Radicals of the Early Republic
German immigrants were a lot of things in the late-19th-early-20th Century of American development. However, one aspect of German communities that was often overlooked would be their political views. Around 1848, the first major influx of German immigrants left their home country, many times for the United States. This was mostly due to the German Revolutions, and how certain political ideologies weren’t respected in their economy. After facing political discrimination, and sometimes even exile, German “radicals” left for a new world, with the promise of freedom.
It wasn’t an easy journey, however. The ship transport industry of the time was profit-centric, and often crammed too many migrants onto one boat, with limited supplies. Once someone has paid for their ticket, the company didn’t have much incentive to provide a good service. Nonetheless, these “48ers” endured harsh conditions with the dream of a free land for all. If you want to know more about the 48ers journey to the U.S., check out the book 48ers and Know-Nothings by Richard O’Connor.
After making it to America, many of these migrants went to the newest frontier: Missouri. There were many areas that formed small communities, but there was also a concentration of Germans in areas like St. Louis and Jefferson City, which were about to undergo massive growth. Shortly after arrival, some of these immigrants were already standing up for their beliefs, even against common norms. In 1852, a 48er by the name of Heinrich Boernstein led a movement to celebrate the Fourth of July, even though it fell on a Sunday. The traditional surrounding culture moved their holiday back to avoid the day of rest, but Germans didn’t see a problem. To avoid frustrating the locals further, they simply marched their festival celebrations outside of the cities. More about the cultural tensions between German migrants and other Americans during this time can be read in a chapter titled “Culture War,” in Inventing America’s First Immigration Crisis, by Luke Ritter. Thankfully there wasn’t any violence, but the German radicals certainly created an uproar, all while celebrating the idea of liberty.
In one of my specific research areas, Cole County, there was a strong 48er population. Many were educated in the humanities, and focused on improving public education all over. In my research group’s collaborative blog post, we mention the Central Evangelical Church, which was a German-founded church near the heart of Jefferson City. What we didn’t mention, was how this politically active community engaged with it. For example, in 1892, the church hosted a Palestinian speaker, who was likely the first Muslim welcomed into the city. Even with obvious religious differences, the German community welcomed in new perspectives. Another figure of note was Fred H. Binder, an architect, builder, and civic leader in Jeff City at the time. This German progressive headed many city projects, including the construction of the Central Evangelical Church for the German community. He also became the mayor, a councilman, and creator of a loan program to help low-income people secure housing. There were many other German progressives in Jeff City from the influx of 48ers, who helped forge a thriving community. If you’re interested in reading more about them, check out this article by Walter Schroeder.
Being a German in Missouri meant a lot of things. However, many don’t realize there was a strong community of progressively-minded immigrants, who wanted to forge a better future. Years of political persecution and failed reform led them to the United States, where they had the liberty to create a new path.
