Great Migration

Definition

The Great Migration refers to the massive movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban centers of the North, Midwest, and West between 1916 and 1970. This large-scale internal migration was driven by the desire to escape the oppressive Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and economic hardship of the South, as well as the promise of better employment opportunities and living conditions in the industrialized cities of the North and West.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Migration began in 1916 and continued in waves until the 1970s, with the largest movements occurring in the 1940s and 1950s.
2. Approximately 6 million African Americans left the South during the Great Migration, transforming the demographic landscape of the North, Midwest, and West.
3. The economic opportunities and better living conditions in the North and West, as well as the oppression and violence in the South, were the primary push and pull factors driving the Great Migration.
4. The influx of African American migrants to Northern cities led to increased racial tensions and the formation of segregated neighborhoods, known as ghettos.
5. The Great Migration had a significant impact on African American culture, with the emergence of the Harlem Renaissance and the growth of black-owned businesses and institutions in urban areas.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Great Migration was a response to the oppressive conditions faced by African Americans in the Antebellum South.
  • The Great Migration was a mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban centers of the North, Midwest, and West in the early 20th century. This migration was driven by the desire to escape the oppressive Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and economic hardship that African Americans faced in the South during the Antebellum period. The promise of better employment opportunities, living conditions, and the possibility of escaping the systemic racism of the South were the primary pull factors that motivated millions of African Americans to undertake this journey northward.
• Describe how the influx of African American migrants during the Great Migration impacted the social and economic landscape of the destination cities in the North, Midwest, and West.
  • The arrival of millions of African American migrants during the Great Migration significantly transformed the social and economic landscape of the destination cities in the North, Midwest, and West. The large influx of African American workers contributed to the growth of urban centers and the industrialization of these regions, providing much-needed labor for factories and businesses. However, the rapid population growth also led to increased racial tensions and the formation of segregated neighborhoods, known as ghettos, where African American migrants were often confined. This, in turn, led to the emergence of distinct African American communities, cultures, and institutions, such as the Harlem Renaissance, which had a profound impact on American society as a whole.
• Analyze how the experiences and legacies of the Great Migration shaped the African American struggle for civil rights in the decades that followed.
  • The Great Migration had a profound impact on the African American struggle for civil rights in the decades that followed. The influx of African Americans to urban centers in the North, Midwest, and West led to the growth of black communities and the development of a stronger political and economic base, which provided the foundation for the civil rights movement. The experiences of migrants, who had fled the oppression and violence of the South, also fueled a renewed determination to fight for equality and justice. Additionally, the cultural and artistic flourishing of the Harlem Renaissance and other African American communities during this period helped to galvanize and empower the movement for civil rights. The legacy of the Great Migration, with its themes of displacement, resilience, and the pursuit of a better life, became a powerful symbol and driving force behind the African American struggle for equal rights and opportunities in the 20th century.

Related terms

Jim Crow Laws:

A series of state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States after the end of Reconstruction until the 1960s.

Racial Violence: The use of violence, intimidation, and discrimination against African Americans, often perpetrated by white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

Industrialization:

The process of developing manufacturing and industry, which led to the growth of urban centers and the demand for labor in the North and West.