Famine and integration

Famines affected Thurnau several times during the 19th century. The eruption of an Indonesian volcano made 1816 a year without summer. In 1846 the people in Thurnau were again threatened by famine. Despite many aid measures and a good harvest in the following year many residents decided to emigrate to North America.

Even though many authorities tried to warn people e.g., by hanging up posters detailing the risks connected with such an endeavour, through fraudsters and economic hardship, about 340 of the approximately 9500 people of Thurnau took on the long journey to the USA between 1851/52 and 1860/61. Majority of these people hoped to acquire more affordable land as well as a lower tax burden.

References

Literature:

Vom Residenzort zur Landgemeinde. Ersch. in: Markt Thurnau (Hrsg.): Thurnau 1239-1989. Bayreuth, 1989. S.17-38.

Authors: Kevin Bauer, Fabian Ortner