Swedish+to+Minnesota

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= Swedish Migration to Minnesota: = 1- Introduction 2- Sweden's population boom 3- Push Factors 4- Pull Factors 5- Ravenstein's Laws 6- Effects on Sweden 7- Effects on Minnesota 8- Changes in the Swedes today



Introduction:

The migration from Sweden to Minnesota took place between the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Although a Scandinavia to North America migration might seem very odd, there are reasons for it, the Sweden-Minnesota migration was a very rare migration that had an effect on both countries. Sweden shared some of the same push factors as other countries, however Swedes did not end up being attracted to the same pull factors as everyone else, who ended up in New York or somewhere along the East Coast at the time. About 1.3 million Swedes are reported to have left for the U.S, this unique external migration cannot be narrowed down to one classification, as some Swedes voluntary migrated in search of prosperity, but some felt forced to go.

Sweden's Population Boom:

Sweden was undergoing a population boom due to improvements in modern medicine, and could be classified as stage two in the demographic transition model. During this time period, a lot of problems were generated, causing a lot of push factors. The first problem Sweden faced was the agricultural crisis, the farmland was divided into small fractions and the soil laid out was poor, with this added to the large population increase poverty, demand and social frustration swept the country. The population pressure in Sweden was expressed in three words: “ Peace, Vaccination and Potatoes”. Sweden’s population was kept stable under past wars they had with the Russians and Danish, but now with no wars, death rates declined rapidly. Another factor that caused the population to increase was that a vaccine for small pox was discovered, it reduced the infant mortality rate from 21% in 1750 to 15% in 1850. Potatoes, a crop that could grow in the cold soon became a nutritious food that sufficed the hunger of the poor. All these factors combined caused the population to grow exponentially.



Push Factors:

This huge population increase caused a lot of special demand on land, especially farmland. Those that couldn’t find land had to leave their land and search for land elsewhere. Religion also played a major role in the migration of Swedes, as the government of Sweden was connected to the State Lutheran Church. People were first persecuted if they practiced another religion, and even though these unjust persecutions were stopped in 1958, other Swedes treated followers of other religions unfairly. This caused many Swedes to migrate between 1840 and 1860. The military imposed a mandatory service on young men, and some fled in avoidance of this conscription law. As Sweden entered Stage 3 in the demographic transition model, urbanization began to take place due to advancements in technology. It seemed like it would solve many problems since now there was cheaper transportation, better education services and a modern welfare program; however, it was almost impossible to find a job in the city due to the booming population, so urbanization cold not stop emigration. Many Swedes saved up some money to go to America, the “promised land” where they could find prosperity.
 * No availability of farmland
 * Religious discriminations
 * Military Mandatory Service
 * Unemployment



Pull Factors:

The Swedish did not travel directly to Minnesota, and of course, not all of them ended up going to Minnesota, they all landed at New York first, the gateway to America. Minnesota had many pull factors, attracting many Swedes. Firstly, there was a higher availability of employment and a there were higher wages, Minnesota offered very fertile and affordable farmland, so many Swedish immigrants were able to purchase their own land and establish their own farms. Swedish managed to explore other industries that were not just limited to farming, as Minnesota offered opportunities in the timber industry, which substituted as an occupation for farmers and others in search of work in the months of winter. The 1860’s railroad development not only provided transportation for the Swedish migrants, but employment as well. Iron mining also became an industry for those that did not participate in farming or who could not find farmland in the end of the 1800’s. Minnesota was not the only state in America that offered economic opportunity, but what made it attract many Swedes was that it was up north, meaning its geographical properties were similar to those in Sweden, (Lakes, forests rivers), it reminded the settlers of home.
 * Availability of jobs
 * Higher wages
 * Fertile and affordable land
 * Wide range of jobs
 * Similarity to Sweden



Ravenstein's Laws:

The Swedish migration completely defies the first Ravenstein law, as evidently, the migration journey they undertook was not a short one at all, however, the migration relates to law five. Although Minnesota is not as industrious as New York, it was a major center for the wood, mining and farming industry. Law six also applies, as it was rural families in Sweden that moved to America after finding no jobs in the city. Additionally, Law nine applies since the numbers of Swedish emigrants kept increasing as the conditions did not improve, the more people that left for America, the more people were encouraged to follow. Law ten applies perfectly to the Swedish migration, as it was economic factors that pushed them out of Sweden and economic reasons that pulled them into America. Law eleven fits in to, since most migrants are moving for work and economic reasons that means most of them must be in the working age, which covers the age range of 20-34.
 * Law 5: "The longer the journey, the more likely it is that the migrant will end up in a major centre of industry or commerce"
 * Law 6: "Urban dwellers are less likely to move than their rural counterparts"
 * Law 9: " People are leaving rural areas in ever-increasing numbers"
 * Law 10: "People move mainly for economic reasons"
 * Law 11: " Most migrants fall into the 20-34 age range"

Effects On Sweden:

Being in its peak population time, Sweden was not negatively affected by the migrants travel to Minnesota, this is because they already had a large population, so problems involving work force and economical strength did not exist, on the contrary migrating Swedes played a small role in creating more job spaces for local Swedes. The government supported emigration to help clear up some space and create job availability, however they predicted that their wold be a future net drain, when the population stabilizes and the emigration rates are still high, Sweden's economy would be damaged since there would be a work force shoratge. The Swedish government decided to make a few changes to keep people in, firstly they dismissed the mandatory military service that drove so many young men, then they decided to invest more money in improving the nation's budget for better public services. The Swedish attempt to decrease emigration were aided by the eruption of World War I, during the war emigration rates plummeted to almost nothing, and after the war ended, there were was no mass emigration.



Effects On Minnesota:

Minnesota was in the opposite position, it had a reserve of untapped wealth ranging from trees to mines, they had large vast areas of fertile land, what they needed is a work force. The Swedes filled in for that work force, taking jobs in the timber, mining and farming industries, they helped turn Minnesota from an barren land into a centre of industry and trade. Because of the Swedes, Minnesota economically developed, however they helped spread their culture as well, Swedes preserved their language up until 1920 in Minnesota, they carried out their traditions and some still hang onto them today. Because of their carried on traditions and preserved language, minnesota became an identifiable home for Swedish Americans. Minnesota today is the state with the most Swedes, 486, 507

Changes in the Swedes:

The Swedish preserved their culture and even their language for quite a while after their immigration, they started speaking English in the 1920's and today there exists few Swedish Americans that can speak Swedish, only 56, 324 could speak English out of the approximate 2.5 million Swedes in America. The Swedes are slowly losing their true heritage as they have also lost their traditions and their culture. Although the Lutheran church was a push factor, ironically, many Swedish Americans are members of the Lutheran Church today which reflects that there are still a few Swedish Americans who are still in touch with their tradition and culture.. There exists a few culture-based Swedish organizations that are trying to grasp onto their heritage but most Swedish Americans have more or less become American today.

Sources:

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Sr-Z/Swedish-Americans.html http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mnstatehistory/swedish_migration.html http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEsweden.htm http://www.bibliovault.org/BV.book.epl?ISBN=9780873513999 "Geography An Integrated Approach" - Class textbook