Far Place Study: Detroit

Question 1

Describe the location of Detroit

Answer 1

Detroit is a city in Michigan State in the USA. It lies in the Great Lakes region, on the coast of Lakes Erie and St. Clair. The city also lies next to the Canadian border, which runs along the Detroit River. The city lies 42.23N and 83.05W

Question 2

What factors have lead to the decline of Detroit’s car industry?

Answer 2

Globalisation
Competition from T.N.C.s
Company relocation
The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo
The 1979 Energy Crisis (events in Iran)
Pressure from energy conservation groups

Question 3

Cycle of Urban Decline: What follows industry closures and relocation?

Answer 3

Worker redundancy

Dereliction of industrial land

Question 4

Cycle of Urban Decline: What follows worker redundancy?

Answer 4

Out-migration of skilled workers
Loss of spending money
Worker depression

Question 5

Cycle of Urban Decline: What follows loss of spending money?

Answer 5

Businesses lose income
Crime rates increase
Building quality decline

Question 6

Cycle of Urban Decline: What follows worker depression?

Answer 6

Lower wage demands
Weaker achievement of children at school
Workforce proficiency decline

Question 7

Cycle of Urban Decline: What follows worker proficiency decline, local business closures and building quality decline?

Answer 7

Low investor confidence in the area

Question 8

Cycle of Urban Decline: What follows low investor confidence?

Answer 8

Industrial decline

Question 9

Cycle of Urban Decline: What follows industrial decline?

Answer 9

Industry closures and relocation

Question 10

Which Endogenous factors contributed to Detroit’s industrial success?

Answer 10

The invention of the assembly line by Henry Ford
It lies on the Canadian border
It lies on the Detroit river
It lies on the edge of Lakes Erie and St. Clair, which lead to the St. Lawrence Seaway then to the Atlantic

Question 11

By what factor had the Black population of Detroit increased from 1900 to 1950?

Answer 11

(It had got roughly) 6.5 (times bigger)

Question 12

What were the 4 key factors which led to suburban growth in Detroit?

Answer 12

1. The Interstate Highway Act in 1956
2. The growing racial tensions in the city
3. Increased taxes in the city
4. Wealthier people meant more cars

Question 13

Which exogenous factors lead to the industrial growth of Detroit?

Answer 13

The “Great Migration”
Flows of investment
The Interstate Highway Act of 1956

Question 14

What percentage of Detroit’s population was black in 1900? What percentages in 1950 and 2010?

Answer 14

1900: 1.23%
1950: 16%
2010: 83%

Question 15

How many of Detroit’s top 10 employers were part of the car industry in 2013?

Answer 15

2, Chrysler (8th) and General Motors (10th)

Question 16

What is an enclave?

Answer 16

An area of a city in which a certain cultural group lives

Question 17

Who created Motown music?

Answer 17

Berry Gordy in 1959

Question 18

Name 4 famous artists that resulted from the Motown Music Co.

Answer 18

Any 4 from:
Michael Jackson/ The Jackson 5
Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder 
The Four Tops
The Supremes 
Diana Ross

Question 19

How does Detroit’s ethnic makeup compare to that of Michigan and the US as a whole?

Answer 19

Whites: 10% of Detroit 
70% of Michigan/ the US
Blacks: 82% of Detroit 
14% of Michigan/ the US
Multi-racial: 2% of Detroit/ Michigan 
3% the US

Question 20

Why might whites have seen blacks as inferior?

Answer 20

They were still seen as slaves

Question 21

Which 3 roads are significant dividing lines between the whites (rich) and blacks (poor)?

Answer 21

8 mile
Telegraph Road
Alter Road

Question 22

Where does the Hispanic population of Detroit live?

Answer 22

An enclave on the south side- “Mexicantown”

Question 23

What are the poverty and income rates in the city centre like?

Answer 23

Poverty rates of 40% or higher

Income of $24,580 or less

Question 24

Why were there riots in 1943 and 1967? Who was involved in each?

Answer 24

43: 3 black people in Packard Motors were promoted to work alongside whites. The rioters were mostly white
67: Frustration at black underemployment, racism, segregation, police brutality and loss of jobs. The rioters were mainly black

Question 25

Name a social, economic and environmental project created by Detroit soup

Answer 25

S: The empowerment plan, sleeping bag coats
Ec: Rebel Nell, graffiti jewellery
En: Mobile tool share, converted Ice-cream truck

Question 26

Where were walls constructed to keep blacks out? What were they made of?

Answer 26

Alter Road to Grosse Point Park

Snow, brick, a farmers market