In 1947, Israel's low population but high level of education meant its citizens could train and organize a national army fairly quickly. Manpower limitations also meant the Israeli Army tended to gravitate towards technologically advanced, high firepower forces, and become more proficient at them than its neighbors. Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with cut diamonds, high-technology equipment and pharmaceuticals among its major exports. The country is very highly developed in terms of life expectancy, education, per capita income and other human development index indicators.
Most immigrants to the United States in the antebellum era came from Germany and Ireland.
There were various reasons why they emigrated into the States, but the most important one was civil unrest in their native countries. Also, they couldn't find jobs home, and they heard that America is a land of freedom and opportunity, so obviously they wanted to be successful too.