After the end of the Second World War, the United States took a giant step towards social and economic upliftment of all its citizens with special emphasis given on social welfare programs especially for minorities. The victory in the great war motivated the US to amend historical wrongdoings against particular sections of its own citizens, who were deprived of their legitimate rights and privileges based on their skin color and ethnicity, through effective policy interventions. There came many path-breaking legal Acts such as Civil Rights Act, Housing Act, G.I. Bill, etc. which were intended to put every citizen of the country on equal footing, thereby strengthening the American Creed. These initiatives coincided with the period of baby-boom and mass urbanisation in many parts of the US. The period also saw America becoming wealthier and more powerful than before. However, racism against the African-Americans and other minorities and the resultant race riots continued to thrive on along with all these developments in the decades following the war. A new urban revival was beginning to take shape by 1970s which was different from the previous urbanisation process in the US. Unlike the previous, the 1970s urbanisation had the characteristics of counter-urbanisation, massive shift in demography, environmental movements, etc.
The paper is a modest attempt to highlight and analyze the following sub-headings:
I.) the economic and social crises confronting America in 1970s and 1980s.
II.) the urban growth pattern (counter-urbanisation) and changing demography across the State
during the period particularly in the developed and industrialised regions of Northeast & Midwest
United States and Sunbelt regions of Southern and South-West United States.
III.) theoretical explanations for the new urban revival (1970-90).
IV.) socio-economic and environmental costs of urbanisation.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Urbanisation
Research Questions
Research Methods
Brief Historical Background (Early America)
Urban America-I (1900-1970): Suburbanisation
Post World War II
Move to Suburbania: A new level of urbanisation
Urban America -II (1970-1990): New Urban Revival
Economic crisis of the 1970s
Social and Consumer Movements
Dimensions of the New Urban Revival
Counter-Urbanisation
Urban and Suburban Growth
Demographic Change
Explanations of Urbanisation (1970-90)
Post-counter urbanization: 1980s Re-urbanisation and Viscious Circle of Urban America
Demographic Change (1980-90)
Socio-economic Costs of the Urbanisation of 1970s and 1980s: A Brief Analysis
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the urbanisation process in the United States from 1970 to 1990, focusing on the transition from post-war suburban growth to the specific urban revival and counter-urbanisation patterns of the 1970s and 1980s, while analyzing the accompanying economic, demographic, and social challenges.
- Economic and social crises influencing American urbanisation in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Counter-urbanisation patterns and shifting demographics across the Rust Belt and Sunbelt regions.
- Theoretical frameworks explaining the new urban revival during the 1970-1990 period.
- Socio-economic and environmental consequences of contemporary urban development.
Excerpt from the Book
Move to Suburbania: A new level of urbanisation
A surge in prosperity ignited demand for suburban single-family homes (as opposed to inner city apartments) and new optimism about the future. 1950s postwar prosperity and policies of the Federal government in the post-World War II era, such as the building of an efficient network of roads, highways and superhighways propelled the creation of suburbs and the popularization of the automobile, which in turn caused the decline of cities as wealthy whites left urban areas for suburban ones.
The returning GIs needed houses and the G.I. Bill enabled a flood of home purchases. Levittown, New York developed as a major prototype of mass-produced housing caters to their needs and soon this style of low-cost, newer, cleaner, far from congested city-dwellings with better-funded schools, more privacy, crimeless and scenic beauty housings called suburbs expanded rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. In the U.S., 1950 was the first year that more people lived in suburbs than elsewhere. Moreover, the development of skyscrapers and the sharp inflation of downtown real estate prices also led to downtowns being more fully dedicated to businesses, thus pushing residents outside the city centre. Shopping malls began to appear since the mid-1950s near the suburbs. Entertainment and film centres also mushroomed.
Identical houses and streets are the two common features of such suburb houses that gives space to many across the country staying and sharing together a same urban conglomerate and give a heterogenous outlook of the American society that was absent in the central cities. Many suburbs are based on a heterogeneous society of working-class and minority residents, many of whom share the American Dream regarding home ownership as defined by developers and the power of advertising. (Sies 2001: 27).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a historical overview of urban America from the post-WWII era through the 1960s, setting the stage for the urban revival period starting in the 1970s.
Urbanisation: Defines urbanisation in the context of modernization and the "American Dream," highlighting the government-led development drives of the mid-20th century.
Research Questions: Outlines the primary inquiries regarding the correlation between economic crises and urbanisation, the rise of suburban culture, and the future trends of urban revival.
Research Methods: Describes the use of deductive-analytical, quantitative, and qualitative research approaches utilizing historical data to explain urbanisation dynamics.
Brief Historical Background (Early America): Traces the transition of the U.S. from a predominantly rural nation to an increasingly urbanised society prior to 1945.
Urban America-I (1900-1970): Suburbanisation: Discusses the Progressive movement and the golden era of post-WWII economic growth that fueled mass suburbanization.
Urban America -II (1970-1990): New Urban Revival: Analyzes the economic turmoil of the 1970s, including stagflation and the decline of the Bretton Woods system, and the rise of social/consumer movements.
Dimensions of the New Urban Revival: Examines counter-urbanisation, the shift in population density from the Rust Belt to the Sunbelt, and the role of new technologies.
Explanations of Urbanisation (1970-90): Details theoretical perspectives—period, regional restructuring, and deconcentration—that explain the demographic and spatial shifts of the era.
Post-counter urbanization: 1980s Re-urbanisation and Viscious Circle of Urban America: Explores why the 1980s required revised theories to account for shifting growth patterns and a slight return to traditional urban growth.
Demographic Change (1980-90): Discusses internal migration trends, including the impact of Hispanic and Asian population growth and the shifting residences of minority groups.
Socio-economic Costs of the Urbanisation of 1970s and 1980s: A Brief Analysis: Investigates the economic and environmental burdens of suburban sprawl, including infrastructure costs and traffic congestion.
Conclusion: Summarizes the legacy of the 1970-90 urban revival, emphasizing the ongoing challenges of income inequality, equity in access to services, and the need for effective political policy.
Keywords
Urbanisation, Suburbanisation, Counter-urbanisation, New Urban Revival, Rust Belt, Sunbelt, American Dream, Demographic Change, Economic Crisis, Social Movements, Infrastructure, Population Density, De-industrialisation, Regional Restructuring, Urban Planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the urbanisation process in the United States between 1970 and 1990, analyzing how historical, economic, and social factors shaped urban growth and decline.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include the transition from post-war suburban growth, the phenomenon of counter-urbanisation, the economic crises of the 1970s, and the shifting demographics between the Rust Belt and Sunbelt regions.
What is the central research question?
The research explores the correlation between 1970s/80s economic crises and urbanisation patterns, the causes of new suburbanisation trends, and the socio-economic costs associated with urban revival.
Which scientific methods are applied in the study?
The author employs a deductive-analytical method, integrating quantitative and qualitative data with descriptive historical research to explain urban dynamics.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body examines historical backgrounds, the "American Dream" ethos, theoretical explanations for urban shifts (period, regional restructuring, deconcentration), and specific analyses of suburban growth and demographic changes.
What key terms characterize the research?
The research is defined by terms such as urbanisation, counter-urbanisation, suburban sprawl, Sunbelt, Rust Belt, and socio-economic infrastructure costs.
How did the 1970s energy crisis influence urbanisation?
The energy crisis triggered extractive industry development in non-metropolitan areas like Appalachia and the South-West, significantly influencing the migration patterns of the 1970s.
What is the "Counter-Urbanisation" phenomenon described in the text?
It is the process where people migrated from major, dense urban areas to smaller, rural-adjacent settlements or "ranchettes" during the 1970s, driven by a desire to avoid the problems associated with large city living.
Why does the author conclude that modern suburbanisation creates a fiscal burden?
The author argues that suburban sprawl increases the costs of public infrastructure, such as water and sewer lines, and that low-density development leads to lower tax bases, ultimately increasing the federal deficit.
- Quote paper
- Md. Farijuddin Khan (Author), 2012, Urbanisation in the United States 1970-1990, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/284153
