While the rules, laws, and regulations that are currently in place in regards to immigration to America, makes it a real process for a lot of people to legally immigrate to America, including refugees that would like to reside here, that has not always been the historical case. In fact, for the most part, immigration of Europeans to America, especially during the 19th and early 20th century, was typically as straightforward as having the means to pay for that transportation to the United States, and upon arrival to America, answering the questions so being asked by immigration authorities which were typically perfunctory and thereby an easy hurdle to overcome, along with the briefest of medical exams.
America, was fortunate that so many believed that America was that land of opportunity, for America has an awful lot of land, that necessitated a motivated and dedicated effort to be accomplished by a whole lot of immigrants, in order to turn the potential of the richness that America has in its soil and environment into something of real merit and worth, which thereupon proved beyond a doubt, that immigrants, given a fair chance, truly do know how to get it done.
While many people rightly believe that some of the biggest factors appealing to immigrants in coming to America, were the economic opportunity and freedom that America represents, as well as the free exercise of religion, there was yet another very important factor, somewhat overlooked by history, which was that able body men in virtually every European country, were clearly susceptible when of age to military conscription by their government, of which, those with money, connections, and the right jobs did not need to overly worry about being troubled with such; whereas the poor, the landless, the luckless, and the common laborer, most certainly feared such conscription.
Not only did conscription, fundamentally mean that one's life was literally held in the state's hands, but it could essentially mean, that those subject to that conscription could easily not ever be heard from again. So that, all those that were knowledgeable that a foreign land existed in which there was land available for settlers, and especially to those settlers that would work that land; as well as the perceived fair economic opportunity available for those willing to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, certainly took on the guise of being a country of sanctuary, and truly flowing with that proverbial milk and honey.
The problem with European wars, back then, as well as the problem of wars that occur in the present time, is that most common denizens of countries that suffer through endless wars, truly do suffer; especially when it is their progeny that does all of the fighting, all of the sacrificing, and all of the dying. This thus signifies that common sense people are willing to take inordinate risks, necessitating the crossing of great oceans or great barriers, if they believe that by doing so, that they will be able to live in a country in which they control their own fate, and what they earn by the sweat of their brow will be fairly theirs.
This so indicates, that countries that are forever at war, as well as having some form of unfair and unequal conscription, are the type of countries that sensible people do not wish to live in; and rather, not too surprisingly strongly desire to emigrate from, so as to immigrate to where the conditions and circumstances are perceived to be far more favorable for them and their family.