Alsace-Lorraine Dbq

In 1871, the Treaty of Frankfurt determined the cession of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. This historical event marked just one of the important instances of change Alsace-Lorraine dealt with throughout time. From 1870-1919, culture became a great controversy in Alsace-Lorraine, as demonstrated by the spread of German influence, encouraged accepted of German culture, and backlash of the French. From 1870-1919 Alsace-Lorraine suffers from the spread of German influence after Germany take control of the French territory. German influence of culture pushed on Alsace-Lorraine is evident through many sources. One source, a set of statistics provided by the German government, claims that the population of Germans present in Alsace-Lorraine was higher

This idea is most prominent the memoirs of Frère Médard, an Alsatian Priest. In 1988, memoirs of his boyhood in pre-First World War Alsace was first published. In his work he talks about the influence of German culture caused a form of French support that they may not be totally accountable for. He writes about young French citizens embracing German control and the support their Prussian friends gave them afterwards (Doc 7). It was evident from his writing that it was seemingly impossible to ignore the Germans. As a priest and a first-hand source of information, Frère Médard is easy to believe. Overall, the evidence given by this source supports the idea of the French embracing German culture, as it is promoted everywhere they turn. An example of the downside to this cultural development is evident in an illustration labelled The History of Alsace as Told to Small Children by Uncle Hansi, published in 1916 in Paris. The illustration shows a German police officer taking note of an illegally printed sign on a barber shop. The sign, printed in French rather than German, was considered wrong because it embraced French culture. Although the issue of French culture in Alsace-Lorraine was only ever acknowledged as “Moral Slavery”, it can be compared to the culture struggle African slaves dealt with in America, being suddenly exposed to a widely diverse culture. Published a few years before

The French of Alsace-Lorraine were shown just as well staying true to their heritage as they were giving in to German command. One example of this is the Declaration of French National Assembly, presented by Alsatian deputies on February 17, 1871. Since 1871 was the year of the Treaty of Frankfurt, this evidence is important because it shows the opinions of the people of Alsace-Lorraine just as the cession took place. The document stated that Alsace-Lorraine did not consent to separation and that it was not right for the French to agree to the cession of Lorraine and Alsace (Doc 2). It also claimed that through all circumstances, the people of Alsace-Lorraine were to remain loyal to France. This sort on French patriotism may have been strongest just as the Treaty of Frankfurt took place, showing the immense backlash that Lorraine and Alsace presented while this historical event took place. Another example of French backlash came from a speech in German Reichstag by an Alsatian delegate named Edouard Teutsch. In his speech he claims that the French signed the territory away due to their weak state. This speech took place in 1874, after the Treaty of Frankfurt took place, so it makes sense that there would be evidence of an explanation for being taken under control by Germany when they clearly thought it wrong before the Treaty of Frankfurt took place. This speech also builds upon the