Chapter 3 Questions
What are Ravenstein's main points regarding distance of migration?
Most migrants only moved a short distance and remained in the same distance. Long distance migrants head for major centers of economic activity.
Summarize the U.S. and European attitudes towards immigrants and guest workers over time.
Americans and Europeans have always looked at immigrants with suspicion or dislike. The only groups that have been moderately like have been from Northern and Western Europe. Americans and Europeans say they take our jobs and social services, and will change their culture. There is nothing new about racism, prejudice, fear of unknown groups, suspicion of different cultures, economic fears, and anti-immigration sentiment; only the players on the stage change.
Explain the U.S. quota system in-depth.
Designed to ensure most immigrants were from Europe. Era of unrestricted immigration ended with the Quota act of 1921 and the National Origins Act of 1924, which continued to the 1960's. Set the number of immigrants at 2% of the U.S. population from each country that had native-born persons already have. Limited number to 150,00 people per year. Most had to be from Europe. Immigration Act of 1965: Replaced country limits with hemisphere limits. 170,00 from the Eastern Hemisphere; 120,00 from the Western. 1978: Law amended to global quota of 290,000 with a max of 20,000 per country. Current Law: Global quota of 620,00 with a max of 7% from one country. Preferences: 480,000 family sponsored immigrants, 140,000 employment sponsored immigrants.
List and explain the three major push and pull factors. Give a historical example of each.
ECONOMIC PUSH AND PULL FACTORS: People migrate places in search for better lives (more money = better lives), and they migrate in search of work. Today people migrate to America, and Europe in search of work. In the 1800's people who migrated to America and Canada were expecting the roads to be paved with gold. CULTURAL PUSH AND PULL FACTORS: Forced to move due to political conditions or slavery. Slave trade: slaves from Africa were moved to the Western Hemisphere. ENVIRONMENTAL PUSH AND PULL FACTORS: People travel for more arable land, natural disasters may have destroyed their homeland. Such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Push by things like Katerina. Pull: People want to live where it's pretty. Ex: Rocky mountains, warm places in the Untied Sates, Florida.
Explain the concept of intervening obstacles. What were they in the past and today?
Fatures that render migration. In the past there weren't and boats or planes. Today we have planes and great ships and we know when we're going to have a hurricane but there are still political obstacles to overcome. In order to live in the U.S. you need to have a visa.
Why does Ravenstein say people migrate?
He made an overview of why people migrate: *economical, money, cultural, religous reasons, civil war, democracy, political, and environmental, hurricanes, pollution, tornadoes, drought, famine* reasons are reasons that people migrate. People mostly migrate due to economic reasons.
Explain the guest worker and time-contract systems in-depth.
People unable to migrate permanently may be able to migrate temporarily as guest workers or time-contract workers. Guest workers have a useful role because they take low-status jobs and low-skilled jobs that local residents don't want. Are low paid by European standards but earn more than they would at home. Their home economy gains because they send money home and relieve the problem of unemployment. Time contract workers are recruited for a fixed period of time to work. Occurs mostly in Asia. Many immigrants settle in the new country after their contract is over.
Explain why most migration is internal.
People would rather move internally than internationally because it is less stress and it's easier. You already know the language, are accustomed to the food, and other aspects of the culture.
Explain the two types of internal migration.
The inter-regional: The movement of one region in the country to another region. Less frequent. Intra-regional: movement within a region.
Identify the major interregional patterns for the U.S., Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, Europe, and India. Why did they move? What were the effects?
US people have moved southward because of more temperate climate; the loss of industrial jobs in the north, and the fact that the South is attracting people that are starting new businesses. Russia: people moved to factories that were built in remote areas but close to natural resources; people didn't stay because of the harsh climates and distance from population centers. Brazil: Most people live near the Atlantic; Brazil moved it's capitol to the interior to attract migrants; is now a fast growing city. Indonesia: Government gave land and star up materials to people who would move to less populated islands; was popular at firs, but some people over to land that couldn't support agriculture or disrupted habits of indignant people. Europe: People move to regions with higher per capita income and lower unemployment. India: people must have a permit to migrate so that ethnic identities are protected.
Explain the concept of "Center of population"
The U.S. Census Bureau computes the population center, which is the center of population distribution in the U.S. It was first located in the Chesapeake Bay, east of Baltimore Maryland. Over time, the population center has moved steadily west showing how settlers have pushed their way across the continent.
Explain the arguments of migration transition theory.
Migration transition changes in a society's migration pattern that results from social and economic changes that also produced the demographic transition. Happens mainly in stage 2 countries. Countries in stage 3 or 4 are the destinations of these migrants because their population isn't growing and there are more economic opportunities for them.
What are Ravenstein's two main points about gender and family status patterns of migrants? Give the reasons for each and an example.
More males will migrate because they are in search of jobs and females are less likely because they take care of the children. 55% of migrants were male in the 19 and 20 centuries. 40% of immigrants of 25-39. Most long distance migrants are adult individuals.
Explain the problem of brain drain.
Most immigrants to the U.S, Canada, and Europe are young, well-educated people lured to economically growing countries. Home countries charge that by giving preference to skilled workers, immigration policies in the U.S. and Europe contribute to a brain drain.
What are push and pull factors?
Push factors push people to leave their region. A pull factor pulls people and makes them want to live there. Push factor environmental: people are pushed out due to natural disasters: Hurricane Katrina. Pull factor to environments: People like to live in attractive environments.
What are the two types of policies countries use to control the arrival of foreigners seeking work?
Quota system: Limits the number of foreign citizens who can migrate permanently, used by the U.S. Temporary workers (Guest workers and time0contract workers): Permits workers to work temporarily but not stay permanently, used by Western Europe and the Middle East
Explain the concept of refugee. What are the largest groups of refugees?
Refugees are people who have been forced to migrate from their homes and cannot return due to fear of persecution. Largest group of refugees are Afghans, Palestinians, and Iraqi's.
Explain the two types of international migration.
Voluntary migration: Migrant has chosen to move for economic improvements. Forced migration: The migrant has been compelled to move by cultural factors: Civil wars, slavery, religious persecution.
