What does the Great Migration refer to?

The Great Migration refers specifically to the movement of over 300,000 African Americans from the rural Southern United States to urban centers in the North, particularly during the early to mid-20th century, especially from around 1916 to 1970. This migration was driven by a combination of factors, including the search for better economic opportunities, escaping the oppressive Jim Crow laws in the South, and the desire for a better quality of life. Many African Americans sought jobs in factories and other industries in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York, significantly altering the demographic makeup of those regions and impacting cultural developments, such as the Harlem Renaissance.

The other options do not capture the essence of the Great Migration — the term is specifically used to discuss the African American experience rather than general trends of migration or movements from other parts of the world.