The Great Migration

Ryan Lee

9 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers the Great Migration, focusing on its causes (push and pull factors like racial violence, economic opportunities, and environmental issues), impact on Northern and Southern communities, and the role of organizations like the National Urban League. It also emphasizes analyzing visual sources such as Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series and maps illustrating migration patterns. Key terms include push and pull factors, and the guide provides practice questions and exam tips.

#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.

Key Concept

It involved approximately six million African Americans moving from the South to the North, Midwest, and West.

- It happened in waves, roughly from the **1910s to the 1970s**. Think of it as a decades-long movement. 🌊

#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. 🕊️

Memory Aid

Think of it like this: R.E.J. (Racial violence, Environmental issues, Job opportunities) pushed them out, and S.E.W (Safety, Economic Opportunities, Wages) pulled them in.

#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. ⛪

Practice Question

Which of the following was a primary 'push' factor that contributed to the Great Migration? A) The availability of high-paying factory jobs in the South B) The desire to escape racial violence and Jim Crow laws C) The expansion of sharecropping opportunities D) The increase in agricultural prosperity in the South Answer: B

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: Env...

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