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Unit 2

Unit 2 Overview: Population and Migration Patterns and Processes

8 min read•june 18, 2024

Edmund Scanlan

Riya Patel

AP Human Geography 🚜

320 resources

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The one thing you need to know!

The population of the world did NOT hit 1 billion until the early 1800s. Since that time it multiplies by over seven! The Industrial Revolution (1700s-1800s) equals more food, which equals more people in the developed world. The Medical Revolution/Green Revolution (1900s) equals people living longer and more food, which equals more people in the developing world.

Important Topics

Industrial revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid economic and social change that took place in Europe and North America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was marked by the development of new manufacturing processes, the growth of factories and urban centers, and the rise of a market-based economy.

The Industrial Revolution was driven by a number of factors, including:

The availability of new sources of energy, such as coal and steam, which made it possible to power factories and machinery
The development of new technologies, such as the steam engine and the power loom, which increased productivity and efficiency
The availability of capital, including investments from banks and other financial institutions, which allowed for the expansion of industry
The growth of international trade and the development of new transportation networks, such as canals and railways, which facilitated the movement of goods and people

The Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on society and the economy, leading to the growth of cities, the expansion of the middle class, and the rise of a global economy. It also had significant environmental and social impacts, including pollution and the exploitation of labor.

Medical Revolution

There were several significant medical developments in the 1900s that had a revolutionary impact on the field of medicine.

Some examples include:

The development of antibiotics, such as penicillin and streptomycin, which greatly improved the treatment of bacterial infections and helped to control the spread of disease
The discovery of hormones and the development of hormone therapies, which opened up new treatment possibilities for a range of medical conditions
The introduction of chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer, which marked a major shift in the way cancer was treated
The development of x-ray technology and the use of imaging techniques, such as CT scans and MRI, which revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions
The widespread adoption of vaccines and immunization programs, which have greatly reduced the incidence of many infectious diseases

These are just a few examples of the many medical advances that occurred in the 1900s. Each of these developments has had a significant impact on the practice of medicine and has contributed to significant improvements in health and healthcare.

Green Revolution

The Green Revolution was a period of rapid agricultural development that took place in the mid-1900s, particularly in developing countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It was characterized by the widespread adoption of new technologies and techniques for increasing crop yields, such as the use of high-yield varieties of crops, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation systems.

The Green Revolution was driven by a number of factors, including:

The development of new crop varieties, such as dwarf wheat and rice, which were more resistant to pests and diseases and had higher yields
The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which increased soil fertility and helped to control pests and diseases
The expansion of irrigation systems, which made it possible to grow crops in areas with limited water resources
The adoption of mechanization, such as the use of tractors and combine harvesters, which increased efficiency and productivity

The Green Revolution had a significant impact on global food production and helped to feed a rapidly growing population. However, it also had negative environmental and social impacts, including the depletion of natural resources and the displacement of small farmers.

Contextualizing the Unit

Pre-Industrial Revolution the population of the world rises slowly and steadily. Once factories are able to mass produce tools and new farming techniques are utilized a second agricultural revolution occurs and the population in the developed world (Europe and North America) begins to skyrocket!

By the mid 1800s population growth seems to be out of hand and some experts (e.g. Thomas Malthus) conclude that the world is destined to have cataclysmic famine and starvation, which does NOT happen, but there are negative consequences in some parts of the world.

In the 1900s the Medical Revolution drastically cuts down on maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rates. Thus more children survive, which reduces total fertility rates. The Green Revolution, spearheaded by American agronomist Norman Borlaug, makes growing strains of grain much easier around the world. Because of this, more food is available in developing countries, which causes the population in Africa, Asia and Latin America to spike.

With so many people in the world, people move from their place of birth for a myriad of reasons. The number one voluntary reason is for better economic opportunities. This is why people move from developing countries to developed ones. People are forced from their homes because of war, poverty, environmental reasons (flood, drought, global warming, etc.)

Main Events

1760~1840: Industrial Revolution
1798: Thomas Malthus publishes ‘An Essay on the Principles of Population’

1804: Population of the world hits 1 billion
1845-1849: Irish Potato Famine, United Kingdom uses Malthus’ theory as the basis to not help the Irish
1854: Epidemiologist John Snow links the cholera outbreak in London to a tainted water pump
1927: Population of the world hits 2 billion
1955: Jonas Salk develops a polio vaccine
1960: Population of the world hits 3 billion
1970: Norman Borlaug wins Nobel Peace Prize for his wheat strand
1974: Population of the world hits 4 billion
1987: Population of the world hits 5 billion
1999: Population of the world hits 6 billion
2011: Population of the world hits 7 billion
2023-2024: Demographers believe the population of the world hits 8 billion

Important Definitions/People

Thomas Malthus

Thomas Malthus was an English economist and demographer who is best known for his theory of population growth and its potential to outstrip the availability of resources. Malthus's theory, which he presented in his book "An Essay on the Principle of Population," argued that population growth would eventually lead to a population crisis, as the supply of food and other resources would be unable to keep up with the demand.

Malthus's theory was based on the idea that population grows exponentially, while the production of food and other resources grows only linearly. He argued that this imbalance would eventually lead to a population crisis, as the population would exceed the capacity of the earth to support it. Malthus's theory was influential in the development of modern economics and is still debated by economists today.

Malthus's theory has been criticized for its negative view of population growth and for its assumption that the earth's resources are finite and cannot be increased through technological or social innovation. However, it has also been credited with highlighting the importance of resource management and the potential consequences of uncontrolled population growth.

Irish Potato Famine

The Irish Potato Famine, also known as the Great Hunger, was a period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland from 1845 to 1852. It was caused by a potato blight, a fungus that attacked potato crops and caused widespread crop failures. Potatoes were a staple food in Ireland at the time, and the loss of the potato crop had a devastating impact on the country's population.

During the famine, millions of people in Ireland died of starvation or related diseases, and many more emigrated to other countries in search of food and better economic opportunities. The famine had a lasting impact on Ireland, leading to significant population decline and changes in the country's social and economic structure.

The Irish Potato Famine was a significant event in Irish history and is remembered as one of the greatest human disasters of the 19th century. It had a lasting impact on the country's population, economy, and culture, and is still remembered and studied today.

Cholera Outbreak

John Snow was an English physician and epidemiologist who is considered one of the founders of modern epidemiology. He is best known for his work on the transmission of cholera and his investigation of the 1854 cholera outbreak in London, which is considered a classic study in the field of epidemiology.

Snow's investigation of the 1854 cholera outbreak was a turning point in the understanding of the disease and how it spreads. He traced the source of the outbreak to a contaminated water pump in the Soho neighborhood of London and was able to demonstrate that cholera was transmitted through water, rather than through the air as was previously believed. Snow's work led to the adoption of improved sanitation and water treatment practices, which helped to control the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

John Snow is considered a pioneer in the field of epidemiology and his work has had a lasting impact on public health. He is remembered for his contributions to the understanding of disease transmission and the importance of hygiene in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Polio Vaccine

Jonas Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist who is best known for his development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine. Salk's work on the polio vaccine was a major milestone in the fight against the disease and helped to reduce the incidence of polio around the world.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a viral illness that can cause paralysis and death. It was a major public health threat in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, and efforts to find a vaccine for the disease were a priority for many researchers. Salk's polio vaccine, which was developed in the 1950s, was the first to be widely used and was hailed as a major scientific achievement.

Salk's work on the polio vaccine had a lasting impact on public health and helped to significantly reduce the incidence of polio around the world. He is remembered as a pioneer in the field of vaccine research and his contributions to the fight against infectious diseases.

High Yield Crops

Norman Borlaug was an American agricultural scientist and humanitarian who is known for his contributions to the "Green Revolution," a period of rapid agricultural development in the mid-1900s that helped to increase food production and reduce hunger in developing countries. Borlaug is often referred to as the "father of the Green Revolution" for his work on developing high-yield varieties of crops, such as wheat and rice, and his efforts to improve agricultural practices in developing countries.

Borlaug's work on high-yield crop varieties was a major factor in the success of the Green Revolution and helped to increase food production in countries around the world. He also worked to improve agricultural practices, such as the use of fertilizers and irrigation systems, and to promote the adoption of modern farming techniques in developing countries.

Borlaug's contributions to agriculture and food security earned him many accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. He is remembered as a pioneer in the field of agriculture and a champion of global food security.

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Browse Study Guides By Unit

🗺Unit 1 – Thinking Geographically

👪Unit 2 – Population & Migration

2.0Unit 2 Overview: Population and Migration Patterns and Processes

2.1Population & Migration

2.2Consequences of Population Distribution

2.3Population Composition

2.4Population Dynamics

2.5The Demographic Transition Model

2.6Malthusian Theory and Geography

2.7Population Policies