Interview  German-American Perspectives

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, German Americans reflect on the enduring ideals of democracy, representation, and equality—and what they mean for transatlantic relations today.

In 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the nation’s earliest and most influential statement of ideals such as democracy, representation, and equality. To commemorate this milestone, I, Sandy Schwalen (SS) of the Goethe-Institut Houston, invited fellow German Americans to reflect on the continuing relevance of these principles. As a German American myself—with a father from Missouri, a mother from Essen, Germany, and roots in Texas—I am especially interested in how these founding ideals resonate today.

For this edited and shortened interview, I spoke with two German Americans whose lives and work are dedicated to strengthening German-American relations. Dorothy Smaglick (DS), the daughter of German immigrants, grew up bilingual in Wisconsin and has long been active in organizations that promote German language and culture. Katrin Erdmann (KE) originally from Hannover, first came to Minnesota as a high school exchange student and in 2001 immigrated to the United States as an adult. Over the past two decades, she has been strengthening cultural and educational ties between Germany and the United States through the Germanic-American Institute in Minnesota. 

SS: People frequently ask me whether I feel more at home in Germany or the United States, and even which language I’m more comfortable speaking. How would you answer this question for yourself? Do you identify more strongly with German culture, American culture, or with both?

DS: I would say I feel more American having grown up here and since my parents have passed away, I don’t speak German as much as I used to. I still consider myself bilingual, but I will refer to Google Translate on occasion. I’ll speak for my brother; I think he would probably say the same thing even though he was born in Germany.

KE: I would consider myself more German still. It’s like doing the splits between two cultures. But culturally, I would still say I feel more German.  Although it’s easier for me to speak English by now than to speak German. When I’m back in Germany, it’s not an issue getting back into the language. We speak German at home with my kids as well. But twenty years of consistent input in English certainly has made a difference.

SS: I think my mom, who has been in the US for 30 years now, feels similarly, not that she struggles speaking German, but it does make a difference what you hear and speak the most on a regular basis.

Founding Ideals and the Decision to Call America Home

SS: My first question I have for you on the topic of American democracy is: When you think about the founding ideals of the United States, did these ideals influence your decision (or your family’s decision) to move here?

KE: We did learn about these ideals in the German school system, but I cannot say they played a big role in my moving here. And I also cannot say that I had an idea of the United States as the great nation of equality or of any of these relatively abstract values that are talked about here constantly. I’ve been very aware of the inequalities that exist in this country for a long time.

Of course, I knew that these ideals were new and very revolutionary for the time, but if you look at the U.S. today, there’s no true equality. The public rhetoric on these ideals is very different from reality.

DS: I would agree that it was not so much the ideals that influenced my parents’ move to the U.S. From what my parents expressed, especially for my father, it was more the fact that there had been two world wars, and they had a five-year-old son, that made them decide to leave Munich.

KE: I think it also really depends on where you came from. For people that come from countries that have dictatorships or religious regimes or are very much not a democracy, coming to the United States represents a different kind of hope than what it means for someone coming from a relatively well-functioning democracy. And for me, I moved here because I wanted to be with my husband and not because I was looking for a better place to live.

Early America Through Different Lenses

SS: If you think about early America, at the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, would you say those ideals are important to your image of early America? How do you perceive that time period? I know Dorothy who went to school here in the US, might have a different image than Katrin, who grew up with the German school system.

DS: People refer to it as the great American experiment, the concepts of democracy, and all people being equal, freedom of speech etc.  I think they are wonderful ideals. But I would agree with Katrin that reality is very different, certainly in the last years. Every day in the news, those ideals seem to be eroding to a certain extent.

I also think Germans, or at least my relatives, have a much different view of the US now than they might have 20 years ago. I’ve also heard from a lot of high school teachers that Germans have been canceling exchange programs with American schools. Not only do they not want to send their kids here—they don’t even want to host our kids at this point, which I find very sad.

KE: There’s societal discourse about these ideals: “All men are created equal” and then the great “American dream.” But what really is not talked about is that these concepts were actually meant for a relatively small elite. They weren’t meant for women or Native Americans or slaves or any other group of people. Still, it was a new way of organizing a society, and it was great progress compared to prevailing systems of governance.

We also must remember that, 250 years ago, there were few modern examples of democratic government to draw upon beyond those of ancient Greece. By contrast, Germany’s constitution, the Basic Law (Grundgesetz)—while certainly not perfect—was drafted nearly two centuries later, allowing Germany to learn from mistakes and improve upon them.

Still, it was a huge step forward to have a constitution like that in the 18th century. It’s not perfect by any means, and it wasn’t perfect back then. But we should also not forget that it was a big step forward to include more people in the process of governing a country.

DS: There’s also the question of what the founders that wrote the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence meant exactly, when they said all men are created equal. Did they truly just mean all white men that were property owners? Or did they hope that someday it would mean all men and all women?

Certainly, we’ve made tremendous progress over the years. Women and minorities can vote, can hold credit cards and jobs for the most part. But again, I have to say it seems like we’re going backwards lately.

KE: The separation of power, freedom of opinion, free elections, individual rights, and so on – those are all great concepts. In my opinion, these concepts and ideals still form a very solid base for having a society and we need to protect that. KE: But again, it was never for everyone, and that is where I think the American dream or this whole idea of democracy really has fallen short over time, despite all the progress that has been made.

The “Great Experiment”: Ideals and Reality in American Democracy

SS: This is already going a bit into our next question: reflecting on American democracy throughout history until the present day, how do you view the “great experiment of the American democracy”? Do you think the ideals still hold up today, or what differences do you see between the founding vision of democracy and reality today?

KE: Today through social media, everything has become much more open, and many more people can participate, and possibly do, but perhaps not in a way that is helpful to the discourse. I would argue that even though more people have the opportunity to inform themselves in a somewhat balanced way, fewer people actually do. To be able to participate in the discourse, you have to be informed about what is going on, in DC and at a local level. What does this all mean? What does it mean for a society when funds are cut from certain programs? I think a lot of people don’t really understand the complexity of the situation.

DS: I would agree. I would also say that comparing Germany with the US, Germans are much more informed of what’s happening here in the U.S. and in the world than most Americans. Part of that does go back to what Katrin was just saying – if you’re only getting your news from one source and you believe everything you read/watch that’s probably not a good thing. On the other hand, with social media and 24/7 news coverage it’s sometimes hard to weed through everything, but I would say my relatives in Germany are much more informed of what’s happening globally than most of the people here.

KE: I want to go back though to being informed about things. According to the Barbara Bush Foundation, over 50 percent of US population read below a 6th grade level. And Barbara Bush Foundation is not exactly known as a liberal bulwark, but those numbers are very concerning. If you are unable to read a complex text, you are unable to understand political complexities. I notice this even in my own family, some people have basically given up trying to understand anything and they’re like, yeah, whatever. They vote because they’ve always voted some way. They’re not willing to engage with the topic in depth.

The United States in German Media

SS: I get the sense sometimes though that the German media, specifically their coverage of the United States, is very critical and negative. Lots of doom and gloom – not that there isn’t good reason for that, but it feels a bit biased sometimes. Do you also get that feeling?

KE: I mean, every media has bias, right? Here in the U.S. there’s certainly a lot of “hoorah” by the government, like “We’re awesome! Look at us. We’re doing so well!” And I think German media provides a counterpoint. I also think the stories that get the most coverage by media in Germany are the things that are the most outrageous ones. And the center of the country, as much as is left of that, really doesn’t get reported on because it’s not very interesting or maybe doesn’t help the political discourse (in Germany).

DS: And I think so much of it these days is news by fire hose, right? It’s just so much, every day. I get news from the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Guardian, the local paper, and it’s overwhelming! I feel like I can’t keep up. And there’s so much new stuff happening every day. You have to wonder, what happened to that story from yesterday?
If you watch one of the news on the TV networks, they cover four or five local or national stories plus a feel-good story at the end so that you’re not totally depressed. But you don’t really hear about what’s happening in the rest of the world. I think that’s where BBC News, Deutsche Welle, really provide another outlet for beyond the U.S.

SS: Do you follow German media as well regularly?

KE: I would say I get the majority of my news from German media. As, they have this lovely thing called Tagesthemen (daily topics), which is not super deep since it’s a short segment, but it is certainly a heck of a lot deeper than most things you read here.
I read German newspapers and magazines. I also read some American ones, but I feel especially the local ones are generally really lacking in the international department. For example, we have wildfires here, and that is, of course, huge for everybody locally. It is an important story, but it also blocks everything else that is going on beyond.

American and German Democratic Traditions

SS: Katrin, are there aspects of the founding of the United States that seemed particularly different or particularly appealing from a German perspective, particularly before you lived here? And has living in the US changed your view on the history of German democracy at all?

KE: Before moving here, I didn’t have a particularly strong image of American democracy, and it wasn’t a factor in my decision. The U.S. was a democracy, and that seemed positive, but I didn’t think much about it. Living here has made me reflect more on German democracy. Based on my own observations, Germany seems to place a stronger emphasis on addressing problems collectively, while in the U.S. there is often a greater focus on individual interests. Of course, there are many exceptions in both countries, but my overall impression is that the idea of supporting and protecting society as a whole is more deeply ingrained in Germany.

I would also add that attitudes toward government differ. In the U.S., many people seem to expect government mainly to enforce laws and otherwise stay out of their lives. In Germany—and perhaps Europe more broadly—there is often a greater expectation that government should help ensure a decent quality of life for everyone. As a result, extreme concentrations of wealth tend to be viewed more critically, while in the U.S. billionaires are more often celebrated as success stories, with less focus on the broader social implications of such wealth.

Looking Ahead: The Next 250 Years

SS: Final question: How do you feel about the future of the U.S., thinking about the next 250 years? Do you feel hopeful in thinking about your children and grandchildren in this country?

KE: I’m hopeful because history tends to swing like a pendulum. I believe we’ll eventually move back toward greater equity, liberty, and dignity. During Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, I witnessed levels of government violence I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. But I also saw an extraordinary level of solidarity. People from all walks of life came together to support those most affected—organizing aid, delivering groceries, and standing up for their neighbors. It wasn’t perfect—we’re all human. But the sense of unity was remarkable. Seeing so many people resist what they viewed as a moral wrong and help one another gives me hope for the future. DS: I would say I feel like I have to remain hopeful—because what’s the alternative? I’ve experienced the resistance that Katrin mentioned on a much smaller scale. I live in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it’s known as one of the suburbs that has traditionally been conservative. We recently had local school board elections, and a group of extremely organized mothers played a key role in mobilizing support. Together, we helped elect candidates who support public schools and teachers and who oppose book bans. We’ve also seen meaningful civic engagement through local protests. In Brookfield, Wisconsin, for example, 1,200 people turned out for a demonstration—an extraordinary showing for a community our size. Seeing people come together in different ways to support shared values and participate in civic life gives me hope.

Throughout our 250-year history, we have faced difficult and divisive periods before. My hope is that we can return to a place where dignity and respect are extended to all people, regardless of race, religion, background, or personal beliefs. So yes, I am hopeful, but there are days where it’s challenging to hold on to that hope.