Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/298594 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
EHES Working Paper No. 253
Publisher: 
European Historical Economics Society (EHES), s.l.
Abstract: 
The cultural assimilation of immigrants into the host society is often equated with prospects for economic success, with religion seen as a potential barrier. We investigate the role of ethnic enclaves and churches for the assimilation of Danish Americans using a difference-indifferences setting. Following the ordination of a divisive religious figure in 1883, this otherwise small and homogeneous group split into rival Lutheran revivalist camps - so-called 'Happy' and 'Holy' Danes. The former sought the preservation of Danish culture and tradition, while the latter encouraged assimilation. We use data from the US census and Danish American church and newspaper archives, and find that Danish Americans living in a county with a 'Happy' church chose more Danish names for their children. Newspapers read by 'Holy Danes' saw a more rapid Anglicization of the language used. Religious beliefs thus facilitated assimilation. Divergence in behaviour only emerged following the religious division.
Subjects: 
Assimilation
Danish Americans
enclaves
immigration
religion
JEL: 
F22
J61
N31
N32
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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