why did african americans move from the rural south to northern cities, beginning in the late 1800s
African Americans began moving from the rural South to northern cities in the late 1800s due to several push and pull factors:
1. The Great Migration: The period between 1916 and 1970 saw a significant movement of African Americans from the rural South to northern cities, which is commonly referred to as the Great Migration. This mass movement was primarily driven by the push factors of racial segregation, discrimination, and violence in the South, coupled with the pull factors of better economic opportunities, increased industrialization, and reduced racial hostility in the North.
2. Jim Crow Laws: The implementation and enforcement of Jim Crow laws in the South resulted in increased racial segregation and limited economic opportunities for African Americans. These laws enforced racial discrimination and social inequality, leading many African Americans to seek better lives elsewhere.
3. Economic Opportunities: The growing industrialization in northern cities created a demand for cheap labor. African Americans were attracted to these cities by the prospect of finding employment opportunities in expanding industries such as manufacturing, steel mills, and automobile plants. The economic prospects were seen as more favorable in the North compared to the agricultural-based economy of the rural South.
4. Escape from Violence and Racism: African Americans faced violence, intimidation, and racial discrimination in the rural South, including lynchings, racial violence, and harassment. Many families chose to move to escape this hostile environment and seek safer communities and better treatment in the North.
5. Education and Social Advancement: Access to education and opportunities for social and cultural advancement were severely limited in the South. Many African Americans moved to northern cities to avail themselves of better educational institutions, cultural institutions, and increased social opportunities.
Overall, the move of African Americans from the rural South to northern cities was driven by the desire for escape from racial violence, discrimination, limited economic opportunities, and the search for better lives with improved prospects for education, economic advancement, and social equality.