Changing Places- Far Place (Detroit) Flashcards
1
Q
Detroit location
A
- USA
- Michigan
- located in Great Lakes
- on the Detroit river: allows shipping
- borders Canada
2
Q
Growth of heavy industry in Detroit
A
- by the 1890s Detroit had emerged as a centre of heavy industry
- availability of iron ore in Michigan and easy access to coal via Great Lakes
- the 3 key industries were: railroad cars, stoves and ship building
- later the car manufacturing companies (eg. GM motors) came to Detroit
3
Q
The Great Migration
A
- in the early 19th and 20th century many African Americans moved to the industrial north to find work
- Detroit’s car industry meant there were high employment levels
- from 1910-1930 the number of African Americans in Detroit increased from 6000 to 120,000
- a second wave of black immigration came from 1940-1970 as African Americans escaped the Jim Crow laws of the south
4
Q
What was ‘white flight’?
A
The migration of white Americans out of the centre of Detroit and into the suburbs. By 2010 the white population of Detroit had fallen by 95% from the 1930s
5
Q
Fuel insecurity in Detroit (1970s)
A
- 1973 oil crisis Arab embargo
- after the embargo was lifted in March 1974 the cost of oil had risen from $3 to $12 per barrel
- GM motors responded to high gas prices by downsizing their models by 1977
6
Q
How did globalisation impact Detroit’s automotive industry?
A
- American cars no longer the only choice for consumers
- as oil prices increased, more efficient foreign cars became more popular
- Ford and GM motors expanded their boarders to Brazil, Russia and China where labour was cheaper- led to unemployment in Detroit
- many companies moved to the suburbs where taxes were lower
7
Q
What industries do Detroit’s population work in today?
A
80% in tertiary industry
20% in secondary industry
8
Q
3 biggest employment sectors in Detroit in 2013
A
- trade, transport and utilities
- professional and business services
- manufacturing
9
Q
How does Detroit Soup work?
A
- project set up to encourage business people to create schemes to improve life in Detroit
- at each Soup dinner 4 presentations are made
- the audience pays $5 for soup, a salad, bread and one vote on which project should be funded
- whoever wins gets all the money raised that night
10
Q
Detroit Soup- Pay It Forward Initiative (PIF)
A
- aims to help young people who are unemployed
- partners with companies to provide a 16-week internship to help people gain new skills
- recommendation then written to help them find a job or continue education
- PIF also provides counselling, entrepreneurial classes and wages
11
Q
Detroit Soup- Empowerment Plan
A
- aims to help homeless people
- provide warm clothes and blankets to those living on the streets
- hires local parents from shelters to provide them with full time employment and learn new skills
- coat designed by the company is both a coat and a sleeping bag
12
Q
Detroit Soup- Motor City Ground Crew
A
- aims to improve the appearance of parks and neighbourhoods for residents and visitors
- Adopt a Park program- involves community groups and partners with City of Detroit to help maintain city parks
13
Q
Role of Motown in promoting racial integration in Detroit
A
- founded by African American songwriter Berry Gordy in 1959
- record label is said to have broken down social and cultural divide within Detroit
- first African American owned record label to reach national acclaim
- label allowed black musicians to become more successful
14
Q
Race riots of 1967
A
- police raided an unlicensed bar which is said to have sparked the riots
- lasted 4 days and led to thousands of National Guard troops being sent to restore peace
- hundreds injured and many killed
- reports that a police officer killed 3 black men at a motel during the riots
15
Q
Issues African Americans faced in Detroit in the mid 20th century
A
- high levels of unemployment
- racism and segregation
- police brutality
- deindustrialisation and shift in tax base for companies to the suburbs
- housing discrimination- forced to live in sub standard housing
