Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumThe Great Migration and Demographic Shifts

Read the following excerpt from a letter written by an African American migrant in Philadelphia to his family in Virginia, published in a Black newspaper in 1918:

"I have been here since January and I like the place very much. I am working at the shipyard and getting 4.504.50 per day. In Virginia I could only make 1.501.50 and had to work from sunrise to sunset. They have good schools here and our children are going every day. The whites here do not bother us if we mind our own business, though the rent is very high and we must share a kitchen with two other families."

Based on the excerpt, which of the following statements best analyzes the factors shaping the demographic shifts of the Great Migration?

  1. It illustrates how economic opportunities like higher industrial wages in northern shipyards acted as a pull factor, while low wages and long work hours in the southern agricultural economy served as push factors.Answer
  2. B
    It suggests that migrants found complete social equality and an end to all forms of segregation in northern cities, ignoring the informal barriers in housing and employment.
  3. C
    It demonstrates that the migration was driven exclusively by southern push factors like low wages and long working hours, as the high cost of northern housing negated any economic pull factors.
  4. D
    It argues that the movement was motivated solely by northern pull factors like modern schools, since southern agricultural workers already received comparable wages and labor protections.

Answer

The statement explaining that the letter illustrates how economic opportunities like higher industrial wages in northern shipyards acted as a pull factor, while low wages and long work hours in the southern agricultural economy served as push factors.
The correct answer accurately identifies the economic push and pull factors detailed in the letter. The author explicitly contrasts the harsh labor conditions and low pay in Virginia (push factors) with the significantly higher daily wages offered at the shipyard in Philadelphia (pull factor), showing how these forces interacted to motivate migration.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the migrant's letter to identify references to both southern push factors and northern pull factors.
The migrant contrasts the low wage (1.50)andlonghours(sunrisetosunset)inVirginiawiththehigherwage(1.50) and long hours (sunrise to sunset) in Virginia with the higher wage ( 4.50) at a Philadelphia shipyard.
This establishes the dual role of southern economic push factors and northern economic pull factors.
2
Identify references to social factors and their limitations in the North.
The migrant mentions access to good schools for children, but also highlights crowded living conditions and high rents.
This shows that while northern opportunities pulled migrants, they still faced systemic challenges such as de facto housing segregation and high costs of living.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that accurately balances push and pull factors without oversimplifying northern realities.
The option describing the interaction of northern industrial wage pull factors and southern agricultural wage/labor push factors is correct.
It directly aligns with the economic details provided in the source text.

Key Concept

The Great Migration was driven by a combination of Southern push factors (such as Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and economic exploitation) and Northern pull factors (such as industrial job opportunities, the Black press, and better educational resources), though migrants still encountered de facto segregation and economic struggles in the North.
Rate this question

Topics

The Great Migration and Demographic Shifts

More questions from this topic