Norwegians

=The Norwegians: A Perspective on American History=
 * by Katherine Coleman (October 1, 2009)**

The Norwegians are a northern European group. Pre-1492 and now, they lived in a country now called Norway, which is near Sweden and the Baltic Sea, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Geographical features that would have limited this group's ability to move include: the Atlantic Ocean, which meant they fished and used boats. It rains a lot there. Pre-1492, the Norwegians interacted with their neighbors, which included Sweden, Poland, and Latvia. Eventually, the Norwegians would help shape American history in the following ways: during the Viking Age (800-1030), the Vikings explored North America and later Norwegians would form one of America's immigrant groups.
 * Introduction:**


 * Religion (Worldview):** The Norwegians' religion is Protestant Christianity. They believed that the one god from the darkness and from the formless and empty deep created earth and that god created human beings to his image except he was a lot bigger and more powerful. If they sin, they would be punished or they would die. They would go to heaven or hell.


 * Population in the United States:** By 1925, 800,000 Norwegians lived in the US.


 * HISTORY:**

Some people think the first European contact with the Americas was when Columbus arrived in 1492, but Vikings explored and settled Newfoundland in Canada in 1000. Vikings were ancient northern Europeans, including Norwegians.
 * 1492: Columbus’ Arrival in the Americas**


 * 1521: Cortes Encounters the Aztecs in Mexico**


 * 1607: English Colonists Arrive at Jamestown

1687: English Colonies Expand** In 1664 there was a Norwegian presence in New York.


 * 1776-1787: American Revolution; U.S. Constitution**

Norwegians immigrated over the Atlantic Ocean to the U.S. and Canada in large numbers. They immigrated over earlier than people from other Nordic countries, like Sweden.
 * 1802: Tlingit Battle the Russians at Sitka**

In 1825 Norwegians immigrated to North America because the Norwegian Quakers and other religions were being persecuted because of what they believe in.
 * 1839: The Amistad; the Trail of Tears**

More than 500,000 Norwegians came to Canada in 1849.
 * 1850: Fugitive Slave Law Made**


 * 1863: The U.S. Civil War; Emancipation Proclamation**

By 1921, one third of all Norwegians had been born in the US.
 * 1890: Westward Movement; Reform Movements**

There are more than 4.5 million Americans who claim to be descended from Norwegians in the United States.
 * 2009: Today**

"Norway." Accessed 29 September 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway.
 * Works Cited:**