German Influences on Texas Culture
If one has lived in Texas for any length of time, they will realize immediately that the Texas culture is influenced by German culture in a number of ways. Modern day Texas culture would not exist as it does today if it were not for German influence. Today Texas culture can be described as a blending of German and Texas traditions. Though German culture is not the only culture that has impacted the Texas of today, it is often considered one of the most significant influences historically.
Whether one examines the architectural landscape of the towns and cities, examines the art and music or simply talks with many of the German descendants living in Texas, one must immediately acknowledge the significant influence the German people have had on the development of Texas as known today. In early Texas history German influence was widespread, often comprising a majority of the ethnic traditions and landscape that have made Texas what it is today. Though the number of German born natives living in Texas today is much less than it was in times of old, the impact the native Germans have had on Texas culture is undeniable.
The intent of this research paper is to examine the extent to which German folklore, traditions and culture still permeate and influence Texas culture today and the extent to which German cultural influences are still felt by people living in Texas today. There is a large body of evidence that already exists examining the historical influence of German migration on Texas culture. Though this paper will explore the foundation for German immigration and the historical influence of German immigrants on Texas, its aim will be to confirm that German influence has not yet died out of Texan culture, and is still in fact a very influential aspect of German culture today. The author asserts that without German influence, Texas culture as most people recognize and love it, would not be what it is today had German immigrants not permeated the landscape and influenced the rich historiography of the land today.
German cultural influences are in fact deeply embedded in modern day Texas architecture and history, and still strongly felt among the native people living in Texas today. There are numerous personal and historical testimonies which affirm the existence of German influence in Texas. German influences have been positive and have helped create Texas culture as most people understand it today. Most people readily acknowledge their familiarity with many German traditions, including dance, folklore, customs and music. These traditions have been modified somewhat to suit Texans living in the state today, but they are nonetheless deeply German in nature. Many people have adopted the German traditions of music, dance, art and celebration into their modern day practices as a way of acknowledging their ancestry. In fact many of the celebrations that occur in Texas today are influenced by German born traditions, the most prevalent of which is the Oktoberfest celebrated in Fredericksburg every year.
The nature of these traditions and the German cultural influence on Texas today is examined in great detail below.
Overview/History
The history of German migration and influence within the state of Texas begins in the early 19th century. Settlers began migrating from Germany to Texas in the early 1800s, as the prospect of opportunity and open land became more available. In the early 1800's Texas was portrayed in Germany as an available new territory with large plots of fertile land and much wild game ... A very appealing prospect for people living in country dwellings and rural areas of Germany at the time. Many German immigrants decided to travel to the United States with the intent of improving their social and economic status, particularly due to the low cost in living (Oomen, 2004, n.p.). In the early days when this nation was still forming, it was not unreasonable for an immigrant to expect to be able to acquire a large parcel of land affordably upon migrating to the states.
Many Germans in fact began arriving in Texas during 1848 when German Revolutions plagued Europe, and a majority of these early settlers formed close communal towns within the state (Oomen, 2004, n.p.). They looked forward to the opportunity of peace and a new life filled with opportunity and promise. The reasons that German immigrants flocked to the United States are not much different from the reasons many other settlers came to this country. They were looking for a better life for themselves and their families. In the process of immigrating and settling large parcels of formerly uninhabited land, they began to develop roots and...
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