Decline Of The City Decline

1557 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The positive or negative effects of gentrification

City decline is a viscous cycle: people and businesses leave (in our case due to deindustrialization), this causes a decrease in tax revenue and the quality of the environment, this leads to tax increases and service cuts which results in even more people and businesses leaving. The decline of cities cannot be narrowed down to one factor, but we can find the main influences. Decline is the combination of many different economic and social factors that can transform a once vibrant metropolis into a desolate dangerous wasteland.
Pennsylvania was where this country began, the place where the founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence and years later the Constitution. Pennsylvania’s biggest cities are Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Once thriving cities they now both face a declining population. Various grassroots efforts and government projects aim to reverse this, but I think we need to trace back and see where this decline first started. How can we develop solutions for our modern day problems without looking back into the past to see what history did to lead up to them?
Pittsburgh was once a thriving city, its decline began slowly during the mid-20th century. Their prosperity was a result of their location in the “Rust Belt.” The “Rust Belt” included all the cities that were key to American Industry during the 19th and 20th centuries. States rich with coal and iron were the steel powerhouses of the industrial revolution. These states included Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. The big cities of the “Rust Belt” were Chicago, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. During the Civil War Andrew Carnegie built the first Pittsburgh steel mills to supply the demand for weapons and during Worl...

... middle of paper ...

...e are plenty uneducated workers who would benefit from a simple place to work. If we returned manufacturing to the city it would thrive again and eliminate unemployment.
Looking back at Pennsylvania we see that despite all efforts Pittsburgh is in decline and Philadelphia is experiencing a population growth although its rate of growth has slowed down. Both of these cities were heavily affected by the economic shift from manufacturing to technology. This transition from the “Rust Belt” to the “Sun Belt” ruined the economy leaving everyone unemployed. After this those who could move got out of the city and into the suburbs where there were jobs. Post-White flight these two cities degraded into cities of crime and poor schooling. This doesn’t help bring people in; recently the city has been taken over by a movement of young idealists set on saving their beloved city.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Buzz Bissinger's A Prayer For The City

    1664 Words  | 4 Pages

    Buzz Bissinger’s A Prayer for the City discussed many issues that impacted cities around the nation, but more specifically the problems of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia has had an illustrious history as an American city- the Declaration of Independence was signed there, it was one of America 's first cities, and currently it has the fifth largest population of any city. When Rendell took office as mayor, he faced a multitude of issues. Some of these issues were “immediate crises” that he believed may go away by some miracle, others would require much more work and seemed to be nearly impossible tasks. Among the problems for Philadelphia were crippling unemployment, crime, and race relations within the

    Read More

  • Urban Political Machine In New York: Tammany Hall

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the middle of the nineteenth century, several factors contributed to the growth and expansion of cities in the United States. The 1850s saw a fantastic peak in the immigration of Europeans to America, and they quickly flocked to cities where they could form communities and hopefully find work1. The rushing industrialization of the entire country also helped to rapidly convert America from a primarily agrarian nation to an urban society. The transition, however, was not so smooth. Men and women were attracted to the new cities because of the culture and conveniences that were unavailable to rural communities.

    Read More

  • The Fall Of A City Alden Nowlan Analysis

    382 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the short story, The Fall of a City, by Alden Nowlan, Teddy’s dreams are crushed by his uncle when his dreams should remain true till the day he achieves his dreams and his uncle’s stereotypical behaviour influenced teddy is a negative way. It is important for children to pursue the personality and dreams they want to take with them into their future. Firstly, adult’s stereotypical behaviour can influence a children's future choices, but children should have their own dreams and goals to pursue so they get the life they deserve. “Paper dolls and doll houses. An eleven-year-old boy!” (Alden Nowlan, 133). We see how gender stereotypes come in the way of children achieving their goals and dreams since society tend to follow stereotypes every

    Read More

  • Crime and Poverty in Richmond, Virginia

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unemployment in the city limits further feeds the belly of poverty. Unemployment rates for Richmond in August 2013 were 8.2% (United States Department of Labor, 2013). These rates represent only those that are documented as unemployed and does not consider the “under employed” as they may be working but not getting paid for a full work week. These unemployment rates would likely be higher if they were accurate and all inclusive of the unemployed in Richmond. The unemployment rate for the entire state of Virginia was reported at 5.8% in August 2013 (United States Department of Labor). The unemployment rate is related to education. There are not enough good paying jobs to support those who did not finish basic high school. There are not enough good paying jobs to reach citizens of the city that do not have adequate transportation.

    Read More

  • Philadelphia Swot Analysis

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    historical interactions shaped by an ocean of economic tides. It has been both blessed and scorned by its’ centuries of existence, both praised and cursed by its’ generations of inhabitants, seen both repetition and divergence, but one notion is certain: its’ evolution is perpetual. This analysis serves to journey through the vast history of Philadelphia, evaluating its’ economic successes and failures, while simultaneously gaining an understanding of how these outcomes shaped its’ evolutions as a city. The journey begins at the birthplace of Philadelphia, well before

    Read More

  • Gentrification Essay

    1355 Words  | 3 Pages

    This investigation is based on the assumption that gentrification with all its troubles can’t be prevented and is an inherent part of every city. What are the negative impacts of gentrification? What are the underlying mechanisms that feed these impacts? What drives these mechanisms? What would be an alternative scenario?

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Reshaping Metropolitan America

    1490 Words  | 3 Pages

    Reshaping Metropolitan America provides an outlook of the next fifteen years for infrastructure development in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of the buildings that will be necessary to handle the projected half billion residents of the Untied States by 2030 are not built yet. We also need to reshape our cities to handle the inversion trend; families and the next generation want to move back and live near downtown. Richard C. Nelson, the author, supports this population shift but does not strongly support it. Instead of trying to create room and additional infrastructure in downtown areas, Nelson believes that metropolitan areas should start to urbanize its suburbs to accommodate desired urban living. The American population is also changing

    Read More

  • Detroit And The Bay Area

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    For decades, America has been the fastest growing economy country in the world, and Detroit was one of the most leading populous city in the United States. Back in 1930, Detroit was the fastest growing city, but now is the fastest shrinking city with more than 100, 000 abandoned homes (Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady). Similarly, Bay Area economy was the envy of the nation with high employment rates and GDP growth like Detroit in the 1930s, and is currently suffering from losing jobs, residents, and status. Both Detroit and the Bay Area are single resource-based industries - where Detroit is manufacturing dominated, and Bay Area is high technology dominated. However, the Bay Area will not go bankrupt and become a ghost town in fifty years, because its high diversities in the economic opportunities are attracting people to stay and work here.

    Read More

  • Alabama Industrial Boom Essay

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    White, Langdon. "The Iron and Steel Industry of the Birmingham, Alabama, District." Economic Geography (Vol. 4, No. 4 (Oct., 1928)): pp. 349-365.

    Read More

  • Michigan and Boston: The Copper-Mining Industry

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...f towns and cities that still exist today. In addition, the opening of mines created jobs which had a positive impact on the economy while the decline of mines led to a sharp decrease in population due to the lack of job opportunities. The era of copper mining also shows the powerful alliance that had formed between Michigan and Boston. Both Michigan mine operators and Boston investors had different kinds of resources that the other lacked. It can be seen that Michigan would not be the way it is today without outside influence from investors and interested prospectors.

    Read More

  • Evolution Of The American Nation

    1707 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the post Civil War time period, 1865 to 1945, the United States of America was a rapidly changing country. There were many different reforms taking place in the economic, political, and urban systems. The American industry was rising. New inventions, westward expansion, and new federal laws were making the country a melting pot of cultures from around the world. Also during this time period the nation experienced the progressive movement, economic collapse, the great depression, and President Roosevelt’s New Deal. This paper will discuss the evolution of the United States in westward expansion, urbanization, and politics, as well as the rise of American industry, the economic collapse of 1873, and the causes of the great depression.

    Read More

  • Andrew Carnegie

    1681 Words  | 4 Pages

    Andrew Carnegie traveled from Scotland to America with his parents when he was thirteen years old. The family moved to Pittsburg in 1848, which Carnegie described at the time as unpleasant to say the least writing, “"The smoke permeated and penetrated everything.... If you washed your face and hands, they were as dirty as ever in an hour. and for a time ... life was more or less miserable."(Richest PBS) Here begins the conflict Carnegie displays throughout his life; while he is disgusted with the effects of industrialized society he also builds an empire from the same means.

    Read More

  • Detroit is Dying

    1468 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin, Motor City wouldn’t be Motor City if it weren’t for Henry Ford and other automotive innovators. Bentley Historical Library (University of Michigan) researched the roots of the Automotive Industries. The article shows sufficient information regarding Ford and GMs ideas of mass production. They brought new ideas, new methods, and new fabrication to the city. Thousands migrated to the inner city for the numerous automotive manufacturing jobs being offered. Ford had presented “Five Dollars a Day Jobs.” He was offering eager workers top dollar for their work input. The news of Ford’s proposal spread like a wildfire through the American population, by means of newspaper, and constant chatter. African Americans retreated to the North to leave the suppressing, segregated South. Poles, Germans, and other European groups also rushed to Detroit to grab their share of work. Henry Ford required an immense working force to run his industrial empire. In essence, they all migrated to Detroit seeking economic opportunity and a stable living. From here, manufacturing and growth could only get enriched.

    Read More

  • American History: 1800s and Up

    1257 Words  | 3 Pages

    The mid 19th century was an age of growth like no other. The term “Industrial Revolution” refers to the time period where production changed from homemade goods, to those produced by machines and factories. As industrial growth developed and cities grew, the work done by men and women diverged from the old agricultural life. People tended to leave home to work in the new factories being built. They worked in dangerous conditions, were paid low wages, and lacked job security (Kellogg). It is difficult to argue, however, that the economic development of the United States was not greatly dependent on the industrial revolution.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Deindustrialization

    1698 Words  | 4 Pages

    The industrial revolution began in Europe in the 18th century. The revolution prompted significant changes, such as technological improvements in global trade, which led to a sustained increase in development between the 18th and 19th century. These improvements included mastering the art of harnessing energy from abundant carbon-based natural resources such as coal. The revolution was economically motivated and gave rise to innovations in the manufacturing industry that permanently transformed human life. It altered perceptions of productivity and understandings of mass production which allowed specialization and provided industries with economies of scale. The iron industry in particular became a major source of economic growth for the United States during this period, providing much needed employment, which allowed an abundant population of white people as well as minorities to contribute and benefit from the flourishing economy. Steel production boomed in the U.S. in the mid 1900s. The U.S. became a global economic giant due to the size of its steel industry, taking advantage of earlier innovations such as the steam engine and the locomotive railroad. The U.S. was responsible for 65 percent of steel production worldwide by the end of the 2nd World War (Reutter 1). In Sparrows Point: Making Steel: the Rise and Ruin of American Industrial Might, Mark Reutter reports that “Four out of every five manufacturing items contained steel and 40 percent of all wage earners owed their livelihood directly or indirectly to the industry.” This steel industry was the central employer during this era.

    Read More

More about Decline Of The City Decline

Open Document