Did taste-based discrimination motivate German immigrants toward assimilation or alienation during World War I? This paper examines how an exogenous shock, anti-Germanism in the US during WWI, influenced their decisions. Using measures of naming patterns and naturalization petitions, it finds that Germans significantly increased Americanization efforts amid rising native hostility.

Context & Data:

Drawing on historical voting records and documented violent incidents against German-Americans during WWI as indicators of anti-German sentiment in various states.

Methodology:

Exploiting the wartime shock to identify causal effects, employing quasi-experimental techniques that leverage geographic variations across US states.

Key Findings:

German immigrants reacted proactively:

• Significantly altered naming patterns for themselves and their children toward American forms
• Filed substantially more naturalization petitions despite heightened discrimination

These responses were quantitatively stronger in states with higher anti-German sentiment.