Millions of Europeans migrated to the U.S. in the eighteenth century to class rule and modernization. However, despite the exodus, people continued moving to Europe in search of economic prosperity spawned by the industrial revolution. As cumbersome jobs were mechanized and goods were mass-produced, people began to live better. Thus, the region was a natural choice for those seeking a better lifestyle. As Europe progressed into the new era, the need for survival dissipated, resulting in a rise in population that countered the mass exodus experienced in the 18th century.
The rapid urbanization in Europe and famine in the 18th century caused food shortages that influenced migration to the United States. However, industrialization reversed the phenomenon as people embraced modernization and new opportunities to create wealth, particularly in the UK and Germany (Dejung et al., 2019). The availability of consumer goods and a better lifestyle led to a further rise in the European population and urbanization. As the industries emerged, concerns over the safety of employees and deaths led to the formation of workers’ unions and regulations that also influenced the rise in population in the cities.
With new regulations and workers’ unions, employees in European factories could make more money and work safely. Legislations such as the Enclosure Act attracted many to the factories and cities. Many immigrants felt their welfare and factory workers were protected by the government, unlike other work forms. Other aspects such as the increase in wages, social mobilization, and political parties’ rise also led many to reside in the cities. Despite the deteriorating living conditions, pollution, and outbreaks, European cities continued attracting millions from neighboring countries. Unlike American immigration in the 18th century, where people settled in the countryside, European immigrants preferred cities, which developed rapidly than anywhere else globally.
The 18th century saw millions migrate from Europe to America and counter people from the country and other nations into European cities. Technological advancement and the availability of jobs was a key attraction to many. Others sought the city life that offered an opportunity to rise to the middle class and live a better life. The era also witnessed legislation to protect factory workers, a rise in wages, and political activism that also contributed to immigration. With these changes, people preferred America over their countries and the countryside as it offered more than just survival – it provided a living.
Reference
Dejung, C., Motadel, D., & Osterhammel, J. (2019). The global bourgeoisie: The rise of the middle classes in the Age of Empire. Princeton University Press.