Open door policy: large numbers of immigrants were being let in with few restrictions Land: US offered cheap or free farmland especially for scot and irish farming families Jobs/industry: huge demand for workers in railways, factories, mines due to rapid industrial growth Wages: much higher than Europe Freedom/democracy: religious freedom, freedom of speech, right to vote Existing communities: immigrants attracted to area were family or neighbours had already settled The American dream: land of the free, people hoped they could succeed