German History And Its Influence On The United States
In the United States, we have Germany to thank for many things we use every day. The Christmas tree, freeways, pretzels, bratwursts, and even Pilsner-styled beer are just a few things common in the United States all thanks to Germany. Classical music’s greatest hit-makers were of German descent and the 1980s brought us Rock and Roll chart toppers known as the Scorpions. Germany, which is located at the center of Europe, has influenced many things here in the United States. Not only is Germany the geographic center of Europe, it is also the center of the continent’s economic and politics. Combined with France, Germany and the German banking system laid the foundation for the new currency, the euro. More recently, Germany’s influence can be felt in the similar-styled changes made to our health care system by the Affordable Care Act. As we take a look at Germany’s history, and culture we will learn about how the country came to be such a big influence on the United States.
History
German history can be traced back to Deutschland, which was the eastern portion of the Franconian Empire that did not speak French, but rather Deutch. This language barrier, coupled with growing political barriers would be foundation for future Germany as these eastern people would separate from the western Franconian Empire. As the Holy Roman Empire expanded, eventually a German Kings would become emperors. Encompassing all of modern day Germany and surrounding areas, The Holy Roman Empire lasted until the French Revolution lead to the Napoleonic era when Napoleon defeated Emperor Francis II. After the defeat, the Napoleonic Confederacy of the Rhine and later German Confederation was created. As Prussia grew and became a leader of the industrial revolution in the region, Germany became led by Prussian leaders. After Prussia defeated France, the unification of the German region created the German Empire which lasted until the conclusion of World War I and the formation of the Weimar Republic. An intense economic depression and hyperinflation, also influenced by the United States’ own depression, and political chaos created the rise of the National Socialist movement. The National Socialists, or Nazis, would spur the European portion of World War II after Germany invaded Poland to reclaim lands lost after the First World War. At the conclusion of World War II, Germany was split between the democratic West Germany and socialist and Soviet-influenced East Germany. Germany was not reunited until 1989 with the destabilization of the Soviet Union and the subsequent destruction of the Berlin Wall which separated the two countries. By 1990, East Germany had begun to be assimilated into West Germany with the East German currency replaced by the West’s Duechmark and subsides provided to support the East’s faltering economy. In 1993, a unified Germany spearheaded the movement which would lay the foundation for current European Union in 2007. The Treaty on European Union created the euro and combined three previous treaties that extended existing social and economic policies among signing countries. Today, Germany is most populated country of the European Union and continent with nearly 82 million people within its borders. Germany is also second-most destination for immigrants, only trailing to the United States.
Geography
At the center of the European continent, Germany is bordered by the most countries of all the other European countries. Germany is also bordered by the North Sea and Baltic Sea with the Schleswing-Holstein State acting as the country’s only peninsula. The only difficult natural barriers for Germany are the Alps in Austria and Switzerland to the south and the seas to the north. While rivers do make up the borders of the country, they are bridged and easily passible. Also, most of the German landscape is flat or rolling hills which provides for excellent farm land and ease at which people can move. The north has beaches and sand dunes, and even few windmills that they share with northern neighbor, Denmark. Niedersachsen is one of the southern-most German states that is the main farming region. Niedersachsen also is home to the Harz Mountains which are known for skiing and summer vacation destinations. The State of Bavaria is also well known for its Alp Mountains and buildings from the Middle Ages and early Renaissance period. Perhaps the most well-known aspect of Bavaria is the beer-making. The state capital, Munich, is also a well-known tourist destination and host of several Oktoberfest celebrations. Most well-known of all German cities is Berlin. In fact, Berlin is a City-State as in it has its own legal and parliamentary system similar to any other German state. From its historic forced partitioning by Allied forces after World War II, to President John F. Kennedy’s historic visit to the famed Berlin Wall, Berlin is Germany’s metropolitan heart and one of the busiest cities in the world.
Political and Legal System
Germany has experienced a range of Feudalism, Monarchies, Socialism, Dictatorship and Democracy since its beginning. Current times still research the National Socialist movement, but West Germany has been a democracy since 1949. East Germany operated under socialism until the reunification process in 1990. Since 1949, Germany follows the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Basic Law was based off the personal experience of the framers while they were under the Weimar Republic and National Socialist dictatorship. The framers wanted to avoid the mistakes of the past while looking toward the future, which ultimately included the reunification. The Basic Law allows for a Federal and State constitution as well as Federal government and state Parliamentary councils elected by the Germanic states. The German constitution invokes human rights and social justices, not dissimilar from the United States’ Bill of Rights and Constitution. However, there are differences, such as the rights of foreigners to seek asylum and be guaranteed the same rights as German citizens. However, citizens of European Union countries are not allowed to seek asylum in Germany. Also unique to Germany is the constitution allows the German Federal Court system to ban any political parties that are deemed as damaging to or seeking to dismantle the country’s democracy.
Germany has an elected President and an elected Chancellor. The German President is elected by the Federal Convention (equal parts federally elected and state elected positions) while the Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag, or federal body, which is voted upon by the German citizenship. Most of the legal power, legislation and courts reside in the States, but the Federal government is the all authoritative body if any ruling or law at the State level is appealed. The Bunderstat is the appointment of members of the state elected positions. Most laws cannot be passed without the approval of the Bunderstat body as the Bunderstat is the overseeing body of the collective German states.
Germany hosts several different political parties. The conservative Christian Democrats, the socialist Social Democrats, the liberal Free Democrats, the ecological Greens and the labor-friendly and social justice-focused Left Party. Germany also has several fringe parties, but none have 5% threshold needed for electability. However, the anti-establishment and populist Pirate Party of Germany has had recent success in gaining seats in state legislative bodies.
Economic System
The current German economy is based on the Social Market Economy. The Social Market Economy is a combination of the free market system coupled with social policies that enforce fair competition and welfare. Among the European Union, Germany is the wealthiest nation and has the largest share of the economy. Nearly half of Germany’s economy is based on exports. Recently, the German economy has depending emerging markets for its exports of vehicles, machinery and technological goods. According to Ewing (2016), Cars are currently Germany’s number one export, with Porsche, Mercedes and BMW being household names in the United States and currently in high demand in China.
While exports and manufacturing are the backbone of the German economy and key for the country’s economic growth, Germany does a have a strong home economy. Germany’s domestic economy is fueled by finance, banking, trade, consumerism and tourism. Starting in the late 1900’s Germany imports most raw materials except for salt and potash. Germany also imports the bulk of its energy sources, which are from fossil fuels. Germany has also looked to alternative energy sources and geothermal energy has impacted the German economy and decreased fossil fuel consumption.
Religion
Germany is mostly a Christian nation with Christian religions making up 65% of the population. Muslims account for nearly 5% of the religious make-up of Germany with nearly 18% of German identifying as non-religious. After World War II only a few thousand Jews survived the Holocaust, however, due to immigration, there are now more than 500,000 Jews in Germany. The largest Jewish community resides within Berlin. Of current debate in Germany is the refugee crisis from Syria. The influx of Syrian refugees has created sharp increase in Muslims new to the country. While Muslims make for a small percentage of the religious composition of Germany, their culture will impact Germany and the population will recognize and adapt to a growing Muslim community.
