Changes

Norwegian folk came to North Dakota with a reputation for honesty, hospitality, and thrift; they were modernizers and soon acquired new traits involving good manners, a greater respect for women, more democratic ideas, and disregard for European class distinctions. "In Norway," one pioneer recalled, "we were in many respects a helpless tool in the hands of the state. There we had the state church. The child must be baptized or a fine must be paid." Ole Lima said that when his people came to America they became "a more wideawake people and more independent thinking. . . . The Norwegian, who has lived a while in America, is more civilized than if he had not been here.  He has seen more, experienced more, thought more, and all this has opened his eyes and broadened his view."<ref> Quoted in Robinson (1966) p 548</ref>

Norwegian folk came to North Dakota with a reputation for honesty, hospitality, and thrift; they were modernizers and soon acquired new traits involving good manners, a greater respect for women, more democratic ideas, and disregard for European class distinctions. "In Norway," one pioneer recalled, "we were in many respects a helpless tool in the hands of the state. There we had the state church. The child must be baptized or a fine must be paid." Ole Lima said that when his people came to America they became "a more wideawake people and more independent thinking. . . . The Norwegian, who has lived a while in America, is more civilized than if he had not been here.  He has seen more, experienced more, thought more, and all this has opened his eyes and broadened his view."<ref> Quoted in Robinson (1966) p 548</ref>

On the other hand the German Russians were traditionalists. They arrived later, worked poorer farms, and were not as well off as other groups. Negatively influenced by their miseries and isolation in Russia, they saw themselves a downtrodden class cheated by businessmen and railroads; they raised large with harsh discipline; they did not believe so much in schooling, treated their

On the other hand the German Russians were traditionalists. They arrived later, worked poorer farms, and were not as well off as other groups. Negatively influenced by their miseries and isolation in Russia, they saw themselves a downtrodden class cheated by businessmen and railroads; they raised large families with harsh discipline; they did not believe so much in schooling, treated their

womenfolk as inferior, were slow to diversify their farms, and supported radical far-left political movements.<ref>Robinson (1966) p 557 </ref>

womenfolk as inferior, were slow to diversify their farms, and supported radical far-left political movements.<ref>Robinson (1966) p 557 </ref>

 

==Climate==

==Climate==

The climate is harsh winter and summer, with light rainfall. Eric Sevareid (1912-1992), who survived to become a famous newscaster, recalls growing up in a village north of Minot:

The climate is harsh winter and summer, with light rainfall. Eric Sevareid (1912-1992), who survived to become a famous newscaster, recalls growing up in a village north of Minot: