By the early 1900s, many immigrants had moved to the Midwest. They were drawn by the promise of factory jobs.
Workers came from Ireland and Poland. They came from Italy and Greece. They came from other European countries, too. Around 1910, African Americans also came. They started moving from the South to cities in the North. So many came that this movement became known as the Great Migration. Later, immigrants moved in from Latin American countries like Mexico. Others came from nations in Asia. In fact, Michigan has the largest Arab American community in the U.S.
The ways people work in the Midwest today have changed. There are fewer factory jobs, for one thing. But all these different groups have left their marks on the area. Black Americans created Detroit’s “Motown sound.” And they created Chicago’s blues and jazz music. Irish immigrants started the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, many people enjoy the Polish Fest. People from these groups have also had an effect on politics and the economy.
