[yesthatjallen]

An old myth helped spread by Ann Landers:

Urban Legend: German almost became the official language of the US

"On January 13, 1795, Congress considered a proposal, not to give German any official status, but merely to print the federal laws in German as well as English. During the debate, a motion to adjourn failed by one vote. The final vote rejecting the translation of federal laws, which took place one month later, is not recorded."

http://www.watzmann.net/scg/german-by-one-vote.html

[reg45]

Even so, it shows how common the German language was in the Revolutionary Era United States.