Swedish Immigration Research Paper

700 Words2 Pages

Swedish Immigration to America dates to decades before the United States gained independence from Great Britain. Swedish immigrants formed small communities along the Delaware River in present-day Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey as early as 1657. During their early voyages to the New World, Scandinavian merchants formed small colonies on the east coast of the North American continent, and immigration slowed. During the early 19th and 20th centuries, about 1.3 million Swedish immigrants began to emigrate to the United States due to socio-economic issues in their home country. Swedish immigrants brought a vibrant Scandinavian culture to their immigrant communities, and helped shape modern America. Swedish immigrants faced many socio-economic …show more content…

Swedish immigrants immigrated to the United States due to great economic opportunity. Due to lack of available farmland and raising prices of arable land, Swedes immigrated to the United States to take advantage of government policies. The Homestead Act, passed in 1862, gave every adult U.S. citizen 160 acres of land if they had not previously taken up arms against the United States. Many Swedish immigrants moved to the Midwestern states, where 160 acres of arable was valuable. In addition to cheap land, Swedish immigrants were attracted to the growing industrialization atmosphere of many East-coast cities. Cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and many other metropolitan areas witnessed an increase in Swedish immigrants during the second half of the 19th century. Swedish immigrants, like many immigrant groups, established settlements all over the country and secured jobs during a time in American history where economic opportunity was flourishing. Swedish immigrants enlisted for jobs in many industrial cities and labor-intensive industries. Industries such as transportation ( railroads, steamboats, …show more content…

As many Swedes moved to Midwestern states, their Protestant faith made them desirable immigrants to many Midwesterners, who were also Protestant. Due to their European ethnic origins and Protestant faith, Swedish immigrants were easily able to integrate into American society. As Swedish immigration expanded to more regions of the United States, they brought their culture and heritage and created small Swedish settlements, mostly agrarian. Consequently, the United States government began to implement quotas on the number of Swedish immigrants authorized to enter the country. The American Immigration Act of 1924 finally imposed quotas on Swedish immigration to the United States, and by the end of the decade the quotas were not even filled. Today, the majority of Swedish immigrants live in midwestern and mountain states, such as Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, and Colorado. America’s view on immigrants hasn’t changed much since the period of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Today, many immigrant hate groups still exist, while around 71% of U.S. adults feel that immigration should be kept at current levels or

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