The suffering caused by economic change and by political persecution motivated people from almost every European country to leave their homes for greater security elsewhere. North America attracted more than two-thirds of these migrants, many of whom followed reports of vast quantities of available land in both Canada and the United States. Both countries were known for following the rule of law and for providing economic opportunity in urban as well as rural areas.

Question for Consideration

Where did the majority of these migrants originate? What historical factors prompted them to leave their homelands?