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Learning Target 30: Analyze the social and political effects of the continuing population flow from cities to suburbs, the internal migrations from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt, and the increase in immigration resulting from passage of the 1965 Immigration Act.
Learning Target 30: Analyze the social and political effects of the continuing population flow from cities to suburbs, the internal migrations from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt, and the increase in immigration resulting from passage of the 1965 Immigration Act.
The postwar period movement from cities to suburbs had social and political effects. The cities became mainly black and poor, and strongly Democratic. The suburbs were mainly white and leaned Republican. The decaying environment and the low employment opportunities in large cities contributed to urban riots in the 1960s.
The employment opportunities in defense plants and high-tech industries located in the South and California led to the growth of the Sunbelt. This development contributed to a political power shift in the country. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the number of representatives is fixed and divided among states by population. With the population growing more rapidly in Sunbelt states, the congressional districts were reapportioned, giving these states greater political representation and power.
The Immigration Act of 1965 eliminated the quota system based on national origins and replaced it with a set of seven preference categories. The law helped shift immigration patterns away from Europe to other regions. It allowed more individuals from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to enter the U.S. The resulting immigration changed the country’s demographic makeup. Hispanics became the fastest growing minority in the U.S. This led to an increase in Spanish language media and funding for bilingual education programs. As these new immigrants became citizens, their voting practices impacted the balance of power between the major political parties.
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