Throughout the last half of the nineteenth century, there was mass immigration into the USA from America.To what extent did the USA provide these migrants with equality of opportunity and a better quality of life?

Between 1850 and 1914 up to 40 million people left their home in Europe to live in America. It was an opportunity to start a new life. For most people, the two week journey was hard and most people travelled in the cheapest class which usually were in cramped conditions. The following push factors were partly responsible for the wave of immigration. Due to things like lack of opportunity in Europe, many immigrated. In Europe the upper classes owned the best land and houses and the upper-middle classes ran most businesses. Many poor or uneducated people found it hard to improve their situation. Overcrowding in Europe and a shortage of land meant that  young children in large families could not expect to inherit much when their parents died meaning they would end up living in poverty. Most workers skilled and unskilled, found themselves unemployed by the end of the ninetieth century in Europe. Many people were persecuted in their own countries for either religious reasons or political reasons.

The following pull factors are also partly responsible for the wave of immigration. America had huge natural resources such as, oil, timber and minerals. Land was also cheap and easy to purchase. Wages for skilled workers and large factory workers were better than the ones for worker in Europe, e.g. A farm worker in the USA would earn much more than a farm worker in Europe, therefore could buy their own land. America had vast plains, this meant farm settlements were miles apart. Growing cities had plenty of room around them to expand. New York was the largest city in the world by 1900 and still expanding. Some people went to America because they wanted to be free to practise their religion and live their life’s how they wanted, without interference. The American Bill of Rights was the amendments made to the Consitution.