The word suburbanization usually refers to the expansion of cities, big cities when people start migrating from remote area towards urban areas or well organized communities in search of employment, money, better facilities for life and for several other reasons. The history and concept of Suburbanization is too old to remember and it is still noticeable in several parts of US as well as the globe. It was also in frequent practice during world war two. Several cities witnessed the migration of huge number of people and process of suburbanization during and after Second World War. This paper intends to discuss the process of suburbanization in period of Second World War and subsequent times.
Suburbanization was perceived in a substantial way after the Second World War and there were a number of reasons that contributed to a larger extent in the process. Construction of new highways connecting several parts of the America played an important role in the process. Almost all the American cities were flooded with the people who left their native places and rushed to the cities. A large number of houses were required for this huge crowd and to fulfill their demands, cities were expanded. Apart from houses, all other facilities were also extended to larger areas including sever lines, effective water system and roads .
These facilities and infrastructure made these suburban areas a better place for the people who were living in the rural and remote areas of America. People wanted their children to get educated in good school, provide them better facilities. They wanted to avail all facilities and live at a good place. Apart from this, the law and order situation was severely affected in the society of America especially in the remote areas during the Second World War. People were under the fear of goons and several incidents of racial abuses were also reported. For all these reasons people rushed towards big cities and developed communities and their wishes got fulfilled in the newly developed suburban areas.
The process of making new homes, developing infrastructure and expending better facilities of life was put on the hold for the civilian areas during the Second World War. All the construction materials were utilized by the army for the war purposes but when world war was over, these areas were paid the due attention by the government. Government and communities fastened the construction of houses, roads, sewer and water system. People who participated in the Second World War had earned a good sum of money and they had saved money to spend for their own house and better facilities in a good community. Thus a new class of consumers was ready to pay for the houses and to fulfill their demand, new houses were prepared. All these improved facilities were a major factor behind the process of suburbanization and benefitted many Americans with a better life who were new entrants to these developed and expanded cities.
Like community facilities, business and other commercial activities were also very slow-moving during the war and when war was ended, these sectors were also paid immediate attention by the US government as well as by the private employers. Industrialization, commercialization and urbanization provided required a huge number of people to work. This whole state of affairs attracted the people from remote areas as it provided employment to them. The workers who started working in these centers of industrial and commercial activities earned good money. They were ready to purchase new houses and were also ready to pay money for better, improved facilities. They turned into consumers and accelerated the process of suburbanization which was in the interest of these new consumers as well for the suburbs.
These sub urban areas were emerged as hubs for different services, business and several other activities. People residing in these areas were working in different industries and were involved in different business activities. They were earning good money and were willing to pay for better facilities and services. This trend made available improved education for their children with the establishments of new modern schools. New hospitals, equipped with all the modern technologies and facilities were established to provide better health services to them and their family. Amphitheatres, community halls, and clubs were also made for the people along with all other amenities which were required. Automobile companies targeted this earning class and made them customers. There were very few people who used to travel by car before the war but after the war a large number of people started travelling in cars. Another reason of availing cars and personal vehicles was that public transport system was in stage of infancy and not developed enough. Initially it was like luxury but gradually it turned out to be a necessity.
Suburbanization caused a number of changes in the American society. It provided women the opportunities to work with men and made them self dependent. They came to know about their rights and now their role became much important in the family as well as in the society. The situation of women and children was substantially improved. Children were sent to the schools instead of working. Their parents were competent enough to feed them nutritious diets. It also improved the situation of colored people. They started living in the same community where white people used to live and worked with white people. This new trend filled the gap between these two different communities. They came to know about each other and this new kind of social intertwining affected the American society as well as the America as whole in a long term,
After having observed the abovementioned analysis, it is good to conclude that suburbanization in America that took place after the Second World War, affected America and was beneficial for the Americans for a number of reasons. It changed the way of life that Americans used to live and introduced them with a number of new things in their life. It brought several changes in the American society immediately and affected the United States of America in long term. Apart from the society, suburbanization substantially affected the economy of America in the short and long term. It provided the base upon which the today’s America is built. American government had played a major role in the suburbanization recognizing need of the time and it inspired people to cooperate the government which was a good beginning.
Works Cited
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Mark Clapson and Ray Hutchison. Suburbanization in Global Society. Wagon Lane, Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing, 2010.
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