#AP African American Studies: The Great Migration - Night Before Review 🌃

Hey, you've got this! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident about the Great Migration. We'll go through the key stuff, make it stick, and get you ready to ace this exam. Let's dive in! 🚀

#1. Overview of the Great Migration

#What Was It? 🤔

• The Great Migration was the largest internal migration in U.S. history.

#Why Did It Happen? 🤔

• Push Factors (things that made people want to leave the South):
  • Racial Violence: Jim Crow laws, lynchings, and constant fear. 💔
  • Limited Economic Opportunities: Sharecropping kept Black families in debt and poverty. 💸
  • Environmental Issues: Floods, droughts, and the boll weevil destroyed crops. 🐛
• Pull Factors (things that attracted people to the North, Midwest, and West):
  • Job Opportunities: Factories and industries needed workers, especially during WWI and WWII. 🏭
  • Higher Wages: Better pay than agricultural work in the South. 💰
  • Hope for Safety: A chance to escape the violence and oppression of the Jim Crow South. 🕊️

#Key Players and Organizations

• National Urban League: Formed to help Black migrants adjust to urban life. 🏘️
• Black Newspapers: The Chicago Defender spread news and encouraged migration. 📰
• Black Churches and Community Groups: Offered support and resources to migrants. ⛪

Which of the following best describes the role of the National Urban League during the Great Migration?
A) To promote segregation in Northern cities
B) To organize resistance against the federal government
C) To provide support and resources for African American migrants
D) To encourage African Americans to return to the South
Answer: C


Briefly explain how environmental factors in the South contributed to the Great Migration.
Answer: Environmental factors such as floods, droughts, and the boll weevil infestation destroyed crops and left many Black Southerners impoverished, pushing them to seek better opportunities elsewhere.

#2. Causes of the Great Migration

#Labor Shortages in the North 🏭

• World Wars: WWI and WWII created huge labor gaps in northern factories. 🛠️
• Recruitment: Northern employers actively sought Black workers from the South. 🤝
• Better Pay and Conditions: Higher wages and better working conditions than in the South. 💸

#Environmental Factors in the South 🚜

• Natural Disasters: Floods and droughts ruined crops and farms.
• Boll Weevil: This insect destroyed cotton crops, a major source of income. 🐛
• Poverty: Sharecropping kept many Black families in debt and tied to the land. 🔗

#Safety from Racial Violence 💔

• Jim Crow: Segregation and discrimination were rampant.
• Lynching: Mob violence and racial terrorism threatened Black lives. 😠
• Hope for Safety: Moving North offered a chance to raise families in a safer environment. 🛡️

#Transportation and Information 🚂

• Railroads: Expansion of the railway system made travel easier. 🛤️
• Black Press: Newspapers like The Chicago Defender spread information about jobs. 📰
• Word-of-Mouth: Family and friends who had migrated encouraged others to follow. 🗣️

#3. Impact on Communities and Culture

#Transformation of American Cities 🏙️

• Cultural Centers: Black neighborhoods like Harlem and Bronzeville became vibrant hubs. 🎭
• Black Businesses: Black-owned businesses, churches, and organizations flourished. 🏢
• Shared Culture: The migration connected Black communities across the country. 🤝

#Rural to Urban Transition 🏞️➡️🏙️

• New Skills: Migrants had to adapt to city life and learn new skills. 🏙️
• Leisure: Shift from working the land to enjoying urban parks and recreation. 🌳
• Community: Urban environments fostered a sense of community and identity. 🏘️

#Racial Tensions in South 😠

• Resistance: Southern employers tried to stop the migration to keep cheap labor. 🛑
• Violence: Some Black people faced violence for trying to leave. 😠
• Fear of Change: White Southerners feared losing cheap labor and disrupting the racial hierarchy. 😨

#National Urban League Formation 🤝

• Interracial Organization: Founded to help Black migrants adjust to urban life. 🫂
• Support Services: Provided housing, job training, and social services. 🏘️
• Civil Rights: Collaborated with groups like the SCLC during the Civil Rights Movement.✊

The Great Migration is a high-value topic because it connects to so many other themes in African American Studies: racial inequality, economic justice, cultural expression, and the Civil Rights Movement. Make sure you understand it well! 💡

#4. Required Sources: Visualizing the Migration

#The Migration Series by Jacob Lawrence 🎨

• Visual Narrative: Lawrence's paintings powerfully depict the migration experience. 🖼️
• Panel No. 1: Shows the departure of African Americans from the South. 🚶🏿‍♀️🚶🏾
• Themes: Captures the hopes, challenges, and societal shifts of the time. 💭

#Map of the Great Migration 🗺️

• Demographic Shift: Shows the large-scale movement of people. 📈
• Geographic Dimensions: Illustrates the patterns of migration from South to North and West. 📍
• Impact: Highlights the transformation of both the South and the cities where migrants settled. 🏙️

What does the map of the Great Migration primarily illustrate?
A) The decline of urban areas in the United States
B) The geographic patterns of African American migration from the South to the North and West
C) The increase in agricultural jobs in the South
D) The stability of racial segregation in the United States
Answer: B

Analyze the causes and consequences of the Great Migration. In your response, discuss at least two push factors and two pull factors that contributed to the migration, and explain how the migration impacted both the communities that migrants left behind and the cities where they settled. Be sure to reference both the provided map and the Jacob Lawrence painting in your response.
Scoring Breakdown:
**Thesis (1 point):** A clear, concise thesis statement that addresses the causes and consequences of the Great Migration.
**Push Factors (2 points):** Discussion of at least two push factors, such as racial violence (Jim Crow laws, lynchings), limited economic opportunities (sharecropping), and environmental factors (floods, boll weevil).
**Pull Factors (2 points):** Discussion of at least two pull factors, such as job opportunities in the North, higher wages, and the hope for a safer environment.
**Impact on Southern Communities (2 points):** Explanation of the impact on Southern communities, including the loss of cheap labor, increased racial tensions, and resistance to the migration.
**Impact on Northern Cities (2 points):** Explanation of the impact on Northern cities, including the growth of vibrant Black cultural centers, the shift from rural to urban life for migrants, and the role of organizations like the National Urban League.
**Use of Sources (2 points):** Reference to both the map and the Jacob Lawrence painting. Analysis of the map to show the geographic scope of the migration and the painting to illustrate the themes and experiences of migrants.
**Synthesis (1 point):** A concluding statement that connects the various aspects of the Great Migration and its significance in American history.

#5. Final Exam Focus 🎯

#Key Topics to Review:

• Causes of the Great Migration: Remember the push and pull factors. (R.E.J. and S.E.W.)
• Impact on Communities: How did it change both the South and the North?
• Role of Organizations: National Urban League, Black press, churches.
• Visual Sources: Be ready to analyze the Migration Series and the map.

#Common Question Types:

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions on causes, effects, and key figures.
• Short Answer: Be prepared to explain specific aspects of the migration.
• Free Response: You'll likely need to analyze the causes and consequences, using sources as evidence.

#Last-Minute Tips:

• Time Management: Don't get stuck on one question. Move on and come back if needed.
• Read Carefully: Pay attention to what the question is actually asking.
• Use Evidence: Always back up your answers with specific examples and details.
• Stay Calm: You've studied hard, trust your knowledge and do your best. You got this! 💪

Good luck! You're going to do great! 🎉