Why did many immigrants tolerate difficult living and working conditions?
1 Answer
They came from very poor background and had fled the poverty in their home countries
Explanation:
Between 1865 and WWI, the population of the USA was multiplied by four because of immigration. The immigrants crossed the oceans because they hoped for a better life. The standard of living was higher in America than anywhere else. By moving to America they had bigger opportunities to increase their living conditions quickly.
In Ireland for instance, people fled the Great Famine between 1845 and 1848, people were so destitute that they were ready to accept any working or living conditions to have a living. This is why they had low paid jobs on the East Coast, for instance in Boston.
The same can be asserted about Chinese workers on the West Coat. This labor force was so abundant that there was a tremendous pressure on wages.
