‘The growth of suburbia was more as a result of the economic boom than
a cause of it in the period 1955-63.’ How far do you agree?
Suburbia result of economic boom-stimulated development of Levittown’s and highways
Over 17,000 Levittown built
High levels of disposable income
Veterans facilitated by government policies
National interstate and defence highways act 1956- more construction and lots of job
provided- linked to increase in cars 1 in 7 industry jobs linked
Economic Boom caused suburbia
Growth of suburbs further encouraged car ownership
Ford and Chrysler meant people could live in suburbs and work in city – 1st credit card in
1950 – out of town shopping centres to meet consumer demand
Other factors- foreign affairs
Cold war encouraged highway building> hot war period= employment of 8 million
workers> space race= consumer suburban technology and also factors are inextricable>
suburbia= need for cars= car service industries = economic growth = increased
attractiveness of suburbia > cyclical nature
How far did American cities change between 1955-1963
White flight
People moving to suburbs
Levittown and white people
FHA and VA
Ghettos
Restrictive covenants even though this was declared unconstitutional in 1948
Lending institutions made it difficult for people black people to buy affordable housing
1951 House riots as 1951 Cicero Chicago
Also white people refused to pay taxes
Housing project initiatives-
Pruitt- Igoe project – ST Louis
The government funded 33 11 storey apartment
House 10000 people
They had laundries and soft play
COUNTER – Persistent Urban poverty and economic decline
Deindustrialisation began before 1955
Loss of manufacturing jobs
Economic opportunities in cities remained limited- cities no longer provided stable well
paid industrial work
Poor education, poor housing ( Maybe Pruitt – Igoe project)
Wealth remained concentrated in suburbs
a cause of it in the period 1955-63.’ How far do you agree?
Suburbia result of economic boom-stimulated development of Levittown’s and highways
Over 17,000 Levittown built
High levels of disposable income
Veterans facilitated by government policies
National interstate and defence highways act 1956- more construction and lots of job
provided- linked to increase in cars 1 in 7 industry jobs linked
Economic Boom caused suburbia
Growth of suburbs further encouraged car ownership
Ford and Chrysler meant people could live in suburbs and work in city – 1st credit card in
1950 – out of town shopping centres to meet consumer demand
Other factors- foreign affairs
Cold war encouraged highway building> hot war period= employment of 8 million
workers> space race= consumer suburban technology and also factors are inextricable>
suburbia= need for cars= car service industries = economic growth = increased
attractiveness of suburbia > cyclical nature
How far did American cities change between 1955-1963
White flight
People moving to suburbs
Levittown and white people
FHA and VA
Ghettos
Restrictive covenants even though this was declared unconstitutional in 1948
Lending institutions made it difficult for people black people to buy affordable housing
1951 House riots as 1951 Cicero Chicago
Also white people refused to pay taxes
Housing project initiatives-
Pruitt- Igoe project – ST Louis
The government funded 33 11 storey apartment
House 10000 people
They had laundries and soft play
COUNTER – Persistent Urban poverty and economic decline
Deindustrialisation began before 1955
Loss of manufacturing jobs
Economic opportunities in cities remained limited- cities no longer provided stable well
paid industrial work
Poor education, poor housing ( Maybe Pruitt – Igoe project)
Wealth remained concentrated in suburbs
