Push

Definition

In the context of colonial society and culture, 'push' refers to the factors that drive individuals or groups to leave their homes and migrate to new areas. This often includes social, economic, and political pressures that create an environment where staying becomes untenable, prompting people to seek better opportunities or safety elsewhere. Understanding these push factors is crucial in analyzing the dynamics of colonial societies and the diverse motivations behind migration.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Push factors during colonial times included economic hardship, such as famine or lack of job opportunities, which led many Europeans to seek a better life in the Americas.
2. Religious persecution served as a powerful push factor, driving groups like the Pilgrims and Puritans to flee England for the New World in search of religious freedom.
3. Political instability and conflict in Europe created an environment where many felt compelled to leave their homeland for a more secure future in colonial territories.
4. The availability of land in the colonies was appealing, pushing individuals from crowded areas in Europe to migrate in search of agricultural opportunities and land ownership.
5. Social factors, such as class restrictions and family expectations, also played a role in pushing individuals to pursue migration as a means of improving their social standing.

Review Questions

• How did economic conditions in Europe serve as a push factor for migration to the colonies?
  • Economic conditions in Europe, particularly during periods of famine or high unemployment, pushed many individuals and families to seek opportunities elsewhere. The promise of land ownership and the potential for a better livelihood in the colonies offered a way out of dire economic situations. This migration was fueled by the hope of escaping poverty and finding work, leading many to take the risky journey across the Atlantic.
• Analyze how religious persecution acted as a significant push factor for certain groups migrating to colonial America.
  • Religious persecution played a crucial role in pushing groups like the Pilgrims and Puritans to migrate to colonial America. Facing oppression and discrimination for their beliefs in England, these groups sought a place where they could freely practice their religion. Their migration was not just about seeking personal freedom but also about establishing communities where they could worship without fear, shaping the cultural landscape of early American society.
• Evaluate the interplay between push factors and pull factors in shaping migration patterns during the colonial period.
  • The interplay between push and pull factors created complex migration patterns during the colonial period. While push factors like economic hardship and political instability drove people away from their homes, pull factors such as land availability, job prospects, and religious freedom attracted them to the colonies. This dynamic illustrates how personal motivations for migration were influenced by external conditions on both ends, leading to significant demographic shifts that shaped colonial society and culture.

Related terms

Pull Factors:

These are the attractions or advantages of a new location that draw migrants towards it, such as economic opportunities, religious freedom, or better living conditions.

Indentured Servitude:

A labor system where individuals sign a contract to work for a specific number of years in exchange for passage to a new land, often influenced by push factors from their home country.

Great Migration:

A significant movement of populations, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, where many people left Europe for the Americas due to various push factors like poverty and political turmoil.