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The first organized emigration to North America started with the ship "Restauration" which traveled from Stavanger to New York in 1825. However, historical sources show that Norwegians traveled to both North and South America earlier, and we find many who traveled to completely different parts of the world such as Australia, New Zealand, China and South Africa. Nevertheless, we often talk about the large Norwegian emigration to North America; USA and Canada, as this is the largest group of emigrants from Norway in recent times.
Between 1860 and 1910, it is estimated that over 800,000 Norwegians emigrated to the USA and Canada. There were several reasons for the Norwegian emigration. For many it was financial hardship and poverty. In the 19th century, Norway was a country characterized by small farmers and fishermen, and many families struggled. In some cases, political unrest and religious persecution were the driving force behind the emigration. Many sought better living conditions and religious freedom in the new countries.
Emigration from Morway took place in three waves during the middle of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The first big wave of emigration came in the crisis years 1866–1873, when 111,000 Norwegians left the country. The next big wave hit in the years 1880–1893, with over 250,000 emigrants. There were almost as many as the number of inhabitants in Norwegian cities in 1865. The last large wave of emigration occurred between 1900 and 1910, when 200,000 people left. In this last period, there was some strong re-immigration, where several former emigrants returned. Emigration was then almost like a kind of long-distance commuting.
The Norwegian emigration had a major impact both on Norway and on the countries where Norwegians settled. In Norway, emigration led to a strong reduction in the population, especially in the countryside. At the same time, the money sent home from the emigrants led to some economic growth. Many Norwegians still have family members in countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia, and today the Norwegian emigration is an important part of Norwegian history and cultural heritage. In the new countries, Norwegians played an important role in building up society and infrastructure, especially in agricultural areas and coastal regions. The Norwegian heritage can still be felt in today's society in several of these countries, both in the form of Norwegian culture, traditions and language.
The story of the Norwegian emigration gives us a reminder of how people can shape history through their choices and actions.