During the 19th century, around 6 million Germans migrated to the United States for what I understand to be economic reasons (work opportunities, land grants, etc.). During the same century, less than a million French did the same. In 1871 when modern Germany was formed, it had a population of about 41,000,000 compared to France's then population of about 37,000,000. In addition to having relatively similar population sizes, Germany and France in 1871 also had relatively similar GDP per capita levels, at $1839 and $1876, respectively (numbers in 1990 international dollars and estimated by British economist Angus Maddison).
So my question is: What explains the huge difference in migration between Germans and French to the United States in the 19th century? Specifically, why did seemingly so few French come?
France was a paradise
>>3213698
Because most of those Germans came from Prussia which was a militaristic shithole, unlike France.
>>3213698
The French were more nationalistic
Higher population growth rates in Germany and thus more later-born sons who inherited nothing and were keen to emigrate.
>>3213827
I hadn't thought about this but I think it explains a lot. Germany's population went from 41 mil. on 1870 to 56. mil in 1900 while France's flatlined.