National German-American Alliance

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The National German-American Alliance, also called the NGAA or Deutschamerikanische Nationalbund, was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1901 by Charles J. Hexamer, who also served as its president until 1917.[1][2] Operating as a federation of ethnic German associations, by 1914 the Alliance claimed more than two million members. The mission of the NGAA was to "promote and preserve German culture in America"; essentially seeking to resist the assimilation of Germans in America.[3]

About

At the height of its popularity, the national organization had chapters in forty-four states and membership levels of 2.5 million people. A professional movement, the NGAA promoted German language instruction in school, the foundation of educational societies, including the German Historical Society, and the publication of histories and journals to demonstrate "the role German-Americans had played in the development of the United States."

History

The organization was given a United States Congressional Charter in 1907. With support from the National Brewers Association and brewing companies across the United States, as well as German farmers and commercial enterprises, the NGAA grew quickly. However, due to rising anti-German sentiment due to the NGAA’s outspokenness against prohibition, its stance for neutrality during World War I, and its support of Germany, especially its practice of raising money for German war relief, the NGAA's charter was revoked in August 1918.[4] Concerning a brief version of the report about the NGAA the charter was revoked by vote in July 1918, and finally signed by the president on July 31. 1918.

After continuing their advocacy for German culture throughout the War, the National German-American Alliance faced a Senate investigation in 1918. Under political pressure from all sides, the NGAA folded in April 1918.[5]

Prohibition

During the first decade of the twentieth century the Cincinnati German-American community began a campaign to counter the rapid rise in prohibition sentiment. The organization held events such as in Cincinnati on July 21, 1907, when the German-American Alliance held a public gathering at Coney Island dubbed "Puritanism against Liberalism." In the view of local Germans, the issue was a simple matter of freedom, one of particular importance to immigrants who had left behind an oppressive homeland.[6]

Cincinnati brewers and German-American societies combined to demonstrate the extent to which Prohibition would harm the industry as well as the national economy. An October 1910 publication of the Deutsche Schutzen-Gesellschaft of Covington noted that the government received approximately $80,000,000 in taxes from beer sales the year before. The clear implication was that the termination of such vital activity, involving over 1,500 breweries and 50,000 employees in the case of national prohibition, would have dire consequences for all involved.[6]

As American anti-German hysteria boiled over upon American entry into the war in 1917, brewing activity received considerable attention with regard to the possibility of disloyalty to the American war cause. The Anti-Saloon League and other dry organizations recognized the unique opportunity presented to them by the anti-German sentiment, and mobilized to attack the vulnerable position of native German brewers in American society. With increased frequency the Anti-Saloon League played on public opinion to question the loyalties of German brewers, shrewdly linking breweries to a list of institutions whose right to exist had been called into question in the midst of the growing anti-German hysteria.[6]

Refoundation

The organization was refounded as the German American Citizens League of the United States (Deutschamerikanischer Burgerbund der Vereinigten Staaten) . The new group had many of the same goals as its predecessor - promoting the German language, literature, traditions, music and character. It also tried to "provide for the adequate representation of the German-American element in the public life of the United States" and, in 1923, "aimed to prevent another war between this country and Germany." The new League was open only to US citizens who obligated themselves to vote if physically possible. The organization was headquartered in Chicago, where it published the weekly Deutschamerikanische Burgerzeitung. It also published the Staatsburger in St. Louis.[7]

Publications

See also

  • German-Americans
  • German in the United States
  • Germans in Omaha

References

  1. ↑ "A German-American Chronology." Society for German American Studies. Retrieved 9/4/07.
  2. ↑ "Syllabus for German Immigrant Culture in America." Society for German American Studies. Retrieved 9/4/07.
  3. ↑ Kazal, R.A. (2004) Becoming Old Stock: The Paradox of German-American Identity. Princeton University Press. Retrieved 9/4/07.
  4. ↑ von Stueben Monument, National Park Service. Retrieved 9/4/07.
  5. ↑ Conzen, K.N. (1980) "Germans," in Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups, ed. Thernstrom, S. Harvard University Press. p 423.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.sudhauspress.com/loyalty.html
  7. ↑ Preuss, Arthur A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. 1924; republished Detroit: Gale Reference Company 1966; p.149

Bibliography

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