The event often referred to as the start of the Great Migration is the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which devastated the city, displacing thousands. This disaster, combined with the broader factors of industrialization, the promise of better jobs, and social and political unrest in the South, propelled a massive movement of African Americans from rural Southern states to urban centers in the North, particularly from 1916 to 1970. This migration significantly reshaped American demographics, culture, and societal structures, giving rise to vibrant communities and influencing the arts, politics, and civil rights movements.