At the beginning of the 20th century, New York City was a melting pot of cultures and languages, boasting a significant number of speakers of various languages. It had the second-largest population of German speakers globally, right after Vienna and Berlin, and housed numerous Irish, Russian, and Italian immigrants as well, making it a diverse cultural hub. This multilingual environment highlights the city's importance as a center for different immigrant communities.

By 1890, the United States had a robust German-language media presence with around 800 newspapers, indicating a strong community. Furthermore, even before the onset of World War I, Baltimore maintained four elementary schools where lessons were conducted solely in German, emphasizing the persistence of these immigrant cultures and languages in American society during this period.