Texas Immigration - Essay Example

Texas Immigration Introduction Immigration, according to Daniels is the movement and permanent settlement of people in a country where they are not natives (22). Therefore, immigrants are a group of people who move from their country of origin to settle in a foreign country. Though there are several immigrant groups in Texas, this paper will look at the Germans in Texas. The German immigrants have been chosen because they are the largest immigrant and ethnic group in Texas. Furthermore, the immigration of this group influenced Texans in relation to culture and lifestyle. The paper will proceed by discussing the root causes of German immigration to Texas, the conditions of the immigration, the assimilation process and their current life in Texas. It will conclude by presenting in reinforcing points that will be discussed in the body. Background information The immigration of Germans to Texas began as early as 1930 (Rudolph). Most of the immigrants were protestants and the Jewish. The first immigration process was influence by Friedrich Ernst who, upon settling in Texas, wrote letters to his friend Oldenburg in German informing him about the opportunities in Texas. The letters were published in German hence attracting the attention of many Germans who resolved to immigrate to Texas (Lich 59). Among those who were attracted were the noblemen who saw it a great opportunity to colonize the German peasants in Texas. They were further inspired by the fact that Texas was an independent state where they could be able to exercise political control. The year 1940 saw an influx of immigrants to Texas due to unfavorable economic, technological, social and political climate in German. The German Emigration company also transported a lot of Germans, especially peasants to Texas. In addition, the availability of land in Texas led to more migration because it was seen as an opportunity for investment and growth (Shepherd 19). The immigrants were promised to be given land, furnishings and access to various facilities hence mass immigration. The immigration was large in that by the year 1950, Germans in Texas were more than 5% of the total Texas Population. The immigration was structured in a way that the majority of them settled around the vicinity of Ernst who lived in South Central Texas. They moved in clusters where people from the same location in German moved to similar locations in Texas. The immigrants became neighbors and were influenced by dominant personalities. Such clustered settlement further quickened the immigration because more and more people felt the urge to immigrate. Most of the Germans that immigrated to Texas came from West central German and settled in the Fragmented belt of the South central region. However, during the immigration, some of the Germans lost their lives because they were attacked by epidemics. The villages in Germany lost a good number of their population to Texas. A colonization project also saw transportation of 2000 German-speaking settlers to Texas in the effort to reduce the population in Germany. The people who move comprised of artisans, peasants, few educated individuals and peasants. Because the Germans were trade oriented, they were able to survive in Texas. From the year 1850, their number doubled because many had settled and formed families hence giving birth to more Germans. The life and assimilation of Germans in Texas The settlement of Germans in Texas was vast in that by the year 1880, they occupied many regions of Texas. They were also diverse in terms of religion; ethnicity and educational backgrounds hence had different reasons of immigration (Hoobler 54). Some, like farmers, were interested in opportunities that presented themselves while others were in search of political freedom. In the year 1881, they founded a colony on the West part of Texas. This past of the state was considered to have many opportunities because it was fertile. The Germans practiced agriculture and planted vineyards. They were further divided into ethnical islands where their settlement brought forth their diversity. Those that lived in the pedernales valley comprised of Catholics that were hardworking but also fun loving who enjoyed drinking and dancing. Those that lived in the Liano valley were Methodists who renounced dancing. The Germans in the Guadalupe valley consisted of political and intellectual refugees who influenced others residents on political grounds. The German diversity in Texas created a lot of influence in the state. At first, the Americans created activist groups that were against the settlement of the German in their land. They saw Germans as a threat because they felt that they could rule them and take away their land. In order to force the Germans out of their state, they formed campaigns that conveyed negative messages about the Germans. Frost states that they felt that the immigrants could destroy their democracy and values (91). Because of huge differences in their culture, politics and language, the Americans strived to get them out of the country with a claim that the Germans were striving to gain political control in Texas. However, the Germans settled peacefully in Texas and continued to pursue their ideals. Their goals were in line with the American values that influenced cooperation among the groups. As time passed, the Americans slowly accepted the Germans because they no longer saw them as threats but as people who could work together to realize the goals of the Texans. The majority of the people United and fought against any form of discrimination that coexisted leading to the formation of German-Texans. The acceptance of the Germans led to a gradual assimilation in Texas. Their influence was visible in terms of language, culture, business and other professional activities. German acculturation started in the year 1890 onwards. Another reason that promoted adoption of the German culture was the fact that the Germans strived to maintain their culture regardless of the fact that they were in a foreign land. It was further promoted by two world wars and the movements against German prejudice. Slowly, German language began to be used in Texas. Intermarriages between the communities also led to the adoption of the German culture. There was so much adoption to the extent that names were interchanged. The language was largely used in areas such as central Texas that had a high number of Germans living there. The German festivals were also celebrated such as gathering of singing societies. The influence led to the German-Texan culture (Shepherd). It also led to the customary observance of the Germans in Texas. Events of the German origin such as the scarlet dances and horse racing were celebrated. The assimilation was large in that celebrations with German culture were put in the Texas calendar. Assimilation was also observed in food where the flavors of Texas got mixed with those of the German. The Germans participated in other activities such as labor unions that fought for the rights of many people. The intellectual and political groups became very influential in terms of policy making and influencing change. The immigration and assimilation led to the German-Texans heritage that created further understanding and unity among the German and the Texans. German immigration decline However, after the great war in the year 1915, the German culture in Texas began to die off. The war led to the harassment of the Germans in Texas and the United states as a whole. Most of the German people began to immigrate to the cities of Texas hence breaking the social bonds that existed between them. Anything that belonged to the German was destroyed. After the war, the language and the political interests of the Americans with the German faded. The immigration from German to Texas also decreased considerably because of the World wars and the stringent measures that did not support immigration. The German-language schools declined because they were no longer supported by the Americans. The German-language press that played a big role in promoting German culture also went silent. All this changes led to the fall of the German era. The American culture took over the German where languages in schools took the American tradition Conclusion In conclusion, it is visible that the settlement of Ernst in Texas influenced immigration into Texas. other factors such as unfavorable political, social and economic climate in German further led to the immigration of the Germans to Texas. Migrating in groups and settling in one place in Texas created Unity among the Germans and fought resistance that was at first witnessed from the Americans in Texas. The immigration was large that led to the acculturation of the Germans in Texas. Adoption of the culture was seen in language, food, celebration of various events and customs. The great world war saw the decline in immigration from both Germans and other groups. The decline led to the Germans being the largest immigrant group in Texas compared to other groups. However, the decline of the German culture was witnessed when some German groups begun moving to the cities such as San Antonio. However, the immigration still remains a notable event in history. Not all German culture was lost because other festivals and events are still celebrated in Texas. Works Cited Lich, Glen. The German Texans. San Antonio: University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures.1991. Print Daniels, Roger. Coming to America: A History of Immigration and Ethnicity in American Life. New York: HarperCollins, 1990. Print Frost, Helen. German Immigrants, 1820–1920. Mankato, MN: Blue Earth Books, an imprint of Capstone Press, 2002.Web Hoobler, Dorothy, and Thomas Hoobler. The German American Family Album. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print Rudolph Biesel. Biesele, The History of the German Settlements in Texas. 2005. Web Shepher, Seth. Texas Politics. Lubboc: Texas Tech Press. 2002. Print Read More