Places case study- Detroit

Question 1

Where is Detroit located?

Answer 1

In the state of Michigan, North America

Question 2

When did Henry Ford set up his first factory?

Answer 2

1910

Question 3

What was different about Henry Ford’s factory?

Answer 3

It used an assembly line

Question 4

How many dollars were workers paid and how many days did they work a week?

Answer 4

$5 and 5 days

Question 5

What was the impact of the factory jobs being well paid?

Answer 5

There was Mass immigration of predominately black people from the Southern states who came to seek work at the Ford Factories

Question 6

As well as Ford which other two car companies set up around 1910?

Answer 6

General motors and Chrysler

Question 7

What occurred in the 1930’s?

Answer 7

The great depression

Question 8

Why was the state of Michigan/Detroit affected more than other areas by the great depression?

Answer 8

The industrial economic base

Question 9

Give an example of a freeway built

Answer 9

8th mile bridge

Question 10

What were the impacts of the freeway networks being built?

Answer 10

• increased demand for cars

- increased popularity of suburban homes

Question 11

What were the impacts of out of town shopping malls?

Answer 11

• fewer people spent money in the city centre of Detroit

- especially wealthier people

Question 12

What occurred to the white population from the 1950s onwards?

Answer 12

-they began to move out of the city centre to the suburbs

Question 13

What were the key processes in the 1950s and 60s?

Answer 13

• filtering
• selective outmigration
• suburbanisation

Question 14

How did so-called ‘white-flight’ affect the city in the first instance?

Answer 14

• lower income black population left behind
• tax base moved out of the city
• neighbourhoods were left abandoned
• urban doughnut effect

Question 15

How many people were killed in the 1967 riot?

Answer 15

43

Question 16

How many buildings were damaged in the 1967 riot?

Answer 16

2000

Question 17

What contributed to white flight occurring?

Answer 17

• racial tension

- unrest and rioting

Question 18

What was the 1967 riot called?

Answer 18

The 12th Street riot

Question 19

About how much damage was caused by the 12th street riot?

Answer 19

Around $40 million

Question 20

Why were was the inner left to be predominately black?

Answer 20

• the black population was poorer due to discrimination faced
• therefore could not afford to move out

Question 21

What occurred in 1973?

Answer 21

The oil crisis, fuel prices increased

Question 22

What impacts did the oil crisis have?

Answer 22

• American cars used more fuel so having an American car became more expensive
• foreign cars (e.g German or Japanese) used less fuel so people began to buy them

Question 23

What happened to the sales of the big 3 following the oil crisis?

Answer 23

They decreased as they lost sales to European competition

Question 24

What were the impacts of the decrease in sales of the big 3?

Answer 24

• industrial decline in manufacturing
• dereliction a problem
• unemployment rises, cheap cocaine gives people a route to make ‘easy’ money
• further white flight
• abandonment of housing

Question 25

What were the impacts of easily accessible cocaine?

Answer 25

• increased anti-social behaviour
• arson
• looting

Question 26

What were the impacts in the loss of the tax base?

Answer 26

• services were cut e.g public transport network closed

- so jobs lost

Question 27

When did easily-accessible cocaine begin to flood into the city?

Answer 27

1980s

Question 28

How has the decline in manufacturing affected migration?

Answer 28

-has meant very little net migration into the city

Question 29

How many schools were closed in 2009?

Answer 29

29

Question 30

Between which years were GM and Chrysler declared bankrupt?

Answer 30

2008-2009

Question 31

What effect did the global credit crunch have on abandonment?

Answer 31

It increased it

Question 32

In which year did the city of Detroit file for bankruptcy?

Answer 32

2013

Question 33

How in debt was the city of Detroit when it filed for bankruptcy?

Answer 33

$18 billion

Question 34

What were the effects of school closures?

Answer 34

• demotivation of pupils
• fewer young people getting qualifications
• increased crime

Question 35

Why did the population begin to rapidly increase in 2010?

Answer 35

-the opening of the Ford factory

Question 36

What was the decrease in population of Detroit due to?

Answer 36

• the failure of the big 3 motor companies to keep up with foreign competition
• consequential closure of their factories

Question 37

Why was Detroit so in debt?

Answer 37

• pension funds not paid
• reduced taxes whilst still paying out
• borrowed too much money
• future obligations couldn’t be met

Question 38

Name 3 neighbourhoods in Detroit

Answer 38

Sherwood forest
Burbank
Brightmoor

Question 39

Describe the neighbourhood of Sherwood forest and how it has been affected by the economic and social changes within Detroit

Answer 39

• remained stable
• middle-class black community
• 8 homes unoccupied
• 33 lots vacant
• has survived changes better than other neighbourhoods

Question 40

How many homes are unoccupied in Sherwood forest?

Answer 40

8

Question 41

How many lots are vacant in Sherwood forest?

Answer 41

33

Question 42

Describe the neighbourhood of Burbank and how it has been affected by the economic and social changes within Detroit

Answer 42

• population loss in this area neighbourhood has been straggering
• hit very hard by mortgage crisis
• 7300 properties occupied
• lower quality housing to be demolished
• high instances of fire damage from arson

Question 43

Describe the neighbourhood of Brightmoor and how it has been affected by the economic and social changes within Detroit

Answer 43

• high homicide and crime rates
• good community groups
• urban agriculture
• 5000 structures unoccupied
• lots of fire damage
• lots of illegal dumping

Question 44

How did state and local governments make the situation worse?

Answer 44

• bailed out companies not Detroit
• enabled companies to afford to move out and undermine the economy further
• private companies saved but not the jobs

Question 45

How were the motor companies responsible for social decline and inequality as a result of economic change?

Answer 45

• moved production out of Detroit in order to oay cheaper costs leading to the undermining of jobs, families, and communities
• wages decreased and did not increase again despite profit rises
• unions undermined by company shareholders
• failed to recognise competition and technology