Kapitel 1: How German Is American

Kapitel 1
How German Is American? is a brochure that was created by the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin. This easy-read outlines several examples of the many ways German Heritage is embedded in American Culture. German immigrants inhabited both cities and countryside's in America, and the Majority of German speaking immigrants arrived between 1840 and 1914, with their peek arrival in the 1880s. Reasons for their arrival to America included socioeconomic opportunities for advancement, which came with a promise of financial security through the ownership of property. In fact, many German immigrants moved to places that resembled their native lands, and every American frontier state had agents in Europe to promote immigration.
German Settlement in America resulted in the development of German institutions including "The Turner Movement" or "Turn Verein" founded originally in Berlin (1811) by Friederich Ludwig Jahn, and brought to America in 1848 by German immigrants and exiles after the failed Democratic Revolution in 1848-89. The institution greatly impacted the development of American Gymnastics, and created athletic, cultural and social organization reflective of the German Turnvereine throughout the country. Subcategorized as Turners and a group know as the "Forty-Eighters" (remnants of the progressives of the Turner Movement), German settlement began to play a role in the artistic, political and cultural development of cities like Milwaukee.
One of my favorite pictures in the brochure was the action photo of the young boy on the trampoline. It demonstrates how the Freethinker's liberal approach to politics was highly supported by the Turners. Radicalism in the Freethinker's political position was centered primarily on progressive ideas for public education reform, improved working conditions, voting rights for women, as well as the abolition of slavery. The young boy in the picture is a gymnast of the Milwaukee Turners, and this picture is a symbol of educational reform in light of German inhabitants in America. The first salaried instructor, George Brosius, became both Milwaukee and America's first Superintendent of Physical Education. I found this information enlightening because I didn't realize how influential German American heritage was, on the United States primary and secondary education standards.

Brennpunkt Kultur

Greetings and Farewell

I find it pretty interesting that German has no single equivalent for the English word, hello. Accordingly, they use different expressions according to the time of day.  For instance, "Guten Morgen!" (Good Morning)  is said from sunrise to 11 A.M. "Guten Tag" (Good day)  is said from 11 A.M. to sunset. "Guten Abend!" (Good evening) is said after sundown. Additionally, many German speaking people have greetings unique to their region. In Austria and Bavaria, for example, Gruss Got  is used instead of Guten Tag to express "Good day". They also say Servus with their friends as another form of regional greetings.

Where German is spoken?
I was astounded by the fact that German is the most widely spoken language in the European union (24%). This statistic combines  the estimated 125 million people in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, with the countries that recognize German as an official language and minority language. Because it is widely spoken throughout the world, I am further encouraged to learn the language and submerge myself in German culture.