Aim: Why do people migrate?

Do Now: Where did your ancestors come from? Why did they come to America?

EUROPE LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

ASIA AFRICA

On average, Americans move once every 6 years.

U.S. population is the most mobile in the world with over 5 million moving from 1 state to another every year.

35 million move within a state, county or community each year.

Migration a key factor in the speed of diffusion of ideas and innovation.

Our perception of distance and direction are often distorted-thus a sizable percentage of migrants return to their original home due to these distorted perceptions.

Migration: form of relocation diffusion involving a permanent move to a new location

Immigration: Migration to a new location

Emigration: Migration from a location

Push Factors Pull Factors

Major International Migration Patterns, Early 1990s

Emigration and immigrationChange in residence.Relative to origin and destination.

A person emigrates from a place and immigrates to another place

Positive net migration: more people are immigrating than emigrating

Negative net migration: more people are emigrating than immigrating

Types of Migration

Forced Migration: migrants have no choice; they must leave

Examples: African Slave Trade, Trail of Tears, Creation of India and Pakistan, Homelands in South Africa during apartheid, refugees, children of migrants

In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 of the Cherokees died.

West and East Pakistan were carved out of areas in India with Muslim majorities. Upon independence from Great Britain in 1947, it was decided that India would divide into two countries in an effort to resolve conflicts between Hindus and Muslims. India was created for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims. Mass migrations (about 15 million people) of each religious group followed.

Types of Migration:

Periodic movement: short term (weeks or months)

Examples: college, Florida for winter

Types of Migration:

Cyclic movement: daily movement

Examples: work, school, shopping

Commuter train in Soweto,South Africa

Types of Migration:

Nomadism: cyclical, yet irregular migration that follows the growth of vegetation (hunter-gatherers)

Examples: Bushmen

Types of Migration: Transhumance: seasonal movement of livestock Examples: pastoral farming (Mongolia, Central

and Southwest Asia, Africa)

Types of Migration

Voluntary Migration: migrants make the decision to move

Examples: most migrations; push/pull factors

Reasons for Migrating1. Most people migrate for economic

reasons2. Cultural and environmental factors also

induce migration

E.G. Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration

What was distance decay?How do you think this affects the distance that most migrants will go?

Review

As distance from a given location increases, understanding of that location decreases. People are more likely to settle in a closer place where they have more knowledge than a farther place where they understand little.

Distance of Migration3. Most migrants relocate a short distance4. Migrants who move longer distances

tend to choose big-city destinations (major economic activity)

E.G. Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration

Characteristics of Migrants5. Most long distance migrants are male6. Most long distance migrants are adult

individuals rather than families with children

E.G. Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration

What are push factors of migration?

Unfavorable factors that contribute to the dissatisfaction of residents and push their emigration

Examples: widespread unemployment, poverty, discrimination, political unrest, war, famine and/or drought, land shortage, overpopulation

What are pull factors of migration?

Favorable factors that act as attractive forces, pulling migrants from other places

Examples: employment opportunities; political and/or personal freedoms (speech; religion, right to vote, etc.); land; amenities (e.g. retirement) Important to note: Many people move based on excessively positive images and expectations (not always accurate).

A. Economica. Push

1. Few job opportunities2. Poverty

b. Pull1. Available jobs2. Valuable natural resources3. New industries

I. Reasons for Migrating

North Sea Oil

B. Cultural/Politicala. Push

1. Slavery2. Wars3. Refugees4. Political Instability5. Dictatorship

b. Pull1. Democracy2. Education3. Careers

I. Reasons for Migrating

Refugee: people who are forced to migrate and cannot return for fear of persecution

IDP: Internally Displaced Person

As of 2005:◦33 million refugees 12 million international refugees 21 million internal refugees

U.S. Committee for Refugees

Largest Groups of International Refugees1.Palestinians2.Afghans

Largest Groups of Internal Refugees1.Sudanese2.Colombians

U.S. Committee for Refugees

DIVISION OF GERMANY DIVISION OF BERLIN

Berlin Wall - 1961

Restricted Emigration

C. Environmentala. Push

1. Natural disaster2. Water supply (too much or

too little e.g. floodplain or drought)

b. Pull1. Physically attractive

(mountains or seaside)2. Warm climate

I. Reasons for Migrating

Desertification

Changeover between desert and savanna

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player?titleID=1437286183

D. Intervening Obstaclesa. Environmental or cultural feature

that hinders migration1. Physical obstacles (plains,

mountains, deserts)2. Bodies of water3. Passports/visas

I. Reasons for Migrating

E. Intervening Opportunitya. Migrant settles in location that’s not

their original destination usually because it’s closer1. Economic opportunities2. Environmental amenities

I. Reasons for Migrating

II. Distance of Migration

A. Internal Migration: permanent movement within the same countrya. Interregional (between regions)b. Intraregional (within regions)

B. International Migration: permanent movement from one country to anothera. Forcedb. Voluntary

Wilbur Zelinsky and Migration Transition

Theory created by geographer Wilbur Zelinsky

Examines migration patterns in each stage of DTM◦ Stage One: high daily or seasonal mobility◦ Stage Two: international migration (high

unemployment/low development pushes people out of country); intraregional migration (people leave rural areas to look for jobs in cities)

◦ Stages Three/Four: destinations of people leaving Stage Two countries; intraregional migration (people leave cities for suburbs)

Migration Transition

III. Characteristics of Migrants

A. Gendera. In U.S. 55% were males until 1990s

when it reversed and now 55% are females

B. Family Statusa. More young adults than children or

elderly