Immigrants have been moving to America for hundreds of years to find a better lifestyle and greater opportunities for economic growth. America was known as the “Land of the free, with open lands and liberty for all.” Immigrants traveled from all over the world to live in America despite the cost and danger of the journey; for example, physical pain or even illness. America has become known as a “melting pot,” where all the different races and ethnic groups come together as one. But many immigrants have left their families and loved ones to come to America and live in a new, safer environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay In the early 1600s, many immigrants, mostly from England, Western Europe, and Spain, came for land and freedom, but as the centuries passed, many immigrants from around the world arrived ​for security and opportunity. For example, my grandmother Oma was born in Waldorf, Germany, in 1927. This small village is located just north of the Black Forest, on the northeastern side. When Oma was just a little girl, her biological mother moved to America, leaving Oma with her father and her aunt Claira. In 1933 Hitler became Chancellor of Germany and in 1939 the Second World War was declared. Although Oma's father was German, he was sent to a concentration camp in 1940 for speaking in public. Just a year later, Oma was informed that her father had died of “natural causes, but was most likely murdered.” Security at this time was becoming increasingly difficult to find. In 1942, while the US Army was attacking Germany from the west, the Soviets were coming from the east. The Soviets were destroying everything in sight and bombing multiple cities at a time. The house where Oma grew up was burned to the ground, along with all their belongings. They had nothing; no clothes, food, shelter, etc. As they roamed the streets, the soldiers harassed Oma and other innocent young women. Aunt Claira, at that moment realized that Germany was no longer a safe place to live, especially for Oma. In 1947, when Oma was only 20 years old, Aunt Claira had finally saved enough money to send my grandmother to America for safety and economic opportunity. Many immigrants turned to America, because it was a very large country, with a lot of land available at very reasonable prices. In 1862, the Homestead Act was passed, allowing the head of a family (who must be at least 21 years of age) to claim 160 acres of land. Every homesteader had to live on the land, build a house, make improvements, and farm for at least 5 years before they could "try it." A total fee of $18 was the only money required, but the sacrifice and hard work exacted a different price from the hopeful settlers. Many people wanted this land, especially farmers, so they could grow crops, put food on the table, and provide jobs for those in need. The climate in the mid-west was ideal for crops such as corn, wheat, vegetables and fruit. Many people came to America seeking religious and governmental freedoms that were not available to them in their home country. Dictators and monarchs in power had made the dream of independence impossible. They came and founded churches that allowed them to practice the religion they wanted without fear of retaliation. They also founded their own cities and held elections to select the people they wanted to have a say in how they lived their lives. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now., 27(1), 1-26.