U.S. Highways
by Shaneel P.
The United Highway system was born on June 29, 1956 because of efforts made by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Inspired by the German Autobahn and experiences traveling the country as a soldier, Eisenhower’s highway system would serve two purposes. One of those was that it would support automobiles and large trucks, and secondly that it would support military and defense operations such as troop movement. The immediate impacts on the people could be felt, for it helped the American economy, saved lives, caused population expansion, stimulated development, while also creating negative aspects such as increased driving violations and a nationwide network of organized crime.
The stimulation of development throughout the U.S. is largely attributed to the highway system since almost every commodity we enjoy today is made available to us because of the highways. The highways improved economic efficiency and productivity by making deliveries arrive faster and connecting shoppers and consumers to their favorite stores in a more effective way. This made people more likely to go out and shop more often, for it was no longer a long drive and it became less of a hassle to go shopping. The highways also greatly increased the amount of suburban growth, for people could see they could live further away from big cities and in more peaceful neighborhoods. Known as “sprawl,” the growing amount of suburban neighborhoods grew because people had greater options in choosing where to live. The amount of time people saved by traveling at great speeds on open highways also prompted people to move outside of the big cities because they could see that they would be able to eliminate the distance it took to travel between work and home.
Not only did the highway system improve lives in the 50’s, but it also saved a great deal of them as well. It is estimated that nearly 187,000 lives have been saved and 12 million injuries prevented due to safety lessons learned and because of the improved roadways making it less dangerous for American drivers. Lives were not only prevented from being lost on the highway, but also helped save those in need of immediate health care. People could now be transported to hospitals much faster and over greater distances while also making doctors and medical equipment arrive on the scene where patients were.
The 50’s also saw an increase in leisure activities and vacations due to the increase in mobility since people could now take longer trips to places they could not go before the highways. With the time saved on travel, people could do more of the activities the enjoyed. People were more likely to go out than before because not only could they go places they might not have thought possible, but also because the time it took to get there was not very long.
Another important service the highways provided the people in the 50’s was national security. Americans at the time were very concerned about their national safety while the Cold War raged onwards, and having the highways made them feel a greater sense of security knowing that their troops could easily move throughout the country and protect America’s borders if necessary. A mental effect of connectedness as a nation and security relieved some of the anxiety Americans felt. This does not go without saying some of the negative aspects of the highways, the increase in traffic, driving under the influence, and promotion of organized nationwide crime. Criminals were now able to move freely throughout the country and expand their corrupt ways while avoiding the law. Overall however, the highways greatly improved the lives of the people during the 1950’s and still continues to this day.
Sources:
40 Years of the US Interstate Highway System: An Analysis: The Best Investment A Nation Ever Made.
The 1950’s Birth of the Interstate Highway System.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/sillan.htm
http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/Introduction/History/1950's/
The United Highway system was born on June 29, 1956 because of efforts made by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Inspired by the German Autobahn and experiences traveling the country as a soldier, Eisenhower’s highway system would serve two purposes. One of those was that it would support automobiles and large trucks, and secondly that it would support military and defense operations such as troop movement. The immediate impacts on the people could be felt, for it helped the American economy, saved lives, caused population expansion, stimulated development, while also creating negative aspects such as increased driving violations and a nationwide network of organized crime.
The stimulation of development throughout the U.S. is largely attributed to the highway system since almost every commodity we enjoy today is made available to us because of the highways. The highways improved economic efficiency and productivity by making deliveries arrive faster and connecting shoppers and consumers to their favorite stores in a more effective way. This made people more likely to go out and shop more often, for it was no longer a long drive and it became less of a hassle to go shopping. The highways also greatly increased the amount of suburban growth, for people could see they could live further away from big cities and in more peaceful neighborhoods. Known as “sprawl,” the growing amount of suburban neighborhoods grew because people had greater options in choosing where to live. The amount of time people saved by traveling at great speeds on open highways also prompted people to move outside of the big cities because they could see that they would be able to eliminate the distance it took to travel between work and home.
Not only did the highway system improve lives in the 50’s, but it also saved a great deal of them as well. It is estimated that nearly 187,000 lives have been saved and 12 million injuries prevented due to safety lessons learned and because of the improved roadways making it less dangerous for American drivers. Lives were not only prevented from being lost on the highway, but also helped save those in need of immediate health care. People could now be transported to hospitals much faster and over greater distances while also making doctors and medical equipment arrive on the scene where patients were.
The 50’s also saw an increase in leisure activities and vacations due to the increase in mobility since people could now take longer trips to places they could not go before the highways. With the time saved on travel, people could do more of the activities the enjoyed. People were more likely to go out than before because not only could they go places they might not have thought possible, but also because the time it took to get there was not very long.
Another important service the highways provided the people in the 50’s was national security. Americans at the time were very concerned about their national safety while the Cold War raged onwards, and having the highways made them feel a greater sense of security knowing that their troops could easily move throughout the country and protect America’s borders if necessary. A mental effect of connectedness as a nation and security relieved some of the anxiety Americans felt. This does not go without saying some of the negative aspects of the highways, the increase in traffic, driving under the influence, and promotion of organized nationwide crime. Criminals were now able to move freely throughout the country and expand their corrupt ways while avoiding the law. Overall however, the highways greatly improved the lives of the people during the 1950’s and still continues to this day.
Sources:
40 Years of the US Interstate Highway System: An Analysis: The Best Investment A Nation Ever Made.
The 1950’s Birth of the Interstate Highway System.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/sillan.htm
http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/Introduction/History/1950's/
posted by Leslie Madsen-Brooks at 10/22/2006 10:39:00 PM
1 Comments:
As the highways were created I find it interesting that people would use them to escape. If their lives were so perfect in the suburbs...why was there the need to get away? Nowadays it makes sense that we go on vacation to escape from the stress of school and work. But the 1950's radiate this image of perfection and happiness. If this image really was true, then why were people using the highways to go somewhere else?
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