Hans Reimer Claussen remains an important historical figure in our lives today. His actions epitomize an ideal democratic and politically centered citizen. He stood up for what he believed in, he expected the same for others even if they had a differing opinion. He once said, "I wish my political enemies the same freedom to express their opinions that I claim myself...It is my opinion that freedom to express one's own opinions must be pushed as far as possible." (Pg. 31 La Vern J. Rippley). Claussen also detested sightless accommodating of authority, "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." (Albert Einstein). Claussen's reasons for leaving Germany stemmed on the fact that he did not believe a man's money, power, and breeding made him a superior leader. Claussen worked actively for reforms in politics and the legal system, and was an active pioneer of democracy for nine years before he came to the United States. Preceding his immigration to America he was one of the leaders of the failed Schleswig-Holstein revolution in 1848. In this country he served as a judge, an attorney, a state senator, and also a business

Like Claussen many of the immigrants from Schleswig-Holstein began to feel at home in America, soon they began to give up the archaic ideals of the "old world" and engage in a comprehensive "new way of life". Claussen also played a role in presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln's victory in Iowa, without the liberal principles that despised

"Nationalism was based of an awareness of being part of a community that has common institutions, traditions, language, and customs." (Pg. 620 Spielvogel). Uniting

World War I and World War II time periods in Germany had it become a place more like America. Our forefathers formed America's mold and they have made their mark on the ways we think, and how we operate our government. America has traditionally acted as a leader of an enlightened and democratic government. Our social welfare programs and democratic elections in our federal and state governments, demonstrate the thinking of men like Hans Reimer Claussen. Hans Reimer Claussen may not be a figure in history everyone is familiar with, but in the words of Robert Francis Kennedy, "Let no one be discouraged by the belief there is nothing one person can do against the enormous array of the world's ills, misery, ignorance, and violence. Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. And in the total of all those acts will be written the history of a generation."

"The laws against the sale of alcoholic drinks, rigidity in up holding the laws and customs concerning the Sabbath, there and other conditions of a puritanical character are sometimes burdensome to the Germans." (Pg. 31 Rippley). He

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