Extended Essay: History Extended Essay : the Federal Highway Act of 1956
History Extended Essay
The Federal Highway Act of 1956
To what extent did the Federal Aid-Highway Act of 1956 influence the economy and society of the United
States of America within 50 years after its construction?
By: Karanveer Kumar Kapania
May 2012
Candidate Number: 1432-022
Word count: 3332
Abstract
During the 1930’s, there was a dire need for an intercontinental highway system. The US President and Congress acknowledged the need and also predicted their economic benefits. Within a couple of decades, a plan for a national highway system was turned into law. This law would affect economic and social aspects of American life for decades. To what extent did the Federal Aid-Highway Act of 1956 influence the economy and society of the United States of America within 50 years after its construction?
This paper looks at how the economy in the specific areas of productivity, industry costs and the job market, have changed with the emergence of the Interstate during the five decade span. Similarly, this paper looks at the Interstate’s affect on the social aspects of American life during the same time span. This is done by looking at data and statistics from a number of sources. This data compares economic and social factors before and after the Interstate was built in many specific areas or in the whole United States. The data, which is the form of numbers, mostly looks at things like cost, number of lives saved, and many other factors This data is assessed and then the paper explains how it influences the economic and social aspects.
The conclusion reached is that the Federal-Aid highway Act affected the social and economic aspects of American life to a great extent. This act ordered the construction of highways across the American landscape connecting people and businesses with one another. When comparing economic growth before the passing of this act to after it was passed, the economy has grown exponentially. Similarly, there has been
The Federal Highway Act of 1956
To what extent did the Federal Aid-Highway Act of 1956 influence the economy and society of the United
States of America within 50 years after its construction?
By: Karanveer Kumar Kapania
May 2012
Candidate Number: 1432-022
Word count: 3332
Abstract
During the 1930’s, there was a dire need for an intercontinental highway system. The US President and Congress acknowledged the need and also predicted their economic benefits. Within a couple of decades, a plan for a national highway system was turned into law. This law would affect economic and social aspects of American life for decades. To what extent did the Federal Aid-Highway Act of 1956 influence the economy and society of the United States of America within 50 years after its construction?
This paper looks at how the economy in the specific areas of productivity, industry costs and the job market, have changed with the emergence of the Interstate during the five decade span. Similarly, this paper looks at the Interstate’s affect on the social aspects of American life during the same time span. This is done by looking at data and statistics from a number of sources. This data compares economic and social factors before and after the Interstate was built in many specific areas or in the whole United States. The data, which is the form of numbers, mostly looks at things like cost, number of lives saved, and many other factors This data is assessed and then the paper explains how it influences the economic and social aspects.
The conclusion reached is that the Federal-Aid highway Act affected the social and economic aspects of American life to a great extent. This act ordered the construction of highways across the American landscape connecting people and businesses with one another. When comparing economic growth before the passing of this act to after it was passed, the economy has grown exponentially. Similarly, there has been
Cited: Map of Interstate Highways in the United States as of July 2006. Digital image. National Atlas. N.p., 2 July 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. <http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/images /pdf/reference/genref.pdf>. Schweppe, Ellen Siasoco, Ricco Villanueva. "Red, White, and Blue Highways." Infoplease. Infoplease, 2007. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/spot/interstate1.html>. Staniford, Stuart