americans culture was commonly acknowledged as indispensable threads in the American fabric of life. These German-Americans were culturally and geographically isolated in the 19th century than in generations above and thus spoke and increasingly fluent English as the first language. Despite being so fluent in both written and spoken English, they all maintained a vital German culture (Foster, et al., 2011). The German language gained prominence in most American schools. It was widely taught in public schools and learned by non-German and German students. The German Americans infrequently were portrayed as individuals who were fun and fashionable in the press but occasionally got seldom demonized. As years have progressed, the coming of Germans to the Unites States is deemed to make America rise to higher heights.

All in all, it is notably that German Americans have achieved huge strides and made America accomplish impossibilities. The influence of German Americans have heard of the development of the United States suggest that millions of Americans are indebted to these immigrants who have transformed their nation positively. Their immense wits have helped America achieve huge strides.

References

Foster, H., Krauss, R. E., Bois, Y.-A., Buchloh, B. H. D., & Joselit, D. (2011). Art since 1900: Modernism, antimodernism, postmodernism.