Swedish life in America

As the Swedes arrived at the shores of the supposed land of their dreams, they mostly settled in the rural areas in the states of Minnesota and Illinois. There they stayed together and formed their own communities. Many became farmers, so many, in fact, that if one combined the land they owned it would be about two-thirds the size of Sweden.

      Once the construction of railroads began, many Swedes settled near the building sites and were thus able to work both on their farms and on the railroads. It turned out to be a very lucrative situation. In time, the Swedish immigrants eventually came to be known as hard workers, just as many of them were known as hard workers in Sweden. However, the conditions under which the Swedes lived didn’t exactly fulfill their dreams. As with other immigrants, they met a less desirable reality. Many Swedes lived in tiny cabins, a sign of their poverty. Even so, these cabins closely resembled the ones they had inhabited in Sweden. The Swedes also experienced the difficulties of getting to know a new country. The land was very different. The prairie wasn’t like anything in Sweden. However, the Swedes overcame much of their problems in the rural regions in which they settled. In a matter of time, the Swedes became used to the everyday life in America.
      Although many of the Swedish people settled in the countryside, most were actually more attracted to the cities, despite their backgrounds as farmers. The most popular cities for the Swedish immigrants were Chicago and Minneapolis, as both cities had much to offer. By the year 1900, Chicago had more Swedish inhabitants than the second largest city in Sweden, Gothenburg. There was actually a saying that the Swedes built the Chicago. The Swedes even had their own community in the city, a Swede Town. In the cities the Swedes found work as carpenters, bricklayers or as other kinds of artisans. America’s expanding industries also offered welcome opportunities for employment.

Customs, belief and institutions

      The customs that the Swedes practiced were very different from American customs. Even so, the Swedish immigrants met very little hostility compared to the Irish. This many have been because they were fewer Swedes and therefore, they weren't perceived as a threat threat.
      In the Swede Towns of the cities, Swedish traditions flourished. However, in time, they became somewhat different than the original ones. The old Swedish culture blended together with the American culture, and together they formed new traditions that the immigrants came to love.
      The Swedes built their own communities with hospitals and schools. The first Swedish church was founded in Illinois in the 1850s. Most Swedish were then Lutherans and as they combined with Americans of the same belief, they formed a group of hundreds of thousands of members. The Swedish also created their own newspapers; the first was called “Hemlandet” (the home country). Its premier issue was in 1855. In time, many Swedish clubs were also opened all across the country. These clubs, as with those formed by other nationalities, offered a place for the Swedish culture to survive.

Language

      When the Swedes came to America, they had no knowledge of the English language. Many lived their whole lives in Chicago without knowing a word of the American language, and most met severe problems. Because of their failure to learn English and their lack of work experience, Swedes sometimes received the worst, lowest-paying jobs. Language problems also created difficulties for those who were skilled. However, the Swedish women managed to get work as maids in American families. There were actually so many that were employed that the term“the Swedish maid” has become a cliche in America. As the second generation of Swedes in America grew up, most language problems were overcome. These children grew up in the new country and learned to adjust to English.
      Even though the Swedes met hardships, most Swedes stayed in America. By the turn of the century, one-fifth of all Swedes lived in the Promised Land. Even today, the Swedish culture affects the American nation.

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References
13 Maldwyn A. Jones "Chapter 6 - The Way West" Destination America . UK, Thames Television Limited 1976. p. 122,125,141

14 Ulf Beijbom "A Review of the Swedish Emigration to America" 1996 <http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm> (1999-03-25)

15 Maldwyn A. Jones "Chapter 7 - Myth of the 'Melting Pot'" Destination America . UK, Thames Television Limited 1976. p.146



Last update: August 15 1999, 12:25 Eastern Standard Time
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