Push & Pull Factors
Overview
Norway had a large amount of immigration in the 1800's, and even a few years where their population decreased because more people were emigrating than being born. But why exactly were Norwegian citizens being pushed to leave their country? Well, diseases like smallpox were riddled throughout the country, wreaking havoc on overall health. There was also a lot of crop failure in Norway that caused starvation. Combined with the positive image & bountiful opportunities that America presented, Norwegians sought out a better life in the United States.
Factors that led to Migration
Death in Norway
One thing that was causing the population to diminish in Norway was the death of children. Death was coming from smallpox and increased famine which were partially caused by war and crop failure. This famine was causing many birth defects and increasing the child mortality rate significantly. The future for many families was not secure and it was pushing them out of their own country. The crop failure was also leading to starvation not only for children but also everyone else in the family. Something had to change, it was just a matter of time before a more attractive option showed up.[1]
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Land of Opportunity
Word was being spread quickly that America was the place to be. The mountain-men of Norway were known as cosmopolitans of their country, who helped to share the message. America has been known as the “Land of Opportunity” for a very long time and it’s been attracting immigrants toward it like a super magnet, especially in the mid-late 1800s. Norwegians found a place that felt like home in the northern United States (the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Minnesota.) They went to a section of America where a lot of the native population condemned slavery, an opinion that they shared for they were seeking freedom in America too.[1]
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Positive ImageOnce they settled into their niche the Norwegians found that the area they were in had very rich soil and wide open spaces. They wrote letters home to friends and family telling of the fantastic opportunities that existed in their area of settlement. The letters speaking of many acres to grow crops and space to herd pushed even more people to leave their homeland, creating a sort of America fever in Norway.[1]
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Aanen Fosdal
Stoughton, Wisconsin
23 March 1892
"You might be interested in hearing something from the much-discussed and famous land of America. The month of February has now passed, and the farmers, who are still doing their winter chores, are busy getting ready for an early spring. Several of the farmers in Kansas have already sown their wheat and barley. The tobacco, which is the greatest source of income on our prairies here in Wisconsin, is now almost ready, and the farmers are waiting to sell it. Until now the price has been low. Nevertheless, times are good because of the good wheat and corn harvest we had last year. Cattle raising has been exceptionally good, but the price hasn't been over five cents a pound. The usual income for common laborers is about 800-900 crowns a year."[2]
Stoughton, Wisconsin
23 March 1892
"You might be interested in hearing something from the much-discussed and famous land of America. The month of February has now passed, and the farmers, who are still doing their winter chores, are busy getting ready for an early spring. Several of the farmers in Kansas have already sown their wheat and barley. The tobacco, which is the greatest source of income on our prairies here in Wisconsin, is now almost ready, and the farmers are waiting to sell it. Until now the price has been low. Nevertheless, times are good because of the good wheat and corn harvest we had last year. Cattle raising has been exceptionally good, but the price hasn't been over five cents a pound. The usual income for common laborers is about 800-900 crowns a year."[2]
Literature & Picture Citations:
Literature
[1] Semmingsen, “Norway to America”
[2] Hauge, Rasmus Larsen, 1845(?)-, Letter from Rasmus Larsen Hauge, May 10, 1876 in Their Own Saga: Letters From the Norwegian Global Migration . Hale, Frederick, ed. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Press, 1986, pp. 183. [5-10-1876] S9983-D096
Pictures
Header background: American flag by Frydolin. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Death: US Navy 030125-N-4142G-006 vile of the Smallpox vaccine. From the United States Navy. Used under public domain.
Positive Image: Sky-tree-flag-america by Tookapic. From Pexels. No known copyright restrictions.
Land of Opportunity: The Land of Opportunity (1920) - 1. From Exhibitors Herald. Used under public domain
[1] Semmingsen, “Norway to America”
[2] Hauge, Rasmus Larsen, 1845(?)-, Letter from Rasmus Larsen Hauge, May 10, 1876 in Their Own Saga: Letters From the Norwegian Global Migration . Hale, Frederick, ed. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Press, 1986, pp. 183. [5-10-1876] S9983-D096
Pictures
Header background: American flag by Frydolin. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Death: US Navy 030125-N-4142G-006 vile of the Smallpox vaccine. From the United States Navy. Used under public domain.
Positive Image: Sky-tree-flag-america by Tookapic. From Pexels. No known copyright restrictions.
Land of Opportunity: The Land of Opportunity (1920) - 1. From Exhibitors Herald. Used under public domain