Chapter Eight Study Guide

Essential Question

How does migration affect the lives of people and the character of places?

Geoterms

emigrate:to move from a person’s home country to another

immigrate:to move to a new country from another

migration streams: the constant flow of migrants from one country to another country

push factors: something that encourages people to leave a place behind. These things can be both positive and negative

pull factors: something that encourages people to move to a new place. These things can be both positive and negative

refugees: someone who seeks safety by going to another country. Refugees may be escaping political unrest or war. Or they may fear being attacked because of their beliefs

persecution: unfair treatment of others because of who they are or what they believe

genocide: the elimination of a group of people based on race, religion, or some other factor

drought: an unusually long period in which little or no rain falls

diffusion: the spreading or mixing of cultures

brain drain: the loss of well education people such as doctors and engineers to another country

remittances: a payment of money sent by an immigrant to a relative in his or her own country

What Push Factors Drive Immigration?

Examples of Political Push Factors

  • war
  • persecution

Examples of Environmental Push Factors

  • Drought
  • Starvation due to diseased crops
  • People from the Ukraine area were unsafe when the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded

Examples of Economic Push Factors

  • Early United States immigrants were poor farmers and working people in Europe wanted to improve their lives
  • Many people immigrate in hopes of making a better future for themselves.

What Pull Factors Draw Immigration?

Examples of Quality-of-life Pull Factors

  • The “Lost Boys of Sudan” gained safety, schooling, and jobs.
  • Jewish immigrants found the freedom to worship without fear.
  • The “American Dream” is the belief that people in America can make a better life for themselves and their children.

Examples of Family Pull Factors

  • Many people join relatives already living in the United States.

Examples of Education Pull Factors

  • People migrate so their children can attend good schools

How immigration affects the United States

Examples of Economic Impacts on the United States (Jobs)

  • Immigrant labor helped build America and fight its wars.
  • Many immigrants work low-paying jobs that native-born workers don’t want, such as farm work and house cleaning.
  • Some are highly skilled, such as doctors, professors, and computer programmers.
  • Some start new businesses or work as athletes or artists.

Examples of Economic Impacts (Taxes)

  • Working immigrants pay taxes that support schools, libraries, and health clinics.
  • Some immigrants need services such as English language classes, welfare, and health care.

Examples of Cultural Impacts (neighborhoods, foods, and holidays)

  • Immigrant neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little Italy enrich American cities.
  • Immigrant foods such as pizza, bagels, and tacos become popular.
  • People from many backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Chinese New Year, and Cinco de Mayo.
  • Immigrants expand Americans’ knowledge of the world.

How does Emigration affect the homelands people leave behind?

Examples of Economic Impacts (brain drain and brain gain)

  • Home countries lose the training and talent of skilled emigrants.
  • Many immigrants send money, or remittances, back to their families.
  • Some immigrants go to school or work and then return to their homeland to share their new skills and experiences.

Examples of Social Impacts (divided families, community improvements)

  • When people leave to find jobs, families are splintered, sometimes for years.
  • Remittances may be used to help family members pay for health care and schooling and to help communities pay for wells, schools, and other improvements.

Examples of Political Impacts (working for better government)

  • Some United States immigrants work for democracy in their homelands.
  • Lithuanian immigrants ValdasAdamkus returned home to be elected president of his newly democratic country.