This article is part of our series “German Immigrants.” Click here for a full listing of all articles in the series.
Would you ever leave your home, knowing you could never return? Why or why not?
This profound question has echoed through the centuries, particularly for millions of Germans faced with the prospect of starting a new life in the United States.
The tale of German immigration to America is one of resilience, hope, and the pursuit of a better life. While some historians trace the first individual German immigrants back to the early days of Jamestown, documented records mark the arrival of the first significant group of Germans from Krefeld in Philadelphia on October 6th, 1683 [1]. Their journey, however, was just the beginning of a broader narrative of migration shaped by economic, political, and social forces spanning centuries.
German Communities in the United States
German immigrants left indelible marks on American soil, establishing vibrant communities across the nation's landscape. In mid-1700s Pennsylvania, you could pick up Die Philadelphische Staatsbote (The Philadelphia Herald), or take a short stroll into nearby Germantown and grab a copy of Die Germantauner Zeitung [2]. In the 1800’s, you could walk though Little Germany in New York City and check out books from the Freie Bibliothek und Lesehalle (Free Library and Reading Hall). Traveling across the country to Texas, you’d cross paths with Hermann Seele, who was the first German school teacher west of the Colorado River [3]. Venturing north to the town of New Ulm, Minnesota, you could enjoy a cold beverage in August Schell’s brewery, which is still in operation to this day [4].
Although German communities flourished in the United States, it’s never an easy choice to decide to leave everything you know behind and say goodbye to loved ones, not knowing if you will ever see them again. So what compelled so many to leave the familiar and embark on an uncertain path?
A Song of Settlers
To begin understanding the motivations behind German immigration, one can turn to songs of the era. While songs may not fully reflect reality, they do offer glimpses into the sentiments and aspirations of those who dared to seek a new beginning.
Take for instance the Columbuslied (Song of Columbus), believed to have been penned by Franz Lahmeier after he immigrated to Baltimore in 1832. Through its verses, we glimpse the yearnings for freedom, opportunity, and escape from the constraints of the old world. Lahmeier was a man of many talents, since his occupations were listed as both a woodworker and a “tooth extractor” [6]. Whether he was shaping smiles or shaping wood, he embodied the spirit of carving out a new life in America.
So let’s delve into a few stanzas of the song to begin to understand why Germans left their homes for a new life in the United States. The song has a total of nine stanzas, and I have selected the middle four stanzas that I feel are the most powerful and telling. The full song text is available (in German) here. My translations aim to maintain accuracy while also preserving the rhyme scheme of the original German text.
The Fourth Stanza of the Song of Columbus
In America’s land of freedom, No noble rank holds sway, Here every soul finds welcome, Regardless of their way, Here the Count and Baron are undone, For they are no more than a peasant’s son. | Hier in Amerikas freiem Lande, Da habens wir kein Adelsstand, Da ist der Mensch von jedem Stande, Als Mensch auch wahrhaft anerkannt, Hier gilt der Graf und der Baron, Nicht mehr als wie der Bauernsohn. |
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Germany was a patchwork of small principalities, each ruled by its own prince, duke, or landgrave. Social mobility was exceedingly rare within these fragmented states, with noble birth often determining one's destiny. For the fortunate few born into noble families, life promised power, wealth, and influence, while the majority toiled as lower-class farmers, shopkeepers, or peasants, with little hope of upward mobility.
However, across the Atlantic lay a land of promise and opportunity: the United States. Here, the rigid class distinctions of the Old World faded away, and individuals were judged not by their lineage, but by their character and determination. In America, the son of a peasant could aspire to the same heights as the son of a nobleman. It was this prospect of a more egalitarian society, where dreams were within reach for all, that beckoned countless Germans to leave behind their ancestral homeland and seek a better future in the New World.
The Fifth Stanza of the Song of Columbus
Beneath America’s shining lamp, In the promised land here, From the slightest mark of a stamp, Every sheet of paper is clear, We also have no taxes here, On wine, brandy, or beer. | Wir haben hier auch zum Exempel, In dem gelobten Lande hier, Auch das Geringste nicht vom Stempel, Auf jeden Bogen Schreibpapier, Wir haben keine Steuern hier, Auf Wein und Branntenwein und Bier. |
This stanza of the Columbuslied portrays America as a land free from the burdens of taxation, particularly on alcohol. The “stamp” refers to official seals on documents indicating that required taxes had been paid, and speaks to the heavy tax burdens faced by lower-class individuals in the Holy Roman Empire.
Although Lahmeier’s lyrics create the perception that there were no taxes in the United States, especially with regards to alcohol, the reality was more complex. Throughout its history, the United States has consistently imposed and enforced taxes on alcohol and other goods, as exemplified by events like the Whiskey Rebellion. Perhaps, in Lahmeier's depiction, the absence of taxes on alcohol symbolized the broader promise of a better life in America, where financial burdens were perceived to be lighter and opportunities more abundant.
Or maybe the truth was much simpler, and Germans just wanted cheaper beer! 🍻
The Sixth Stanza of the Song of Columbus
Oh brother can you only aim for it, This course you can chart, Don’t let the trip scare you a bit, Make yourself ready to depart, Here to the torment of taxes so high, You can finally say goodbye. | Ach Bruder, kannst du´s nur bezwecken,Reicht dein Vermögen nur soweit, So lass dich doch die Reis nichtschrecken, Und mach zur Abfahrt dich bereit, Hier wirst du von der Steuerpein, Auf ewig wohl befreiet sein. |
This stanza addresses the fears associated with embarking on a journey into the unknown, both in terms of the physical dangers of travel and the emotional turmoil of leaving behind everything familiar.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, transatlantic travel was a perilous undertaking, requiring arduous journeys by foot to reach European ports followed by treacherous voyages across the Atlantic. Even with advancements in transportation such as rail systems and steamships, the voyage was fraught with dangers and uncertainties.
Lahmeier's depiction of the journey serves to underscore the magnitude of the decision to leave one's home country behind, and highlights the courage and resilience of those who pursued this path.
The Seventh Stanza of the Song of Columbus
Consider only how you do life, Consider only the expensive wood, The taxes cause you so much strife, The price of salt crushes your livelihood, Interest you pay on every piece of earth, Is this not agony on the farmer’s worth? | Bedenke nur, wie ihr tut leben, Bedenke nur das teure Holz, Auch Steuern müsst ihr so viel geben, Das Salz trägt einen großen Zoll, Für jede Scholle müsst ihr zinsbar sein, Ist das dem Bauern nicht die Höllenpein? |
This stanza illustrates the economic struggles endured by lower-class Germans and the harsh realities of life within the Holy Roman Empire. The high cost of basic necessities such as firewood and salt created significant financial burdens for the lower classes. High taxes are mentioned yet again, underscoring the oppressive fiscal policies that exacerbated the economic plight of ordinary subjects.
Of particular significance is the reference to the cost for “a piece of earth,” since it symbolizes several different types of hardships. It alludes to the feudal system prevalent in many German principalities, where land was often owned by nobles, leaving peasants with limited opportunities for land ownership. Additionally, the practice of partible inheritance, whereby land was divided equally among male heirs in a family, resulted in fragmented and increasingly unproductive plots of land over successive generations, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and hardship. [8]. This led many to seek the wide open spaces of America, where the abundance of land would lead to no “agony on the farmer.”
Good Night Germany, Good Morning America
The verses of the Columbuslied shed light on the multifaceted motivations that propelled millions of Germans to immigrate to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their desire for greater financial freedom, social mobility, access to land, (and cheap beer!), and the allure of new opportunities in the New World served as powerful catalysts for their daring one-way journey across the Atlantic.
German immigration of course is much more complex that a single song can fully explain, but it’s a great place to start our series on German immigrants in the United States. Our new series German Immigrants will delve deeper into their varied experiences, destinations, occupations, and impressions of their new homeland.
The final line of the Song of Columbus reads “And so I say to Germany, good night!” As we reflect on the circumstances that prompted Germans to bid farewell to their homeland, it prompts us to consider our own response to similar challenges.
Faced with the prospect of leaving everything behind, would you embark on such a journey? What would it take to force you to say “good night” to your home, and “good morning” to a new, unknown place?
Answer in the comment section below!
Achtung! Land in Sicht!
Stay tuned for our next article in the German Immigrants series, where we will explore different German communities in the United States, and how Germans perceived and experienced their new homes in America.
Sources & Remarks
[1] Kamphoefner, Walter D. Germans in America. Rowman & Littlefield, Maryland, 2021. 9
[4] Kamphoefner, 159.
[6] Arbeitsgruppe Familienforschung Kreis Herford & Migrations Geschichte (full song text available here as well).
[7] Image from Bundesarchiv, Bild 137-041316. Quote from Kamphoefner, 44.
[8] Ibid,14.
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