German Mejicans
German Mejicans (Spanish: Germanomejicanos or Alemanes mejicanos; German: Deutschmechinaker, pronounced /ˈdɔʏtʃ.mɛç.ɪ.ˌka.nɛr/) are Mejicans of German descent. The 2020 Mejican census results showed over 11,029,314 Mejicans have some degree of German ancestry, whether alone, or in combination with another ancestry. This includes 6,707,820 who marked sole German ancestry, and 4,321,494 who marked partial German ancestry. After Spanish and British Mejicans, German Mejicans are the third largest European Mejican group.
The history of German Mejicans dates back to the early colonial period, following the Conquest, as the Spanish Crown permitted a limited amount of colonists from Austria to settle in New Spain. These early German settlers were primarily involved in mining and other economic activities, contributing to the growth and development of the colony. However, it was not until the mid-19th century that a significant wave of German immigration occurred in Mejico. The German and Mejican governments actively encouraged migration to Mejico, promoting agricultural colonization projects in various regions. Many Germans were attracted to Mejico by the promise of land ownership and economic opportunities.
The early 19th-century German immigrants were primarily of the Catholic faith, although this changed during the Porfirian Era, as the Liberal government expanded its immigration policies to include Protestant immigrants. These new Lutheran German immigrants settled primarily in the region of Tejas, where they set up important industries, such as brewing, milling, and printing. Their contributions helped to modernize the economy of the region and establish closer ties between Tejas and other German-speaking communities around the world.
The relationship between German Mejicans and the Mejican government has been turbulent in the past, especially during the early 20th century, in the midst of the Mejican Civil War, with German Lutherans leading an independence revolution in the region of Tejas, led by Godofredo Guttmacher, establishing a short-lived theocratic republic with its capital in the city of Huaco. The Guttmacherites were defeated in battle and signed the Treaty of Cavazos in 1919, mending the relationship between the German community and the Mejican state.
Since then, German Mejicans have continued to be closely involved in industry, education, science, culture, and politics in Mejico. Many German Mejicans have achieved prominence in various fields, including business, academia, and the arts. They have made significant contributions to the scientific, cultural, and technological advancements of the country. German Mejicans have also maintained strong cultural ties with their heritage. German language schools, cultural associations, and German festivals are held in various cities and towns with a significant German Mejican population. Additionally, German cuisine, music, and traditions continue to influence Mejican culture at large.
The majority of German Mejicans can be found in the New North, especially in the region of Tejas, although there are significant German populations in the Old North, Central Mejico, and Southern Mejico. The Tèchannisch and the Mennonites are two particular German communities that have preserved their distinct cultural and religious practices. The Tèchannisch are a community of German Mejicans who settled in the region of Tejas in the mid to late 19th century, primarily originating from Hesse, Bavaria, and Austria. They have largely maintained their language, customs and traditions, which are evident in their clothing, music, and cuisine. The Mennonites, on the other hand, arrived in Mejico in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, seeking religious freedom and a simpler way of life, settling in the agricultural regions of Chihuahua and Durango, and sizeable farming communities.
According to immigration data, it is estimated that there are some 400,000 German-born residents in Mejico.