Unsatisfactory social; economic; and political conditions in Germany from the close of the Napoleonic period through the revolutionary periods of 1830 and 1848 stimulated immigration to Texas. This book portrays the interest of both German and non-German groups in German colonization in Texas from 1812 to 1840. The primary interest in founding these German settlements was generated by Friedrich Ernst; who wrote a glowing account of Texas and its advantages to a friend in Germany. The publication and wide circulation of this letter provided the impetus for the immigration fever. A second significant event was the founding of the "Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas;" which offered support and advice as well as land to qualified persons desiring to immigrate to Texas. This account covers the actual founding and history of many German settlements and towns in Texas prior to the Civil War. It is the first and; despite its original publication in 1930; still is the only extensive study of this subject.
#1970918 in Books 2000-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .68 x 5.51l; .83 #File Name: 1570033870320 pages
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Not a page turner; but interesting nonethelessBy Thomas W. RobinsonFor content; this book deserves 5 stars; but I gave it 4 simply because it is by no means a page-turner. That being said; if you are interested in the antebellum South or political history; this is probably required reading. Cooper; who also wrote an excellent bio of Jefferson Davis; posits a very clear thesis: liberty and slavery in Southern politics were always intertwined. Southerners were staunch believers in liberty and a major part of that liberty was the ability to keep slaves. Cooper uses this as his thesis and spends 285 pages proving it. To my mind; he proves his point. And while this may seem like it would make the book redundant; that does not happen; but what we do find is that the Southern ideas of liberty (and their support of slavery) is the guiding light Southern politicians follow.
