Anti-German Hysteria of World War I

Before World War I, German was everywhere in America. Millions of Americans spoke it. German-language newspapers flourished. Schools taught it. Churches worshipped in it. Entire communities conducted daily life in German.

Then America entered the war.

Suddenly, the language of millions of Americans became the language of the enemy. German books were removed from libraries. Schools dropped German classes. German-language newspapers disappeared. Some states restricted—or even prohibited—the teaching of foreign languages to children.

The campaign extended beyond language. Sauerkraut became "liberty cabbage." German music faced hostility. People changed their names and stopped speaking German in public, while German Americans faced suspicion, intimidation, and sometimes violence.

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