Detroit Flashcards
Where is Detroit located?
Sits on the Detroit river which is connected to the Great Lakes and the St.Lawrence waterway which connects Detroit to the Midlands and international waters
Why is this location important?
It allowed for easy access of iron from Michigan and coal from Appalachian
What was significant about Detroit’s infrastructure?
Detroit’s roads and streets were built to facilitate for the easy transport of cars and lorries during the peak of the automobile industry. This became a burden after the collapse of the automobile industry as the government could not fund public services leading to the decay of roads as too expensive to maintain. This alienated poorer residents who relied on public transport and decreased their accessibility to jobs and services resulting in negative lived experience.
What was significant about Henry Ford’s factories?
The factories were a revelation for workers and businesses as the Ford Production Line was introduced 1908 and increased productivity, lowering production costs while keeping workers wages relatively high ($5 a day). Workers had more disposable income, boosting local economy
How else did Henry Ford benefit Detroit
He built the Ford Hospital and built affordable housing developments for his workers, allowing for the establishment of a middle class in Detroit
Why did Detroit’s automobile industry collapse?
Globalisation facilitated the outsourcing of competitors factories like Hyundai and Toyota which significantly lowered their production costs due to weak labour laws, allowing them to price more competitively. This caused widespread loss of jobs and investment.
Why did this have such a large impact on Detroit?
Detroit’s automobile industry acted as a monoindustry so when it collapsed, its economy collapsed with it
What did the collapse of the automobile industry lead to?
Widespread abandonment of factories such as Packard’s, eroding the character of Detroit
What was the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on Detroit?
Detroit had the highest number of tax foreclosures in the US and the government accumulated a debt of $18 billion and declared bankruptcy. This gave rise to crime and urban decay.
How did the Great Migration affect Detroit?
The Great Migration was the mass migration of African American’s which came from the South to avoid the Jim Crow laws. This led to a demographic shift which made Detroit more culturally diverse, giving rise to music such as Motown records.
