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This article is from the soc.history.what-if FAQ, by Anthony Mayer anthonyemayer@yahoo.co.uk with numerous contributions by others.

11.e. Did the US come within one vote of adopting German as its official language? (soc.history.what-if)

No. This urban legend seems to be based on a 1795 petition to print
some laws in German as well as (not instead of) English. During the
debate, a motion to adjourn and consider the matter later failed by one
vote. No vote was taken on the actual proposal. Later that year,
Congress voted to issue federal laws in English only; the vote tally
does not seem to have been recorded.

 

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