They braved the rough voyage across the ocean to attain the American dream, but the ancestors of America's rich and diverse social landscape first struggled to make a life in their new homeland. Through the immigrants' own words and contemporary photographs and illustrations, these inspiring volumes not only tell the story of each immigrant group, but also provide insight on what it means to be an American today. The hardy Swedes crossed the ocean for more than a chance to prosper in the New World: they came for religious freedom and a chance at democracy. Settling mostly in the American Midwest, the Swedes have cultivated a reputation for hard work and strong moral beliefs.