Migrations Flashcards
Technological advances really helped increase migrations. How was this so?
Increased capabilities of ships were able to carry greater numbers of people, much faster and safer, and carry all supplies they would need to take root.
Ships improved massively during the period. Can you provide a statistic to show how much faster modern ships were?
1880 it took 9 days to cross the Atlantic, by 1900 is took 85 hours.
Travel became much more accessible to wider populations of people, which statistic does Hobsbawm provide to indicate this?
Estimated that 1 billion people had used rail road by 1870
How did improved communications enable increased migrations?
People were able to send money back to their families and communicate with them from abroad, did not separate families as much. Postal system encouraged migration and allowed people greater agency. Telegraphy came to Britain, France, and Germany by 1900
Ease of return migration was also an important factor in encouraging migration, explain why.
The nature of their work was often contractual; harvest, industrial work, farm work. High wages and short often seasonal contracts.
There saw massive growth of Europe, what were some of the reasons for this?
In part due to medical improvements- lower infant mortality, germ theory, vaccination, hygiene.
Agricultural developments- crop rotation, new strains, imported crops, animal breeding, enclosures
Urbanisation- changing nature of manufacture
Which act, introduced in 1819 meant fewer people died on passage?
US Passenger act improved health checks. This reduced estimated deaths from 10-25% in 1840s to less than 1% in 1863
What political influences impacted migration?
Persecution- Armenians, 1848 revolutions
Freeing up of emigration restrictions- removal of Jewish controls, Ottoman removal, abolition of serfdom
War- refugees from European conflicts, Taiping rebellion (20 million dead)
Imperialism- movement between colonies, US imperialism on Hawaii and continent increased territory and opportunity
Economic hardship also encouraged migration, explain.
Irish Famine cost 8 million live in 1830 and a further 4 million in 1880.
China’s railroad construction gangs, and mines.
What was involuntary migration?
For example, people that were victims of the slave trade were transported, 11 million in total. Further to this, there were indentured servants- 2/3 of the colonial population arrived as indentured.
What were the overarching pull factors of migrating?
Economic - agricultural, mining, production, railroad
Free land - similar climate, resources
Own boss, offers space and freedom
Promise of adventure
What sort of inducements were provided for migrants?
Free/cheap land- land grants and Homestead Act 1862 gave 160 acres
Subsidised fares
Familial remittances
What sort of things inhibited migrations?
Visa based systems were introduced. Reflected fear of sheer scale and origins- now focused on Jews, Slavs and Mediterraneans. War also cut ties and peace re-enforced. Everyone that wanted to leave required a license from the Privy council
Explore racial theory in relation to migrations.
Slavery had embedded in Constitution the ideas of White Supremacy. America adopts and develops Social Darwinianism as shown in enthusiasm for imperialism at home and abroad. Migrants were used as scapegoats for disease, political instability, Bolshevism, crime, illiteracy, poverty, and immorality.
The stage for massive migration in China was set by what?
The Qing government’s relaxation of restrictions against movement into Manchuria after 1860 and the emancipation of Serfs in Russia in 1861, encouraged by homesteading policies
Before 1925 what percentage of migrants were European?
85%
What was the Asian Contract Labour system?
Parallel to voluntary migrations, migrations involved a minority of free migrants, large numbers of force moves
Why did Italy and Japan encourage migration?
They saw it as a way to expand their national interests
How might a historian look into migrations?
Look at ship records (83.4% of people can be found from lists), the annual census
What sort of migrants were most that moved to New England?
Betterment migrants- dependency on kin, often influenced their destination
Promised its settlers spiritual advantages - the purpose of abandoning England’s sinful society and aimed to create a holy and pure community
What sort of social structure formed in New England?
Attracted people of all ages and therefore maintained a normal pattern. Artisans formed a large portion of the emigrant population, and there were few members of the upper classes- this reduced the distance between top and bottom of the social hierarchy
What statistics may be used to show the flow of European migrants into Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean, the South Pacific, and China, and Japan?
4 million Europeans, Africans, and Middle Eastern peoples moved into these countries
Which case study could be used to show that there were more than economic drivers for migration?
John Bent- one of the wealthiest inhabitants of Weyhill- left with a highly uncertain future and risked his family’s lives and fortunes
