Fact-Check: "German was almost the language of the new USA"
What We Know
The claim that German was nearly the official language of the United States is rooted in historical events surrounding the early years of American independence. Notably, during the Second Continental Congress in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was translated into German to reach the significant German-speaking population in the colonies. According to Gettysburg College, only two German-language copies of this document are known to have survived, with one currently held by the college. This translation was part of a broader effort to engage German immigrants, who were seen as crucial to the revolutionary cause.
However, the notion that German almost replaced English as the official language is largely a myth. This misconception often references a supposed vote in Congress that never actually took place. The legendary vote of 1795 is frequently cited, but it was merely a proposal to print federal laws in German alongside English, not to establish German as an official language. The proposal was ultimately rejected, and no official language was designated in the United States.
Analysis
The evidence surrounding the claim reveals a complex interplay of historical facts and myths. The translation of the Declaration of Independence into German demonstrates the importance of the German-speaking population in the early United States. As noted by Gettysburg College, this effort was not merely symbolic; it reflected the political necessity of garnering support from German immigrants, who were often less familiar with the revolutionary grievances than native-born colonists.
On the other hand, the assertion that German was nearly adopted as the official language is undermined by the lack of any credible evidence for such a vote. According to Dennis Baron, the story of the German vote is a myth that has persisted since the 1850s, often used to highlight fears about non-English languages in America. The actual events of 1795 involved a proposal to print laws in German, which was not an attempt to elevate German to official status but rather to accommodate a significant minority.
The sources used in this analysis vary in reliability. The historical accounts from Gettysburg College and Dennis Baron are grounded in academic research and provide a nuanced view of the role of German in early American history. In contrast, the myth of the German vote has been propagated by various cultural narratives without substantial evidence.
Conclusion
The claim that "German was almost the language of the new USA" is Partially True. While it is accurate that German translations of important documents were made to engage the German-speaking population, the assertion that German nearly became the official language is based on a myth rather than historical fact. The proposal to print laws in German was not an indication of a serious push to replace English but rather an acknowledgment of the linguistic diversity present in the early United States.
Sources
- German as the Official Language of the United States
- Only two German-language copies of the Declaration ...
- The Legendary English-Only Vote of 1795
- Constitution Day: Translating the Constitution - Pieces of History
- Founding-Era Translation of the U.S. Constitution
- Heritage German in the United States
- German language in the United States
- Muhlenberg legend
