Causes of Finnish Immigration to the United States

Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.

“Causes of Immigration,” from Americanization of the Finnish People in Houghton County, Michigan by Clemens Niemi, 1921.

Historical records show that as nearly as the seventeenth century (about 1627) the first Finnish settlers together with the Scandinavian expedition landed on the American shore and planted a colony on the Delaware River, a short distance west of the City of Philadelphia. These early settlers were completely assimilated with the American people. Later on many sailors and adventurers came to this side and took their places of sojourn in cities known as centers of navigation or either they retired to live in the country. Quite a few newcomers were induced to migrate here by the gold rush of 1849 in California. But all of these were mere occasional adventurers and in the true sense of the word we cannot regard them to be real immigrants.

It was not until about 1861 that we might say the actual immigration from Finland to have begun. At this time, according to the old settlers, a group of Finns from Sweden and Norway where they bad been engaged in mining and fishing, arrived at Houghton County. These pathfinders came from northern Finland originally and they were followed by their friends and relatives.

The subsequent years have witnessed a steady influx of the Finnish immigration from northern Finland. The reasons were many and varied. In the first place, agriculture in northern Finland was constantly impeded by the destruction of crops by frequent frosts. One cold night often played an appalling havoc on the soil tiller; all his work, his year's toiling was in vain. But in many cases, in spite of his struggle against harsh forces of nature, he did not fall into despair. He, like the peasant Paavo of Saarijarvi, ploughed his land, sowed it. And when the springtime came, the melting snowdrifts drenched the fields ruining half of the young crop. Summer came and descending hailstorms dashed the early ears down, half destroying them. Autumn came and the frost blasted the remnants of the crop. Now Paavo's wife tore her hair and spoke:

"Paavo, Paavo! man, the most unhappy,

Take thy staff; by God we are forsaken;

Hard it is to beg; to starve is harder!"

Paavo took her by hand, and thus he answered:

"God doth try his servant, not forsake him.

Bread made half of bark must suffice us!

I will dig the dikes of twofold deepness,

But from God will I await the increase!"

These pathetic lines suffice to give us a clear picture of the conditions of the peasant. His faith was not undermined by the harshness of nature, nor his hopes were shattered by misfortunes. And finally, when he miraculously won a victory over nature he went on expressing his tribute of gratitude:

"God hath only tried us, not forsaken!"

On her knees his wife fell, and thus said she:

"God hath only tried us, not forsaken!"

And then gladly spake she to her husband;

"Paavo, Paavo, take with joy the sickle;

We may now make glad our hearts with plenty.

Now may throw away the bark unsavory,

And bake rich, sweet bread of ryemeal only!"

Paavo took her hand in his and answered:

"Woman, woman! It is but sent to try us,

If we will have pity on the sufferer.

Mix thou bark with corn even as aforetime.

Frosts have killed the harvest of our neighbors!"

He was satisfied with the little he had. He toiled without getting sufficient rewards for his labor. As farming was the principal means of sustenance and as one bad year followed another economic distress increased accordingly. No wonder that this industrious soil tiller whom severe nature had made vigorous, had given endurance, was now anxious to leave his native country, to try his luck here. Moreover, economic betterment in America was said to be easier. It was this country that was his last hope.

But there was still another reason for immigration just as weighty as the preceding one. In 1809 Finland came under the domination of Russian government. Historically, Finland was a separate nation with definite boundaries, its laws, its monetary and school system. At the time of annexation Alexander I solemnly promised to preserve Finnish constitution, laws and institutions. Despite these facts Russian reactionaries who with jealousy watched the progress of Finland, started an argument on the ground that Finland was a Russian province and not an independent nation, and that Finland had no right to its autonomy and independent existence.

Finland was to be Russified at any cost, so the Russian autocrats asserted. The constitution of Finland was now, in their opinions, a mere scrap of paper, its institutions were to be infused with Slavic culture, democracy was to be replaced by tyranny under the surveillance of Russian gendarmes. Innocent citizens who ventured to voice their opinions against Russian encroachment upon their personal rights and those of their country, were thrown into prisons or exiled. Thus a ceaseless fight for freedom was waged between the two countries, on one side a small progressive nation with western culture and institutions, on the other side a huge mass of people reared in ignorance and superstition under the iron sceptre of the Czar.

This incessant struggle developed national consciousness in Finland; it furnished new inspiration for cultural attainments and national progress. There were many who with fortitude faced Russian oppression, who despite the frequent frosts, bitter memories of devastations by war and appalling plagues, were ready to offer their lives for their native country. Finally the political pressure became more and more intolerable and many patriotic citizens were now reluctantly inclined to believe that Russia would gradually absorb their country; they were compelled to seek place of refuge elsewhere.

Many were exiled to Siberia, more fled to Scandinavia and other countries, but most numerous was that group of "pilgrims" who migrated to America, "the Land of the Free." On their arrival at this side of the Atlantic, many of them naturally were attracted to the northwestern states. The climate and seasonal changes here showed much similarity with those of Finland. Also in this section of the country there was very little difference in the sort of vegetation and in the nature of the soil. Thus, in a brief resume it may be stated that the desire for new experience, but above all, the economic and political pressure were the principal causes why the Finnish immigration was directed to America, and especially to the northwestern states on account of their geographic position.

Niemi, Clemens. Americanization of the Finnish People in Houghton County, Michigan. Finnish Daily Publishing, 1921.

Clemens Niemi

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