Almost as soon as World War II ended, developers, such as William Levitt, began buying land on the outskirts of cities and use mass production techniques to build modest, inexpensive houses there. This type of house style became known as cookie-cutter housing, since many similar homes were built on a large piece of land which was split into smaller lots.
This suburban life appealed to all types of Americans. For returning soldiers, the G.I. Bill subsidized low-cost mortgages, making it often cheaper to buy a suburban house than to rent an apartment in a packed city. The suburban life was also perfect for families, as suburbs were usually tight residential neighborhoods that often didn't have the dangers and pollution/noise that cities tend to have. Even for regular individuals or couples, the affordability drew them in.
The rise of consumerism during this time also played into the boom. People kept buying household appliances, as well as other things, and the affordable homes of the suburbs were a perfect place to live out a consumer lifestyle.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/1950s
https://paulmullins.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/race-and-suburban-homogeneity-the-flanner-house-homes-and-post-urban-african-america/
Great post Ryan, I thought it was interesting, but also understanding that many people wished to settle down in a "more peaceful and quiet" place during the 1950s. A large part of this was because many Americans were sick of all the turmoil that had happened over the past decades, going from the Great Depression to WW2. Many Americans just wished to settle down and conform, which could also connect to why many of the houses during this time period were so similar. While I agree with all your points about why suburban life was so attractive to Americans during this time period, I also believe that the wish for conformity and relaxation after periods of disaster was another major reason.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/apr/28/levittown-america-prototypical-suburb-history-cities
Great post! I'd like to add some other reasons why suburbanization became such a phenomenon of the era. After WWII, Eisenhower kickstarted the construction of Interstate Highways, allowing for easier transportation out to the suburbs (connecting to the land grants given to railroad companies during the age of Manifest Destiny). Plus, due to the G.I. Bill, the Marshall Plan, and other measures taken which boosted the economy and prevented another depression, there was a great rise in the middle class, just like as in the '20s. Also, remember that these neighborhoods were largely white (which you mentioned) because household discrimination would be banned in the '60s with the Fair Housing Act.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-were-some-causes-suburbanization-1950s-423953