The major population shift during the Great Migration in America, occurring from around 1916 to 1970, was caused by a combination of factors. Primarily, African Americans migrated from the rural Southern states to urban centers in the North and West, seeking economic opportunities in industrial jobs, particularly during World War I and World War II. Additionally, they escaped systemic racism, violence, and segregation enforced by Jim Crow laws. The migration significantly altered demographic patterns, contributing to vibrant African American communities in cities like Chicago and New York, and began to reshape the cultural landscape of the nation, influencing arts, music, and social movements.