GERMAN-AMERICAN HISTORY

THE 1817 WARTBURG FESTIVAL

In 1817 Prince Metternich of Austria and the reactionary princes  of Germany  suppressed  liberal ideas emanating from the  debris  of  the French Revolution.  

Young  idealists  commemorated  the   Protestant Reformation at the famous Wartburg Festival to protest the suppression The festival ended with a giant bonfire where all symbols of  tyranny, censorship  and  oppression  were burned.  

A  period  of  persecution followed  the festival and many were forced to leave  the  Fatherland. Among the illustrious immigrants were Karl Follen, the first full professor  of  German in the U.S., and Franz Lieber, the creator of  the Encyclopedia Americana.

The 1817 Wartburg Festival presented by:

GERMAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Philadelphia Chapter