Interstate Highway System Dbq Essay

Completed in 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad opened new doors for the United States. In order for this to happen though, some had to be closed. Our country was in desperate need on some of these changes, but some we could have lived without. This great connection of the coasts brought with it many positive and negative effects on the Native Americans, society, and the environment.

Also occurring during the peacetime transition were population booms and major population shifts. Mainly taking place in areas located in the Sun Belt such as Southern California, Arizona, Texas and Florida. Another area of transition was the building of pre-fabricated housing communities such as Levittown, PA. Which was the second Levittown built by William J. Levitt. 2. What industries prospered during the 1950’s in peacetime America?

The Interstate Highway System, authorized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, was a massive infrastructure project that aimed to connect cities and towns across the United States. The system consisted of over 41,000 miles of highways, and it fundamentally changed the way Americans traveled and lived. In this essay, we will explore how the Interstate Highway System transformed America in four key areas: transportation, commerce, suburbanization, and tourism. One of the most significant ways that the Interstate Highway System changed America was by revolutionizing transportation. Before the system was built, traveling long distances by car was slow and treacherous, with many roads in disrepair or unpaved.

Throughout the nineteenth century during the industrial revolution, transportation improvements benefited the economy in America in various ways. Railroads quickly took precedence in the United Sates; they were faster and more reliable than other transportation mode. After the construction of trains in the East, they rapidly spread to the Pacific Ocean. Railroads brought numerous benefits to the economy and the market. In the 1800s, railroads profited the economy in the United States by providing easier access to the western United States, reducing shipping time and cost, and expanding industries.

As a result, many cities experienced population decline, while suburbs grew rapidly. Socially, this shift had several effects. Suburbanization led to the creation of new communities with distinct social and cultural norms. This, in turn, led to the fragmentation of American society, with less interaction between people of different backgrounds and a weakening of urban social structures.

Matthew Nuanez 11/15/2015 HIST151 Paper 2 The passage of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highway Act in 1956 is acknowledged by some historians as a highly significant piece of legislation passed by United States congress. The act created an abundance of jobs and changed the scene in America by leading to the growth of suburbs, a decline in inner cities, and a rise to new business (Snyder).

⦁ They led to the creation of hundreds of thousands of new towns/cities ⦁ They expanded existing United States territories and increased the number of states in the country. ⦁ They led to a surge in capital, enhanced trade, and boosted travelling rates. ⦁ They lowered the cost of transportation. ⦁ Railroads helped increase the population by extended the routes of trains, which

This resulted in growth economically since it largely generated markets for goods and increased railroad construction greatly (784). This act not only benefited millions of Americans, but also eventually gave opportunities to several African Americans. Western expansion was also facilitated due to the developing railroad systems of the time. The completion of the transcontinental railroads made the West a place “destined for prosperity” (833). The government

The interstate system, enacted by President Eisenhower on June 29, 1956 was in my opinion, what changed urban and rural America. The interstate changed how Americans traveled, conducted business, and transported goods across the country. I feel that the benefits from this system outweigh the negative effects. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States and retired Army General created the brainchild of a system of highways in the United States that was similar to the Autobahn in Germany, which Eisenhower visited while fighting in WWII. The autobahn had 2 travel lanes in each direction, and allowed fast speeds, making travel across Germany more efficient.

“According to [the 1920 census], 51.2 percent of Americans lived in communities with populations of 2,500 to more than 1 million. Between 1922 and 1929, migration to the cities accelerated, with nearly 2 million people leaving farms and towns each year” (Danzer 640). Urban areas were growing at an incredible rate. Urban growth has only accelerated in modern times. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2020, 80% of the total population of the US is in urban areas (“2020 Census Urban Areas Facts”).

Since transportation was easier and faster, people could live in the suburbs on the edge of towns. For example, queens outside New York doubled in size in the 1920s. By the end of the 1920s, more than 26 million cars were sold, and lots of new towns were created. Another advancement that is important is the development of trucks. In the beginning, trucks were old fashioned and had lots of flaws.

No longer was small-town America able to stay insular, and cities within more isolated regions of the country saw growth. As highways grew, so did the number of people traveling on them. The highway has earned a reputation for danger over the years. Murdered hitchhikers and similar crimes lead to a lack of connection between people or fondness for the open road. Highways were not only an opportunity for growth, they were an opportunity for exploitation.

In the Saturday Evening Post in October 1956, the Interstate System is described as connecting “209 if the 237 cities having a population of 50,000 or more”, which was considered a huge success in the nation (Document D). People now would be able to escape from their cities if ever needed. Because of this, the threat of nuclear warfare didn’t seem as personal anymore, as people would have been able to get out of their homes in the case of an atomic bomb going

Throughout American History, revolutions in transportation have affected the American society politically, socially and economically. Soon after the war of 1812, American nationalism increased which leads to a greater emphasis on national issues, the increase in power and prevalence of the national government and a growing sense of the American Identity. Railways, canals, and Turnpikes began to increase making many people employed. The era of 1830-1860 represents a shift from agrarianism to industrialism. Overall, during the transportation revolution, construction of turnpikes, roads, canals, and railroads led to the market economy expansion, an increased population in America and alternations of the physical landscape of America.

Before the 1800s, there were two early roads, Forbes and Wilderness Road. In 1811, the National Road known as Cumberland Road was built to reach Western settlements, because they needed a road to ship farm products that connect East and West. The National Road passed thousand of wagons and coaches. John F. Stover states in American Railroads, “The rich agricultural production of the country, the small but expanding factories of eastern cities, and the largely untapped natural resources of the nation-all of these called for improvements in transport. ”(Stover1)