https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_whiteness_in_the_United_States#German_Americans
"Large numbers of Germans migrated to North America between the 1680s and 1760s. Many settled in the English colony of Pennsylvania. In the 18th century, many persons of English descent harbored resentment towards the increasing number of German settlers. Benjamin Franklin in "Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, etc.", complained about the increasing influx of German Americans, stating that they had a negative influence on the early United States. The only exception were Germans of Saxon descent "who with the English, make the principal Body of White People on the Face of the Earth. I could wish their Numbers were increased".
Unlike most European immigrant groups, whose acceptance as white came gradually over the course of the late 19th century (that is, in U.S. colloquial definitions, since all Europeans were white by legal U.S. definition), German immigrants quickly became accepted as white.[11]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_whiteness_in_the_United_States#Irish_Americans
"In the 18th century Irish immigrants had the same rights and privileges as all other European settlers. Irish Americans were not always considered white.[12] In fact, up until the dawn of the 20th Century, some Americans did not consider the Irish to be white, and even after most did accept them as such, significant amounts of prejudice still continued for a few decades afterwards in many places."
http://www.dialoginternational.com/dialog_international/2008/02/ben-franklin-on.html
Benjamin Franklin's views on Germans (and on several other European ethnic groups):
"Those who come hither are generally of the most ignorant Stupid Sort of their own Nation…and as few of the English understand the German Language, and so cannot address them either from the Press or Pulpit, ’tis almost impossible to remove any prejudices they once entertain…Not being used to Liberty, they know not how to make a modest use of it…I remember when they modestly declined intermeddling in our Elections, but now they come in droves, and carry all before them, except in one or two Counties...In short unless the stream of their importation could be turned from this to other colonies, as you very judiciously propose, they will soon so out number us, that all the advantages we have will not in My Opinion be able to preserve our language, and even our Government will become precarious."
"Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.
24. Which leads me to add one Remark: That the Number of purely white People in the World is proportionably very small. All Africa is black or tawny. Asia chiefly tawny. America (exclusive of the new Comers) wholly so. And in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted, who with the English, make the principal Body of White People on the Face of the Earth. I could wish their Numbers were increased. And while we are, as I may call it, Scouring our Planet, by clearing America of Woods, and so making this Side of our Globe reflect a brighter Light to the Eyes of Inhabitants in Mars or Venus, why should we in the Sight of Superior Beings, darken its People? why increase the Sons of Africa, by Planting them in America, where we have so fair an Opportunity, by excluding all Blacks and Tawneys, of increasing the lovely White and Red? But perhaps I am partial to the Complexion of my Country, for such Kind of Partiality is natural to Mankind."
It's clear that throughout early US history, Germans (and the Irish, and even Swedes) were essentially regarded as swarthy, stupid, non-white people who represented a threat to the United States' "pure English" race, culture, language, values, institutions etc. Considering that even enlightened Americans of the time (Franklin) had this perception, we can guess that the common people held similar views, or were perhaps even more prejudiced.
To be fair the blacked out parts don't say the Germans were never considered "white". It says there were prejudices and the people consider Saxon Germans as principal body
of the "white people". That doesn't imply that the other Germans were considered "non white" but that Saxon Germans in combination to British were considered the "Elite of whites". And contrary to other Europeans as it says Germans were quickly accepted as "Whites". Quickly means for me, probably already in the 16th to 17th century. This is what I understand from the text.
The second bold sentence says that Irish were not always considered "white" that might be true but it doesn't point when and for how long. It was probably at the very beginning since as I said "White" is more of an Anglo_Saxon ethnocultural thing than anything else. In the next bold sentence it says up until the 20th century
some Americans considered Irish still not as "white". Some implies that it was a rather small minority and the large majority was well aware that they were "White.
But all these early "white" vs "non white" classifications were really based on political issues. Irish and English people were known as enemies. So were Germans and English. A clear definition of this term "white" established itself when US declared Independence. And around that time a clear, well let's say "racial" character of this classification came on light. And from now on all People from the Celto_Germanic genetic room in Europe were considered "white". It would have been absurd for the US to consider Germans/French who were in their racial look very similar to Biritsh as "non whites".
Just shows how useless and unscientific this term "white" is.
There are only two ways to describe the Caucasian world. 1. geographically European, West Asian, North African and South_Central Asian 2. Physically Northwest/Central European, East European, South European, Northern West Asian, Southern West Asian, South_Central Asian, and North African.