Von: mike.holmes1@virgin.net (Mike Holmes)
  Datum: 08.03.98, 11:12:08
Betreff: Re: Reasons for Emigration;  Emigration Stories

Joseph Broom wrote:
>
> I am relativately new to this list, and I am interested in learning about
> the economic, political and cultural conditions which led to emigration from
> Baden in the early1850's.  I would appreciate any discussion from
> list-members on this or directings to various websites.
>
> ALSO, I am interested in reading accounts or stories of various emigrant
> ancestors from all parts of Baden and Wuerttemberg, but particularly from
> northern Baden in the general vicinity of Achern, Buhl and Baden-Baden.
>
> Thanks!
> Joe Broom
> broomjoe@email.msn.com
> BAUER, BARTH, FESER, MOSMANN and related families in villages of LAUF and
> SASBACHWALDEN


Hi,

I don't know if you have had any response to this yet but here are a few
pointers from my own researches. There were a number of factors that
caused the emigration from B-W in the 1840's. They can be divided into
"push" and "pull" factors.

Push factors

The population of B-W had been expanding during the first half of the 19
century and this put pressure on land in the region. The rule by which
the youngest son inherited the farm meant that other sons were either
disinherited or sometimes the farm was split making uneconomic units.

Secondly the 1840s saw a series of poor harvests or famines across
Europe cf Irish potato famine.

Thirdly the political situation was unstable and complex - briefly the
southern german states had been trying to lead a move to unify Germany
under a democratic government located in Frankfurt. For a variety of
reasons this failed and ended in the brutal suppression of democracy in
the south by the Prussian army. This was the year 1848 and at this time
one third of the the population of B-W left.

Pull factors were the availablity of land in the US and jobs in
industrialising countries such as the UK. Emigration was being actively
promoted by newspaper advertisements and by active publicity in the
region.

A lot has been written about these subjects. I can recommend the B-W web
site on
http://w3g.med.uni-giessen.de/gene/reg/BAD-WUE/BW.html
which gives some general history or in more detail the following books:
"The History of Germany since 1789" Golo Mann, Penguin, 0-14-013708-4
and
"German Immigrants in Britain during the 19th Century, 1815-1914"
Panikos Panayi, Berg, Oxford, 1995, 1-85973-092-2

I guess that there are US equivalent works which you could pick up from
a bookshop such as Frontier Press.

Hope this helps

Mike Holmes, Lancashire, UK