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Archiver > COOK-CO-IL > 2011-01 > 1296423930


From: Eliz Hanebury <>
Subject: Re: [COOK-CO-IL] Immigrants and the Great Chicago Fire 1871
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:45:30 -0500
References: <35723.72924.qm@web84008.mail.mud.yahoo.com><C96AE41F.15F52%listpig@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To: <C96AE41F.15F52%listpig@earthlink.net>


This may have been on the horizion too. And always Conscription was a factor

The Prussian deportations (or: Prussian expulsions, Polish: rugi
pruskie) were mass expulsions of Poles (and, to a lesser extent, Jews)
from Prussia in 1885-1890. More than 30,000 Poles with Austrian or
Russian citizenship were deported from the Prussian part of divided
Poland to the respective Austrian and Russian parts. The deportation
was carried out in an inhumane way and was based on an ethnic
discrimination principle. The expulsion was condemned by the Polish
public as well as the federal German parliament. The expulsion also
contributed to the worsening of the German-Russian relations. In the
aftermath, Poles without German citizenship were again allowed to work
and reside in the German Empire in all seasons but the winter.
(wikipedia)

On Sun, Jan 30, 2011 at 9:47 AM, Megan Zurawicz <> wrote:
> Might want to take a look at the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
> Political events didn't have to be *in* Poland for them to feel the
> effects....and Prussia was right next door and looking downright scary at
> the time.
>
> Realize Napoleon's conquest of most of Europe was more "recent" to them than
> WWII to us - and yet WWII still affects how we perceive other nations, how
> we perceive how wars work, etc.  And then factor in a war between parts of
> Germany and France, when Poland has long had cultural ties to France and
> sits next to Prussia...this was the start of the German rise to power,
> during the time Germany was coalescing into becoming a unified country.  It
> might well have crossed their minds "If the Germans develop another
> Napoleon...."
>
> So the Polish "neighborhood", if you will, may have been perceived as being
> a bit unsettled, a bit scary.  Probably not enough to push anyone into
> emigrating, but possibly enough to be a push for "emigrate NOW" for someone
> who was already inclined to go anyway for other reasons (jobs, relatives,
> etc.)
>
> --pig
>
>
> On 1/29/11 10:16 PM, "Linda Kush" <> wrote:
>
>> This is a fascinating article and a fascinating question.
>>
>> In contrast, both sides of my father's family came to Chicago from 2 different
>> regions of Poland immediately after the fire.
>>
>> The Lamichs landed in New York on Dec. 26, 1871, and their new baby was
>> baptized in Chicago in January 1872.
>>
>> The Kushes arrived in New York on Jan. 2, 1872. A family story says they were
>> detained for some time before being allowed to proceed to
>>  Chicago. The story attributes the delay to the Chicago Fire, but the father
>> had also become ill on the ship and never recovered. He died in Chicago in
>> October 1872. Perhaps they were screened for health issues and the story got
>> twisted over time.
>>
>> I wrote to Chicago historian Perry Duis (author of Challenging Chicago and
>> other books) about this. He
>>  said any fire-related restrictions on traveling into the city were lifted by
>> November 1871.
>>
>> I had always imagined that the fire actually inspired my ancestors to come.
>> They may have had friends who said there were a lot of construction and
>> clean-up jobs to be had. I wondered if it was like Alaska Pipeline jobs in the
>> 1970s.
>>
>> I've also looked for some big national event in Poland in fall of 1871 that
>> might have driven these families away, but have found nothing specific.
>>
>> This article gives me food for thought.
>>
>> Best wishes,
>> Linda in Boston
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --- On Tue, 1/25/11, <> wrote:
>>
>> From: <>
>> Subject: Re: [COOK-CO-IL] Immigrants and the Great Chicago Fire 1871
>> To:
>> Date: Tuesday,
>>  January 25, 2011, 2:21 AM
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4125/is_200310/ai_n9303339/
>>
>> The link above is to an article about the rebuilding of Chicago after the
>> fire. It makes sense that the conditions made it a preferable option for the
>> immigrant non-English-speaking women and children to return to Europe until
>> the situation stabilized.
>>
>> Dee
>>
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