Giant Steppes Toward Freedom by Ancestors - 887 Words

It is difficult for many Americans today to imagine taking everything they own and moving to a new country because of religious and political freedoms. With these freedoms taken so much for granted, we rarely think of the steps taken by our ancestors to gain that liberty. When looking at attempts in history to gain freedom, it is usual to look to the founding fathers of America and their sacrifices. However, other groups of people have strived for the same thing, one such group being the people of the divided German states shortly after the Seven Year’s War. Through several generations of Germans, these people moved across country, across continent, and eventually even across the ocean to America in order to gain that much-desired freedom. In about 1763, the Germans were experiencing many problems. With the seven years war just behind them, much of the land had been destroyed. Crops were trampled, and properties were decimated, making the living conditions in Germany very diff icult. On top of that, the war had left the political system in a state of chaos. At that time, Germany was not together as a nation but was rather divided into forty-two different states. Unified Germany as we know it today did not come about until much later, in about 1872. During this time minority religions struggled in the German states. Evangelical Christians such as Baptists were not looked well upon, as well as Mennonites who were pacifists and did not believe in serving in the military.Show MoreRelatedComparing The Culture of the Mongols versus the Pakistanis Essay1876 Words   |  8 Pagespsychotropic herbs and hypnotic drumming in order for him to travel to the spirit world. Once there, he is able to retrieve the help and spiritual guidance that the tribal society needs. Shamanism seems to have originated from ancestor worship. Images of the ancestors, called ongghot, were kept in the familys tents, and were thought to provide protection if satisfied. The shaman had an elevated position in the society, wore white and rode a white horse, and carried as insignia as staff and a