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This is an image depicts Ethan Roman and his father, Eliazar Cabrera packing up and preparing to leave Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

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Group 6: COVID-19 Migration (Student example)

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Group 6: COVID-19 Migration (Student example)

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Who moved?

People of low socioeconomic status and young people moved from socal to many different states such as Mississippi, Kansas, Alabama, and many others with small not so well known cities and towns.

Why did they move?

They moved due to an upcharge of housing. As well as wanting to be able to spend more money on more things. Additionally, the cost of owning property and renting skyrocketed and pay didn't increase at the same rate leaving many people living from paycheck to paycheck.

Why did they choose their new location and What attracted or pulled them there?

Many people moved to different places but the reason they all migrated was due to the cheaper cost of living. Although the minimum wage was much lower in other states the cost of housing was even cheaper than in LA.

How did this migration affect the area they left (economically, culturally, politically)?

It affected Southern California because many people left their jobs and their places still haven't been replaced leaving many workplaces empty.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to (economically, culturally, politically)?

The area many people migrated to were more conservative due to rural and small areas. Those who migrated from big cities or cities, in general, came from a more liberal and open community due to those places being populated with diversity.

How did this migration affect where you live (Los Angeles/Southern California/California)?

From 2022 to 2023 approximately 160,000 people left Los Angeles County. Additionally, between July 2021 and July 2022 California as a whole lost around 211,000 people. This population decline in Los Angeles caused many residents to notice an increase in homelessness. In addition, the shrinking population can harm and lead to a decrease in the local economy.

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This picture is showing the African Americans at the "Union Terminal Colored Waiting Room" heading north in search of better opportunities.

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Lena & Roxie: The Great Migration 1910-1970s

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Lena & Roxie: The Great Migration 1910-1970s

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Who moved?

Over 6 million African Americans moved from the rural South to northern and western cities like Chicago, Detroit, LA, and NYC, reshaping urban culture, boosting industrial labor, and fueling movements like the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights Movement. The first wave was during WWI and the industrial boom(1910-1940) caused about 1.6 million people to leave because Northern factories needed workers, and Black Southerners fled Jim Crow laws and violence. Second Wave (1941-1970): Around 4.5 million more moved, especially during and after World War II and the defense industry. More jobs opened in the North and West, and farming jobs in the South declined due to machines.

African Americans primarily traveled by train (most common, overcrowded, segregated), boat (used by those from coastal areas), bus (affordable, more popular in the 1930s-40s), and car (flexible, but expensive). Migrants faced challenges like racial discrimination, long travel times, economic barriers (many had to save or rely on family), and uncomfortable conditions, but the search for better job opportunities and freedom in northern cities motivated them

Most African Americans were working-class citizens seeking better job opportunities in factories, railroads, shipbuilding, construction, service industries, and the entertainment sector. Many had previously worked as sharecroppers in the South, enduring harsh conditions and low wages. Others worked as domestic servants or in industries like railroads and factories. The migration offered the possibility of higher wages, better working conditions, and more opportunities for social mobility in northern and western cities.

While a wide range of age groups and families migrated to the north and west, 40-50% of the migrants were young adults (18-34 years old) after the industrial jobs the north offered. Many families also moved, looking for better educational opportunities and safer living conditions. Older migrants, particularly those in their 40s and 50s, sought stability and better wages, though they often faced challenges in finding work due to age discrimination

Push Factors --> Why did they move?

Unfair labor practices such as sharecropping, tenant farming, and the crop lien system were not sustainable ways for Black Americans to make money, and they were forced to seek jobs in more economically fair areas for Black Americans, such as the North.

Although the KKK had initially dismembered in 1869, it was revived in 1915 and members worked covertly with no consequence for their violence, and was the main perpetrator of the lynchings that occurred in the south making it too dangerous of a place to live

dominated by Jim Crow laws that legally enforced segregation in schools, transportation, housing, and public spaces. denied Black Americans equal rights and access to quality education, jobs, and protection under the law.

Pull Factors --> why did they choose their new location?

Encouraged by stories like The Chicago Defender and letters from those who had already moved.

Many Black men were seeking industrial jobs, which were left vacant by men who were sent to Europe to help with the war effort. Additionally, wages were also significantly higher in the north because of demand for labor in northern cities.

Most Northern states didn't have explicit or overt Jim Crow laws. However, segregation was still practiced in other ways such as how the North enforced through housing discrimination (like redlining) and hiring biases that limited Black workers to lower-paying jobs.

How did this migration effect the area they left?

By the 1970s, only half of the country's Black population lived in the South, and only 20% lived in its rural areas. This major shift led to a significant loss of agricultural labor, especially in the cotton and tobacco industries, causing economic challenges such as increased production costs and reduced output which weakened the South’s control over its Black population

there was a significant lack of agricultural labor in the South after many Black Americans migrated, which lead to economical challenges such as higher production costs and a reduced GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Their departure reduced the potential for large-scale civil rights organizing in some rural Southern areas, while also forcing Southern leaders to reckon with a changing social order.

Culturally, the migration disrupted local Black communities as churches, schools, and extended families were split apart. While this caused some local decline, it also laid the foundation for stronger national Black networks that would later support major civil rights efforts.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to?

After continuing racism in the north towards Black Americans, many activists and protestors were enabled to fight for equity.

Black voters who weren’t eligible to vote in the South could vote after they migrated to the North and West

Upon arriving in northern and western areas, the work Black Americans found was often strenuous and sometimes dangerous due to poor conditions in these low pay/quality jobs. Female migrants had an even harder time finding work and had to compete for work. many Black women worked as maids or nannies, but during WWII some gained factory jobs through programs like the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC)

The Red Summer of 1919 was a period of widespread racial violence across many northern cities, as a result of white people having to adjust to the increased Black population in the north, as well as the returning African American War veterans returning from WWI. This was a backlash to the growing Black population in northern cities, which increased racial tensions over jobs and housing. got its name because of the bloodshed and violence that marked the period

The Harlem Renaissance occurred because of the great migration, when Black Americans began creating their own cities within big cities. Harlem, which was formerly a white neighborhood, housed 200,000 Black residents by 1920 and was an area where self expression in the form of jazz and art flourished.

How did this migration affect where you live?

The second Great Migration (1940-1970) primarily affected California’s Black population. After WWII began, defense production increased in Los Angeles, which called for labor in the automobile, rubber, and steel industries. Black Americans seeking work migrated to the West, and the Black population leaped from 63,700 in 1940 to 763,000 in 1970.

Cultural impact by introducing more arts (music/jazz, hip-hop)

Increased activism because of the Black political influence on LA

The Black Panther party was established in Oakland, California in 1966.

Central Avenue was established between the first and second wave of the great migration betweem the 1920s and 40s. It was a haven for Black Americans who moved to Los Angeles for jobs Many clubs, salons, and businesses opened.

Hollywood also attracted many African Americans who were interested in becoming actors. Ruby Berkley Goodwin, a Black writer and Actress, wrote in the Pittsburg courier that Black people have a lot of talent and shouldn't be confined to stereotypical roles such as "mammies" or side characters for stories centered around white characters

The influx of Black residents led to new Black-majority neighborhoods and more political representation, but made tensions that contributed to uprisings like the Watts Riots in 1965.

Summary

The Great Migration was the movement of millions of African Americans migrating from the rural South to northern and western cities from 1910-1970 searching for better jobs to escape racial discrimination and look for freedom, changing the populations of major cities like Chicago, New York, Pittsburg, Detroit, and many other Northern cities, the Great Migration had a lasting impact on both the South and the cities they moved to like leading to labor shortages in the South and the growth of Black communities and cultural movements in northern cities like the Harlem Renaissance.

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The Dust Bowl Migration to California (1930's)

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The Dust Bowl Migration to California (1930's)

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Who moved?

The great dust bowl migration was the resettling of approximately 300,000 people from the Great Plains. These settlers mostly consisted of farmers from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. Originally, farmers moved to the Great Plains at the very start of WWI in the mid 1910’s. The reason for this move was the fact that the land was cheap, and the high demand for wheat. During the great depression, the land became unlivable, due to drought and lack of resources. The drought in the great plains made it difficult to grow crops so the migrants took route 66 to California.

Why did they move?

While living in the Great Plains, farmers removed the grass that held the dirt in place in order to make space for their crops. When drought began, nothing was holding the dirt in place anymore which led to massive dust storms that made it extremely difficult to live and grow crops. This loss of easy production was especially devastating to the country who was in the height of the Great Depression. The lack of usable land due to drought and dust storms led to food being even more expensive than it already was.

Why did they choose to migrate to California?

The farmers decided to move to California for many reasons. One of the most important being agriculture. Since most of the migrants were farmers the quality of land was a very important aspect of their relocation, which made California a great option. Higher unemployment relief was another motivation for migrating to the West Coast. Successful family members already living in California urged their family still living in the plains to move to California. Many people chose to live in cities such as LA while many migrants decided to migrate to more rural parts of California to continue their agricultural lives.

How did this migration affect the area they left?

The great dust bowl migration also had a significant effect on the Great Plains. There was a large reduction of  population in affected areas, and the migrants left behind a destroyed landscape. The Great Plains was a region that was over-farmed and managed badly, which caused severe drought as well as dust storms. The lack of people led to businesses having less customers and the overall local economy declined greatly. This effect did not stay within the Great Plains but rippled to the rest of the United States.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to?

California's economy was greatly affected by the amount of new settlers arriving. The population in valley towns increased by 50%. The constant arrival of migrants overwhelmed public institutions, such as schools, police, medical services, housing, and welfare and there was increased competition for jobs between the locals and the newly arrived migrants. Many migrants worked for less pay in order to obtain jobs to provide for their families. Migrants who came from the Great Plains faced discrimination, were viewed as ignorant, dishonest, uneducated, and strange.

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Who moved?

People who moved to the suburbs were mainly working and middle class white people who just started a family, as well as veterans. Typically, the people who moved were adults from mid 20s-40s and children of all ages.

Push factors:

Because of the industrial revolution, the cities were overpopulated and had cramped living spaces. The suburbs provided spacious housing and a peaceful neighborhood. After WWII, there was a baby boom, which meant that families wanted to settle in a family friendly neighborhood for their child, rather than staying in a polluted/populated city. Also, knowing the impact of bombs after WWII, many people worried about potential bombings that could happen. Many people sought safety in places further away from city centers. The suburbs were a perfect area that was far enough away from the densely populated cities, making them less likely to be affected by the bombs.

Pull factors:

FDR’s New Deal created the Home Owners Loan Corporation, in which people were able to pay back interest and principal over 20-30 years, rather than the standard 5 year mortgage. This allowed for a lot of people to buy homes in the newly developed suburbs. The "sameness" in the suburbs represented a democratic progress: suburban families had roughly the same income, lived in nearly identical houses, and generally were at the same stage in life. Class divisions slowly started to disappear as barriers to homeownership fell and the postwar economic boom elevated many families into the middle class. However, because of discrimination, most Black people/families were unable to buy homes due to the HOLC not letting them get a mortgage for new homes.

How did this migration affect the area they left?

Many white people left the cities to go to the suburbs, which made certain areas have a larger Black population, making people feel that those neighborhoods were “less desirable”. This was one of the factors that initiated redlining. According to the security map, HOLC noted that the neighborhood’s “adverse racial influences are noticeably increasing, inevitably presage lower values, rentals and a rapid decrease in residential desirability.” Racial minorities were unable to get loans for property improvements in their own neighborhoods because it was seen as credit risks. They were also denied mortgages to purchase property in other areas as well because people feared that their presence would extend the red line into a new community. The predominantly Black neighborhoods were denied the resources that they needed to make their community be more “desirable”, which made them unable to raise their home equity, having no generational wealth, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to?

The migration turned the countryside into suburban landscapes and this had a negative effect on racial minorities who already lived in the area. New developments pushed many farmers and agricultural workers off the land, pushing them right back to cities. The developments increased the quality of life and stability of white people while also enforcing segregation. Racial disparity, sexual discrimination, and economic inequality were prominent in the suburban areas. Some white Americans that were council in these towns held a survey and “concluded that the area ‘is detrimentally affected by 10 owner occupant Negro families.’ While ‘the Negroes are said to be of the better class,’ the appraisers concluded, ‘it seems inevitable that ownership and property values will drift to lower levels.’”

How did this migration affect where you live?

Los Angeles was highly impacted as suburban areas and single family homes completely took over the area. Post-war population growth created a need for more space. This led to infrastructure moving to LA and many highways with suburban neighborhoods were created. The development of these highways caused a high-demand for cars, which caused LA to become a city where having a car was essential and the car industry boomed.The percentage of people with cars was 54% in 1948 and rose up to 74% in 1959. People creating a suburb in LA led to the decline of the main city and downtown LA became smaller and smaller.

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This map shows the journey from the rustbelt to the sunbelt

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Rustbelt to Sunbelt Migration By Sloane and Chloe

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Rustbelt to Sunbelt Migration By Sloane and Chloe

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Who Moved?

The rustbelt to sunbelt migration was primarily driven by the industrial decline in the rustbelt states (Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc.), leading young middle class adults to move to the sunbelt states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, & Utah, etc.) after losing their jobs. In search of industrial, construction, technology and other jobs, many young families migrated. Because of the abundance of jobs, the migration included many minority groups.

Why did they move?

The rustbelt was known for being very economically stable until after 1950, when a huge recession led to a 28% decline in job rates, and a 34% manufacturing job decline. This industrial decline was due to factors such as competition from foreign manufacturers, and caused the closing or moving of such factories. The little job opportunities, increased cost of living, and raised taxes led many to escape the harsh and cold weather conditions of the rustbelt and move to the rising sunbelt.

Why did they choose their new location? What attracted or pulled them there?

Along with the warm and sunny weather, the sunbelt appealed to many because of the new job opportunities in factories, technology, and in the defense industries. There was cheaper and more affordable housing in the sunbelt suburbs that usually were built more stable and with more resources and amenities.

How did this migration affect the area they left?

The migration greatly furthered the economic decline the rustbelt was actively experiencing. The population decrease led to reduced labor supply, ultimately leading to higher prices. This decrease in population also led to the rustbelt states having less representatives in congress and less representation in government. The decrease in tax revenues caused less funding for basic services, such as construction, public transportation, and more.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to?

The sunbelt states experienced great social and economic growth, rapid industrialization and urban development due to the migration and rise of new industries. It offered new opportunities to those leaving the rustbelt in many different fields of jobs. Increased tax revenues led to more amenities for the public and affordable resources. Furthermore, the rapid population growth resulted in more representatives in the electoral college and representation in government.

How did this migration affect where you live?

Los Angeles was affected more than any other sunbelt state because it offered advanced opportunities specifically in technology and defense industries. These new industries along with the civil rights act specifically allowed for more opportunities for minority groups such as African-Americans.

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The migration of Sharecroppers in the 1920s

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Who moved?

People from Europe, Mexico, China, and Japan, and especially Southern and Eastern Europe migrated to Chicago which also included many ethnicities like Italians, Eastern European Jews, and African Americans who moved from the rural South. Many of these migrants were young adults and families with children of various ages. They also contained working class people who worked simple jobs like farmers and factory workers.

Why did they move?

Immigrants came to Chicago to take on jobs in factories, meatpacking plants, steel mills, and railroads. As these jobs didn’t require much education, the new immigrants stormed to take up these jobs. In addition to opportunities, many immigrants were fleeing from their hardships. Irish immigrants were fleeing during the Great Famine, the Eastern Europeans were fleeing poverty and antisemitism, etc.

Why did they choose their new location?

In the United States, the year 1920 was the first year in which more than half of the US population lived in urban areas over rural areas. Additionally, as stated in the Push factors, Chicago's job market brought many immigrants. The Great Chicago Fire in 1871, forced Chicago to rebuild their state. Most jobs didn’t require English or education to be hired. Another attraction was Chicago’s transportations. The city became known as “Crossroads of America”. Having access to many railroads made it easier for traveling, work, and transportation to home.

How did this migration affect the area they left

Many rural areas faced a lack of labor during harvest seasons as people left farms, small farms struggled or were abandoned because fewer people were working the lands, and local businesses and services lost customers. Since many migrants were young, the communities that they left became older which slowed the overall culture and people began to adapt urban lifestyles and the culture gap between the rural and urban areas grew. Rural areas were also more traditional / conservative while urban areas were more modern. The representation in government went down when rural populations declined compared to the fast, growing urban areas. Additionally, rural communities were conservative and rejected the ideas of modern urbanization (jazz, & new technologies)

How did this migration affect the area they moved to?

Migrants entered the workforce and helped growing industries, construction, and transportation and an increase in population led to housing construction and new infrastructure. Cities also became more diverse with different regions and races migrating and new forms of music, art emerged. Urban areas gained more political power because they had a larger population and laborers fired up labor movements and civil rights activism.

How did this migration affect where you live?

Immigration played a big role in shaping the migration in California. While they were immigrating to Chicago in the 1920s, people started off in the city before further branching out towards the West. California’s agriculture, manufactures, technology and entertainment values influenced a lot of the immigrants to migrate to california later on. This helped California by eventually it becoming a home to multicultural groups. The immigrants from high populated cities like Chicago benefitted California’s economy and urban development, leaving a lasting impact on the West side, and the growth of California.