How were people in the past able to come to America with literally no money and survive and thrive and some even starting businesses and becoming wealthy? Is that even possible today?
In: Economics
My father in law was bussed to California from Mexico by a farm owner to work in the farm. He got paid in cash daily, spent some of it on chili cheese fries for dinner and slept on a bench. Did this until he had enough money to buy a car cash (he didn’t know you can buy things on a loan at the time). Then he slept in the car. Eventually he saved up enough to go back home and pick up his gf and move to NY with her. The. He got a job in the city and was able to make rent in the Bronx in the early 90s. Been living paycheck to paycheck ever since, moving to wherever he heard there was work and cheap rent. He still works 6-7 12 hour days a week and only has a 3rd grade education. They lived in some really shitty places but never went hungry.
Often they met up with someone they knew from their home country; often after extended correspondence. Many times this resulted in a place to stay, an in at a job, and a support network of an already established community. This does still happen today.
recently i watched a video on YouTube of someone working for four years in 1930 or 40s then afford to buy a pizzeria.
This still happens today. A quick google suggests that about 30% of new American businesses are started by immigrants, and at this point an immigrant is twice as likely to start a business than a native-born American.
There’s debate as to why, but one reason might be that, since it might be more difficult to get hired, you find a way to work for yourself. Or maybe that, if you’re living in an underserved immigrant community, there are business opportunities there where needs aren’t being met by (say) national chains.
Being an expat myself, I’m a bit biased towards personality explanations instead. If you’re the type to uproot yourself and go look for opportunities in a new country, you’re also probably the sort to, well, go look for new opportunities in business.
A few ways. In cities, they would get support from their ethnic group to establish themselves. A place to stay, a job, etc.
In more rural areas, depending on how far back, land was either insanely cheap, or downright free. If you were willing to work the land, you would be granted title to it.
My first American ancestor came from Scotland in the 1790s. Worked land he eventually owned in part of North Carolina which later became Tennessee. My family were all farmers up until my Grandfather who only farmed as a hobby.
As for today, land is not cheap, so immigrants usually use the first method. Friends, family, people in the same ethnic group help them, invest, and hopefully they start a business or simply work and retire happy.
There was less big government policy in early America, now there are licenses, registrations, taxes, and fees that accompany nearly everything one could do to generate a profit, which creates entry barriers.
It is certainly possible, startups and entrepreneurs exist and thrive, but current policy does not do a great job of promoting the “lift yourself up by the bootstrap,” type of mentality.
Absolutely possible today, as evidenced by the demand to immigrate legally and illegally. Freedom is very attractive to those who haven’t had it, and those with the “proper” mindset. Don’t give me anything, but don’t put obstacles in my way either.
Seems like no one is mentioning indentured servitude. If you found a ‘sponsor’ you could get a ticket to the new world by signing a contract to serve the benifactor for a certain amount of time.
“Will work for boat ride” was common during the early european migration into the Americas.
Prior to a hundred years ago, they mostly farmed. My ancestor came here from Ireland to fight in the civil war for $100. $50 down, and another $50 at the completion of his service.
His wife and daughter used the $50 to buy a small tract of land, raised chickens and grew root vegetables.
He lost and arm and a leg in the war (in the census he listed himself as a piano mover by trade) and never got the remaining $50 he was promised.
It’s important to remember that before social protections or government programs, you would starve to death if you couldn’t find work. People only came here if they believed it was worth the risk. If you couldn’t make it, you had to go back to your home country.
Of course it is possible today.
I know of a family of immigrant Haitians that moved to the Boston area back in the 1970’s with just a few dollars. The father worked two jobs for few years, and the mother had hers. The grandmother stayed at home with the kids. Today they own 4 or 5 apartment buildings and a small construction company. They had 6 kids and they all graduated form college and now are all lawyers, engineers, or nurses. Very successful family.
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