Economic Opportunity: The promise of economic opportunity also drew many people to America. The vast majority of early immigrants were poor and working-class people who came in search of a better life. They hoped to find land to farm, jobs in the growing economy, and a chance to escape the poverty and oppression they had experienced in their home countries.
Adventure: For some, the allure of adventure was the primary motivation for coming to America. This was especially true of young men who were eager to explore the New World and experience all it had to offer. They were drawn by the tales of adventure and riches that had been circulating in Europe for decades, and they saw America as a place where they could make their dreams come true.