Interstate Highway System
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
What Is The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956?
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was an act signed in to law in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The act proposed a system of interstate highways across the country that would provide safe, simple, and uniform transcontinental travel. The problem plaguing highways back in the day was safety. There were intersections to little shops in the middle of the highway, there were telephone poles right alongside the highway and almost no shoulder. The interstate highways aimed to change all this. Along the interstates there would be no intersections, only uniform on and off ramps where there would be raised intersections, so no one on the highway would need to stop. The highways were usually 4 lanes, with a median in between the two roads, each side would have an extra wide shoulder in case of emergencies. The interstate highway system changed the safety of transcontinental car travel forever. (Picture from www.urbansplatter.com)
The Interstate Also Had A Secondary Use.
The interstates were also created and funded for another reason, other than safe travel and comfort. The military saw use in the interstate system as a way for mass transit in case of a nuclear attack. If the Russians or someone else were to attack a big city with an atomic weapon, the interstates would make it a lot easier for mass evacuation. Most major military outpost are also connected to the interstate system, making it very easy for the outposts to transport military supplies if need be. (Map from www.windowssearch-exp.com)
The Man Who Made It Happen:
Dwight D Eisenhower
President from 1953 to 1961. Signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. Dwight or as many lovingly called him, "Ike" was a decorated general in World War II, and was the supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe.
Dwight was a supporter of a transcontinental highway ever since he took part in the Transcontinental Motor Convoy during his time in the military. Along his trip bridges broke, and vehicles were stuck in mud. The highway was so bad that it took the convoy two months to cross America.
Ike was also a big advocate for the highways as a defense system in case The U.S. ever suffered a nuclear attack. He believed the interstates could be used as mass transport out of the city in the event of a nuclear attack. Also, the highways were all connected to major military outposts, and could be used to transport military equipment in an emergency (Pictures from en.wikipedia.org)
“The U.S. Interstate System is unique. There is nothing like it in the world.” -Dan McNichol
How Did Americans Feel About The Interstates?
Americans welcomed the creation of the Interstate System at first, but as the construction of the roads dragged on through the years, Americans, especially lower income Americans, began to realize that as the interstates cut through towns they could wipe out the lower income parts of towns and completely divide up communities. There would be big protests to have the construction stop, that is why in some cities, like Baltimore and New York, the interstates stop abruptly, becoming what is known as "roads to nowhere". Nowadays the interstates are celebrated as a jewel of the American spirit, and something that makes America truly great. (picture from toolkit.climate.gov)
Impact On the Decade
Back when the interstates were first created it changed the way people saw their country. Before, America was such an enormous land mass that even though some had automobiles, only the bravest would set out and drive across the entire continent. America was divided. After the interstates were constructed America was one country that you could travel across in a matter of days or weeks. Today, the drive from San Diego California to New York, New York, would only take 41 hours driving time. The interstates are a huge expression of the American spirit.
Connections to Today and Solutions for the Future
Today there is almost nothing stopping an American from picking up and getting in his or her car, and driving across the entire country in only a few days. If we didn't have the interstates, common good such as avocados, chocolates, other groceries and toiletries would be incredibly expensive. Without the interstates those goods would be incredibly hard to transport from where they are processed, to the grocery stores. The interstates have stimulated all parts of the american economy, from consumerism, to the automobile industry, to the travel industry. Nothing in America would be the same without the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
References
Robert O'Neil (1999, November 01). Anniversary Issue: Hitting the roads. American City & County, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
Ronald, K. (2004, October 07). It's the highways, stupid!. Machine Design, (19), 12, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
Smith, J. N. (2004, May 01). The Interstate Highway System. World Trade, (5), 74, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com