The inevitable is no less a shock because it is inevitable ~ Jamaica Kincaid
Founded in 1701 by nearly 100 French settlers, Pontchartrain du Detroit was not doomed to bankruptcy. Located near epicenters of trade including the Canadian Border and the -Detroit River and rich in resources Detroit, from a geographic sense, was a city established on lands destined to prosper. Turning into an industrial powerhouse in the 20th century, the city saw an enormous boom in both population and industrial prosperity with the growth of the iron stove, railroad car, and ship building industries. It wasn’t until auto manufacturing renaissance initiated with the founding of Henry Ford Co. in 1910 that Detroit began it’s nearly 100 year long descent
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The first factor in Detroit’s collapse was the undeniable success of the auto industry. The expansion of the big three auto producers, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors led the charge. In addition to dominating the auto industry, the big three were largely responsible for the success of local business throughout Detroit. Direct suppliers towards the auto companies themselves, and the subsequent services provided to the auto workers and their families composed the majority of Detroit business. The rapid expansion of the auto industry resulted in the industry’s decentralization with the city limits of Detroit and caused the expansion of the outlying areas surround Detroit. The decentralization of industry had profound effects on the geography and on the population of the city. The movement of jobs out of the city accelerated the process of suburbanization, as autoworkers who could move followed their jobs. This trend is demonstrated by Census data, showing that following the creating of new auto plants outside the city of Detroit resulted in the total population dropping by nearly 300,0000 citizens by 1960. Following this decentralization, the auto industry suffering from international competition and rising oil prices, was unable to sustain the levels of economic output seen in years prior; and as a result, became a less desirable place to live for both workers looking to relocate and current residents.
This table illustrates the
In the first two decades of the twentieth century, the United States experienced a large increase in political, economic, and social reforms. During this time, there had been an increase in urbanization, and industrial factories within the larger cities throughout the United States, particularly in the northeastern cities. With the addition of the industries and factories too populated also came a growing number of immigrants, and seekers of wealth and employment. As a result, the population increase would result in major issues which would overshadow the economic gains that came from industrialization. In addition, the rise of industrialization also brought about major issues within the populations of the city. After seeing
From 1890 to 1920, cities in the United States experienced a rapid growth that was unprecedented in years previous. This growth was caused by a number of factors and resulted in both positive and negative consequences. Such factors included, industrialization, technological advances, migration and immigration. Although American cities greatly improved by the expeditious urbanization, these factors also developed numerous challenges including pollution, sanitation problems, a need for environmental reform, political corruption, overcrowding, high crime rates and segregation.
Today, Detroit, New York City and Chicago have many similarities They're highly populated cities with high crime rates, many homeless people, noisy streets and terrible traffic. In contrast, they attract many tourists with their tall skyscrapers, and their famous attractions. As well as similarities, there's also, many differences. Today, Chicago and New York City are known for having many job opportunities and luring people in with promising careers. Whereas in Detroit, it's known to be quite hard to find employment. These cities have gone on a long journey to get to where they're at today. I'll be discussing Detroit's history from around 1880 to 1910 and comparing it to the way Chicago and New York City was in the book, Sister Carrie written by Theodore Dreiser.
Henry Ford was the godfather of the automobile industry in the early 1900’s. The development of his River Rouge plant was considered a “industrial Cathedral.” Hundreds waited month after month in front of the employment building hoping to be hired. To foreign immigrants it meant hope and a successful future. The River Rouge plant
Detroit is home to many historical landmarks which have assisted in shaping Detroit into what it is today. One site that has highly impacted Detroit since 1915 was The Russell Industrial Center (RIC). The RIC consists of 7 buildings which take up over 2.2 million acres of land. Throughout the history of the RIC it has aided society by creating an environment everyone in the community is able to be a part of and allows people to come closer together. Originally, the RIC was built as an auto parts manufacturing company, but has evolved over time, allowing the surrounding community to also evolve. Through the ups and the downs the city of Detroit has
nation's great cities and as oil refining rose so did the popularity of the automobile. With these
The people have to take moment and figure out how we are going change the problem to pollution to help better their community. Well the people of Detroit is not on their own its companies that want to help the city. JP Morgan Chase a major bank company around the country will donate 100 million dollars to help the economic recovery and strengthen the communities with a 5 year commitment (Hower, n.d.para.1). Chase have steps and certain projects they will do to start helping the city get back on their feet after filing for bankruptcy not too long
Detroit, Michigan grew up around the automobile industry. At its peak, Detroit was the fifth-largest city in the United States, becoming the home to over 1.8 million people by 1950 (Davey, Monica 2013). The prolific population was due greatly to the success of the auto industry in the city. At that time, Detroit was flying high, its name coined “The Motor City” (americaslibrary.gov), and automobiles greatly impacted commercialization. From transporting goods to hastening production, to selling parts, to manufacturing and selling new automobiles, the auto industry completely transformed Detroit. Things seemed
Many people up and left to move into the big cities, leaving many things behind. They thought they could make more money for less work by getting a job at the factories. People were running and telling about the amazing jobs the factories were giving them making more people come into the city (Document 2a). Companies in the city then grew larger causing a huge economic change in America, creating new jobs for all the new people moving to the cities. The men started to return from World War I and increased the employment rate while gaining profit for the people and the companies because of the production boom.
Henry Ford, whose name arouses recognition to this day, was one of the most well known figures in the automobile industry. He had created the assembly line to use within manufacturing in order to increase productivity, and consequently, reduce the prices of automobiles. With these famously low prices, it wasn’t uncommon to see cars, such as the 1920 ReVere Touring Car, parked around cities (Doc D). Finally, most American persons would be able to afford a personal vehicle. Due to the growth in this particular industry, employment opportunities had opened up for the common man, with the demand for car factory laborers. It seems, that with this advancement, America was better
This paper explores the economic restructuring and revitalization of Detroit Michigan post World War II until today. The purpose of this research paper is to show the history of Detroit’s auto and manufacturing industry, in what ways it has changed in recent years, and how it has helped define the economy of Detroit and damaged it. This paper suggests that the deindustrialization of plants and industries and the depopulation of whites to the Suburbs have triggered the economic downfall of the Motor City. Some social issues such as race discrimination and segregation that might have led to the riots of 1943, and 1967, and the migration of African Americans to Northern States in search of employments will be discussed as well. In
1. Describe the rise of the American industrial city, and place it in the context of worldwide trends of urbanization and mass migration (the European diaspora)
In his essay Is Detroit Dead?, Peter Eisinger investigates the slow decay and degradation of the city of Detriot, and argue that it is no longer a living city. He uses the analogy of a patient who is diagnosed with a terminal disease to help prove his point. Eisinger looks at the lack of self-governance, inefficient and eroding public services, and the shallow indigenous labour pool in Detroit, to sustain his argument that Detroit is on the cusp of death. As well, he uses other literature that points out the mass migration of Detroiters that started in the 1950s, and the rapid decline of the auto industry. Eisinger also discusses limitations in finding numerical data for the exact amount of debt Detroit has and with the proportion of Detroiters
Reputations can be very deceiving. They cause you to think a certain way about something without forming your own opinion first. Reputations are like stereotypes: they both make you conform to other people's views about a subject without getting to know it for yourself. The city of Detroit falls victim to having a bad reputation. The Motor City is known as being corrupt and left for dead; it is called hopeless and dangerous by people who have never even stepped foot into the city. Growing up thirty miles from Detroit, I consider myself a Detroiter and disagree with the city’s horrible reputation. I believe that Detroit has been through
In the last decade, the prevalence of Detroiters lack of fresh food and basic needs has been covered wildly by journalists in the United States. This crisis, often called a food desert, has affected the poorest citizens still confined inside Detroit's inner city today. It has ultimately caused obesity, health issues and an overall lower quality of life for the community. This crisis is a direct effect of the capitalist industry that exploited the city, its people and its economy in the 20th century. Not only the private automobile industry in Detroit, but private food companies also exploit impoverished areas with cheap and processed food. These forgotten laborers of Detroit