Nickel And Dimed

6 Pages 1616 Words

Tiffany Torrez


Since the earliest days America has been thought of as a land of opportunity and a place in which people could escape religious persecution. America was one of the few places in the 1800’s where people were able to increase their social and economical status. Everything about America was enticing so many people moved here.
One problem that people in other countries faced was that there was no religious freedom. According to the Maryland Act of Tolerance the United States would promise religious freedom to all Catholics and Protestants (1). Another factor that drove people out of their countries was that fact that in many countries there were civil wars going on. If you were caught on the wrong side of a civil war you would be imprisoned or evened killed (3). There were also a variety of jobs available in America as opposed to other countries where it was near impossible to find any job (2).
Immigrants viewed America as a land of opportunity because it was possible to pursue their dreams. Peasants who could never own their own land could buy land and make money (4). A completely free education was another attraction that America had to offer. This was so good because if someone got an education they were able to go to college and get a real job and make a decent amount of money. In other countries school was a luxury for only wealthy kids (5). There were numerous types of jobs such as blacksmith, wheelwright, cooper, ECT.
Since the beginning there was always something for everyone in America. Weather it were a good factor about the U.S. or a bad factor about their country something always encouraged people to come here
At the turn of the century, immigrants steamed into Ellis Island to escape political Persecution, Religious Persecution and poverty, in exchange for "Life Liberty, and Pursuit of Happi...