The Swedes (Suiones) were a powerful people who were descended from Gothic tribes. They are described as Norse, North Germanic or Scandinavian people. Other Scandinavian countries include Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. The Vikings formed part of the Swedish ancestry - prolific seafaring warriors from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Norse explorer, Leif Ericson, is regarded by many as the first European to visit the New World, nearly five hundred years before Christopher Columbus. For a short period during the Middle Ages, the countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark were united under one monarch. Sweden later emerged as independent country and became a great power in the 1600's, the period in the history of Sweden that coincided with the first Swedish Immigration to America.
History of Swedish Immigration to America: Religion
The Christianization of the Swedish people replaced the early tribal structures and the Vikings. The first Christian religion of Sweden was Roman Catholic but in 1517 Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation which resulted in the majority of Northern Europe coming under the influence of Protestantism. The history of Swedish Immigration to America began with the immigration of Protestants.
History of Swedish Immigration to America: The Major Waves of Swedish Immigration
The history of Swedish Immigration to America began as the first explorers, traders and colonists arrived in the New World. The Swedish settled the colony in America they called New Sweden (Nya Sverige). There were three major Swedish immigration waves to America in the 1800's:
The first major wave of Swedish immigration was in the 1840's. The wave of immigration was sparked by economic factors and crop failure. The immigration wave was halted by the the American Civil War (1861 to 1865)
The second major wave of Swedish immigration occured between 1866 - 1873. The surge in immigration was caused by the devastating Famine of 1866–1868 resulted in the immigration of 146,000 Swedes
The third major wave of Swedish immigration was between 1880 – 1890 when a total of 485,000 Swedes emigrated to the United States
History of Swedish Immigration to America: The Reasons for Swedish Immigration to America
Why did people want to leave Sweden and why did they want to move to America? The early immigrants of the Colonial era wanted to acquire new lands, establish Swedish colonies and profit from new opportunities for trade. The main reasons for the Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's were disasters such as crop failures, blights and poor harvests leading to poverty. The agricultural revolution caused unemployment and the financial need to seek a better life. Others emigrated to escape religious and political persecution or to be closer to family or friends who had already settled in America. Also refer to Examples of PUSH and PULL Factors of Swedish Immigration.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1600's: The Colonial Era, Peter Minuit and New Sweden
Swedish Immigration to America began during the Colonial Era. At this time in history Finland was part of Sweden so the first immigrants consisted of both Swedish and Finnish people. Peter Minuit (1580 – 1638) had been appointed Director of the New Netherland (1626 - 1633) by the Swedish West Indian Company. His position as Director-General was terminated and in 1638 the Swedish government engaged Peter Minuit, working for the Swedish West India Company, to establish a colony for Sweden in America.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1600's: The Log Cabin
The Swedish settlers brought the log cabin to New Sweden. They built the first log cabins in their settlement at Delaware in 1638. The log cabins were simple, but highly practical, one room structures with a chimney and fireplace. Log cabins consisted of a single room about 12 - 16 feet square. There was one door and windows were cut into the walls that were covered by boards or animal skins. Log cabins could be built in 1 -2 weeks. Other European settlers copied this style of housing and the log cabin became the typical home of all early American settlers, pioneers and backwoodsmen.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1600's: The Colonial Era, Johan Printz and New Sweden
A group of 50 Finnish and Swedish colonists established the first small colony in Delaware Bay they called New Sweden (Nya Sverige). Johan Bjornsson Printz (1592 - 1663) was appointed Swedish military officer and colonial governor in 1643. The settlement was named 'Christina' in honor of the queen of Sweden. The colony established trading links with the Algonquian and Mohican Native American Indian tribes and beaver furs were regularly delivered to Stockholm. More colonists arrived from Sweden consisting of over 600 Swedes and Finns. Conflicts developed between the colonies of New Netherland and New Sweden and in 1655 the governor of New Netherlands, Peter Stuyvesant, attacked New Sweden with his army and conquered it. In 1657 both the colonies fell to England but the original colonist were allowed to remain.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1600's: The Colonial Era
Swedish Immigration to America continued on small scale. The first settlement at Wicaco was built in Philadelphia in 1669. Other Swedish settlements were established including Varkens Kill in New Jersey (1641), Kingsessing in Pennsylvania (1644) and Strandviken in Delaware (1654) Then on March 4, 1681, the colony of New Sweden was assimilated into the colonies of Delaware and Pennsylvania.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1700's
Swedish Immigration to America was slow in the 1700's - Sweden had lost its foothold in the New World. The political, religious and economic conditions in Sweden were stable in the 1700's compared to many other European countries and few Swedish people were motivated to take the long, dangerous journey to America to join colonies established by the English.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1700's: The American War of Independence
Swedish Immigration to America in the 1700's was further halted by the political conflict that had began to grow between Britain and the colonies which culminated in 1775 with the American War of Independence (1775 - 1783). The country of Sweden maintained a neutral position in the American War of Independence. However, many thousands of Swedish-Americans fought on the side of the patriots. Amongst the most distinguished soldiers was the Swedish Count Axel von Fersen who served as an interpreter between General Rochambeau and General George Washington and distinguished himself at the Siege of Yorktown. It was the fate of Count Axel von Fersen to become involved in another revolution. He was destined to play an important role in the French Revolution (1789 to 1799) due to his special friendship with Queen Marie-Antoinette.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's: The Crop Failures
Major waves of Swedish Immigration to America occurred during the 1800's. The first major wave of emigration started in the 1840's and lasted up to the American Civil War (1861 to 1865). Sweden, like many other European countries, suffered from serious crop failures including the potato blight (1845-1849) which led to great poverty in Sweden. The wave of immigration in the 1840s and 1850s was directed towards the farming areas of Illinois and Iowa. Many Swedish migrants also headed for the cities especially in Chicago where industrialization provided many employment opportunities.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's: The Forty-Eighters
Swedish Immigration to America also increased following the political turmoil during European Revolutions of 1848 which raised the political awareness of the poor. The clash between Swedish liberalism and a repressive monarchist regime and the failure of the revolutionists led to a wave of political refugees who fled to the United States, who became known as the Forty-Eighters. Some Swedes also fled religious prosecution. To leave the Lutheran state church led to the punishment of exile for dissenters - the law was not abolished until 1860.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's: The First Wave of Swedish Immigration
During this first wave of Swedish immigration to America about 20,000 Swedes entered the United States. The first flow was halted by the outbreak of the American Civil War (1861 - 1865). Swedish immigrants were generally seen as desirable immigrants. Coming from a Protestant, northern European country they were well accepted by Americans.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's: The Famine of 1866–1868
The Second Wave of German immigration in the 1800's occurred following the period following American Civil War up to 1873. During this period the Famine of 1866–1868 hit Sweden and Finland and the death toll reached 270,000 in three years. The Famine of 1866–1868 was called "the great hunger years", the "suuret nälkävuodet". Potatoes and vegetables rotted in the fields and about 15% of the population died. Over 146,000 people were forced to leave Sweden between 1866 and 1873. The Second Wave of Swedish immigration was halted when the financial panic of 1873 hit the United States. The Panic of 1873 led to the period in American history known as the Long Depression which lasted for six years.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's: The Great Migration
Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's increased again ushering the third major wave of immigrants between 1880-1890. During this time a total of 485 000 Swedes emigrated to the United States. The process of industrialization had resulted in the jobs of many skilled farmers and craftsmen being taken over by machines. Many Swedish families decided to join friends and family who were already established in the United States.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's: Ellis Island
Unemployment was rife across the whole of Europe and and between 1881 - 1890 a total of 5,246,613 immigrants flooded into the US. There were calls for the American government to restrict immigration and various immigration laws were passed to address the problem. The 1891 Immigration Act regulated immigration further introducing the inspection and deportation of immigrants and in 1892 the Ellis Island immigration center (1892 - 1954) was opened.Preference was shown to the "Old Immigrants" and few Swedish immigrants were turned away.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1800's
After 1890 Swedish immigration to America dropped dramatically as conditions in Sweden improved and the country underwent a rapid industrialization within a few years.
History of Swedish Immigration to America in the 1900's
Swedish Immigration to America rose again at the turn of the 1900's, reaching a new peak of about 35,000 Swedish migrants in 1903. Swedish immigration remained at similar levels until World War I. After WWI there were various social reforms in Sweden and Swedish immigration declined, the majority of migrants then left Sweden to join their families.
Swedish Immigration to America
Since 1820 over 1,000,000 people have emigrated to the United States from Sweden. According to the 2011 United States Census, 4,211,644 Americans, claimed Swedish ancestry. It is little wonder that Swedish immigration to America has had such significant impact on the culture of Americans.
Swedish Immigration to America Facts Sheet and Timeline
Important facts about the history of Swedish Immigration to America and US laws that effected the migrants from Sweden are contained in the following Facts Sheet and history timeline.
Swedish Immigration to America Facts Sheet and Timeline for kids
Fact 1: 793: The Vikings from Scandinavia begin their raids
Fact 2: 1002: The Norse explorer, Leif Ericson is believed to have visited the New World
Fact 3: 1638: The Swedish government appoint Peter Minuit and the Swedish West India Company, to establish the colony of New Sweden
Fact 4: 1643: Johan Printz was appointed Swedish military officer and colonial governor of New Sweden
Fact 5: 1655: Peter Stuyvesant, the governor of New Netherlands, attacked and conquered New Sweden
Fact 6: 1657: The Swedish and Swedish colonies fell to the English
Fact 7: 1681: The colony of New Sweden was assimilated into the colonies of Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Fact 8: 1775: The American War of Independence began. Many Swedes fought with the patriots
Fact 9: 1789: Count Axel von Fersen plays and important part in the French Revolution (1789 to 1799)
Fact 10: 1845: Crop failures and the potato blight led to hunger and poverty and a large increase in immigration
Fact 11: 1848: Disillusioned Swedish revolutionaries, the Forty-Eighters, emigrate to avoid political persecution
Fact 12: 1861: The American Civil War (1861 to 1865) halting immigration
Fact 13: 1866: Famine of 1866–1868 was called "the great hunger years", the "suuret nälkävuodet".
Fact 14: 1873: The financial panic of 1873 hit the US lasting for six years
Fact 15: 1890: The last wave of Swedish immigration to the United States.
Fact 16: 1891: The 1891 Immigration Act provided for the regulation of immigration and the inspection and deportation of immigrants.
Fact 17: 1892: The Ellis Island immigration center was opened where immigrants from Europe, including Sweden, were required to undergo medical and legal examinations
Fact 18: 1890's: The last wave of Swedish immigration to the United States.
Swedish Immigration to America has declined from this time
Push and Pull Factors of Swedish Immigration to America for kids
For specific examples and a list of political, economic, environmental and social reasons and push and pull factors of Swedish immigration to America refer to:
Push and Pull Factors of Swedish Immigration