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Effective family research requires some understanding of the historical events that may have affected your family and the records about them. Learning about wars, governments, laws, migrations, and religious trends may help you understand political boundaries, family movements, and settlement patterns. These events may have led to the creation of records that mention your ancestors, such as land or military documents. Your ancestors will become more interesting to you if you learn about the events that shaped their lives. For example, by using a history you might learn about the events that occurred in the year your great-grandparents were married. | Effective family research requires some understanding of the historical events that may have affected your family and the records about them. Learning about wars, governments, laws, migrations, and religious trends may help you understand political boundaries, family movements, and settlement patterns. These events may have led to the creation of records that mention your ancestors, such as land or military documents. Your ancestors will become more interesting to you if you learn about the events that shaped their lives. For example, by using a history you might learn about the events that occurred in the year your great-grandparents were married. | ||
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In the 1500s we see record keeping in the parishes. This was not mandatory. The priests kept records of their ministrations. We see marriage entries, then births and deaths. Around 1550 it became fashionable to celebrate someone’s death in a more elaborate way. This trend started with the male nobles and wealthy citizens. At their funerals so called “Leichenpredigten” (sermons) were given. These described the life and professional career , the ups and downs in the life , marriage and family of the deceased. This practice spread to cover female and ordinary citizens’ funerals and became a widespread literary product. The printing and distribution of Leichenpredigten were discontinued after 1750. | In the 1500s we see record keeping in the parishes. This was not mandatory. The priests kept records of their ministrations. We see marriage entries, then births and deaths. Around 1550 it became fashionable to celebrate someone’s death in a more elaborate way. This trend started with the male nobles and wealthy citizens. At their funerals so called “Leichenpredigten” (sermons) were given. These described the life and professional career , the ups and downs in the life , marriage and family of the deceased. This practice spread to cover female and ordinary citizens’ funerals and became a widespread literary product. The printing and distribution of Leichenpredigten were discontinued after 1750. | ||
The religious strife did not cease because it became a political issue. The Czech nobility was under the impression that they had been granted religious freedom, which was not the case. Their German overlords favored Catholicism. The tensions came to a peak. When the Catholic envoy came to support the Church’s views, the Czech delegates tossed these men out the window. The Defenestration of Prague on May 23, 1618 produced serious consequences. What seemed to be a conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism was in reality a war between Catholic France and Catholic Habsburg for supremacy in Europe. Four wars were fought to solve this conflict.<br> | The religious strife did not cease because it became a political issue. The Czech nobility was under the impression that they had been granted religious freedom, which was not the case. Their German overlords favored Catholicism. The tensions came to a peak. When the Catholic envoy came to support the Church’s views, the Czech delegates tossed these men out the window. The Defenestration of Prague on May 23, 1618 produced serious consequences. What seemed to be a conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism was in reality a war between Catholic France and Catholic Habsburg for supremacy in Europe. Four wars were fought to solve this conflict.<br> | ||
=== Thirty Years' War === | === Thirty Years' War === | ||
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Destruction did not just come through wars, but through hunger and disease (plague) as well. Devastation occurred also through overzealous interpretation of the scriptures. Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” gave authorities the right to put those to death whom they deemed possessed with witchcraft. Men and women with knowledge of enhancing or healing herbs, once a highly regarded craft, were especially targeted, accused as devil’s advocates and put to death. Germany with 25.000 such cases was in the lead among Europeans. | Destruction did not just come through wars, but through hunger and disease (plague) as well. Devastation occurred also through overzealous interpretation of the scriptures. Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” gave authorities the right to put those to death whom they deemed possessed with witchcraft. Men and women with knowledge of enhancing or healing herbs, once a highly regarded craft, were especially targeted, accused as devil’s advocates and put to death. Germany with 25.000 such cases was in the lead among Europeans. | ||
=== Early continental and overseas emigration/migration<br> === | === Early continental and overseas emigration/migration<br> === | ||
After 1648 land became available. People moved eastward to open up new frontiers. Couples married at a younger age. Others had to flee from further religious conflicts. The first larger emigration to North America began when the Concord delivered Germans to Pennsylvania in 1683. People from the Netherlands fled religious disputes and settled in the marshy areas of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany. They built dykes and established milk processing stations, travelling as far as West Prussia to settle along the Vistula river. [ See [http://www.thorn-wpr.de/Grafik/PlanNied.gif http://www.thorn-wpr.de/Grafik/PlanNied.gif ] ] Still others followed an invitation by Catherine the Great to settle in the Black Sea regions. This map shows German areas from which people emigrated in large numbers during the 17th and 18th centuries: [http://www.progenealogists.com/germany/Images/1700gerem.jpg http://www.progenealogists.com/germany/Images/1700gerem.jpg] | After 1648 land became available. People moved eastward to open up new frontiers. Couples married at a younger age. Others had to flee from further religious conflicts. The first larger emigration to North America began when the Concord delivered Germans to Pennsylvania in 1683. People from the Netherlands fled religious disputes and settled in the marshy areas of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany. They built dykes and established milk processing stations, travelling as far as West Prussia to settle along the Vistula river. [ See [http://www.thorn-wpr.de/Grafik/PlanNied.gif http://www.thorn-wpr.de/Grafik/PlanNied.gif ] ] Still others followed an invitation by Catherine the Great to settle in the Black Sea regions. This map shows German areas from which people emigrated in large numbers during the 17th and 18th centuries: [http://www.progenealogists.com/germany/Images/1700gerem.jpg http://www.progenealogists.com/germany/Images/1700gerem.jpg] | ||
=== Political and social unrest<br> === | === Political and social unrest<br> === | ||
In quick succession developments occurred which influenced life in Germany to a great extent. The state of Prussia from a relatively small entity annexed most of the Northern German states by 1871. The Industrial Revolution in England had a tremendous impact on the rest of Europe. The French Revolution brought the ideas of “egalite, fraternite and liberte” and Napoleon’s occupation of German territory along the Rhine and northern parts aroused in the German soul for the first time the thought of nationalism. Moreover, Napoleon inspired the Confederation of the Rhine, dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, reduced the German states to 39, introduced the French Calendar und administrative measures and inspired the March Revolution of 1848. The Revolution of 1848 was unsuccessful. The citizens of Germany tried to achieve national unity and to obtain a political voice. The aspired changes failed because Austria wanted to change the political landscape back to pre-Napoleonic times and Prussia was too fainthearted to go through with any changes. After the failure to achieve political union, many prominent Germans faced prison time if they did not escape to America or Switzerland. ¼ Million people found a new home in America and had quite an impact on the cultural and technological developments of this country. | In quick succession developments occurred which influenced life in Germany to a great extent. The state of Prussia from a relatively small entity annexed most of the Northern German states by 1871. The Industrial Revolution in England had a tremendous impact on the rest of Europe. The French Revolution brought the ideas of “egalite, fraternite and liberte” and Napoleon’s occupation of German territory along the Rhine and northern parts aroused in the German soul for the first time the thought of nationalism. Moreover, Napoleon inspired the Confederation of the Rhine, dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, reduced the German states to 39, introduced the French Calendar und administrative measures and inspired the March Revolution of 1848. The Revolution of 1848 was unsuccessful. The citizens of Germany tried to achieve national unity and to obtain a political voice. The aspired changes failed because Austria wanted to change the political landscape back to pre-Napoleonic times and Prussia was too fainthearted to go through with any changes. After the failure to achieve political union, many prominent Germans faced prison time if they did not escape to America or Switzerland. ¼ Million people found a new home in America and had quite an impact on the cultural and technological developments of this country. | ||
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Hamburg and Bremen became the most important Passenger ports in Europe. [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/94685.html&usg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/94685.html&usg] | Hamburg and Bremen became the most important Passenger ports in Europe. [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/94685.html&usg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/94685.html&usg] | ||
[http://germanroots.com/ http://germanroots.com/] | [http://germanroots.com/ http://germanroots.com/] | ||
Emigrants were registered in Hamburg since 1850. The passenger lists from Hamburg still exist; the ones from Bremen were destroyed. | Emigrants were registered in Hamburg since 1850. The passenger lists from Hamburg still exist; the ones from Bremen were destroyed. | ||
=== The Industrial Revolution<br> === | === The Industrial Revolution<br> === | ||
The industrialization and Germany’s production of coal and steel brought many people of the land into the cities. The import of cotton in conjunction with slave labor provided a cheaper product and wiped out the century-old profession of the weaver, who processed flax. Many people had to leave the profession and the life they once knew to find work in the cities. Poverty here was prevalent. People did not have cash to pay the church to get married, for instance. From 1800 to 1850 we see many illegitimate children. | The industrialization and Germany’s production of coal and steel brought many people of the land into the cities. The import of cotton in conjunction with slave labor provided a cheaper product and wiped out the century-old profession of the weaver, who processed flax. Many people had to leave the profession and the life they once knew to find work in the cities. Poverty here was prevalent. People did not have cash to pay the church to get married, for instance. From 1800 to 1850 we see many illegitimate children. | ||
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Again, emigration was a real option, especially because Germany was in the process of political change which did not entirely evolve without fighting. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870/71 had many leave the country again [http://www.volkerjarren.de/GenRes/Images/emigrants.gif http://www.volkerjarren.de/GenRes/Images/emigrants.gif] | Again, emigration was a real option, especially because Germany was in the process of political change which did not entirely evolve without fighting. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870/71 had many leave the country again [http://www.volkerjarren.de/GenRes/Images/emigrants.gif http://www.volkerjarren.de/GenRes/Images/emigrants.gif] | ||
=== The struggles of a united Germany <br> === | === The struggles of a united Germany <br> === | ||
Otto v. Bismarck was the driving force to unify Germany. The empire was a constitutional monarchy until 1918. See [http://www.uoregon.edu/~kimball/images/1871.GRM.unified-CWA168.jpg http://www.uoregon.edu/~kimball/images/1871.GRM.unified-CWA168.jpg] | Otto v. Bismarck was the driving force to unify Germany. The empire was a constitutional monarchy until 1918. See [http://www.uoregon.edu/~kimball/images/1871.GRM.unified-CWA168.jpg http://www.uoregon.edu/~kimball/images/1871.GRM.unified-CWA168.jpg] | ||
=== Word War I<br> === | === Word War I<br> === | ||
This [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.classicistranieri.com/wikipediaschool/images/263/26357.png&imgrefurl=http://www.classicistranieri.com/wikipediaschool/wp/t/Treaty_of_Versailles.htm&usg=__-RVOV8lo9a9LYYd28fO7yxZmdgs=&h=254&w=300&sz=40&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=f-i8oWrpKYGBIM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGermany%2Bafter%2BVersailles%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG map ]show the territories Germany lost as a result of Word War I. | This [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.classicistranieri.com/wikipediaschool/images/263/26357.png&imgrefurl=http://www.classicistranieri.com/wikipediaschool/wp/t/Treaty_of_Versailles.htm&usg=__-RVOV8lo9a9LYYd28fO7yxZmdgs=&h=254&w=300&sz=40&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=f-i8oWrpKYGBIM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGermany%2Bafter%2BVersailles%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG map ]show the territories Germany lost as a result of Word War I. | ||
=== World War II<br> === | === World War II<br> === | ||
After Word War II Germany lost the following territories [http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/germany/194956.gif http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/germany/194956.gif] | After Word War II Germany lost the following territories [http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/germany/194956.gif http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/germany/194956.gif] | ||