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Ethnic Migration And Cultural Maintenance In Eastern European Ethnic Enclaves In Nebraska: The Poles In Omaha, Germans From Russia In Lincoln, And Czechs In Wilber From 1860-1920, Paige Mccoy
Honors Theses
This thesis examines whether three Eastern European ethnic enclaves within Nebraska assisted in cultural maintenance and stalled assimilation, looking specifically at enclaves of the Germans from Russia in Lincoln, the Poles in Omaha, and the Czechs in Wilber. These groups were selected due to differences in their location, with a larger city (Omaha), the capital city (Lincoln), and a small rural town (Wilber). In order to narrow down the time frame, this thesis focuses on the years from 1860-1920 in these enclaves. First, I determined that these clusters of immigrants were indeed ethnic enclaves, by using a primary source base …
Czech Immigrants In Nebraska: A Question Of Identity And Assimilation, Katharine Meegan
Czech Immigrants In Nebraska: A Question Of Identity And Assimilation, Katharine Meegan
Honors Theses
This thesis examines the dynamics of cultural and social assimilation through the experiences of Czech immigrants into Nebraska. The Czechs' long struggle to maintain their ethnic identity has shaped their experiences with assimilation. After a review of assimilation theory, I conclude that the Czech experience with assimilation follows a “straight-line” assimilation model, a progression of assimilation that is complete by the third generation. Their relatively small size, settlement in rural areas, and a strong desire to maintain ethnic identity, as reflected in the formation of Czech language benevolent associations, gymnastic societies, and Czech language newspapers, led to “social” and “structural” …