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Germany History: Difference between revisions
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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. | <p>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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<h2> Time line of key dates and events in German history: </h2> | <h2> Time line of key dates and events in German history: </h2> | ||
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<ul><li><b>1583:</b> Catholic areas begin using the Gregorian calendar. | <ul><li><b>1583:</b> Catholic areas begin using the Gregorian calendar. | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
<ul><li><b>1618-1648:</b> | <ul><li><b>1618-1648:</b> <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Thirty Years' War">Thirty Years' War</a>. Many records are burned. | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
<ul><li><b>1622:</b> The Pfalz suffers great destruction in the war. | <ul><li><b>1622:</b> The Pfalz suffers great destruction in the war. | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
<ul><li><b>1648:</b> | <ul><li><b>1648:</b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_of_Westphalia">Peace of Westphalia</a> ends Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire. Many borders are shifted. <br>15 May 1648 - Treaty of Osnabrück<br>24 Ocober 1648 - Treaty of Münster | ||
</li><li><b>1653-1654:</b> Sweden started Sweden-Bremen Wars over the claim that Bremen was to be ceded to Sweden. | </li><li><b>1653-1654:</b> Sweden started Sweden-Bremen Wars over the claim that Bremen was to be ceded to Sweden. | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
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<ul><li><b>1833:</b> Prussia offers citizenship to some of Posen's Jews.<br> | <ul><li><b>1833:</b> Prussia offers citizenship to some of Posen's Jews.<br> | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
<ul><li><b>1848</b><span class="fck_mw_nowiki | <ul><li><b>1848</b><span class="fck_mw_nowiki">: German Revolution. Emigration to the United States increases.</span> | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
<ul><li><b>1850:</b>The Hamburg passenger lists begin to document the origins or places of residence of Europeans leaving for the Americas, Africa, and Australia. | <ul><li><b>1850:</b>The Hamburg passenger lists begin to document the origins or places of residence of Europeans leaving for the Americas, Africa, and Australia. | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
<ul><li><b>1864</b><span class="fck_mw_nowiki | <ul><li><b>1864</b><span class="fck_mw_nowiki">: Preussen conquers Schleswig-Holstein.</span> | ||
</li></ul> | </li></ul> | ||
<ul><li><b>1871:</b> Franco-Prussian War ends. Alsace and part of Lorraine come under German rule as Alsace-Lorraine. German Empire established as a single nation state. | <ul><li><b>1871:</b> Franco-Prussian War ends. Alsace and part of Lorraine come under German rule as Alsace-Lorraine. German Empire established as a single nation state. | ||
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</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> Religious Strife </h3> | <h3> Religious Strife </h3> | ||
<p>The Catholics had a stronghold in Germany as seen on this map | <p>The Catholics had a stronghold in Germany as seen on this map <a href="http://humanities.ucsd.edu/courses/kuchtahum3/reference/reformation.htm">http://humanities.ucsd.edu/courses/kuchtahum3/reference/reformation.htm</a> . Protestant groups fought for equal standing and in 1555 were granted comparable rights with the Catholics. An individual, however, was not in a position to choose his religion. He was dependent on his sovereign lord who chose the preferred faith for his land. With the Peace of Augsburg in place, one would think religious strife ceased. This was not the case, as this map shows <a href="http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/central_europe_relig_1923.jpg">http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/central_europe_relig_1923.jpg</a> | ||
</p><p>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. | </p><p>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. | ||
</p><p>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> | </p><p>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> | ||
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</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> Early continental and overseas emigration/migration<br> </h3> | <h3> Early continental and overseas emigration/migration<br> </h3> | ||
<p>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 | <p>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 <a href="http://www.thorn-wpr.de/Grafik/PlanNied.gif">http://www.thorn-wpr.de/Grafik/PlanNied.gif </a> ] 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: <a href="http://www.progenealogists.com/germany/Images/1700gerem.jpg">http://www.progenealogists.com/germany/Images/1700gerem.jpg</a> | ||
</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> Political and social unrest<br> </h3> | <h3> Political and social unrest<br> </h3> | ||
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</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> More emigration </h3> | <h3> More emigration </h3> | ||
<p>Emigration and migration was greatly facilitated by the waterways and the railroad system in Germany. | <p>Emigration and migration was greatly facilitated by the waterways and the railroad system in Germany. <a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Bahnkarte_Deutschland_1849.jpg&filetimestamp=20081117144247">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Bahnkarte_Deutschland_1849.jpg&filetimestamp=20081117144247</a> | ||
</p><p>Hamburg and Bremen became the most important Passenger ports in Europe. | </p><p>Hamburg and Bremen became the most important Passenger ports in Europe. <a href="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</a> | ||
</p><p> | </p><p><a href="http://germanroots.com/">http://germanroots.com/</a> | ||
</p><p>Emigrants were registered in Hamburg since 1850. The passenger lists from Hamburg still exist; the ones from Bremen were destroyed. | </p><p>Emigrants were registered in Hamburg since 1850. The passenger lists from Hamburg still exist; the ones from Bremen were destroyed. | ||
</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> The Industrial Revolution<br> </h3> | <h3> The Industrial Revolution<br> </h3> | ||
<p>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. | <p>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. | ||
</p><p>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 | </p><p>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 <a href="http://www.volkerjarren.de/GenRes/Images/emigrants.gif">http://www.volkerjarren.de/GenRes/Images/emigrants.gif</a> | ||
</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> The struggles of a united Germany <br> </h3> | <h3> The struggles of a united Germany <br> </h3> | ||
<p>Otto v. Bismarck was the driving force to unify Germany. The empire was a constitutional monarchy until 1918. See   | <p>Otto v. Bismarck was the driving force to unify Germany. The empire was a constitutional monarchy until 1918. See  <a href="http://www.uoregon.edu/~kimball/images/1871.GRM.unified-CWA168.jpg">http://www.uoregon.edu/~kimball/images/1871.GRM.unified-CWA168.jpg</a> | ||
</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> Word War I<br> </h3> | <h3> Word War I<br> </h3> | ||
<p>This | <p>This <a href="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 </a>show the territories Germany lost as a result of  Word War I. | ||
</p> | </p> | ||
<h3> World War II<br> </h3> | <h3> World War II<br> </h3> | ||
<p>After Word War II Germany lost the following territories | <p>After Word War II Germany lost the following territories <a href="http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/germany/194956.gif">http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/germany/194956.gif</a> | ||
</p><p>Germany | </p><p>Germany | ||
</p> | </p> | ||
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</p><p><b>Feast Dates.</b> Date calculation tables are available to convert church feast dates to days of the month (see “Feast Dates” under the “CHURCH RECORDS” section), but there are separate tables for calculating dates in Julian and in Gregorian years. It is, therefore, important to know the year in which the calendar changed in the area you are searching. You can find a list of over 30 German territories showing exactly when they officially shifted to the Gregorian calendar on pages 317 to 318 of Ribbe's Taschenbuch für Familiengeschichtsforschung. Individual parishes or villages in a region may have lagged behind the rest of the region in making the change. | </p><p><b>Feast Dates.</b> Date calculation tables are available to convert church feast dates to days of the month (see “Feast Dates” under the “CHURCH RECORDS” section), but there are separate tables for calculating dates in Julian and in Gregorian years. It is, therefore, important to know the year in which the calendar changed in the area you are searching. You can find a list of over 30 German territories showing exactly when they officially shifted to the Gregorian calendar on pages 317 to 318 of Ribbe's Taschenbuch für Familiengeschichtsforschung. Individual parishes or villages in a region may have lagged behind the rest of the region in making the change. | ||
</p><p><b>Double Dating.</b> When an area changed from Julian to Gregorian calendars, the first day of the year changed to 1 January. Before the change, the first day of the year was 25 March. Pre-change dates may be confusing. For example, before the change, 24 March 1565 was followed by 25 March 1566. Many researchers record dates between 1 January and 24 March with two years, using a technique called double dating. An example of a pre-change date using double dating is 16 February 1573/1574. | </p><p><b>Double Dating.</b> When an area changed from Julian to Gregorian calendars, the first day of the year changed to 1 January. Before the change, the first day of the year was 25 March. Pre-change dates may be confusing. For example, before the change, 24 March 1565 was followed by 25 March 1566. Many researchers record dates between 1 January and 24 March with two years, using a technique called double dating. An example of a pre-change date using double dating is 16 February 1573/1574. | ||
</p><p><b>French Republican Calendar.</b> From 1793 to 1805, many parts of Germany under French control used the French Republican calendar. This calendar was based on the founding of the French Republic, and its days and months were unrelated to the Gregorian calendar. For details see the | </p><p><b>French Republican Calendar.</b> From 1793 to 1805, many parts of Germany under French control used the French Republican calendar. This calendar was based on the founding of the French Republic, and its days and months were unrelated to the Gregorian calendar. For details see the <a _fcknotitle="true" href="French Republican Calendar">French Republican Calendar</a>. | ||
</p><p><span class="fck_mw_template">{{Place|Germany}}</span> | </p><p><span class="fck_mw_template"><span class="fck_mw_template">{{Place|Germany}}</span></span> | ||
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