Transcript Why do People Move? - Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic

Why do People
Move?, part 3
Based on lesson “Why Do People Move?” From Middle School
World Geography, National Council on Economic Education, 2004
Andre – Port-au-Prince, Haiti
It is 1981. Andre and his family live in a village
near Port-au-Prince. They do not believe in the
policies of Haiti’s government, so the government
is persecuting them. Andre’s family decides to go
to America because they know their beliefs will be
more accepted there. They have friends there
who tell them work is available and Andre can
attend school. Andre’s family is not wealthy.
They cannot travel by airplane because they do
not have their government’s permission to leave
Haiti. They must leave most of their possessions,
their friends and many family members behind.
Andre

PUSH


PULL


Acceptance
BENEFITS


Persecution
Acceptance, possible work, education, friends
COSTS

Leaving home, family and friends; new language and
culture
Thomas -- Ireland
It is 1890. Thomas and his family live in southern
Ireland. Thomas’s father wants his own land to
farm, but because there is a shortage of good
farm land, Thomas’s father has to lease land from
a landlord. Thomas’s family is very poor even
though they work hard as farmers. The family
hears that America has good farmland, so they
decide to emigrate to Oklahoma Territory.
Although they do not have much money, they do
have items they can barter for transportation.
Thomas

PUSH


PULL


Availability of land
BENEFITS


Shortage of land
Land ownership, access to food
COSTS

Giving up possessions, leaving family and friends
Nguyen – South Vietnam
It is 1975. Nguyen and her family live in a village
20 miles from Saigon. The war between North and
South Vietnam is almost over. It is a time of
terrible hardship. Nguyen’s father knows that
when the war ends, his family must make many
changes he does not want to make. Nguyen’s
family decides to migrate to America where they
will be free. They have heard they will be able to
find work and Nguyen can go to school. They are
very poor with only a small amount of money to pay
for their trip. They leave behind their
possessions and friends.
Nguyen

PUSH


PULL


Freedom
BENEFITS


War
Freedom, possible jobs, education
COSTS

Leaving friends and family, learning new language
and customs, travel expenses
Alejandro – Central Mexico
It is 1910. Alejandro and his family live in a village
in Central Mexico. A great revolution is going on,
and it is very dangerous for Alejandro’s family.
They decide to leave Mexico and travel to America
where it is safe and where they will be able to find
work. Alejandro’s family is very poor; they have
only a few possessions that they can barter for
transportation to America. They do not speak
English, but they have relatives in the United
States.
Alejandro

PUSH


PULL


Safety and jobs
BENEFITS


Revolution
Safety, jobs
COSTS

Loss of possessions, new language and customs
Naomi -- Russia
It is 1884. Naomi and her family live in Russia.
Her parents have tried running several businesses,
but all failed. The government has forced them to
live in a restricted area because they are Jewish.
Naomi’s father emigrated to America and has sent
money so his family can follow him. In his letters,
he tells the family that work is available, workers
are treated with respect and all children are
allowed to go to school. The family must leave
behind many relatives and friends, and all but a
few of their possessions. Naomi, her mother and
siblings do not speak English.
Naomi

PUSH


PULL


Work, respect and education
BENEFITS


Persecution
Freedom, jobs, education for children, family
nearby
COSTS

Leaving family and friends, learning a new language
and new customs, leaving possessions
Yuri – Ukraine
It is 1995. Yuri and his family live in Ukraine.
Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, but now it is
an independent country. Many families struggle to
survive because food is scarce. Yuri’s father and
mother are well educated, but few jobs are
available. They decide to emigrate to the United
States, to an area where other Ukraines are living
and it is possible to find work. They also know
their son can attend school and receive a good
education.
Yuri

PUSH


PULL


Jobs and education
BENEFITS


Shortage of food and jobs
Possible jobs, friends already there, education
COSTS

Leaving behind family and friends, learning new
language and customs
 What would you do?
 Would you and your
family make the same
decision they did?
 How would you feel
about moving to
another country?
U. S. Immigration Data
Top 20 Countries of Birth, FY 2002
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Bosnia
Russia
Mexico
Iran
Guatemala
Cuba
Canada
Ukraine
Pakistan
Jamaica
Haiti
Domincan Republic
China
United Kingdom
Philippines
South Korea
India
El Salvador
Columbia
Vietnam
Mexico is #1
 The largest number of people who
immigrated to the U.S. were from Mexico.
 219,380 people came
from Mexico to the U.S.
in FY 2002.
 51% of the immigrants
in Oklahoma are from
Mexico.
Why come to the U.S. from
Mexico?
 Mexico’s per
capita income
(income per
person) was
$9,000 in 2003
 U.S. per capita
income (income
per person) was
$37,800 in 2003
Why come to the U.S.?
 More opportunities
 More income
 Higher standard of
living,
and oftentimes,
 To be with family
members who
already live here.
Push Pull Factors
 PULL



More income
Higher standard of living
To be with family members
 PUSH



Higher level of poverty
Lack of jobs and education
Lower standard of living
How do other countries
compare?
 Select one of the Top 20 countries from which
immigrants come to the United States
 Visit the CIA World Fact Book. List push and pull
factors that would influence your decision to move
from the selected country to the United States

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Top 20 Countries
Bosnia-
Cuba
Haiti
South
Korea
Russia
Canada
Dominica
n
Republic
India
Mexico
Ukraine
China
El
Salvador
Iran
Pakistan
United
Kingdom
Jamaica
Philippine
s
Vietnam
Herzegovin
a
Columbia Guatemal
a
Review Questions
 What are the primary reasons immigrants come to the
United States?
 What are the benefits of moving to the United States?
 What are the costs of moving to the United States?
 What “push pull” factors did you identify?
 What could the United States do to reduce the number
of immigrants?
 Should the United States limit the number of
immigrants?
Assessment
 Your mother is offered
a new job with more money
 You will need to move 1,000
miles from here
 New city is bigger
 It has many theaters, parks, museums and
shopping centers
 It has two major league sports teams
 It is near the ocean
 It has excellent schools
 Your grandparents live 30
minutes away from the new city
 You have lived in the same place all of your
life
 You and your brother have lots of friends
here
 You just made the soccer team
at school and will play on a
neighborhood team this summer
 Your father will have no problem finding a
job in the new city but it may take him
time to rebuild his list of clients
 Housing in the new city is more expensive
so your family will need to buy a smaller
house
 Your mother won’t move unless
the family agrees to go.
 What should your family do?
 How do you feel about the move?
 List the costs and benefits
of making this move.
 Is your decision a push
or pull migration?
 Explain your answers.
Summary
 Because we have unlimited wants and
limited resources, we must make choices.
 As with any decision we make, people
analyze the costs and benefits of various
alternatives before making a decision to
migrate.
 Why do people move?
Additional Resources
 www.ocee-ok.org

Oklahoma Council on Economic Education
 www.ncee.net

National Council on Economic Education
 www.econedlink.org

Econ Ed Link, part of the Marco Polo Project; a source of
classroom tested, Internet-based lessons for grades K-12
 http://www.usgs.gov

Online source for maps, lesson plans and other educational
resources
for additional information…..
 Sue Lynn Sasser, PhD
 President, Oklahoma Council on Economic Education
 100 N. University Drive, Box 103
 Edmond, OK 73034
 405.974.5627
 [email protected]