In the news1850
Fugitive Slave Act Passed in 1850
The Compromise of 1850 included the Fugitive Slave Act, which increased federal power to recover runaway slaves while denying them jury trials.
Schwerin, 3 Mar 1855 – Bristow, 21 Feb 1921
6 facts1 source
3 Mar 1855
Born in Schwerin
27 Jan 1888
A daughter is born
21 Feb 1921
Dies in Bristow, aged 65
He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Schwerin.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
Who governed
President of the United States, 1853–1857 · United States
President of the United States, 1857–1861 · United States
What people wore
Creative Sewing to Save Fabric
To save money on expensive fabrics, rural women often sewed a piece of linen into the hidden parts of their dresses that were covered by an apron, a practice known as Magsachte.
Getting around
Limitations of mail-coach travel
Before railways became dominant, mail-coaches reached speeds of 8 to 12.7 km/h, but their daily range was limited to around 100 kilometers due to frequent stops, meals, and border controls.
At the table
Alcohol as a Daily Staple
Schnapps, distilled cheaply from potatoes, became a daily staple for the poor alongside sugar-sweetened coffee. Beer was also consumed, and by the later part of the period, the invention of bottled beer with swing stoppers made it more accessible.
In Europe · 1859–1871Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.
In the news1850
The Compromise of 1850 included the Fugitive Slave Act, which increased federal power to recover runaway slaves while denying them jury trials.
Music
Singing was a common group leisure activity
People often sang together after work or during leisure time, such as when farm workers returned home with their tools or during Sunday afternoon strolls.
Daily life
Compulsory schooling and kindergarten costs
Children were required to attend school from ages six to fourteen, often carrying books in long tin satchels. In model kindergartens, families could pay fees between sixpence and three shillings a month for care and meals.