This document summarizes migration patterns in the United States in the early 20th century, including movements from rural to urban areas and the migration of African Americans from the South to other regions. It notes that after the Civil War, many Southerners did not migrate west but moved to cities for economic opportunities through industries like mills and railroads. African Americans faced discrimination in the South and also moved north for jobs. Immigration to South Carolina was limited compared to other states due to economic conditions. Immigrants who did come made contributions through establishing businesses.

1. Early 20th
Century
Migration
8.5-7—Compare migration
patterns of South
Carolinians to such patterns
throughout the United
States, including the
movement from rural to
urban areas and the
migration of African
Americans from the South
to the North, Midwest, and
West.

2. Post Civil War
• Westward expansion continued
• Moves from region to region
• Immigration to the US
• Most of SC did not move west (why?)
• Why move out west?
– Free land offered out west [Homestead Act] (3:16)
– Economic opportunities through the railroad
• Chinese and European immigrants worked the
transcontinental RR

3. From Farms to Mills
• African Americans moved to rural areas in SC;
to factory jobs in the Northeast & Midwest.
• They were not allowed to work in mills in SC
• Social discrimination (Jim Crow Laws) also
pushed them from SC
• Agricultural depression and boll weevil
destruction of cotton pushed many to mill
jobs; both white and black

4. The following chart shows the states which gained the greatest percentage of their population
between the 1920 and 1970s censuses.

5. Immigration to SC
• Foreign immigration did not come to SC in
large numbers
• Due to SC’s depressed economic
conditions, lack of land, & lack of industrial
jobs
• Those who did come made great contributions
to SC by establishing businesses

6. North & Midwest Immigration
• Most immigrants were too poor to move past the port cities
where they arrived
• Ethnic neighborhoods established
• Churches, schools, businesses, & newspapers reflected the
ethnicity of Little Italy, Greektown, & Polonia
• SC neighborhoods & towns were divided by race, not so much
ethnicity
• Many helped ethnic new arrivals-played a huge part in politics
• Immigrants gave their votes to neighborhood & ward bosses
in gratitude for their help
• Many political bosses were corrupt & bribed city contractors
• The power that immigrants groups gave to this urban political
machine allowed the bosses to solve urban problems
• Tillman in SC was like the southern version of a northern boss

7. Paddy's Lamentation - Gangs of New York (2:40)

8. Restrictions on Immigration
• Racial hostilities led to restrictions on immigration
• “nativism”: A sociopolitical policy, especially in the United States in
the 19th century, favoring the interests of established inhabitants
over those of immigrants.
• Resentment focused on immigrants from Southern & Eastern
Europe (Italians, Poles, Russians, Eastern European Jews) as the
number of these immigrants grew & differences between them &
the already established Irish, Germans, & native Americans were
more obvious
• Immigration systems in the form of a
quota system did not pass Congress
until the 1920’s
• Northern nativism =
anti-African American prejudices in SC

10. Know Nothing Party Flag

12. National Identity
• Native white people had an inherent
superiority & “100% Americanism”
• Idea of Social Darwinism gave an intellectual
justification for white supremacy (1:56)
• Took till late 20th century to recognize the
contributions they had made to strengthen
the democracy
•