Step One
Completion requirements
Below are some documents that people wrote regarding moving to the United States. Read the documents and see if you can figure out some reasons why they came. Take notes, as you will be sending a list of reasons as part of your assignment.
Source one:
Excerpt from Pioneer and political reminiscences by Nils P. Haugen, 1930. American Memory Project digital ID lhbum 27464.
"The fact that my father, Peder N. Haugen, with his family came to Wisconsin in 1854 and became a pioneer settler in Pierce County the next year, has caused some friends to suggest that I write my recollections of our entry into the country and early experiences in the then unsettled section of the state.
The causes that gave rise to emigration from Norway have been variously stated. The dissatisfaction with the dominance of the state church has often been given as one cause. In the case of my father, however, the main reason was the hope and expectation of bettering his economic condition. He had no quarrel with the church. He had taught parochial school during his youth for some ten years, thereby earning exemption from military service. His certificate of this exemption I have. Military service in Norway began at the age of twenty-two. I believe that is still the law. Father did have some objection to subjecting young men to this forced service each summer during the best years of their youth, which might be put to better advantage in some lucrative employment; and this may have been one motive in taking his three sons out of the country.
It was not a general objection to military service that actuated my father, but he thought that the situation in Norway furnished no call for keeping up the show of an army that took the young men out of the economic service during their best years. He was not misled by exaggerated stories of "getting rich quick," but he was strong and healthy, and mother was intelligently industrious and economical. The lure of better opportunities for the children resulted in their selling the little farm of some acres and some of their personalty in the spring of 1854, and breaking away from friends and sold associations."
Source Two:
Excerpt from Our pioneer days in Minnesota by Gertrude Braat Vandergon, 1949. American Memory Project digital ID lhbum 03667.
"How well I remember one day when I returned from school in Amsterdam, Holland and found our lovely home all upset, the home which had been built for our family. It had always been a well kept orderly home. The rooms were large with high ceilings; there was a library too, with everything in it to make a cozy, happy place for the family. Our yard was spacious and well kept, a large fig tree and many flowers helped to make it look very attractive.
As I entered the front hall of our home that bright April afternoon, I noticed that the large paintings and photographs of my grandparents were removed from the walls and placed face down in the corner of the hall. When I questioned Mother, she said, "We are moving to America, Gertrude, and have no room for the large frames in our trunks". Of course, I cried and sobbed, for I did not want to leave our home, playmates, and relatives. I showered Mother with many questions and assured her we would not enjoy living in America. Wouldn't they leave me with my grandparents and aunts? How little did we realize that our future life was to be darkened by hardships and adversities. Mother tried to comfort me, as she informed me that in another week or ten days when our packing was completed, we would visit the relatives in Maaslius and Gouda. She was certain we would enjoy that immensely.
After this explanation, she urged me to accompany the maid to the store, where she was to purchase both white and black paint. The large trunk like boxes built for the long difficult journey were to be painted inside and out. Our names would be painted in large white letters, on each trunk. The trunks also would be numbered and contents marked.
On our way to the store I asked the maid many questions, for it was my intention to learn just why we were leaving everything that was dear to us. During the preceding winter, I had heard my parents and a number of their friends talk and argue about this new country, America, and its many possibilities. They studied maps and gazed at beautiful pictures Mr. Kloose, a land agent, brought them. He came to our home often and met with the interested Hollanders, and after a time convinced the entire group that America was the ideal place to live for it offered more opportunities for the young people.
"Just why do we go to a place where we cannot take our belongings?", I asked the maid. They are selling and giving away many beautiful treasurers. If it was pennies they wanted, I had a bag full of them, for father had given me a penny for every Bible verse I memorized.
In America, the maid said, "There is so much gold, you will receive a gold dollar for every Bible verse you memorize". She had heard Kloose tell there was room and money for every one in America."
Source one:
Excerpt from Pioneer and political reminiscences by Nils P. Haugen, 1930. American Memory Project digital ID lhbum 27464.
"The fact that my father, Peder N. Haugen, with his family came to Wisconsin in 1854 and became a pioneer settler in Pierce County the next year, has caused some friends to suggest that I write my recollections of our entry into the country and early experiences in the then unsettled section of the state.
The causes that gave rise to emigration from Norway have been variously stated. The dissatisfaction with the dominance of the state church has often been given as one cause. In the case of my father, however, the main reason was the hope and expectation of bettering his economic condition. He had no quarrel with the church. He had taught parochial school during his youth for some ten years, thereby earning exemption from military service. His certificate of this exemption I have. Military service in Norway began at the age of twenty-two. I believe that is still the law. Father did have some objection to subjecting young men to this forced service each summer during the best years of their youth, which might be put to better advantage in some lucrative employment; and this may have been one motive in taking his three sons out of the country.
It was not a general objection to military service that actuated my father, but he thought that the situation in Norway furnished no call for keeping up the show of an army that took the young men out of the economic service during their best years. He was not misled by exaggerated stories of "getting rich quick," but he was strong and healthy, and mother was intelligently industrious and economical. The lure of better opportunities for the children resulted in their selling the little farm of some acres and some of their personalty in the spring of 1854, and breaking away from friends and sold associations."
Source Two:
Excerpt from Our pioneer days in Minnesota by Gertrude Braat Vandergon, 1949. American Memory Project digital ID lhbum 03667.
"How well I remember one day when I returned from school in Amsterdam, Holland and found our lovely home all upset, the home which had been built for our family. It had always been a well kept orderly home. The rooms were large with high ceilings; there was a library too, with everything in it to make a cozy, happy place for the family. Our yard was spacious and well kept, a large fig tree and many flowers helped to make it look very attractive.
As I entered the front hall of our home that bright April afternoon, I noticed that the large paintings and photographs of my grandparents were removed from the walls and placed face down in the corner of the hall. When I questioned Mother, she said, "We are moving to America, Gertrude, and have no room for the large frames in our trunks". Of course, I cried and sobbed, for I did not want to leave our home, playmates, and relatives. I showered Mother with many questions and assured her we would not enjoy living in America. Wouldn't they leave me with my grandparents and aunts? How little did we realize that our future life was to be darkened by hardships and adversities. Mother tried to comfort me, as she informed me that in another week or ten days when our packing was completed, we would visit the relatives in Maaslius and Gouda. She was certain we would enjoy that immensely.
After this explanation, she urged me to accompany the maid to the store, where she was to purchase both white and black paint. The large trunk like boxes built for the long difficult journey were to be painted inside and out. Our names would be painted in large white letters, on each trunk. The trunks also would be numbered and contents marked.
On our way to the store I asked the maid many questions, for it was my intention to learn just why we were leaving everything that was dear to us. During the preceding winter, I had heard my parents and a number of their friends talk and argue about this new country, America, and its many possibilities. They studied maps and gazed at beautiful pictures Mr. Kloose, a land agent, brought them. He came to our home often and met with the interested Hollanders, and after a time convinced the entire group that America was the ideal place to live for it offered more opportunities for the young people.
"Just why do we go to a place where we cannot take our belongings?", I asked the maid. They are selling and giving away many beautiful treasurers. If it was pennies they wanted, I had a bag full of them, for father had given me a penny for every Bible verse I memorized.
In America, the maid said, "There is so much gold, you will receive a gold dollar for every Bible verse you memorize". She had heard Kloose tell there was room and money for every one in America."
Last modified: Monday, July 30, 2012, 7:51 PM