Was migrating way easier back then (e.g., people can just board a ship with their bags to the US and settle there)? What makes migrating to most countries so difficult now?
In: 491
Well it wasn’t so difficult back in the day to emigrate to the new world since the old world’s diseases decimated the population of the old world and there was so much more room to come over. Now when you come over you don’t kill anyone with your diseases so it’s hard to find space.
When is back then? Feel like that’s important to learn
You’re talking about a time when Europe was eager and willing to dispossess “undesirables” and send them to the US. Migration historically has not always been easy.
Also the welfare state changes how people view immigrants. There is a concern, much overstated, in developed countries that immigrants may be a “burden” on the health/education/welfare system. That was less of a concern back when people paid their own way for those expenses.
It’s literally just illegal these days. People have become convinced (through xenophobia, racism, or economic fallacies) that immigration is harmful and have made it extraordinarily difficult to immigrate.
Population of the world in 1800 was around 990million
Now it is 8Billion.
There was a lot more space available back then.
It used to be easier due to fewer regulations and less strict border controls. Nowadays, countries have complex immigration laws and policies, which aim to regulate things like population growth, workforce, and security concerns. This makes the process more difficult and time-consuming for people who want to migrate.
Latest Answers