1. Or….why people leave home
Push/Pull Factors
Or….why people leave home

2. What is a push factor (high pressure)?
Elements which force people away from a particular region
What are some examples?
Natural resources
Famine
Setting not conducive to human life
Poverty
Isolation or poor communication with others
Oppressive social/political situations

3. What is a pull factor (low pressure)?
Elements which attract immigrants to a particular area
What are some examples?
Physical setting favorable to humans
Temperate
Reduced exposure to disease
Availability of in-demand
natural resources
Forests
Arable land
Fishing
Ores

4. Availability of employment Favorable social structure
Friends and family
Perception of more freedom
Easy communication and transportation
Harbors
Rivers
Mountain passes

5. Forced Migration When someone is forced to leave
What is an example of this?
Ex: Slavery
Millions moved from west and central Africa to the Americas
Forced migration based on persecution is the ejection of people from a territory due to ethnic, religious or other identities
What is an example of this?
Ex: Relocation of Native Americans in US
Forced to move because of ethnic heritage

6. Application All regions possess pushes and pulls simultaneously
The key to migration is to consider the total context of a region, both high and low pressure elements

7. Your Turn
1. What would cause you to consider moving? 2. Can we learn anything about a person’s values, hopes or needs from the types of low-pressure elements they pursue? Ex: A family was drawn to a farm in Manitoba (Canada) instead of to the gold fields of California. Can you make any guesses about their priorities? 3. Are people always able to make a full comparison of pushes and pulls before migrating? 4. What types of persecution or oppression exist in the world today? Does this appear to be causing population shifts?

8. Mapping activity
Purpose: Visualize migration destinations. Note: This is not intended to be an absolute indication of a region’s desirability, but suggests areas which may represent low pressure or “pulling” regions.