European colonists came to America for a number of reasons. Many of them came because they wanted to get on in life. In Europe, societies tended to be quite hierarchical, and so it was difficult for people to rise in social status. America promised them the opportunity to start afresh, a chance to make their own way in the world unhampered by social prejudice.
Right from the start, America earned the reputation of being a land of opportunity, where everyone could become successful if only they were prepared to work hard. This proved an attractive proposition to many Europeans, who knew that no matter how hard they worked in their home countries, they would never be able to improve their lot. And so they turned their gaze towards America for hope and inspiration.
In those days, wealth was primarily conceived of in terms of land-ownership. But in small countries such as England, where land was in short supply, opportunities to own land were limited, to say the least. The New World, however, promised tens of thousands of acres of land on which potential settlers could build new lives for themselves and their families. That most of this land had been in the possession of Native-American tribes for centuries was not thought to be a problem. Nor was sufficient attention given to whether or not the land, even if it did become available, would be suitable for the settlers' needs. In any case, the land hunger among the settlers was so strong that such pressing concerns were either ignored or minimized, with often tragic consequences.
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