Great Migration

Definition

The Great Migration refers to the mass movement of over six million African Americans from the rural Southern United States to urban areas in the North and West between 1916 and 1970. This significant demographic shift was driven by a combination of push factors like racial discrimination, economic hardship, and the lure of better job opportunities in industrial cities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Migration occurred in two main waves: the first wave from 1916 to 1940 and the second wave from 1941 to 1970, with millions seeking opportunities in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York.
2. Many migrants left the South due to devastating events such as the boll weevil infestation that destroyed cotton crops and increased racial violence, including lynching.
3. The migration led to significant demographic changes in northern cities, resulting in expanded African American communities and influencing local economies and cultures.
4. The Great Migration played a crucial role in shaping African American identity and cultural expressions, leading to movements like the Harlem Renaissance.
5. World War I and World War II created labor shortages in northern industries, further accelerating the migration as African Americans filled jobs that were left vacant by soldiers going to war.

Review Questions

• How did the socio-political environment in the South contribute to the Great Migration?
  • The socio-political environment in the South was characterized by oppressive Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and widespread discrimination against African Americans. Economic hardship due to sharecropping and a lack of opportunities further pushed many individuals to leave their homes. The violent racial tensions, including lynching and other forms of intimidation, created a climate of fear that drove families northward in search of safety and better prospects.
• Evaluate the impact of the Great Migration on northern cities during the early 20th century.
  • The Great Migration significantly transformed northern cities as they experienced an influx of African Americans seeking jobs and better living conditions. This demographic shift led to rapid growth in African American communities, altering social dynamics and influencing local economies. The cultural contributions brought about by these migrants, particularly during events like the Harlem Renaissance, highlighted their profound influence on art, music, and literature in urban areas.
• Analyze how the Great Migration is connected to broader themes of race relations and economic change in America during the 20th century.
  • The Great Migration serves as a critical lens through which to examine race relations and economic change in 20th century America. It illustrated the quest for racial equality as African Americans sought escape from Jim Crow oppression while simultaneously filling labor shortages in industrial cities. This movement not only altered population distributions but also sparked significant social changes as migrants navigated new urban landscapes. Moreover, it laid the groundwork for future civil rights movements by establishing strong urban African American communities that would demand greater rights and representation.

Related terms

Jim Crow Laws:

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States, which contributed to the oppressive conditions that prompted the Great Migration.

Harlem Renaissance:

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem during the 1920s, which was significantly influenced by the influx of African Americans migrating to northern cities.

New Deal:

A series of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, which aimed to provide relief for the unemployed and spur economic recovery, impacting migration patterns.