Latvians in Chicago
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Latvians migrated to Chicago in the late nineteenth century seeking economic and political change from the hardships faced in the Russian Empire. By the mid-1890s, a small community of a few hundred Latvians had established a mutual aid society (1892), the Zion Lutheran Church (1893), and various other organizations. Similar to Latvian communities in other American cities, Chicago's early Latvian settlers were divided between religious followers and political activists. Following an unsuccessful uprising in Russia's Baltic province in 1905, many political radicals sought refuge in the United States. In 1908–9, the case of Latvian revolutionary Christian Rudowitz in Chicago set a significant precedent in extradition law. Despite the Russian government's request to extradite Rudowitz to face a murder charge, U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root ruled in favor of allowing him to remain in America due to the political nature of his crime committed during a revolution.[1]
Approximately 4,000 Latvians live in Chicago.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Straumanis, Andris (2005). "Latvians". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ "Little Latvia". Chicago Tribune. 2004-08-22. Retrieved 2024-03-08.