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Lecture #9 focused on the migration of numerous ethnic groups to the Great Plains. In the 1800's as the plains were beginning to become settled, the promise of land and freedom to all cultures was the word in the USA. Waves of immigrants from Russia, Germany, Poland, the Ukraine, and more flocked to the Great Plains region from the 1880's-1910. As these people settled, most of them tended to settle in areas that were heavily populated with members of their same ethnic group. New settlers attracted family and friends back home through chain mail (chain migration) and encouraged them to come too. Many cultures were forced to assimilate the surrounding, new cultures; while others kept persistent. Most chose to practice acculturation, which meant they adopted the English language and other aspects but kept a close tie to their own traditions.
As much as immigrants became the minority of the plains region, there were even more minorities within these newly settled towns. I find it very interesting that I now know why the African American man in a white community, was the barber for the white man. As well as the second hotel chain in each town was normally operated by the Asian-Indian population. This shows that there was significant diversity and even discrimination within these new towns. I believe reason why prairie towns lacked diversity is because of the difficult conditions that an outsider from a different culture in a new town and country must have experienced. Finally, I have found that even today a road like the Kindred road separates what used to be Norwegians and German Moravian area, still holds true today with their descendants. Lastly, you have the old Episcopal churches that dot the prairie, as well as you still have ethnically dominated towns and politics between the various ethnic groups.