In 1883, the year George was born, world politics changed drastically. The German Empire founded its first colonies. German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who always tried to have friendly and diplomatic relationships to other powerful countries like Russia, lost his influential position after German Emperor William I and his son and successor Frederick III both died in 1888. This year was called in German “Dreikaiserjahr”, meaning Year Of The Three Emperors. Finally Wilhelm’s grandson, William II became German emperor. The inexperienced young emperor did not sign or renew contracts with Russia and he also began an armament race with England, which ultimately was one of the causes for World War 1.
While European powers in the following years prepared themselves for war, Republican Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest president of the United States of all time. His progressive policies finally made the US become a global player. He, for example, helped Panama gain its independence from Columbia and therefore was able to have the Panama Canal build. Until this day, it is the biggest civil construction project of modern times. Obviously these developments in the Americas convinced a lot of Europeans to come to the US, among them many Germans.
But the beginning of the First World War and the US alliance with France and Britain changed their situation vehemently; young men like George were drafted for military service. For Germans and German Americans, it was a time of discrimination and persecution. Some Germans were even lynched. In the town of Scotia, where George allegedly worked in 1918, you can read in the old newspapers about the case of a German-American, who was tarred and feathered by his co-workers in a woodsman camp, because he did not want to support the military with a donation.
Plenty of German dishes in restaurants were renamed: Sauerkraut, for instance, was renamed “Liberty Cabbage”, a Hamburger became a “Liberty Sandwich”. (As you can see, there are similarities to the situation after 9/11, when the French government did not want to support the Iraq War. Suddenly, French Fries in the United States were called “Freedom Fries”, French Toast was renamed “Freedom Toast”.)
While European powers in the following years prepared themselves for war, Republican Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest president of the United States of all time. His progressive policies finally made the US become a global player. He, for example, helped Panama gain its independence from Columbia and therefore was able to have the Panama Canal build. Until this day, it is the biggest civil construction project of modern times. Obviously these developments in the Americas convinced a lot of Europeans to come to the US, among them many Germans.
But the beginning of the First World War and the US alliance with France and Britain changed their situation vehemently; young men like George were drafted for military service. For Germans and German Americans, it was a time of discrimination and persecution. Some Germans were even lynched. In the town of Scotia, where George allegedly worked in 1918, you can read in the old newspapers about the case of a German-American, who was tarred and feathered by his co-workers in a woodsman camp, because he did not want to support the military with a donation.
Plenty of German dishes in restaurants were renamed: Sauerkraut, for instance, was renamed “Liberty Cabbage”, a Hamburger became a “Liberty Sandwich”. (As you can see, there are similarities to the situation after 9/11, when the French government did not want to support the Iraq War. Suddenly, French Fries in the United States were called “Freedom Fries”, French Toast was renamed “Freedom Toast”.)
gusenbauer am 15. Juli 2013 | 0 Kommentare
| Kommentieren