Detroit

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Southern border of Michigan, a northern US state. Borders two of the Great Lakes: Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Has access to the Atlantic through St Lawrence river. Good transport hub.

Question 2

Historical context

Answer 2

1700s – colonised by France
Early 1900s – Economic boom due to motor industry
1910s – The Great Migration
End of WW2 – City grows
1950s – White Flight
1967 – Race riot
2013 – officially declared bankrupt

Question 3

Why did Motor Industries move into Detroit?

Answer 3

Close to the Steel Belt and Coal Fields, making resource gathering easy and cheap.

Question 4

Social inequalities

Answer 4

Ethnic divide between Black and White residents.

Question 5

Divides

Answer 5

Downtown and Wedt Side – primarily black population, poor.
Warren – affluent white population. Accessible high quality schools and medical facilities

Question 6

Barricades

Answer 6

Grosse Point – white residents have barricaded themselves from the black community

Question 7

Representation of place

Answer 7

Early 1900s -– place of opportunity and jobs.
Recent – focussed on decline. Negative view looking at poverty and drug issues.

Question 8

Reducing inequality

Answer 8

Weak local economy – reducing inequality is HARD.
Focus is now on providing opportunities to those without. REFER TO DETROIT SOUP.

Question 9

Detroit Soup

Answer 9

People pay $5 for soup at a meeting place. Aspiring entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to get a share of the $5 investments. Provides meeting place for communities.

Question 10

Economic change

Answer 10

Early 1900s – hub of Steel industry. Then hub of car industry.
Ford Model T took 1.5 hrs to build. Ford could pay more than competitors ($5).
1970s – foreign competitors put pressure on Detroit. Motor industry struggling. Plants closed and production was outsourced.
Led to less taxes.
Economy now relies on essential services.