In person at the Maritime Conference Center, Linthicum Heights, MD and via Zoom.
MAGS will be hosting Michael Strauss, AG, who is a well-known, national speaker. He will be spending the day with us in person for our hybrid event.
He will present the following topics.
“Fighting Against the Fatherland: German-Americans in World War I”
The entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917 found tens of thousands of German-Americans taking the oath of allegiance seeking to prove their loyalty in their newly adopted country. This took into account persons who were either naturalized or recent immigrants who sought permanent residence. These men knew well they would fight their former countryman and still sought to earn the respect of the army and the United States.
“Enemy Aliens: Registering Our Immigrant Forbearers”
Documenting enemies of the United States dates back to 1798 with the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. Our Government has not always been kind to immigrants of other ethnic origin. During both World War I and later World War II with Germans, Italians, and Japanese nationals, and in many cases their spouses were considered enemy aliens and required to register themselves. The Act of registering Enemy Aliens during times of war done to protect our nation while suspending those persons basic civil liberties.
“The German Forty-Eighters and Their Fight for Freedom”
Germans who had supported, and in many cases, had participated in the Revolution of 1848 that swept across the European continent. Many favored the unification of Germany with a central government that defended basic sovereign rights. With the failed Revolution many from Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic emigrated to the United States to continue their quest for freedom. Many were well educated, and had wealth, and would become very successful in their new adopted country with the coming of the Civil War a decade later. Genealogical records document their journey and successes in this new land.
"The Role of the United States Customs House Service”
The U.S. Custom Service was created in 1789 with the responsibility for collecting duties on imports, registering vessels, and enforcing the law governing seamen and ships’ passengers. The eastern coastline was divided into districts, each jurisdiction keeping its own records. Many such records created by this department are useful to genealogists. These records date from the early years of the republic-and include records of Naturalization, Passengers Lists, Crew Lists, Seaman Projection Certificates, among other related records. Discover your family history in these great resources.
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