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The Story of Czech Immigrants in USA and their Legacy from the End of the 19th Century to Present: The Identity and Everyday Life of a Small Town in Minnesota
ZAVADILOVÁ, Eva
The aim of this thesis is to describe the fates, sorrows and joys of Czech peasants (and their descendants) who decided to emigrate to the USA between the second half of the 19th century and the First World War, where they left a legacy that persists to these days. The first part of the thesis is devoted to the general history and knowledge of the emigration of Czechs to the USA, its causes and course. Using collected letters, pamphlets and archival records, it then attempts to reconstruct the journeys of emigrants from Bohemia to their new home across the ocean. The work then describes the various problems that the compatriots had to deal with immediately after landing in the United States, on their way to find available land or to build their homes. The thesis also depicts the efforts to create expatriate communities and societies along with the traditions that Czech immigrants brought with them. The second part focuses on a specific town in Minnesota, but also mentions nearby settlements and towns whose names attest to the Czech origins of their founders. The work focuses on the history of New Prague and its surroundings, associations and traditions that are connected to Czech cultural heritage and still play an important role in maintaining the Czech-American identity of the local population. With the help of the informations from local residents, the thesis seeks to capture and then analyse their perception of their Czech origins and their efforts to maintain awareness of Czech culture and language. Finally, the thesis will focus on specific events and festivals in and around New Prague that serve as evidence of the continuing awareness of Czech culture among Americans.
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