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Chapter I: Emigration And Immigration
Chapter I: Emigration And Immigration
The Bridge
The description of an immigrant group begins in the place of origin, where thousands of individuals chose to abandon their old homes and build new lives in America. In the mid-nineteenth century, this decision required agonizing deliberation by people who knew little about America. Few had traveled abroad. Few had American relatives to provide first-hand accounts of life in the New World.
Chapter Iii: Occupations Of Danish Immigrants
Chapter Iii: Occupations Of Danish Immigrants
The Bridge
When the Danish immigrants arrived in America, their career plans were influenced by economic aspirations and occupational background. Nearly half of the immigrants had worked in agriculture, chiefly as landless laborers. They frequently planned to acquire land of their own. Most of the rest were urban laborers or artisans hoping to find higher wages and broader opportunities in America. The motivating force behind most emigration was dissatisfaction with the economic situation in Denmark. In looking for something new and better, emigrants indicated their willingness to accept the various occupations which America offered. After all, life had to be better in …
Conclusion: Chicago And The Evolution Of The Danish Community
Conclusion: Chicago And The Evolution Of The Danish Community
The Bridge
As contemporaries and historians noted, the development of the ethnic American depended upon a unique blend of two cultures. This study has illustrated that fact, beginning with the sources of immigration. We found that immigration resulted from a complex interplay of European and American factors, which influenced not only the immigrant and his community, but the old culture as well. For example, the existence of plentiful American farmland led to an immigration to American farms. As American produce then rose in volume, more was exported to Europe, contributing to an agricultural crisis in Denmark. That in turn generated a new …