My ancestors moved to the united states in the late 1800's from east Prussia

Question:They could have been part of the first wave of migration out of East Prussia in the 1860s when Prussia became a province of Russia.

They could also have been part of the 2nd wave of migration out of East Prussia starting in the 1870s when East Prussia became part of the German Empire.

Both takeover periods were marked by efforts to culturally assimilate the population into the empire. And its likely they were driven by economic/political reasons as well.

Look into which migration period they likely were part of, and the answer should be clearer with a bit of research.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: They could have been part of the first wave of migration out of East Prussia in the 1860s when Prussia became a province of Russia.

They could also have been part of the 2nd wave of migration out of East Prussia starting in the 1870s when East Prussia became part of the German Empire.

Both takeover periods were marked by efforts to culturally assimilate the population into the empire. And its likely they were driven by economic/political reasons as well.

Look into which migration period they likely were part of, and the answer should be clearer with a bit of research.

because they have no common sense

Probably in search of a better life. The grass being greener, and all that.

They were in search of a better life for their family.

They heard the rumor that money grows on trees in the states.

(in a sassy tone) because they felt like it DUH!!!

How can we say that ?? I think you are in a better position to reply. Maybe because America was the land of plenty & opportunities !

The century was filled with wars.

1815- Hundred days war-Napoleon (1769-1821) escaped from Elba, landed near Cannes and was joined by Michel Ney (1769-1815) and a large French army. He marched to Paris, where he resumed power, driving King Louis XVIII (1755-1824) from the throne and beginning his rule of a "Hundred Days." Austria, Britain, Russia, and Prussia formed an alliance against Napoleon and planned to invade France. Taking the offensive, Napoleon, at the head of a 125,000-man army, marched north into Belgium, planning ot crush the nearest allied armies.

Berlin Revolt 1848
Napoleon (1769-1821) escaped from Elba, landed near Cannes and was joined by Michel Ney (1769-1815) and a large French army. He marched to Paris, where he resumed power, driving King Louis XVIII (1755-1824) from the throne and beginning his rule of a "Hundred Days." Austria, Britain, Russia, and Prussia formed an alliance against Napoleon and planned to invade France. Taking the offensive, Napoleon, at the head of a 125,000-man army, marched north into Belgium, planning ot crush the nearest allied armies.

First and Second Schleswig wars (1848-1850-(1864)
First Neufchatel war (1856-57)
Seven weeks war-1866
Franco-Prussian war 1870-71

There was a huge difference in Prussian territory size from
1871 to 1918. to its absorption into Germany in Weirmar Republic (Prussia as part of Germany) from 1919 to 1923.

http://www.rollintl.com/roll/prussia.htm

Your ancestors escaped the war torn country.
Another link said this
==================http://en.wikipedia....
By the late 1800’s men in the United States including Horace Mann, Barnis Sears, and Calvin Stove heard about the successes of the Prussian system. They traveled to Germany to investigate how the educational process worked. Upon their return to the United States they lobbied heavily to have the Prussian model adopted.

Horace Mann was largely responsible for the introduction of compulsory public education, Prussian-style, in the United States.

The time topics you'd be searching for are; Baltic Prussians (Old Prussia) conquered by the Teutonic Knights prior to the thirteeth century which was Christainised, Germanized, and Polonized; Royal Prussia (1466-1772) Poland Territory; Duchy of Prussia (1525-1701) originally under Poland, but later under Hohenzollern (Prussia, Germany, and Romania); Brandenburg-Prussia (1618-1701) union between Branenburg-Prussia rulers; Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918) elevation of Brandenburg-Prussia, German Empire (1871-1918); Province of Prussia (1829-1878) provinves East and West Prussia; Free State of Prussia (1918-1947) the republic state of Weimar Germany formed after the dissolution of the Hohenzollern monarchy at the end of World War I. Prussia as a state was abolished de facto by the Nazis in 1934 and de jure by the Allied Control Council in 1947 in the aftermath of World War II.... ...
They could have moved for different reasons such as beliefs, battles going on, and/or mixed thoughts leading to confusion in politics. My great-grand parents fled Poland before WWII.

Cause Europe sucks big time.Too many grumpy people.America has much more friendly people.Went to America on holiday once and loved it.
Europeans are tight a55es.