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Difficulty: MediumThe Great Migration and Demographic Shifts

Read the following excerpt from a letter written by an African American woman in Selma, Alabama, to the Chicago League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes in 1917:

'Dear Sir: I am writing to you for information. I am a woman of 28 years of age, and I am desiring to come north where I can make a better living. I am a cook and can do general housework. The wages here are so low that we can't hardly live... If you can help me get a ticket, I will pay it back out of my wages.'

Which of the following statements best analyzes the push and pull factors shaping the migration decision described in the letter?

  1. A
    The search for domestic employment in northern households was a primary push factor, whereas the threat of racial terror in the South acted as a pull factor that drew migrants to northern industrial cities.
  2. The unsustainable low wages in the South acted as a push factor, while the prospect of higher-paying domestic employment in the North functioned as a pull factor.Answer
  3. C
    The promise of a better living in the North served as a push factor that forced the migrant to leave Selma, while the low wages in Alabama acted as a pull factor retaining her in the agricultural South.
  4. D
    The assistance in securing a train ticket north was a southern push factor, while the low wages in the South acted as a northern pull factor.

Answer

The unsustainable low wages in the South acted as a push factor, while the prospect of higher-paying domestic employment in the North functioned as a pull factor.
The correct option accurately identifies the migration dynamics by correctly categorizing the negative economic conditions of the South (low wages that make it difficult to survive) as a push factor that drove African Americans to leave the region. It also correctly labels the prospect of higher wages and employment opportunities in the North (making a better living as a domestic worker) as a pull factor attracting migrants to northern destinations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the letter excerpt for evidence of migration drivers.
The migrant describes 'wages here are so low that we can't hardly live' (Selma, Alabama) and expresses a desire 'to come north where I can make a better living' through domestic work ('cook and can do general housework').
Identifying the specific economic motivations cited by the historical actor is essential to determining the drivers of migration.
2
Classify the migration drivers as either push or pull factors.
Low wages and poor living conditions in the South represent negative local factors that drive people out (push factors). The promise of better wages, jobs, and overall living standards in the North represent attractive factors drawing people in (pull factors).
Applying the concepts of push and pull factors to the historical evidence allows for correct categorization of the demographic drivers.
3
Select the option that correctly maps these economic factors to their appropriate demographic classification.
The statement identifying low southern wages as a push factor and northern domestic employment opportunities as a pull factor is the only accurate analysis.
Eliminating options that conflate or reverse the definitions of push and pull factors ensures an accurate analysis of the migration dynamics.

Key Concept

The push and pull factors driving the Great Migration, particularly the economic disparities between the rural South and the industrializing North.
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Topics

The Great Migration and Demographic Shifts

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