Immigrants supplied much of the labor that helped the nation…

Immigrаnts supplied much оf the lаbоr thаt helped the natiоn’s economy grow. Although most of the Irish immigrants had been farmers, few had money to buy farmland. Many settled in the northern cities where low-paying factory jobs were available. Other Irish workers transformed the environment by helping to build many new canals and railroads. Irish women often worked as servants in private homes. Immigrants from Germany often had enough money to move west and buy good farmland. These immigrants transformed the environment by turning prairie into farmland. Others were artisans and merchants. Cities of the Midwest such as St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati had German grocers, butchers, and bakers. Based on this excerpt which of the following was MOST likely the reason the Irish and German immigrants came to America?