Emigration from Norway to America
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On July 4, 1825, the boat “Restauration” sailed from Stavanger to America. The 16 meter long and 5.3 meter wide boat had 52 people on board. Most of them were Quakers. In advance, Cleng Peerson had traveled. He welcomed his friends on arrival in New York on October 9. The traveling companions had become 53, a new citizen was born on the ship. This was the first organized emigration from Norway to America.
The Quakers started the emigration
The Quakers in Norway were a religious group that was persecuted in Norway. This was one of the reasons why they embarked on a long and perilous journey.
Main reasons for emigration:
- Religious persecution: The Quakers refused to take an oath, do military service and pay church taxes to the state church. This led to fines, imprisonment and social ostracism.
- Legislation against dissenters: Before the Dissenters’ Act of 1845, it was illegal to practice a faith other than the Lutheran faith. This made it difficult for Quakers to live in Norway.
- The possibility of religious freedom in America: The United States, particularly Pennsylvania and Ohio, was known for its religious tolerance and already had established Quaker communities.
- Better economic opportunities: Many Quakers were farmers or artisans and saw the possibility of a better life in America.
The traveling companions on “Restauration” consisted mostly of Quakers in the core area of this group who were from the Stavanger area.
800,000 traveled from Norway to America, who were they?
Relative to the population, only Ireland has more emigrants to America than Norway. In the period 1830-1920, a total of around 800,000 people immigrated. In 1920, the total population of Norway was approximately 2.6 million. Back in 1830, the population was around 1.1 million. This means that a very large proportion of Norway’s population emigrated to America.
In the beginning, it was mostly people from the villages who emigrated. Most were among those who were not entitled to inherit their parents’ farm. The eldest son had the right of inheritance. Therefore, it was usually the others who emigrated.
During this period, a good number of people also moved from the countryside to the cities in Norway. The industry there was in need of labor and this attracted many from the villages to the cities. When there was a downturn in industry and problems with work became extensive, this led to an increase in emigration from the cities to America.
The significance of emigration for the relationship between Norway and America
Many of those who emigrated to America from Norway sent money home to their families. This helped the economy in Norway. Money that would otherwise not have found its way here increased the demand for goods, which in turn led to more jobs. This economy was a clear stimulus for Norway’s economy.
The emigrants also brought with them their Norwegian culture, their Norwegian food habits and Norwegian way of thinking. This leads to cultural understanding between Norway and America. This culture is also important in a political understanding. The relationship between Norway and America has been close politically and militarily.
Cleng Peerson took his fellow believers to America. A journey that was long, dangerous and hard. They left a country due to persecution and hoped to be able to practice their religion. Today, Norway is a country that welcomes people from different parts of the world. Many of them come here because they are persecuted for religious or political reasons.
Sources:
https://snl.no/Utvandringa_fr%C3%A5_Noreg_til_Nord-Amerika
https://www.norgeshistorie.no/industrialisering-og-demokrati/1537-utvandring-fra-norge.html