| Freethinkers |
When the Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861 after the Southern states seceded from the Union,
Texas Confederate military authorities moved to eliminate any internal threats to the confederacy by
issuing to the young men of the state an ultimatum: take oaths of allegiance to the Confederacy or
leave the state. The vast majority of German-Americans in the Texas Hill Country sided with Sam
Houston in opposing secession and slavery.
Texas Confederate military authorities moved to eliminate any internal threats to the confederacy by
issuing to the young men of the state an ultimatum: take oaths of allegiance to the Confederacy or
leave the state. The vast majority of German-Americans in the Texas Hill Country sided with Sam
Houston in opposing secession and slavery.
| The Turner Movement |
The Turner movement originated in the early 1800's as part of the
effort to liberate the German states from Napoleon's rule. They
combined patriotic and liberal principles with an emphasis on
physical training. The real impetus for widespread organization of
Turner groups in America came from the 1848 revolution that
drove so many Germans to America and resulted directly in the
U.S.Turnverein founded in Cincinnati in 1848 on Friedrich
Hecker's initiative. Others followed in rapid succession all over the
Midwest as well as in the East, where active societies existed from
Boston to Richmond in 1850. Left: Turners gym, 1860
effort to liberate the German states from Napoleon's rule. They
combined patriotic and liberal principles with an emphasis on
physical training. The real impetus for widespread organization of
Turner groups in America came from the 1848 revolution that
drove so many Germans to America and resulted directly in the
U.S.Turnverein founded in Cincinnati in 1848 on Friedrich
Hecker's initiative. Others followed in rapid succession all over the
Midwest as well as in the East, where active societies existed from
Boston to Richmond in 1850. Left: Turners gym, 1860
Although largely a gymnastic society, the immigrants wished to combine their physical education
endeavors with efforts to preserve German culture and traditions.In its early days, the U.S.
Turnverein was amovement whose principles were comparable with those of German freethinkers'
societies. Antislavery, anti-prohibition, and anti-nativism were basic tenets of the Turner movement
in America. The Turner movement was popular among many progressive non-Germans as well.
endeavors with efforts to preserve German culture and traditions.In its early days, the U.S.
Turnverein was amovement whose principles were comparable with those of German freethinkers'
societies. Antislavery, anti-prohibition, and anti-nativism were basic tenets of the Turner movement
in America. The Turner movement was popular among many progressive non-Germans as well.
Between 1820 and 1920, over 5,500,000 emigrated from Germany to the United States. Germany therefore
contributed more people than any other country. An investigation carried out in 1978 revealed that since 1820,
over 6,978,000 people emigrated to the United States from Germany. This amounted to 14.3 per cent of the total
foreign immigration during this period.
contributed more people than any other country. An investigation carried out in 1978 revealed that since 1820,
over 6,978,000 people emigrated to the United States from Germany. This amounted to 14.3 per cent of the total
foreign immigration during this period.
The term Freethinkers (Freidenker) describes a liberal 19th century German intellectual movement
which attempted to be unencumbered by dogma. Freethinking became fashionable during the Age
of Reason from 1740 to 1753. Many of the early freethinkers were neither true agnostics nor true
atheists, rather they substituted the notion of a deity and its accouterments with opinions about
religion based on reason, logic and common sense. Some of the more radical members of the 48'ers
and Turners were freethinkers. The Freethinkers refused to accept political absolutism and the
authority of a church or a religion. They settled all across American, and there were groups of them
in every major city. At least two German regiments were comprised mostly of non-religious free
thinkers and they actually started their own "free churches" unencumbered by a traditional preacher.
Many freethinkers were highly educated and strongly supported public education, particularly
vocational programs.
which attempted to be unencumbered by dogma. Freethinking became fashionable during the Age
of Reason from 1740 to 1753. Many of the early freethinkers were neither true agnostics nor true
atheists, rather they substituted the notion of a deity and its accouterments with opinions about
religion based on reason, logic and common sense. Some of the more radical members of the 48'ers
and Turners were freethinkers. The Freethinkers refused to accept political absolutism and the
authority of a church or a religion. They settled all across American, and there were groups of them
in every major city. At least two German regiments were comprised mostly of non-religious free
thinkers and they actually started their own "free churches" unencumbered by a traditional preacher.
Many freethinkers were highly educated and strongly supported public education, particularly
vocational programs.
There were several freethinker communities across the USA including the
Rationalist Society of St. Louis which was formed in 1948 and is still in
existence today, making it the oldest autonomous Freethought organization
in the United States. Their Naked Truth monument in St. Louis, left, was
dedicated to Schurtz, Preetorius and Danzer. The statue was moved from
its original location in the wake of anti-German sentiment of World War
One. Also in Missouri, Hermann was founded in 1837, after being chosen
by the German Settlement Society of Philadelphia for its resemblance to the
Rhine Valley of Germany. It proved to be beneficial to farming, brewing
and especially wine making. In the first few decades after its founding, it
was also fertile ground for Free thought which was alive and well until 1854.
Rationalist Society of St. Louis which was formed in 1948 and is still in
existence today, making it the oldest autonomous Freethought organization
in the United States. Their Naked Truth monument in St. Louis, left, was
dedicated to Schurtz, Preetorius and Danzer. The statue was moved from
its original location in the wake of anti-German sentiment of World War
One. Also in Missouri, Hermann was founded in 1837, after being chosen
by the German Settlement Society of Philadelphia for its resemblance to the
Rhine Valley of Germany. It proved to be beneficial to farming, brewing
and especially wine making. In the first few decades after its founding, it
was also fertile ground for Free thought which was alive and well until 1854.
Texas Hill Country in the late 1840s and 50s offered Freethinkers refuge from the oppressions of
Europe. The Freethinkers strongly admired the ideals of the great American patriots: Washington,
Jefferson, Paine, Adams, Madison, and Franklin. In May, 1854, the annual Texas state convention
of German singing groups, a Saengerfest, was held in San Antonio. Dominated by Freethinkers,
numerous resolutions were drawn, including the following: that people be taxed on the level of their
income, that laws be simple and intelligible so that there should be no need of lawyers, the abolition
of the grand jury, of capital punishment, of all temperance laws, of laws respecting Sunday or days
of prayer and the abolition of the oath as a matter of religious sanction, i.e. that Congress should
never be opened by prayer. Further, that there should be no religious instruction in schools and that
preachers could not be teachers, They brought to the United States high ideals of freedom for all,
education for children, limited government and medical and scientific advancement. However, after
only a few years, they ended up sacrificing their homes, fortunes, future, and lives for these ideals.
Europe. The Freethinkers strongly admired the ideals of the great American patriots: Washington,
Jefferson, Paine, Adams, Madison, and Franklin. In May, 1854, the annual Texas state convention
of German singing groups, a Saengerfest, was held in San Antonio. Dominated by Freethinkers,
numerous resolutions were drawn, including the following: that people be taxed on the level of their
income, that laws be simple and intelligible so that there should be no need of lawyers, the abolition
of the grand jury, of capital punishment, of all temperance laws, of laws respecting Sunday or days
of prayer and the abolition of the oath as a matter of religious sanction, i.e. that Congress should
never be opened by prayer. Further, that there should be no religious instruction in schools and that
preachers could not be teachers, They brought to the United States high ideals of freedom for all,
education for children, limited government and medical and scientific advancement. However, after
only a few years, they ended up sacrificing their homes, fortunes, future, and lives for these ideals.
The membership was dedicated to "cultivation of rational training, both intellectual and physical in
order that the members may become energetic, patriotic citizens of the Republic." The
intellectualism was displayed by lectures and by the establishment of Turner libraries. Immigrants
could enjoy colorful militia formations and the Germanic gun clubs, the Schützenverein, or don
fanciful uniforms and join companies of German huzzars, fusileers and riflemen.
order that the members may become energetic, patriotic citizens of the Republic." The
intellectualism was displayed by lectures and by the establishment of Turner libraries. Immigrants
could enjoy colorful militia formations and the Germanic gun clubs, the Schützenverein, or don
fanciful uniforms and join companies of German huzzars, fusileers and riflemen.
This resulted in what became known as the Nueces Massacre. Many of these
Germans from Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country strenuously objected
to being drafted into the Confederate army, and this was taken as a sign of
rebellion by Confederate authorities who sent in troops in the spring of 1862.
On August 10, 1862, a violent confrontation between Confederate soldiers
and civilians broke out in Kinney County, Texas. Many German Texans had
decided to flee to Mexico, and a party of 61 German Texans from the Hill
Country counties were overtaken by Texas Confederate cavalrymen on the
Nueces River. Shots were fired and 36 German Texans were killed as a result,
some being executed upon capture. Other Germans from Central Texas
managed to complete their journey to Mexico City under the leadership of
Paul Machemehl of Austin County.
Germans from Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country strenuously objected
to being drafted into the Confederate army, and this was taken as a sign of
rebellion by Confederate authorities who sent in troops in the spring of 1862.
On August 10, 1862, a violent confrontation between Confederate soldiers
and civilians broke out in Kinney County, Texas. Many German Texans had
decided to flee to Mexico, and a party of 61 German Texans from the Hill
Country counties were overtaken by Texas Confederate cavalrymen on the
Nueces River. Shots were fired and 36 German Texans were killed as a result,
some being executed upon capture. Other Germans from Central Texas
managed to complete their journey to Mexico City under the leadership of
Paul Machemehl of Austin County.
In 1860, more than four out of five Germans in the United
States were living in the Free States, two thirds of them in New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. The border
states of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri had
about 15 percent, and the Slave States only 5 percent. There
were manyGerman American cultural organizations in most
states aside from Turnvereins, including abundant musical
societies. Germans formed choral groups and glee clubs
wherever they settled. 1905 Indianapolis Turners parade, left
States were living in the Free States, two thirds of them in New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. The border
states of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri had
about 15 percent, and the Slave States only 5 percent. There
were manyGerman American cultural organizations in most
states aside from Turnvereins, including abundant musical
societies. Germans formed choral groups and glee clubs
wherever they settled. 1905 Indianapolis Turners parade, left
The Treue der Union memorial, above, was erected in 1866 to honor the nineteen Germans settler men killed on
August 10, 1862 in the Battle at Nueces. The remains of those men are buried on the East side of the monument.
It also honors the nine additional Germans taken prisoner or murdered after the battle as well as seven more
killed at Rio Grande, October 18, 1862. As early as 1850, Germans constituted more than 5 percent of the total
Texas population, and even in 1990, the US census revealed that 1,175,888 Texans claimed pure and 1,775,838
partial German ancestry, for a total of 2,951,726, or 17½ percent of the total population.
August 10, 1862 in the Battle at Nueces. The remains of those men are buried on the East side of the monument.
It also honors the nine additional Germans taken prisoner or murdered after the battle as well as seven more
killed at Rio Grande, October 18, 1862. As early as 1850, Germans constituted more than 5 percent of the total
Texas population, and even in 1990, the US census revealed that 1,175,888 Texans claimed pure and 1,775,838
partial German ancestry, for a total of 2,951,726, or 17½ percent of the total population.
The Turnverein offered German-style physical fitness regimes
along with ethnic solidarity and support in blending the old and
new cultures. The St. Louis Turner Society was a social athletic
club that also offered defensive military training because of the
violent "Nativist" demonstrations and riots in the mid-1850's
against German immigrants. In one of several large meeting halls,
young men were trained in shooting, bayoneting and
hand-to-hand combat in addition to gymnastics, and upon advice
from Franz Sigel, German-American militias were formed with
Sigel himself instructing volunteers. Portrayal of Sigel, left
along with ethnic solidarity and support in blending the old and
new cultures. The St. Louis Turner Society was a social athletic
club that also offered defensive military training because of the
violent "Nativist" demonstrations and riots in the mid-1850's
against German immigrants. In one of several large meeting halls,
young men were trained in shooting, bayoneting and
hand-to-hand combat in addition to gymnastics, and upon advice
from Franz Sigel, German-American militias were formed with
Sigel himself instructing volunteers. Portrayal of Sigel, left
