There is a reproduction of one of Columbus’ ships on display in Columbus, OH. I believe it is the Santa Maria. You can go aboard and experience how small it actually is.
My daughter and grandkids took a day voyage on the reproduction sailing vessel in DE, the Kalmar Nyckel. The KN was a sailing ship brought to the colonies by Swedes who founded New Sweden near present day Philadelphia around 1640. My 11th great grandfather was one of them. He actually made the voyage twice, once upon the KN. Anyway, my daughter was shocked at how small the ship was. People had to take turns for beds. There was no place to sit. I cannot imagine embarking on that voyage twice — the second time with a wife. Life must have been pretty grim in Europe of the day for our ancestors to have risked everything to come here.
Yes, this was during the Thirty Years War. Sweden was a belligerent, but its territory was never invaded. Still, it was a bad time for much of Europe. Rural poverty was bad enough in peacetime, but that hard, brutal war just made it worse.
By the time of the Revolution, the average American was taller, healthier, better fed and more prosperous that the Average European and American women gave birth to more children. Yes, the voyage was worth it.
People left farms for urban tenements and industrial jobs that worked them 10-16 hours a day. Life on a farm is that bad and the days are 24/7. We’re always moving from worse to better, if government lets us.