“push” and “pull” factors that influenced Immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe to New York, 1880-1920
Many factors influenced the immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe to leave their home countries to settle for New York, America. First and foremost, the immigrants were pushed by a socio-economic problem. Many regional artisans’ jobs had become abolished by the growth of industrialization and the centralization in their home countries. Besides, the trade that was operating within European countries collapsed, leaving many people out of work. People started exploring local opportunities. The options for jobs at the local level were a few, which forced many people to migrate to New York City in America to explore new opportunities. Some people, especially the Jews, suffered religious prosecution. Freedom of worship was not guaranteed to them and thereby fleeing to America in large numbers where they could gain freedom of religion. Another factor was that the immigrants were avoiding their corrupt governments. For instance, citizens could not vote freely, and the governments violated most of their human rights. Therefore, there was a push for them to seek a better and new life in New York. Many citizens avoided the Napoleonic war that erupted in 1803. This profoundly affected countries’ economies by lowering trade operations among European countries and thereby lowered or entirely hindered the progress of some job opportunities. The people that suffered the loss of their jobs immigrated to America seeking job opportunities there.
Pull factors for emigrants from Europe, especially from Southern and Eastern parts, are attributed to several factors. There were many economic opportunities available for immigrants. America at large was experiencing high growth and development in its major cities like New York, drawing the attention of many emigrants to venture there to believe it could offer them better job opportunities. Another pull factor was the signing of the Immigration Act of 1965 that eliminated the restrictions provided by the quota system. The system meant to offer restricted entry to 2 percent of the total population of people all non-natives for each foreign nationality population. This was a gateway that encouraged that favored many Europeans to enter the United States freely.
“push” and “pull” factors that influenced The “Great Migration” of African Americans to New York, 1910-1930
When most white young men went to Europe for war, available and enough labor lacked in the industries. African Americans filled these positions in large numbers. The Northern managers had to send recruiters to the South to bring more people. This movement from South to North is what is called the Great Migration. Therefore, some of the push factors that made them leave south were the poor economic conditions that were experienced. Most of them depended on agriculture and other low paying jobs for survival. Weevils were damaging Their agriculture, and sometimes there were farm failures. Due to this, there was a fear of uncertainty. Therefore, they left the low paying jobs such as agriculture and being domestic servants and headed to Northern part in large numbers and got better-paying jobs in steel mills and meatpacking companies. Another push factor was to run away from segregation. Jim Crow rules brought significant racism against blacks, and they knew that it was not intense in the North. They were discriminated against, and the whole society was divided and unjust. They were denied their suffrage rights. There were so many unconstitutional policies like a literacy test.
When it came to criminal justice, all judicial cases decisions were unfair. There was the terror which was subjected to African American by the White Southerners. Civil rights were only entitled to the whites; therefore, African Americans were murdered, their property destroyed, and the churches were bombing.
Some of the pull factors included good wages and better living conditions in the North. Those who go employed first started spreading words about the good life they were experiencing. There was news all over, and some appeared in the African American magazine. Advertisements related to employment were done. The publications in the magazine encouraged African Americans to move from the South and search for greater economic prosperity and freedom in the North. Besides, there was a better and free racial climate; there was no segregation, and jobs were plenty. The blacks were allowed to vote without any restrictions freely. The companies in the North were offering free transport to their workers, and the houses were at a low cost. This was an excellent motivator for the Southerners o relocate from their homes. Also, In the South, there was a policy of acquiring a recruitment license. The license used to be purchased at a price range of $500 to $2000. This was like an additional cost to the Southerners, and they did not like it. Companies in the North did not consider the cost associated with licenses because what was most important to them was the return they got from their investments. Besides, the agents sent to do recruitment offered to pay the immigrants’ cost for relocation. This was a significant influence on immigration because almost all the expenses were cut.