Whenever someone says “Gesundheit” to a sneeze, it is a testament to the fact that in the 19th century, German was the most common non-English language in America.
Zachary Scott / Getty ImagesShow moreShow less2of23Famous American Germans
Some German Americans are not the people you would expect. General George Armstrong Custer is one of them.
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This is a portrait of German-American sculptor Elisabeth Ney with a bust of King George V of Hanover, who created statues of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin.
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Donald Trump’s grandparents came to the United States from Germany.
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Tech genius and philanthropist Bill Gates also has a German heritage.
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Actress Sandra Bullock is German-American, as is Katy’s own Renee Zellweger.
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Two branches of Barack Obama’s family came from Germany.
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The German Americans brought with them the idea of ​​kindergarten.
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The Germans brought the Christmas tree.
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They also brought the hot dog.
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They are responsible for the burger.
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The Amish came from southern Germany and Switzerland.
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The Germans brought the pretzel.
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Bratwurst and sauerkraut come from Germany.
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Blond beer. Nuff said.
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The first Americans of German descent to come to the original 13 colonies arrived in Philadelphia on October 6, 1683. The 13 families settled in an area now known as Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Throughout the rest of American history, and particularly in the mid-19th century, Germans flocked to North America in search of good farmland, freedom of thought, and an overall better life. They were almost unanimously opposed to slavery.
Americans of German origin number more than 46 million.
