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Letter from America 1855


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This article from the Danish newspaper Faaborg Avis, dated January 31st 1855, underlines the fact that conditions for immigrants in America were harsh.

The article consists of a letter from a Dane who is residing in New York. He describes what has later been known as "The Panic of 1837" - the second-longest depression in American History.

The America that emerges from his letter is an America ravaged by poverty, unemployment, hunger and lack of hope.


The article reads (in Danish):

" Faaborg, den 31. Januar. En i Amerika bosat Dansk, yttrer sig i et Brev, dateret New York d. 27. Decbr. 1854 saaledes: "Tiderne er her saa slette som jeg tror de kan være i Europa; siden 1837 har vi ikke kjendt noget Lignende. Handel og Fabrikker ligge næsten stille, Penge synes som om de forsvinde, Fødemidler og alle Nødvendigheder ere i de sidste halvandet Aar stegne næsten til det Dobbelte; ikke de halve Arbejdere have nogen Fortjeneste. Da desværre ikkuns Faa i de gode Tider forberede sig paa slette Tider, saa er Nøden nu stor. Den samme Tilstand har udbredt sig næsten over hele Landet. De ulykkelige Indvandrere, som komme her i tusindeviis ganske uden Penge ere især at beklage; i hundredeviis komme de fra Skibene i Fattighusene, der nu allerede er saa overfyldte, at man næsten ingen Raad veed. Vi have nu ikkun Begyndelsen af Vinteren og med Ængstelse imødesee Mangfoldige Fremtiden."

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