Zipf, Karin L., 1968-O'Lear, Kristin2021-01-042022-12-012020-122020-11-19December 2http://hdl.handle.net/10342/8825This thesis challenges previous historians' characterizations of Ferdinand Lindheimer as simply the "Father of Texas Botany" and defender of freedom. Instead, Lindheimer acted out of his own self-interest to preserve his German-American ethnic identity, and by extension the community he helped to build. Only when Anglo-American political and social issues endangered his community in the 1850s, did Lindheimer actively engage in the Anglo-American political sphere. Lindheimer expressed minimal concern for those oppressed by the dominant culture. Lindheimer used his publication, the Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung, as a shield to protect himself and New Braunfels, the physical manifestation of this ethnic identity, from Anglo-American intrusion. In so doing, Lindheimer became the most visible German-American supporter of slavery, secession and the Confederacy in antebellum Texas.application/pdfenAdelsvereinNeu-Braunfelser ZeitungLindheimer, Ferdinand, 1801-1879Texas--History--Civil War, 1861-1865Slavery--Texas--History--19th centuryGerman Americans--Ethnic identityMaster's Thesis2020-12-18