The table below shows the African American population in Chicago, Illinois, during the early twentieth century:
| Year | African American Population |
|---|---|
| 1900 | 30,150 |
| 1910 | 44,103 |
| 1920 | 109,594 |
Based on the table and your historical knowledge, which of the following was the primary driver of the population shift between 1910 and 1920?
- The demand for industrial labor in northern factories during World War I, coupled with southern push factors like racial violence.Answer
- BThe complete legal eradication of residential segregation and housing discrimination in northern cities.
- CThe southern boll weevil infestation, which was the sole driver of migration, independent of northern industrial demands.
- DThe establishment of equitable sharecropping contracts that funded the relocation of Black families to northern farms.
Answer
The demand for industrial labor in northern factories during World War I, coupled with southern push factors like racial violence.
The correct answer is correct because the rapid growth of the African American population in Chicago during the 1910s was a key part of the First Great Migration. This movement was driven by a combination of southern push factors, such as racial terror and economic exploitation, and northern pull factors, particularly the industrial labor shortages in northern factories during World War I.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Great Migration and Demographic Shifts