I’m amazed at how many Americans don’t know their own family heritage any further back than their grandparents. For many years, I was one of them. I would casually tell people, “My family never really talked much about our family tree, because we were afraid we’d find horse thieves hanging from the branches.” But, bad or good, I always wondered about my roots.
I’m not alone. Millions of Americans have the same questions.
So, what happened? Were so many of our families separated in the westward expansion that we lost our connections to the past? Were families in such crisis during the World Wars or the Great Depression that mere survival was their only focus? Was there a generation that just wanted to forget the past? Was it the “live for today” mentality of the ‘60s that deemed it “old fashioned” to have any roots or history? It was probably a combination of many factors, but the affect of the loss of our personal histories has been far-reaching.
Without fail, when someone discovers the stories in their own family tree, they become empowered and inspired. I know this from personal experience, because eight years ago, someone helped me discover my lost family legacies, and it changed me forever. I found stories of great sacrifice, courage, conviction, service, struggle, conflict, diversity and triumph. Some of my ancestors lived in a cave for the first few years and purchased land rights from the Native Americans who helped them plant new crops and build
My family the Heintzelman family has lore that has come from our ancestry in Germany. Ancestry is a very important part of a person. Knowing who came before you can affect a person greatly. If someone knows the hard work that their ancestors did it can lead to a lot more humility for that person. No person gets to where they are in life without the hard work of the people that came before them, especially in America. Almost no one is a native of American which makes it a melting pot for all cultures, which means knowing your history is important. The hard work of my ancestors I feel is extremely important due to the story that surrounds the last name of Heintzelman. The story of the Heinzelmännchen, which originated in Cologne, Germany, was a legend about elves who would do the chores of the lazy townspeople. Every night when the townspeople went to sleep the Heinzelmännchens would come up to do that work that the townspeople had neglected to do (Kopisch and Thrlet). This was a myth that was started many years ago in Cologne but is still remembered today. The story of the Heinzelmännchens is commemorated in statues that stand in Cologne and through my last name. The story of the Heinzelmännchen has been passed down from generation to generation in my family, as the beginning of our last name and heritage. However, this is not the only way that lore is passed down, we have also passed down our history through our names, as many Heintzelmans have been named after
It really makes you feel closer to where you come from and your family once you know your roots and heritage. However, if you are like me, you will love all of your lineage and enjoy connecting the pieces. Although, it’s sometimes hard to understand your roots, once you do, you will appreciate your lineage way
Learning about your family tree can be fun and exciting. I can also raise more questions when you come across a surprising discovery, which is exactly what happened to one woman while she researched her family's history.
Many of us have a different family history. It is unique and only one person had that family history. You can’t say that two different people, can have the same family history. Or could they? As we saw presentations of the students in Mr. Waid’s sixth-period English class, we can distinguish similarities between the student's’ family history. As we saw more and more presentations, the relationship between family histories started to appear. The answer of who we really are as a whole came to shape. All of us had family who started out poor, later becoming immigrants, and with hard working sweat in their heads they sacrificed everything for the sake of their families.
Overall description of the group (demographics: education, income, location, marriage, children, etc., percentage of the population)
5. In tracing your family history did it enhance your understanding of who you are and where you come from? Explain why?
This is part four of the series "Where Do I Start as a Beginning Genealogist?". Glad to see you! If you haven't read parts
After World War II, men came home from war ready to fall back into the normalcy of everyday life, which meant to get married and to have children. Furthermore, before WWII was the Great Depression, where fewer people were getting married and having children. After WWII, there was more economic stability, and there was a greater presence of men in the country. There was a desire to continue life the way it was before the years of struggle and war. Thus, the baby boomers arose. In the classical, traditional, American family, there is a father who works and is the main breadwinner and supporter of the family. Then, there is the housewife who takes care of the children and the household. In addition, there are children. This family typically
The post 1945 period was an interesting time to live in America. It is during this period that the American dream became a reality for most Americans. Years of intensive wartime sacrifice were over and gone was the poverty borne out of the Great Depression. The American dream was being redefined and here stood a chance to own a house in your own land, a car and a dog. Families that had put on hold getting another child finally put away their worries and the country experienced a post war baby boom. Despite all the positives, it was also during this period that racial fears were ripe. This coupled with the desire to vacate the decaying cities is what prompted a huge number of white Americans to move to the suburbia area.
Informative Speech Cadelyn Leibhart Topic: Genealogy (Family History) General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about genealogy. Thesis: When someone don’t know their genealogy you always wonder about you Past, Present, and Future. I. Introduction A. Attention Getter:
The highly numbered risks of war have rigorous effects on societies around the world. World War II had positive and negative effects during and after the war. After the war, the formation of the United Nations helped negotiate and maintain peace, and during the war more jobs helped get the United States out of its biggest economic crisis, the Great Depression. Although, some economists argue that by creating more jobs during World War II, put America into even more debt than the country was already in. Standards of living lessened during the end of the Depression and the start of the war, but people understood the changed lifestyle was for a good cause. During World War II, The Great Depression and the United Nations helped create peace
In America, the period between the Great Depression and World War II was rife with uncertainty. The struggles of the Great Depression were over, but their lasting effects shed doubt on America’s future. Persephone, was an attempt by Thomas Hart Benton in 1939 to cement regionalism as the official American art style during this era. However, despite his attempt to promote hope in America’s future, while still acknowledging the despair of the Great Depression, Persephone was regarded as obscene.
Do you think genealogy is boring? Finding out family history for most can be seen as tedious and not that important at all. But for some it's not just about learning who was in your family, but a gateway into a whole new world. Finding out family your history might not only change your life but the life of others too.
During this family heritage project i have learned a lot of things about me and my family. I can't believe that i have lived 12 (almost 13) years of my life without knowing where my family originated from. Imagine being 50 years old and knowing nothing about your family. It just feels so great to have that blanket lifted from my head and to know more.
Family history is very important to an individual. By knowing where you come from, you can have a better perspective of your life. Having a clear understanding of your family background allows you to better appreciate the things that you would normally take for granted. The house, the car, and the average clothing may look better when one sees the sacrifices their family has made. They will see that their family has worked very hard just so their family can experience the better things in life. A persons roots and origin is one of the most important things to explore. It alone can bring you closer to self-discovery.