EARLY IMMIGRANT IN MINNESOTA 4 Early immigrant in Minnesota Running head: EARLY IMMIGRANT IN MINNESOTA 1 Minnesota is a land known for its heavy welcome of immigrants. Minnesota has been regarded as a state of immigrants. The first residents, the American Indians, all arrived from different locations and origins. The names of the localities, the waterways and the landmarks around the Minnesota state reflects the waves of immigration that occurred between the 19th and 20th century. Today, immigrants comprise approximately 13% of the Minnesota’s population. In this article, we seek to explore the experiences of the early immigrants in Minnesota. Although there are many immigrants in Minnesota from different locations, this study will focus primarily on the experiences of Hmong, Karen, Latino, Liberian and Somali immigrants. Land and family were significant assets for the immigrants in the Minnesota state. Particularly, it is important to note that there are different groups of people who took refuge as immigrants in Minnesota (Oestergen, 1981). The Latino community makes up the largest proportion of the foreign-born population living in Minnesota. Approximately 7% of the people living in Hennepin and Ramsey counties are Latino. The Hennepin and Ramsey counties are homes to over 64000 people from the Hmong communities. Approximately 3000 Karen refugees came into Minnesota fleeing the violence and war experienced in Burmese civil war. Finally, the United States became home to Liberian and Somali refugees following the civil wars in their countries. Approximately 32 000 refugees from Somali live in Minnesota since the 1990s. Land was owned by families and the immigrants depended on the transition of the land through family lineages. The inheritance of land from one individual to another was done according to the customs and the cultural beliefs of the people involved. Land was particularly used for settlement and agricultural purposes. Other immigrants could also obtain land through purchasing from other land owners (Oestergen, 1981). For the first immigrants, getting to Minnesota was the first major challenge they experienced. Even if they possessed the wherewithal to their passage, the journey across the ocean often lasted for numerous weeks in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions. According to Johnson (2014), the immigrants often faced attacks from the other ethnic groups that came into Minnesota. As a result of the difference in ethnicity, Johnson (2014) explains that language barrier became a major challenge especially because most of the immigrants chose to retain their native language. While many modern refugees arrive in the western countries through the use of planes, early refugees used ships with significant proportions of those onboard dying from the strong and cold winds on the ocean. They experienced anxiety and hardships especially in cases where they had to be separated from their relatives whom they had to wait for months ...

1. EARLY IMMIGRANT IN MINNESOTA 4
Early immigrant in Minnesota
Running head: EARLY IMMIGRANT IN MINNESOTA 1
Minnesota is a land known for its heavy welcome of
immigrants. Minnesota has been regarded as a state of
immigrants. The first residents, the American Indians, all
arrived from different locations and origins. The names of the
localities, the waterways and the landmarks around the
Minnesota state reflects the waves of immigration that occurred
between the 19th and 20th century. Today, immigrants comprise
approximately 13% of the Minnesota’s population. In this
article, we seek to explore the experiences of the early
immigrants in Minnesota. Although there are many immigrants
in Minnesota from different locations, this study will focus
primarily on the experiences of Hmong, Karen, Latino, Liberian
and Somali immigrants.
Land and family were significant assets for the immigrants in
the Minnesota state. Particularly, it is important to note that
there are different groups of people who took refuge as
immigrants in Minnesota (Oestergen, 1981). The Latino
community makes up the largest proportion of the foreign-born
population living in Minnesota. Approximately 7% of the
people living in Hennepin and Ramsey counties are Latino. The
Hennepin and Ramsey counties are homes to over 64000 people
from the Hmong communities. Approximately 3000 Karen
refugees came into Minnesota fleeing the violence and war
experienced in Burmese civil war. Finally, the United States

2. became home to Liberian and Somali refugees following the
civil wars in their countries. Approximately 32 000 refugees
from Somali live in Minnesota since the 1990s. Land was owned
by families and the immigrants depended on the transition of
the land through family lineages. The inheritance of land from
one individual to another was done according to the customs
and the cultural beliefs of the people involved. Land was
particularly used for settlement and agricultural purposes. Other
immigrants could also obtain land through purchasing from
other land owners (Oestergen, 1981).
For the first immigrants, getting to Minnesota was the first
major challenge they experienced. Even if they possessed the
wherewithal to their passage, the journey across the ocean often
lasted for numerous weeks in overcrowded and unhealthy
conditions. According to Johnson (2014), the immigrants often
faced attacks from the other ethnic groups that came into
Minnesota. As a result of the difference in ethnicity, Johnson
(2014) explains that language barrier became a major challenge
especially because most of the immigrants chose to retain their
native language. While many modern refugees arrive in the
western countries through the use of planes, early refugees used
ships with significant proportions of those onboard dying from
the strong and cold winds on the ocean. They experienced
anxiety and hardships especially in cases where they had to be
separated from their relatives whom they had to wait for months
if not years to be reunited.
After their arrival in Minnesota, the next major challenge was
obtaining a job or a source of livelihood. It is important and
worthwhile noting that most immigrants arrived into Minnesota
with little education and few assets which made it difficult for
them to acquire employment in the cities they were settled.
However, most of them had transferable life skills such as
farming and carpentry thus making it easier to find employment
in the frontier states. Language difficulties even made it
difficult to survive in the new land of Minnesota. Since most of

3. the immigrants in Minnesota were not from English-speaking
countries, they were required to train themselves to read, write
and speak English in order to be in a position to communicate
with the residents and other people in Minnesota (Cameron,
2010). Those with a low awareness of English could only secure
low-paying employment opportunities while those who were
fortunate enough to learn English were in a position to secure
themselves well-paying jobs in Minnesota. Language barriers
have existed as a major challenge for both the early immigrants
as well as the most recent immigrants. The other major concern
for the immigrants in Minnesota was money (Cameron, 2010).
Becoming fully established in the new home is a common goal
of all the immigrants into Minnesota. This means purchasing a
home, settling in and making significant contributions to the
society in general. As was earlier explained, most arrived in
their new homes with few possessions and as such finding it
considerably difficult to make ends meet. The numerous cycles
of the global economic recessions have made it difficult for
these immigrants to attain their American dreams.
In conclusion, although the immigrants in Minnesota are of
significant importance to the development of the state, most of
them still live under challenging environments several decades
since their entry. According to Cameron (2010), immigrants
contribute significantly to the growth of the Minnesota’s
economy in terms of consuming the products and services from
Minnesota, providing labour, paying taxes and revenues and
establishing entrepreneurial premises, all which contribute to
the development of the state. With this understanding, the
community leaders and the state government have a
responsibility of ensuring their smooth transition from their
original environments to the new Minnesota environment.
Specifically, the leaders should put more efforts into learning
the ways of life of these people and thus provide them with
environments best suited for their transition.
Those known settlers followed herds of large game to the region
during the last glacial period. They came with different stiles of

4. living. They introduced in culture in the region. Also, they had
new way of ruling. They demanded to have their own leaders
who will govern them and show what they were supposed to do.
The rail roads that were there in those times, attracted
immigrants. They came and ventured in natural resources as
well as making farming as their activity. This to some extent
boosted the economy and brought goods to the market. The
economic development and social changes that they brought
them with, led to an expanded role for state government and a
population shift rural areas to cities with developments.
There was introduction of technology as a result of immigrants
at Minnesota. Since there were mining activities that were
taking place in Minnesota city, they involved themselves in
those activities in order to get a daily bread. They made the
activity of mining simpler by providing and inventing programs
that helped the state to work on them efficiently. After the 2nd
world war, the Minnesota was fueled by early computer
companies Sperry Rand, Control Data and Cray. There were also
institutions that were set up becoming the regional centre for
arts with cultural institutions.
Around the 19th century, there emerged some towns through the
landscape. The town was want to serve Minnesota’s growing
agricultural, forestry and mining activities that were taking
place in the area. With time. The large communities expanded
over wider areas while other smaller communities atrophied.
Due to the immigrants coming, there were twin cities and that
was in those faster growing parts of the state. This greatly
affected the economy of Minnesota city and the immigrants
were contributing to the economy (Oestergen, 1981). The
change in the economy was positive meaning the immigrants
had an idea of business. If the immigrants were properly
supported in terms of the project, then they would have brought
totally different and sound effects to the society.
By the end of the 2nd world war.the younger Minnesotas started
moving back to the twin cities area from other parts of the state
or were forced to move out of the states in search of

5. employment. At the end of 21st century, the only about one –
third of Minnesotas resided in rural areas and about and about
two-fifths of this group were age 65 and other above the age.
The population densities between the southern and eastern parts
of the Minnesota are greatest and then decline when
approaching towards the north and west. The population
pulsation, growth since the late 20th century has occurred many
among the foregn-bron population.
The exploitation of Minnesota was relatively related to the
exploitation of its primarynatural resources: soils, timber. Iron
ore and timber that in turn stimulated the growth of such
ancillary activities as railroad building, natural resource
processing and agricultural implement manufacturing. During
the late 1960s and early 1970s,these began to decline, and
service-related industries started to flourish. Agriculture,
however remains one of the Minnesota’s major industries
Today, Minnesota has invested a lot in agriculture, forestry and
fishing. Virtually, all priaries had been cultivated by the turn of
the 20th century.That coniferous forestland the had ben cleared,
today has been covered again again through forestation that has
been carried out by Minnesota immigrant people. This has
contributed to the beauty and physical look of Minnesota. The
most valuable and productive farmland of Minnesota lies across
the southern quarter of the state , with mosts areas having
fertile prairie soils and hot,humid summer weather where some
crops like corn and soybeans can do well in such areas
(Johnson, 2014). Small grains and specialty crops thrive in the
Red River valley, where the growing season is shorter and the
humidity is lower than in southern Minnesota. The major crops
grown here include wheat, hay, sugar beets and barley.
Also as time went by, the immigrants of Minnesota realized
there was need to start fishing. Mostly, the fishing activities
took place in Lake Superior but a reduced population of fish led
to its decline in the late 20th century. Still, Lake Superior trout
and whitefish are available in modest volume, and herring is
abundant but less popular. There came a time when there was a

6. ban but the ban was lifted later following a restocking effort.
Sport fishing is popular in the states major streams and rivers.
With continued lack of job os the Minnesota immigrants,
they saw it was good to come up with industries. About three-
fourths of Minnesotans are employed in the service industry.
The unemployment of Minnesotan was brought about by lack of
education. The industrialization has seen other sectors to grow
in the town and other urban areas. The lack of jobs by the
immigrants led them to have ideas of how to keep up with the
standards of living. (Cameron, 2010)
References
Cameron, L. (2010). The Minnesota Immigrant Experience.
Common threads, 97-105.
Johnson, D. L (2014) Listening to the Pierie Swedish American
Geologist 24 (1)5-8
Oestergen, R.C (1981). Land and family in rural immigrant
communities, Annals of the association of American
Geographers, 71 (3), 400-411
Assignment 1
A. Research and define the following terms as they relate to the
legal and medical ethics presented in the story My Sister's
Keeper. These are the central issues needed to base a medical
opinion about any case in court. (12 points)
Medical Ethics:
· Autonomy
· Veracity
· Fidelity
· Beneficence
· Non-maleficence
· Justice
B. Using these as 6 criterion, describe how each of these
characteristics related back to the legal arguments and
behaviors exhibited by the prosecuting and defense attorneys in

7. this case. (12 points)
C. Then, in two to three paragraphs, describe the moral,
practical, and emotional complication of putting one child in
unnecessary pain and danger for the well-being of another? (6
points)
Assignment 2
A. Research the two following topics and write a one page
summary of your findings for the two scenarios: (5 points each)
1. Stem cell research for reproduction of a designer child whose
sole purpose is to be a donor to a sick child.
2. Parents who decide, for religious and moral issues, to
preserve umbilical cords for use in the future to potentially save
a life.
B. Write a one page summary for the questions asked below. (10
points)
1. What are the moral and ethical implications of this genetic
selection?
2. What conclusions have you reached about such medical
technology?
3. How does your attitude toward God affect your opinion?
Assignment 3
For this assignment you'll have a total of 2 responses.
PART A
Respond the inquiry below.
2. In the case below identify the consequences of the action
taken and decide whether the action represented the greater
good.
c. A physician on the staff of an urban medical center is
approached by a lawyer from a remote part of the state and
asked to testify on behalf of his client, a rural doctor charged
with criminal negligence in the care of a patient. The lawyer
admits that his client is guilty of the charge. He goes on to
explain that although the doctor is old and now versed in the

8. latest medical knowledge, she is nevertheless competent; the
negligence she is charged with resulted from the strain of being
the only doctor in a large mountain area with a number of tiny
towns and a total population of two thousand people. The
lawyer pleads with the medical center physician to testify that
the negligent act was proper treatment. The physician does so.
PART B
Answer ONE of the two inquiries below.
5. Reportedly, at least two companies specialize in buying the
body parts of fetuses from abortion clinics and selling them to
universities and medical institutes for use in research. One of
these companies reportedly charges $999 for a human brain
under eight weeks' gestation, $50 to $100 for eyes and ears, and
$400 for an intact limbless trunk. Evaluate the morality of (a)
abortionists selling fetal body parts to the companies, (b) the
companies selling such parts to research institutions, and (c) the
use of fetal body parts in research. In your evaluation discuss
the relevant obligations, moral idealls, and consequences.
OR
7. Several years ago a married couple, faced with the tragic
fact that the husband had terminal cancer, made an important
decision: His sperm would be frozen so that the wife could
conceive their child after his death. Three months after his
death she was impregnated with his sperm and subsequently
gave birth to a little girl. The Social Security Administration
ruled that the child was not entitled to receive benefits as his
heir. At first thought, you might be inclined to judge this ruling
morally insupportable because the ideal of fairness requires that
this child be treated as any other heir. Resist that judgment
until you have used your imagination to identify the significant
consequences that would likely follow (a) denying the child the
status of an heir and (b) granting the child the status of heir.
Compare those consequences and make your decision. (Explain
your reasoning.)

9. please lack of sources to backup your information.