Germany 1850
Travel to America
As the Imwalle boys were growing up, there began to be much trouble in Germany. All was not well, especially in the Niedersachsen area, where they lived. Farmers were struggling in all of Niedersachsen because there was a potato famine. A potato famine, is when a disease destroys a potato crop. There was a total potato crop failure in 1844, when the potato crop was cut in half. This was hard for farmers, and also for all people in Europe who relied on potatoes as part of their diet.
At the same time, a German kingdom called Prussia was trying to become more powerful and had invaded the area, where the Imwalle's lived. Whenever the Prussian army invaded an area, they tried to force the men into their army. This would have been a scary thought for a family with so many boys, like the Imwalle's.
Meanwhile in England, the invention of the steam powered looms allowed hand woven products to be made much quicker than by hand. A loom is a device that combines threads to make cloths. This new invention also allowed for linen prices to become very low. Weaving thread and linen had been a major source of money for the farmers in northern Germany. Times were desperate!
Also at this time, many families across the whole continent of Europe began emigrating to America. There was so much land available and for a very good price. In 1820, the American land office set the price for one acre of land at $1.50!
To make things even worse during this time, the mother of the Imwalle boys, Magaretha, died in 1847, leaving the large family with much sadness. With all of the trouble in their own country, the Imwalle family members began discussing the possibilities of moving to America, like so many of their friends and neighbors.
At the same time, a German kingdom called Prussia was trying to become more powerful and had invaded the area, where the Imwalle's lived. Whenever the Prussian army invaded an area, they tried to force the men into their army. This would have been a scary thought for a family with so many boys, like the Imwalle's.
Meanwhile in England, the invention of the steam powered looms allowed hand woven products to be made much quicker than by hand. A loom is a device that combines threads to make cloths. This new invention also allowed for linen prices to become very low. Weaving thread and linen had been a major source of money for the farmers in northern Germany. Times were desperate!
Also at this time, many families across the whole continent of Europe began emigrating to America. There was so much land available and for a very good price. In 1820, the American land office set the price for one acre of land at $1.50!
To make things even worse during this time, the mother of the Imwalle boys, Magaretha, died in 1847, leaving the large family with much sadness. With all of the trouble in their own country, the Imwalle family members began discussing the possibilities of moving to America, like so many of their friends and neighbors.
The German province of Niedersachsen
A picture of a steam powered loom. This invention greatly affected the German economy.
