That's all nice and rosy but current picture is veering from this away more and more. Class mobility in US is largely a self-perpetuating myth. And US, say compared to Europe is clearly class-based social system where divider is your wealth.
So when you come in poor, you stay relatively poor, and can hope your children will fare better (and most don't).
Your WWI remarks are not correct (any fresh joining recruits would compare well to starved demoralized decimated trench troops). Read some german WWI literature, they didn't care much US specifically joining the fight, it was just more enemies. If Australians would come, it would be the same.
> Class mobility in US is largely a self-perpetuating myth.
I personally know several millionaires who arrived in America with a suitcase and a dream.
> class-based social system where divider is your wealth.
The usual definition of a class is legal privilege based on your parents. This does not exist in the US.
> So when you come in poor, you stay relatively poor, and can hope your children will fare better (and most don't).
People aren't desperately trampling 1000 miles and throwing their kids over the wall just to be poor. In America, they have freedom and a darn good chance to do well. Communist countries are different, they have to build walls to keep their citizens from escaping Utopia.
> Read some german WWI literature
I've read about WW1 from actual historians.
What do think the beaten down German soldiers would have thought encountering masses of American troops better equipped and far better fed than they ever were?
So when you come in poor, you stay relatively poor, and can hope your children will fare better (and most don't).
Your WWI remarks are not correct (any fresh joining recruits would compare well to starved demoralized decimated trench troops). Read some german WWI literature, they didn't care much US specifically joining the fight, it was just more enemies. If Australians would come, it would be the same.