Migration

Migration Migration: peoples movement from one place to another Immigrants: People who move from one place to another

Voluntary Migration Voluntary Migration is the movement of people by their own choice. In 1840’s 1.5 million Irish immigrated into the USA.

Push – Pull Theory People migrate because difficulties “push” them to leave. At the same time opportunities “pull” them to a new country. The famine caused destruction of Ireland’s potato crop “pushed” the Irish out of their country and job opportunities “pulled” them to America.

Voluntary Migration Today The Main sources of migration today are countries were the people are poor and the jobs are few. In some countries wars have made life dangerous and difficult. Some governments limit people’s freedom.

Involuntary Migration Some people are forced to move.

Transatlantic Slave Trade From the 1500’s to the 1800’s millions of Africans were enslaved and taken against their will to European colonies in North and South America.

Transatlantic Slave Trade 2 Africans traveled in horrible conditions, chained inside ships for more than a month.

Descendants of US Slaves

Urbanization Urbanization is the movement of people to cities. In recent years the population of some cities has grown rapidly. In the 1800’s 98% of all people lived in rural areas. Today only 48% of people live in rural areas.

Cities and Suburbs In the 1800’s the growth of Industry pulled people from the countryside to the cities. People came to the cities for jobs.

Suburbanization Since the 1950’s people have started moving toward the suburbs. The suburbs replace farmland with commercial developments and neighborhoods.

Urbanization on Other Continents In Africa, Asia, and Latin America people are still moving to the cities. In the 1970’s 3.9 million people lived in Jakarta. By 2000, the population was 11 million. Jakarta Cairo, Egypt

Issues with Urbanization In cities like Jakarta people are moving to the cities too fast. Cities are having a difficult time providing housing, jobs, schools, and hospitals for all their citizens. Traffic jams are also a problem.

Why? As hard as life is in the cities, it can be even harder in the rural areas. Often there are few jobs and a shortage of land to farm. Most migrants are seeking a better life for their families.