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Life had gotten intolerable in the 1840s in the principality of Lippe-Detmold, which is located in north central Germany. Adult male population just recovering from Napoleon Bonaparte. Large number of males in Lippe-Detmold died during the years under Napoleon. The generation of Lippers living in the 1840s have vivid memories of those years. In addition, the existing monarchies and land barons in the German states were threatened by possible revolutions. Revolutions that previously occurred in nearby countries are well within the lifetimes of the ruling families across the principalities of Germany. Undoubtedly, the revolutions are emblazoned in their memories and they are fearful. Relative to the violence of the French Revolution some 50 years before, peaceful and rational attempts were made to transition to more democratic governments in the German states. These attempts were largely unsuccessful. The ruling land barons in the German states felt threatened and vulnerable. Uneasy and nervous over the possibility of revolutions spreading across the German principalities, the German rulers increased their control over church-related gatherings. Religious leaders increased their demand for government reform under the penalty of jail. For instance, August Rauschenbusch, from a multi-generational line of Lutheran pastors, preached social reform among the many towns of Westfalia. He was often jailed for his teachings. August Rauschenbusch was a direct influence in Langenholzhausen and the intrepid colony of Lippers who immigrated to Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. In Lippe-Detmold, the Heidelberg Catechism, which was long used by the German Reformed Church, was outlawed. Anger and frustration gathered in the Reformed Church congregations across Lippe-Detmold. Unable to freely speak their minds at the Reformed churches across Lippe-Detmold, people from these congregations increased their worship and fellowship times in individual's homes during the weekdays. These gatherings soon were proclaimed illegal by the Lippe-Detmold government. People were thrown in jail for a night when they were caught at one of these home worship gatherings. Compounding the social and political environment was a famine that spread across northern Europe in the 1840s. The most infamous national tragedy was in Ireland, which is known as the Great Potato Famine. During this period, one third of Ireland's population starved to death, and another third immigrated to the United States, Australia, and elsewhere. Similar famine conditions existed across the rest of northern Europe at the time. Some documents exist today that speak of the tragedies across Lippe-Detmold. For instance, in a report on the Böger family, some people were so desperate that they were eating tree bark in a last effort to stay alive. Prelude to Immigration |
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