The Scandinavian Element in the United States: University of Illinois Studies in the Social Sciences, Vol. 111, No. 3, September, 1914Babcock, Kendric Charles
History
The Scandinavian Element in the United States: University of Illinois Studies in the Social Sciences, Vol. 111, No. 3, September, 1914
Babcock, Kendric Charles
Scandinavians -- United States
Besides the numerous companies which went to Bishop Hill, many others
between 1846 and 1850 sought different localities in the United
States.[136] Some remained in Chicago; some built homes in Andover,
Illinois; others began the large Swedish settlement in Jamestown, New
York; while still others were persuaded to go to Texas, thus beginning
the only considerable permanent settlement of Scandinavians in the
Southern States before 1880, with the exception of settlements in
Missouri. During these years, knowledge of the prosperous condition of
the immigrants was spreading, in the usual fashion, into every province
of Sweden; Småland, Helsingland, Dalarne, and Östergötland, were
especially affected. Not merely were Jansonists and dissenters moved to
emigrate, but men of the Established Church as well; a Jansonist's word
in matters of faith, Scriptural interpretation, and religious practice
was worse than worthless to staunch Lutherans, but there was no reason
to doubt the accuracy of his statements regarding land, wages, prices,
and opportunities in Illinois or Iowa. Even Lutheran clergymen began to
lead little companies of their adherents to the "States," and no one
considered it a mortal sin or eternal danger to follow in the footsteps
of worldly-wise heretics.[137]
[136] Norelius, _Svenskarnes Historia_, 30-38.
[137] Norelius, _Svenskarnes Historia_, 34.
CHAPTER VI.
THE DANISH IMMIGRATION.
The Danish immigration began much later than the Norwegian and Swedish,
and its proportions were inconsiderable until after the Civil War. Not
until 1869 did the annual influx of Danes reach 2,000. Tho the
population of Denmark was and is somewhat greater than Norway's, yet the
Danish immigration has never in any one year equalled the Norwegian, and
in but seven years has it been more than one-half. As against Norway's
total of nearly 600,000 from 1820 to 1905, Denmark's is only about
225,000.[138] In calculating the immigration, however, a large allowance
must be made. Since the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were acquired
by Prussia in 1864 and 1866, their emigrants have of course been
recorded as German. Nevertheless, taken as a whole, the movement from
Denmark has lacked momentum; its proportions are relatively small; and
the influence of the Danes in the United States is much less important
than that of either of the other Scandinavian nationalities.
[138] See the tables in Appendix.
The causes of the smaller emigration from Denmark are to be found in the
nature of the people and in the conditions of the kingdom itself.
Generally speaking, the Danes are not highly enterprising, adventurous,
or self-confident; instead of daring all and risking all for possible,
even probable, advantage, they remain at home, for,
"Striving to better, oft we do mar what's well."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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